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Heading further south our next stop was Bundaberg…Rum Central!!The drive was much the same as any other but there was a sense of finality beginning to creep into each leg, knowing the trip is coming to an end.Part of us wants to go back straight away, fed up of living in a shoe box.Thankfully a more adventurous spirit dominates which never wants to see the end of this trip and would quite happily continue around the whole world.
We arrived in Bundaberg, went to the information centre and decided on a camp which was part of a turtle reserve called Mon Repos.Driving through the town it seemed spectacularly unappealing; it had bridges that looked like mechano, only a small offering of colonial buildings which admittedly had their charms but were dramatically spoilt by the commercial hideousness of the others that belong to an industrial estate.Also, we passed a housing estate with houses that seemed to have been painted in the Bundaberg rum yellow in some sort of idiotic patriotism to the industry of the region. (Sorry I'm ranting again).
The evening did however more than make up for the shortfalls of the town.We'd booked ourselves into the turtle sanctuary for a ranger guided night on the beach watching the hatchlings making their mad dash to the ocean.It was a short walk through a very dark wooded area to the ranger station.We got there and joined the cue.Once inside we got comfortable on a bench awaiting Mother Nature, which may be sometime.After a few hours our wait was over and we were called to the beach.We walked toward torchlight in the distance.Once there we eagerly formed a circle and the ranger lifted her coat revealing a nest of approximately 80 turtle hatchlings.They scrambled from the sand, instinctually dominated by their every move trying to make the water.They were detained long enough for us to have a brief meeting with them and they were sent on their way through a line of torches set up by the rangers.We wished them luck as they were engulfed by the ocean, chances stacked heavily against any of them surviving, such is life.
The next morning we decided to give the town a fair chance (and to buy some rum).We started with the furthest attraction away and made our way back.Between a place called Gin Gin and Bundaberg (for some reason I thought Rum Rum would have been a more fitting name for the region but there we have it) were the mystery craters essentially a slab of rock full of holes, some with water, and some without.All of this geological puzzlery in an eccentric old ladies back garden!The owners, in an attempt to make the experience more worthwhile ($6 each) set up a historic machinery museum/shed which was well…s***.
Next stop was the rum factory, now that's a bit more like it.We skipped the overpriced factory tour, frankly uninterested in how rum is made, and went straight to the bar.I tried the liquor which was only available at the factory (a likely story).I walked out having spent more on alcohol in the three seconds it took for my credit card to be approved than on the whole journey so far, convincing myself it's an investment (another likely story) .
Thirdly we found our selves in the Bundaberg Ginger beer factory which we enjoyed, rather childishly, very much.The setting was an impressive giant barrel and inside was an interactive museum telling the story of Ginger beer.As part of the interactive experience they had a 15 min 3d/holographic film which included a totally absurd story line and a sex mad bee (the fundamentals for any short film surely) you have to see it to believe it.Walking back into main shop area, rather bewildered, we arrived at the tasting bar and worked our way through the various offerings from the Bundaberg ginger beer factory.A good marketing ploy as we promptly purchased a case full of various products previously unknown to us.
The afternoon brought a good bit of rain but we'd had an unlikely good time here and were in good spirits.Every where we go, even the most unattractive of places, it is friendly and welcoming, the people and the places were making this a unique and memorable journey.
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