Days 42-46 Airlie to Rockhampton via Capricorn Caves

I'm behind in my posts - lots to tell and not enough time, excuse me if this sounds rushed. We're about to board a ferry to Fraser Island after which I dont expect to have much reception so thought I'd try and put in a quick post. Here are some pics and plenty of videos of our wondrous adventure at Capricorn Caves. We did not plan to come here... just needed a place to stay on our way thru to Rocky. After one trip into these caves we had to stay another night. Here's Josh enjoying the empty camp sites on his scooter.

Met an interesting lady here. I was on my way to the camp kitchen to watch the cricket. A 65 year old french woman was headed in the same direction, we got talking and her eyes lit up when I mentioned I was off to watch the cricket... I had found an unlikely cricket buddy. What a fascinating woman she is, we spoke for hours about travel, cricket and family life. Aliene had chased a man to Australia 35 years ago, married him and started a family living on a farm. Heaps more to tell, suffice to say we later shared a meal which ended when Aliene challenged the kids to an eating and burping contest - lots of fun and she taught us plenty.

The cave system here is incredible. We did two tours and we're all very proud of Em who conquered her claustrophobia to venture inside and through some of the more challenging sections. The kids far out did me by taking on the seemingly impossible nooks and crevasses

This one was called the whales belly - way too tight for me, but the kids got through without to much trouble.

Cant believe I haven't heard of these caves - they blew us away. Lots of educational talks and astonishing stories of the first pioneers who explored these caves by candle light in the 1880's. Sections of these caves are used for weddings and opera performances such is the acoustics.

Here's one of the boys emerging from the whales belly section. Em and I were pretty anxious just listening and watching them attempt it. I don't remember having these fears as a young man. 

While travelling to Rockhampton we heard the QLD Symphony Orchestra was performing famous movie anthems  (Bond, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman, Superman, Jurassic Park and others). We just had to go and it was pretty incredible, highly recommend this sort of thing for families. The conductor from the Melb symphony was here to lead them. There were also a bunch of people dressed up in movie costumes laced into the performances. It wasn't just orchestral music there where interesting or comical interludes during and in between songs...