Random big thing - Krys the Croc (Normanton)

A model replica (1:1) of the world’s biggest croc shot in the 1950’s in the area - at 8.6 metres dwarfs most tinnies.

Random big thing – Big Barra (Normanton)

 Thats a lot of fish fingers kids.

Random big thing – 4 real life brolgas

Having taken a wrong turn for lunch we drove alongside the Savannah Rail line and encountered 4 Brolgas for the first time – bizarre looking birds, they looked like ‘big bird’ at the mardi gras.

And flew like a paper aeroplane made from a tattered beer carton with some half drunk stubbies inside it.

Aye Karumba!

Where the outback meets the sea. The Savannah land is endless as you drive towards the coast.

But when you arrive the views of the sun setting over the long sandbanks at low tide are amazing.

And the fishing…. Day 1 I caught a 45cm (1.6 kg) bream off the mouth of the Norman River and then made an acquaintance (let’s call him John) with someone who owns a tinnie. In all, I caught Grunter, Blue Salmon and a million catfish.

Worth noting – Not having seen a croc at this stage I didn’t hesitate in leaning over the side of John's boat to clean the anchor. Minutes later I was reminded of how real they are seeing a 12ft sunbaking only a few hundred metres downstream. Aye Karumba!!

Croydon – trapped by a little town

We had no expectation of staying in Croydon however the rodeo was in town and they needed another clown so we stayed for 4 nights! The event was called the Poddy Dodgers Festival.

After the small parade the night before, Saturday morning saw us check out the restored legal precinct historical buildings. There were voice recordings running of prisoners in the jail and a court case which spooked the kids.

Oldest continuously operating general store in Queensland.

Off to the poddy dodgers to watch the mutton busting, slippery pig, wild cow milking, poddy dodging and other 'everyday' events. Crazy stuff.

Whilst there I bumped into an Officer I’d recently worked with and the kids were quickly caught up in a pursuit. (no this officer was not the slippery pig – another officer drew the short straw and ran a decoy in the arena-  it was hilarious).

We also found not 1 but 2 bower bird nests.

Also squeezed in a few hours fishing in the dam and the closest I came to catching anything was a kite that swooped down and grabbed my lure. Thank fully it let go as I wouldn't know where to begin filleting it!

Random big thing – chimney

Between Georgetown and Croydon. Not huge in the general chimney category but given it is brick and in the middle of nowhere thought it worth a mention.

What's under Undara?

A visit to see the unique Undara lava tubes was worthwhile. The tubes bigger than metro railway tunnels and a train timetable to match.

A temperate rainforest has taken hold where each end of the lava tube has collapsed. There were red, orange, yellow and brown colours in the basketball sized dimples in the walls of this particular section of tube.

And the trains – no wonder they were late in the tube, they have all been put up on blocks and arranged fantastically for the restaurant, bar and upmarket accommodation.

Whilst at Undara we climbed a volcano, walked the rim and took a photo of another volcano from the top. Is that a 4wd Volvo-cano in the car park?