Visit turtles being cared for at Reef HQ Aquarium's Turtle Hospital in Townsville and see a colony of koalas at Magnetic Island. Watch platypus at Paluma, then venture out at night to see gliders, night spiders, possums, bettongs and owls come to life in the dark. Stop at Cardwell jetty to see dugongs and watch for dolphins as you paddle a kayak from Mission Beach to Dunk Island. Encounter a cassowary in the rainforest at Mission Beach and watch for the electric blue flash of the Ulysses butterfly. On the new moon when the tides are low you can walk to the Great Barrier Reef from Kurrimine Beach to discover sea cucumbers and starfish. Colourful king parrots and musky rat-kangaroos are often seen at Josephine Falls, while Eubenangee Swamp National Park has more than 190 bird species, as well as crocodiles in the Alice River. From Bramston Beach you can access the Russell River National Park with a 4WD to see spectacled flying-foxes roosting or canoe along Babinda Creek to spot fish, turtles and often platypus. Turn off at Deeral for a tour to the islands of Frankland Group National Park where you can snorkel with turtles and watch seabirds.