Whether you're travelling with the family or on your own, let me introduce you to the funky frogs of Balranald. "
Of where?", I hear you ask.
Balranald - a country town situated on the Sturt Highway approximately half way between Wagga Wagga and Adelaide in South Australia. It boasts many
trails of which my favourite is the Funky Frog Trail.
Starting at the visitor information centre, you'll see a frog sculpture welcoming you to the town. Feel free to sit next to him for a photo. There's no need to keep a 1.5m distance as I doubt this metallic representative will spread any virus.
Then, head inside to speak with one of the staff and grab a map showing the locations of all the frogs dotted around town. Alternatively, put the map away and try searching for them by yourself first. See if you could hunt down at least five before checking the map. We managed to do so with sheer grit and determination! In order not to spoil the fun, I've listed only a couple of locations below.
By now, you'll probably be wondering why frogs and not, say, sheep or birds. Well, it is connected to the endangered Southern Bell Frog that once lived in nearby wetlands. These large green frogs have begun to disappear over the past number of years. The reason for their disappearance isn't clear but could most likely be due to disease or habitat loss.
So, be sure to stop at
Balranald and say hi to the funky frogs next time you're on the road to or from Adelaide. It's a great opportunity to stretch those legs after a long drive.
