The Tablelands........

The Rifle Creek rest area was a great free camp where we found many people had stopped ahead of us.  Some had been there for days I think.  Just down the road from Mount Molloy this area has been assigned as a camp for the many travellers passing this way.  There is a toilet block and a cold shower if you are game and they ask for a donation of $2 per person per night.  A real bargain for the chance to stay in such a lovely spot.

We set up and soon after Bill went for a walk with his camera along the creek and found some cute little honeyeaters and cheeky kookaburras.  These were our companions for the two nights we were there.

The next morning we had been going to move on but decided that we would stay and look around here for the day and move on tomorrow.  We did just that and drove out to an area called Manyfarms where you can find Bustards in the wild.  On the way we stopped when we saw a Pheasant Coucal just sitting on a small tree on the roadside.  A great start to our day.

At Manyfarms we did find the Bustards and enjoyed the drive around the area.  We returned home for lunch and then drove out to Mareeba Wetlands to have a look.  

The property here is far too big to cover in an hour or two so we just enjoyed the view across the Lagoon and found the Big Lizard Sculpture before heading back to relax for the rest of the day.  It is definitely somewhere we will return too.

The next morning we packed up and continued on to Atherton where we wanted to stop and look around for a couple of days.  We stopped for a quick look at the township of Mareeba but were soon on our way again.  The crops have started to change and we are seeing lots of Mangos, Avocados and Corn now along side the still many fields of Sugar Cane. 

The sugarcane harvest seems to have started too and we are seeing lots of cane cages full of the cane and many trucks loaded with these cages are passing us now.  I guess they are on their way to the sugar mills we have passed on the way up.  We have not seen any of the cane trains up this way though. 

Arriving in Atherton we found our caravan park and decided that this afternoon would be a maintenance day.  I did the washing and Bill sorted all the bits outside that needed doing.  Filling water tanks etc.  After lunch we decided that Gallos Cheese and Chocolate was the place to checkout and so jumped in the car and went in search of it.  We found, we tasted and we bought both cheese and chocolate.  Both very nice and worth the visit.  I loved the painted cows here too.

On the way home it was time to find the supermarket and fill the cupboards and fridge.  Not sure how good the shopping will be from here on.  Back at home we settled in for the evening and worked out where we were sightseeing tomorrow.

Waking the next morning to the sound of rain was not really want we wanted to see but never mind we continued on regardless.  Our first stop was just up the road to O'Hallorans Lookout which I'm sure has spectacular views over the tablelands if you could see them.

Our next stop was to see 'The Curtain Fig' just out of Yungaburra.  This is a giant Strangler Fig that just has to be seen to be believed.  It is metres wide and you just cannot help but be amazed by the sight of it.

From here we drove into the little village of Yungaburra and had a coffee before driving on to see Mt Hypipamee National Park.  On the way we stopped beside the road when we saw a large flock of Sarus Cranes grazing in the paddocks with the cows.

Once again we were in a rainforest situation with 'Cassowary' signs and sad to say did not see one.  Suffice to say anyone we spoke too said they where here yesterday, last week or last time I was here!  Ah well, maybe next time we pass this way.

During the afternoon we drove out to Hasties Swamp and found another lagoon with a double storey bird hide and spent an hour or so there.  Lots of Plumed Whistling Ducks and other water birds here together with many little honeyeaters to keep Bill clicking away.

We drove a little further along and came to Herberton, another little historical village with some novel artwork along the street.  We drove home from here to a still wet and windy evening so settled in to stay warm and dry.

The rain did not stop overnight and in fact got heavier and it was a very soggy pack up that morning.  I'm just grateful that we weren't packing up tent campers like many others we saw.  We left soon after and headed out towards Ravenshoe.  It continued to rain most of the way but had stopped by the time we arrived there at mid morning.  

Ravenshoe is said to be Queenslands Highest Town and we picked up some bread at Queenslands Highest Bakery before jumping back into the car and following the signs to The Savannah Way.  This is the start of our next big adventure heading into parts unknown.  

As we drove through the hills towards Mt Garnet we came across packs of bike riders.  There were six groups in all and they were doing a fund raising ride from Cairns to Karumba.  We didn't know it then but we would cross paths with them many times over the next few days.  I certainly wouldn't like to be riding through the hills in the rain as they were today!  Not sure what else we'll find.

until next time.........

Checking out Cairns......

The next morning we woke to a fine though cool day and decided that our first port of call would be the Information Centre in Cairns.  We drove the few kms in and found a park near the Esplanade where their Saturday market was in full swing.  We had a wander around here and then went in search of the 'i' first and then coffee.

Over our coffee we perused the brochures and decided that we would take a half day cruise to Green Island.  This was the easiest trip to see the Great Barrier Reef without all the added extras of scuba diving etc.

We had a walk along the cruise terminal which is where all the waterfront cafes are located and stopped at one for a bite of lunch before we boarded our Cat to take us to Green Island.  It was a great trip and we enjoyed our outside seat even though we got a little damp from the sea spray.

Once on the island it was time to board the Glass Bottom boat and spend some time getting a close up look at the reef and its inhabitants.  It was so good to see the beautiful coral and colourful fish up close and all too soon it was time to head back to the jetty where we hopped on a semi submersible boat to go a bit further out.

Unfortunately it was a bit later in the day and we saw much more on the first boat, this one being very cramped and the fish and coral quite colourless.  If ever I was to go again I would not bother with this.

Back on land again we had 45 mins until we had to return so we had a walk around a small part of Green Island and were fascinated by how cheeky these usually shy Rails were.

This is a coral cay situated 27 kms off Cairns.  It has a resort, a little village shopping precinct and a crocodile park.  Very commercial but it did its job and gave us a look at part of The Great Barrier Reef.

We had a much rougher trip back but loved the excitement of it even though I remained firmly in my seat.  Back in Cairns we drove home and spent a quiet night deciding what tomorrow would bring.

Rain overnight and in the morning made our decision a little easier and we decided that wandering around the botanic gardens was not a good idea so we jumped in the car and drove up to Kuranda - A village in the mountains.  You can choose to go up by rail, by Skytrain - a gondola running up the side of the Mountain or drive.  As we wanted to go further afield up the top we decided to drive.

The drive up was windy and steep but fairly easy and once up the top we parked and enjoyed a walk around the quirky little village that really seems to exist just for the tourists as they get off their train etc. Lots of markets and art/craft shops make up the main streets with a few cafes dotted around for good measure.  We did enjoy our walk around but did not stay for too long before we headed out of town to see the spectacular Barron Falls.

As we drove through the streets of Kuranda to leave we were amazed by the group of Bush Stone Curlews crossing the roads.  They were only one block back from the shops and seemed quiet happy amongst the people.

At the falls we walked along the walking track to the few viewing points to see these falls and I can only imagine how incredible it must look in the wet season with water rushing over all the sides not just the two parts now.  

Following the path right to the end we arrived on Barron Station where the outlook is just as spectacular as from the top.  The train ride must be something to see, maybe another time!  Walking back up the path we stopped again for a list look from the top before heading back home for lunch.

The rain had stopped and so we decided to go and have a look at the mangroves in the afternoon.  These are over by the airport and are a good location for many of the birds Cairns has to offer.  Once we arrived and started our walk in I was attacked by mozzies and decided that as I was already covered head to toe in bites I didn't need anymore so returned to the car to wait for Bill.  He lasted a little longer than me but soon returned after seeing more mozzies and crabs than birds.

The next morning was bright and sunny so once the washing was done we set off to the botanical gardens and enjoyed a few hours exploring the rainforest walks, Centennial Lakes and the Bamboo Gardens.  

What a lovely place to wander around in and Bill was happy with all the bird life he was able to find and photograph.  The Yellow Sunbird was certainly the brightest of the day and the Darter with his 'catch of the day' was pretty special too.

That afternoon we took advantage of the lovely sunny day, one of the few we have had since leaving home, and went back into Cairns to The Esplanade.  We enjoyed a walk along the wonderful boardwalk before stopping for an ice cream in the sun.

Back at home we caught up on the household chores, shopping and petrol in readiness for a quick getaway in the morning.  Not quite so quick as it decided to pour with rain overnight and it was a slow and soggy pack up sloshing around in the mud but Bill managed to get us hooked up and on the road with a minimum of fuss.  I gave up on the inside deciding to let the mud dry on the floor before I tried to get rid of it.  

We were glad to be on the road again and while we had enjoyed our look around Cairns we didn't really enjoy our location or the fickle weather.  Isn't this meant to be the dry season!  Perhaps it will start to improve as we continue to travel north.

until next time........

The road to Cairns........

We left Townsville and headed north once more on our way to Cairns.  We didn't get very far as we decided to stop for lunch at Ingham.  TYTO Wetlands is here and it was one of the major bird spots we wanted to have a look at.  We had our lunch in the campgrounds and then decided that as we didn't really need to be rushing we would stay the night as well.  $10 saw us booked in and then we were ready to explore the wetlands.

We spent the afternoon wandering along the many tracks and were thrilled with the variety and numbers of birds we saw.  Forest Kingfishers, Crimson Finches, Masked Wood Swallows were in abundance along with Figbirds, Noisy Friarbirds and Spangled Drongos.  Lots of others flying in and out to quick to see.

Water birds were everywhere as well and the Comb Crested Jacanas walking across the water lilies are always amusing.  Magpie Geese were grazing on the oval while Egrets and Herons waded in the shallows.  All in all a lovely place to stop.

The next morning Bill got up with the sun and walked around the whole 4 km track while I stayed in bed and enjoyed a sleep in.  Once he was back we prepared to leave but first had a walk through the elevated boardwalk over to the 11m tower for a view across the town of Ingham.

We left soon after and made our way to the coast at Lucinda where we stopped to take a look at the  Bulk Sugar Terminal and the famous Jetty which at 5.76 kms is the longest jetty in The Southern Hemisphere.  While you can no longer walk on the jetty you can see it from the boardwalk along the beach.  

We drove back through the Sugar Cane plantations to the Bruce Hwy and continued on to Cardwell where we stopped beside the sea to eat our lunch.  Looking over to Hinchinbrook Island was a pretty nice view to dine by.

We set off again and not too long after had found our way to Murray Falls in the Upper Murray National Park.  We set up camp here before taking a walk to see the falls which were a pretty awesome sight and back at home we could here the roar all night.  

The next morning we walked down and had a look at the swimming hole before making our way out of the park and back towards the coast to have a look at Mission Beach.  We found a lovely little village with a real holiday feel to it.  We enjoyed a walk along the beach and were fascinated by the intricate patterns on the sand, made by the tiny Bubbler Crabs.  Returning to the car we drove back to Tully.  

One of the most famous inhabitants of Mission Beach is the Cassowary and we were hoping to find one or two.  On the drive in we did see one walking along the side of the road but with nowhere to stop Bill was not able to get a photo.  Fingers crossed we will see more as we travel.  

Back at Tully we stopped to get the obligatory picture of 'The Golden Gumboot'.  This boot stands at 7.9 metres high and represents the record annual rainfall recorded for Tully in 1950.  Climbing the spiral staircase to the top gives you a view of the town.

From Tully we followed 'The Cane Cutters Way' to Innisfail and enjoyed the lovely scenery along the way.  A much nicer run than straight up 'the Bruce'.  At approximately 45 km it takes you through miles and miles of sugar cane fields and towards the end we started to see banana plantations as well.  We can certainly see why the giant jetty is needed for the cane.

Our plan for that night was to find Ella Bay and camp there but on following the signs we soon came across a 'no caravans past this point' sign and so it was on to plan B.  We were in Flying Fish Point and decided to call into the little caravan park we had passed a few streets back and see if they had room.  They did so we parked and stayed for the night.  

We had a walk down the street to the one shop we could find, had a quick look at the beach and then walked back home to chill out under the awning.  On the way to the park Bill had seen Cassowary no 2 vanishing into the bush but once again no pictures and that is the last one we have glimpsed.  Maybe another year.

The next morning we were up and off for our final run into Cairns.  On the way we made one stop turning off at Babinda to see The Boulders.  Expecting to see just a few rocks we were blown away by the scenery and the size of 'The Boulders' in the National Park here.  

It is a popular swimming hole and picnic area and a place of spiritual significance for the aboriginal people.  We followed the walkway and stopped first at the swimming hole.  Next stop along the boardwalk was Devils Pool and then we walked further around to another lookout which is even more spectacular than the others.  A lovely place to stop and explore and if only a bit warmer I might have tried out the swimming hole.

Continuing on to Cairns we had found a home at Lake Placid Tourist Park and arrived mid afternoon.  We set ourselves up and were hoping for some fine weather as we had still only had one or two nice days over the past few weeks.  It was getting warmer but still very grey and some rainy days.  I guess it's not called The Wet Tropics for nothing!

Later that afternoon we walked the short way down the road to have a look at Lake Placid.  It was a lovely view and the man kayaking up to the gorge and back added to the beauty of the place.

Back at home we settled in for the evening and tried to work out what we would like to do for the next few days.  Other than the washing of course.  Time to explore Cairns.

until next time............

The inland way........

Up and out the next morning, we had decided to leave the coast and take the inland route to Townsville.  Bill has the car booked in there for a service on Monday so we have five days to get there and have a look around before then.

We drove to Gladstone but didn't stop here and continued on to Mt Larcon realizing almost immediately that we had left the coast.  The change in vegetation was very noticeable and continued to be so the further inland we went.  Everywhere is so dry it's hard to believe that they haven't had rain here for so long when the southern areas of Qld and Northern NSW have had so much these last few years.  We also drove past thousands of acres of Sorghum crops and were fascinated by the rust color  of the unharvested fields.

We stopped for lunch at Blackwater Lions Park and found this old Steam Engine taking centre stage.  Known as the Coal Capital of Qld we now knew where the coal filled trains had come from.  We had watched numerous huge coal trains traveling beside us during the morning.  Many were empty and traveling towards Blackwater and the full ones going south to the power stations.  Soon after leaving we passed one of the huge mines and they really do scar the landscape don't they.

We continued on towards Emerald and passed through as we were heading to our overnight spot.  A fabulous little campground called Higher Ground Homestay about 13 kms further on.  A lovely couple allow campers to share their property for a small fee and we enjoyed a very pleasant night here.  It would be an ideal location to stay for a few days if we come this way again.  Many of the others looked like they were settled in for a while but this morning we waved goodbye and continued on our way.

Our first stop was just down the road at Lake Maraboon where we drove across the Fairburn Dam and stopped for a look.  The views from here were quite lovely and while there does seem to be a lot of water you can see that it is quite low.

Our next stop was Emerald itself and we had a walk through here.  The lovely old Railway Station is probably the nicest building in town.  Driving on we passed through Capella and Clermont and Belyando Crossing before stopping for the night at another freecamp at Blackwood National Park.

We drove on from here until we reached Charters Towers where we stopped and enjoyed a walk around this lovely old town.  After gold was discovered in 1871 thousands soon flocked there.  The city was said to have everything any civilized person could want and soon after became known as 'The World'.  Full of history and grand old buildings it doesn't take much imagination to envisage this.

We left here and made our way to Townsville where we were going to spend the weekend with Sandy and Pat.  Once we were parked and plugged in we joined them on the verandah of their lovely old Queenslander.  A cold drink and good friends, what more could you ask for.  And of course we can't forget Patch who welcomed us too.

After catching up for an hour or two we walked down the road to have dinner at the local pub and enjoyed a fun night there.  Back at home there were more drinks on the verandah before we called it a night and caught a few zzzz's before waking the next morning and doing much the same again.  

On our journey since Port Macquarie we had not been able to keep our batteries going more than two days and were not sure if there was an issue with the system or just the still very cloudy skies.  Pat was a great help and together with Bill spent the weekend on Plan A, B and C trying different things.  We think we have the answers now and all should be well.  Fingers crossed!

Saturday night saw us have a mini reunion of sorts as Pat phoned some of the Queensland 'frogs' and three of them, together with their wives came to dinner at the other local pub and then back onto the verandah.  A great night was had by all and it was good to meet Chris Squelch, Darryl Anderson and Lindley Ward again.  

After a scrumptious barbecue breakfast on Sunday Pat and Sandy played tour guide and took us into the city for a look at the Sunday Market there.  From there we drove up to Castle Hill to see the amazing views over Townsville and Magnetic Island.  Back on level ground we took a drive along The Strand which is a lovely park right along the beach.  

Some of the grand old buildings here have been heritage listed and it's good to know they will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.  Back at home we settled in on the verandah once more until it was time to fire up the Barbie again for dinner.  

On Monday Bill had the car booked in for a service and after he returned from delivering it to them we went into town to have a look at Reef HQ The Great Barrier Reef experience.  This aquarium uses water from the sea and is tidal just like the reef.  There were so many different varieties of fish both large and small to see.  Some so colorful and others look like only a mother could love them!

We joined a Turtle Hospital tour and after a fifteen minute movie we walked down the road to see three Green Sea Turtles recovering from various ailments and one endangered Hawksbill Turtle.  It was very interesting and good to know these four will be rehabilitated to the wild again.

Leaving the aquarium we had a look at the marina behind and enjoyed the views up to Castle Hill where we had stood the day before.

Walking down the street back into town I was fascinated by the giant artwork strung across the road.  The giant Golden Orb spider certainly looks impressive but I can only wonder why or be thankful we are here at the right time as we haven't seen any yet.

Bill collected the car while I had a look at the shops and then we returned home to the verandah and our last night with Sandy and Pat.  

The next morning we said goodbye and a huge thank you to our wonderful hosts and set off once more, still heading north towards the sun, next major stop - Cairns.

so until next time.......