Sunny Cairns

The weather finally improved for our last 5 days at Lake Tinnaroo.   I enjoyed a couple of bike rides in to Yungaburra and Brian explored more of the lake in his kayak.

Finally, a nice sunset (and I discovered a "Sunset" setting on my new camera)

Off to explore Lake Tinnaroo

On Sunday 17^th August we drove to Mareeba to have lunch with friends John and Heather (Brian and John had worked together in Gladstone in the mid 70’s).  Their beautiful home overlooked Mareeba and the hinterland, and the infinity pool looked very inviting.     The kangaroos came in to graze later in the afternoon and drank from the bird bath which was on a pedestal.

Monday was Vietnam Veterans’ Day (Long Tan).   A gentleman visiting the Afghanistan Memorial opposite the caravan park produced a trumpet and played the last post – very moving.

Memorial to those killed in Afghanistan (opened during our stay last June)

Tuesday morning Brian left for an early morning paddle, then we drove through Malanda and Millaa Millaa to the Mungalli Creek Dairy for a delicious lunch.    Our view from the verandah was directly to the western side of Mt Bartle Frere.   On our return to Lake Tinnaroo we took a detour to the Nerada Tea Plantation where we were told there were tree kangaroos.   Luckily, one hungry fellow was still out late in the afternoon, so I was very pleased to have my first glimpse of one of these creatures.

Mt Bartle Frere

 

Tree kangaroo

Thursday was just a short drive (100 k’s) through Mareeba and down the Kuranda Range to the Crystal Cascades Caravan Park at Redlynch – our third stay at this beautifully kept park.   On Saturday Les and Pauline were kind enough to drive us to lunch at Cazaly’s (Cairns AFL) Club for lunch where I had a chance meeting with Sue, with whom I had worked at ANZ in the late 80’s.    Our children had gone to Woree School together.    After lunch we had a quick stop at Rusty’s Markets for some fresh veg and avocados, then down to the Esplanade where we were introduced to Movenpick icecream – very nice.

Our favourite site at Crystal Cascades

On Monday Pauline and I had a lovely day out at Cairns DFO then in to Cairns Central Shopping Centre.    A few purchases were made, but it was nice to browse the shops, especially those not found in Brisbane.

 

The weather continued to be perfect, so on Tuesday we had a nostalgic drive in to Cairns city, past the old Customs House (which is still a Chinese restaurant), then out to Palm Cove for lunch.  The almond trees at Palm Cover brought back memories of Weipa and the green ants that lived in the trees.   I have ridden the bike a couple of times here as there is a great bike path near the park which follows Freshwater Creek. 

Freshwater Creek

Beach at Palm Cove

Private pools at Peppers Resort, Palm Cove

Almond Trees

Today has been another typical Cairns winter’s day – warm and clear blue sky – but all good things must come to an end.  Tomorrow we head south on the Bruce Highway for our return to Brisbane, due home on 6^th September in time for Father’s Day on the 7^th.

Lake Tinnaroo

It is now almost 2 weeks since we left Ravenshoe for the short 50 km drive to Yungaburra and the Lakeside Caravan Park on the shores of Lake Tinnaroo.    Unfortunately the rain started just as we were packing up, and apart from a couple of partly sunny days last week, most days produced some form of precipitation. But, today has been warm and sunny.  We believed the weather forecast, so the kayak was taken down yesterday afternoon, and Brian had a good paddle early this afternoon.   Hopefully the kayak (and the bikes) will get a bit more use before we leave.  It is good to see the people in Longreach and western Queensland receiving much needed rain.

View from the van towards Lake

View including Afghanistan Memorial

During our first week we drove to Kuranda for lunch with Pauline and Les, currently staying at our favourite Cairns caravan park.    It was great to catch up over a long lunch, and I enjoyed some much-needed retail therapy with Pauline while the menfolk found a seat and waited very patiently.  Unfortunately it has not been sunny enough to wear my new hat.

We have been in to Atherton to shop a couple of times, and were very pleased to be able to have the air compressor fixed there, and under warranty!    Last Thursday we enjoyed a very delicious lunch of lamb shanks at the Tolga Hotel, perfect fare for a cool, wet day.     On the way back we called in for another look at the Curtain Fig.

I have enjoyed the rest and relaxation here.   Brian has managed to wash the car,  but the van will have to wait until Cairns where we have booked a site at Crystal Cascades Big4 from next Thursday for 4 nights.

I found this fellow standing so very still in the garden next to the road when we were walking this afternoon.   

 

Bush curlew

Winton to Ravenshoe

After a very peaceful overnight stop in the bush, on Friday 25/7  it was just a few kilometres to the Winton-Jundah Road, then south for a very short drive to Lark Quarry Reserve, site of the dinosaur stampede.  We were there with plenty of time to spare before the 10am tour.    Winton, Hughenden and Richmond are promoted as part of the Dinosaur Trail, and it seems there are lots of people who travel this route.  

Little dinosaur  (chicken-like)

Chased by Big Dinosaur

We made a quick departure after the tour to travel the 110 k’s of very ordinary dirt road in to Winton.  I chose the caravan park operated by the Tatts Hotel, and we were very lucky to find a site as we had arrived on the day before the annual camel races!  

Main street of Winton - green grass

Statue of Banjo Paterson

North Gregory Hotel

Instead of going to the camel races on Saturday, we drove to the Age of Dinosaurs, not far out of town, but more corrugated, dirt road badly in need of a visit by the grader – especially considering the number of town cars which visit the display.     We arrived in time for the 2pm tour, and were lucky that another couple had arrived or the guide was going to make us wait until 3 pm (not a good attitude for a business relying on tourists to keep the dollars coming in).   After a half hour explanation of the dinosaur bones on display, we walked a short distance to the laboratory to see people removing rock with tiny, dentist-like drills to expose the bones.    These people actually pay to come and do this work to receive certification, then they can  come back and work for nothing.    Sunday was a very welcome rest day.

Bones of a small dinosaur

Bones of a larger dinosaur with feet like an elephant

On Monday morning we drove 200 k’s north on the Kennedy Developmental Road to Hughenden.   The countryside was very dry and barren, with some sheep and more very thin cattle.   I was surprised to see two pair of brolgas a couple of k’s apart.  I thought they usually gathered near water, so maybe there was some water not far away.    A short stop was made at Hughenden to visit the Information Centre, and bakery and a quick walk along the main street.    This was a much bigger place than I had imagined, and seemed to be doing well, especially compared to Boulia and Winton.

Main street Hughenden, covered area made from windmill parts

 

Dinosaur sculptures from scrap metal

We then made our way north 70 k's to Porcupine Gorge National Park for our pre-booked 3 night stay.   National Parks Queensland, in all their wisdom, now require campers to have permits to stay in any national park at a cost of $5.75 per person/night - there is no more self-registration on arrival at the park. This is done on-line, phone or parks office if you are lucky enough to find one.   My booking for Diamantina was done on the phone and took nearly 10 minutes!   The Pyramid campground was well set out, with 8 caravan sites and 14 tent sites.   There were hardly any campers on tent sites while we were there, but all caravan sites were occupied every night. 

It was pleasantly cool at 9am Tuesday morning when we commenced the walk down a few hundred steps and 120 metres into the gorge.    For Queensland, we thought it was a very picturesque gorge (after Carnarvon in CQ), with flowing water, lots of different trees, and even 2 wild piglets.    We heard their mother, but didn’t sight her.    The climb back up was quite strenuous, but I took a few rest stops along the way.   On Wednesday we just enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, and I cleaned  dusty caravan windows.

Southern end of gorge which is 27 k's long

The Pyramid from bottom of the gorge

Never seen these flowers before - species unknown

We had planned to return to Hughenden, then travel east to Charters Towers, but after consulting maps and talking to a fellow traveller, we decided to continue on the Kennedy Developmental Road to The Lynd.  All things indicated it would be 100 k’s dirt, and 100 k’s bitumen.   Alas, it was one of very few times we discovered the map was wrong.   It was more like 150 k’s of very ordinary dirt and corrugations, and the rest bitumen.   We stopped at the Oasis Roadhouse for lunch, then travelled 100 k’s on bitumen to the intersection of the Kennedy and Gulf Development Roads.    The rest area here was deemed acceptable for our overnight stop.

Friday morning we travelled on the Kennedy Highway for just over an hour to Ravenshoe, for a 2 night stay at the Railway Reserve.   We had stayed here last year, when the engine and tracks were being repaired.  This year the engine is running, the track upgraded and train rides offered every Sunday.   It is so good to see flowing streams, green grass and beautiful, big trees again.    Tomorrow we are off to Lake Tinnaroo, near Yungaburra for a week or two.   

Highest hotel in Queensland

Main street Ravenshoe on a quiet Saturday afternoon

Railway Reserve, Ravenshoe