Bundaberg Botanical Gardens

We had a nice winter day yesterday, with a high about 72-74 degrees and a low of around 55.  A far cry from Michigan winter weather!  We visited the Bundy Botanical Gardens, which also houses an aviation museum.  Weird, but the connection is that a Bundy native was an early pioneer of aviation in this part of the world, and also in Great Britain.  His house was even moved from England to be placed in the Botanical Gardens.

We saw all kinds of critters we don't see much of at home, including a Kookaburra.  While you probably wouldn't recognize the bird, you would most certainly recognize their call.  It's in every movie I've ever seen that is set in Africa or in a jungle.  Also saw numerous other species of birds, lizards, eels, trees, plants, etc.  There was a steam powered narrow gauge train taking visitors on a ride around the park too.  That appealed to the rail fan in me, even though we didn't go for a ride.  They had a rainforest area as well, with signs warning visitors that there would be intermittent rainfall (provided by sprinklers mounted 20 feet or so off the ground) to simulate the conditions and keep the plants alive that would be indigenous to a real rainforest.  Some of the trees were really fascinating, with root systems and vines intertwined around them.  There was a paper bark tree unlike anything I've ever seen anywhere else.

Adalyn was her usual adorable self and the whole family is very photogenic, as you can see.  We're having a great time and I'm sure this 2 weeks are going to go all too quick.  G'day maties!