Our travels through the Mackay Regional area took an interesting turn when we discovered a rather unusual sight at one of the local water reservoirs. We have seen our fair share of wildlife on this trip, but this was a first.
Arriving at the edge of the water, the landscape was initially serene. Gum trees lined the sandy shore, with a backdrop of rolling hills. Then, a lone figure caught our eye.
A cow, enjoying a paddle in the shallows. One might assume it was seeking relief from the Queensland heat.
But then we saw more. What started as a single bovine bather soon revealed itself to be an entire herd, completely submerged up to their necks.
They seemed entirely unfazed by their unorthodox aquatic adventure. The water lilies bobbed around them, creating a surreal pastoral scene. They eyed us with a certain bovine indifference, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. They probably just wanted to get away from the flies.
They were completely at ease, occasionally flicking an ear or swishing a tail, as only cattle can.
The submerged cattle seemed to have found a unique way to beat the Queensland heat. We reckon they were onto something. It certainly made for an unforgettable highlight of our time in the Mackay Regional area.
