Get out and explore all Mackay region has to offer

RADIO host Rob Kidd's early starts mean he gets to explore the region in the afternoons.

Rob Kidd spotted platypus in the Pioneer Valley.

WORKING in radio has many benefits.

The early starts make for some great fun from around the lunchtime mark.

By the time you do a 10-hour day at Star FM you pretty much get to have the afternoon to yourself.

Being able to take the kids to the Bluewater Lagoon, or even have a few hours to yourself to read a book at the library can be just what the doctor ordered.

Over the past seven days I've been able to get out early and go exploring in our backyard.

I've got to travel up the Pioneer Valley and check out the waterfalls at Finch Hatton.

I've grabbed the pie at Pinnacle, had a marshmallow at Eungella and even spotted three platypus doing the old duck diving under the bridge.

You know the stories about them seeing you and hiding are just false. There has never been a time where I haven't spotted one. How about you?

I've stopped in Mt Ossa for what seemed to be an eternity just watching a cane harvester do its magic. It really is one of those things we take for granted up here. This time of the year they are everywhere, so why not put the kids in the car and go looking for one. They'll love it.

I've gone for a swim at Airlie Beach, run up to Jubilee Pocket, checked out the turtles and taken a little harbour cruise with my old mate Ken from the beautiful Port of Airlie.

How great do we have it?

Over the past couple of days I've had fish and chips with my son at the River Street boat ramp, just watching the dozens of weekend fishing legends do their thing.

This time of the year is just perfect and that's why so many of our southern friends come up to share our sunshine.

Sure they may have daylight saving at the moment but we've got so much of it now, who needs any more?

That's what I told our southern journalists when they came up a few weeks ago.

If you can take one thing from reading this, maybe get up from the chair and go explore and tell me what you've done. Let's tell the world! Have fun,

Rob

Originally published as Get out and explore all Mackay region has to offer