Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville

Sunday 31 August 2014

More things to do in Townsville. Mueseum of Tropical Queensland. Nurses at war!!




1 September 2014


Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan

The Museum of Tropical Queensland will be presenting some of the personal stories of Australian nurses at war in a new Australian War Memorial travelling exhibition Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan opening on 4 September. 



Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan explores the involvement of nurses from the first known Australian in the Zulu War of 1879, right up to the experiences of the male and female nurses serving in recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Museum of Tropical Queensland Director Peter McLeod said there is a strong link between the museum and one of the stories presented in the exhibition relating to the torpedoing of the hospital ship Centaur in 1943.

“The Centaur was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland and sank in minutes killing 268 people including 18 doctors and 11 nurses,” Mr McLeod said.

“The Museum of Tropical Queensland played a major role in the search and discovery of the wreck in 2009 and I’m extremely pleased that this particularly story was chosen to be part of this strong exhibition.”

Australian War Memorial Exhibition Curator Robyn Siers said that while Australian nurses have been going to war for well over 100 years, their important contribution to Australia’s overseas military operations often goes unreported.



“Using the Memorial’s rich collection, Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan highlights the personal stories of army, air force and navy nurses who have served overseas, the difficulties and challenges they faced, and their determination to care for the sick and wounded come what may,” Ms Siers said.

These compelling stories create a moving and reflective exhibition particularly relevant to the Townsville community which is a proud garrison city with a long history of selfless war service and respectful care of those who have returned from active duty.
 
Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan runs from 4 September until 26 October.

Visit mtq.qm.qld.gov.au for more information.



Through the support of their councils, locals from Charters Towers and Hinchinbrook receive free entry to the museum and locals from Townsville and the Burdekin receive half-price entry.

The Museum of Tropical Queensland, part of the Queensland Museum Network, is open from 9.30am –
5pm daily.

Media Contact:                      Lorelle Schluter        4726 0603 or 0424 408 373
Stephen Wilson       4726 0604 or 0431 334 583


70 – 102 Flinders Street, Townsville, Queensland
www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au
(07) 4726 0600

 For more information or if your after accommodation ask at the reception at Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville, Queensland Australia. Or, contact us through our website www.reeflodge.com.au or Phone 07 47 211 112 

Sunday 24 August 2014

Top 10 things to do in Townsville.

When your in Townsville here are the top ten things to do while your in Townsville. But I'm going to give a bonus 1 and make it 11! :-D




No. 10              "The Museum of Tropical Queensland."                   



No. 9                 Go check out "Reef HQ" aquarium and                     
visit the "Turtle Hospital"



No. 8            Take a look at the "Military Museum" at                    
"Jezzine Barracks at "Kissing Point"



No. 7         Take a swim in the "Rook Pool" at the northern           
end of the "The Strand"



No. 6         Have a BBQ breakfast on the beautiful beach front          
 and watch  he sun come up over stunning
"Magnetic Island" and the "Coral Sea"



No. 5      Have a BBQ dinner on the beautiful beach front and            
watch  sun go down over "Castle Hill"



No. 4        Take the ferry to the fabulous" Magnetic Island."             
Stay a day or stay a week.
 


No. 3    While on "Magnetic Island" take "the Forts Trail" and find
the wild "Koalas"in the trees.



No. 2       Go for a walk along the beautiful "Strand" beach front.  



No. 1    After you wake up go for a walk up our glorious "Castle Hill"



No. 0            BLAST OFF!!    Wake up in Townsville                  



For more information or if your after accommodation ask at the reception at Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville, Queensland Australia. Or, contact us through our website www.reeflodge.com.au or Phone 07 47 211 112 

Sunday 17 August 2014

The Adventure Travel Awards are a brand new consumer voted awards programme for Australia and New Zealand’s backpacking youth and adventure tourism industry.

For all those backpackers who have stayed at the Reef Lodge Backpackers in Townsville here is a chance to help us out and help us get a little publicity.


The Adventure Travel Awards are a brand new consumer voted awards program for Australia and New Zealand’s youth and adventure tourism industry. Voting for the awards has opened and anyone is eligible, provided they operate within the youth and adventure industry. Townsville Enterprise encourages Townsville North Queensland operators to encourage their customers, peers, colleagues and friends to vote for them. For more information see below and click on the URL hyperlink.



Please note that the Adventure Travel Awards are run by The Word Australia and not Townsville Enterprise.

To vote please follow this link: http://www.theadventuretravelawards.com/QLD/


For more information or if your after accommodation ask at the reception at Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville, Queensland Australia. Or, contact us through our website www.reeflodge.com.au or Phone 07 47 211 112  

What should I see in Townsville. A Great day trip is to "Wallaman Falls" Australias longest single drop.



A lot of people who have stayed at the Reef Lodge Backpackers in Townsville have visited Wallaman falls. An estimated 100,000 people visiting the waterfall annually.  Wallaman Falls is a very popular attraction with it’s cascading falls it is located in a UNESCO World Heritage–listed Wet Tropic area, in the northern regions of Queensland, Australia. The main drop of 268 meters (879 ft) which makes waterfall the country's tallest single-drop waterfall. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is some 20 meters (66 ft) deep. This would have to be one of the most beautiful and most iconic waterfalls in Australia.

Wallaman Falls in all it's glory.

All the information you ever wanted about a waterfall.


One of the resident ducks. "QUAKE QUAKE!"


Baby Frogs in one of the many pools around the falls.


There are dozens of birds in the pristine region of world heritage 
Forrest that call "Wallaman Falls" home.


And some of these birds will knock you car off the road! :-(


A Cassowary The sort of bird you don't want to upset cause it will chase you.


One of many flowers you will find in the area.


Veiw of the falls from the bottom.


The pool at the top of the falls.


The pool at the bottom of the falls.


Crows nest fern. One of hundreds of beatiful plant in the region.


An EVIL bird possessed. :0{ Or Maybe I just have no idea what sort of bird this!!


Pandamus tree


SNAKE!!!!


More flowers (Orchid)

Remember to wear shoes when you go bush walking.


Tourist eating Turtles "Just Joking" You will see plenty of these in the pools.


The walking track to the base of "Wallaman Falls"

All in all this is a great day trip and a must see when you are in the North. I would suggest an early start as the drive to the falls is long enough, but remember you have quite a walk along the track to the bottom of the valley as well. I wold suggest good walking shoes and take a picnic lunch and a couple of protein bars. As well as some water. Oh! and a camera.

Not to mention your sense of adventure!

:-D


For more information or if your after accommodation ask at the reception at Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville, Queensland Australia. Or, contact us through our website www.reeflodge.com.au or Phone 07 47 211 112