Wow what a day we had today. Crocodiles, emus, cassowaries, dingos, kangaroos, cockatoos, a python, sugar cane, exotic wines from tropical fruit and a ruined castle ..... all in one day.
Johnstone River Crocodile Farm a few minutes north of Innisfail was our first stop. On arrival we were allowed to hold a saltwater crocodile about 1.2 metres long. It feels very soft to the touch and we were warned to watch out for its powerful tail as the mouth was no worries, it was taped shut. Next we joined the second half of a tour which covered all the wildlife in the park exceot the crocodiles. At the end of that tour we joined the next tour to witness crocodiles being fed and to hear of their life cycle.
A short drive south of Innisfail to Mourilyan where we visited The Australian Sugar Heritage Centre. An interesting collection of documents, photos, implements and machinery which explain the history of sugar cane growing and sugar production in Queenslad from the late 19th century to the present day.
After some lunch at the museum cafe it was off to the Murdering Point Winery which makes wines and ports from tropical fruits. Ports from pineapple, mulberry and black sapote. Wines from mango, lemon aspen, lychee, Davidson Plum and passionfruit. All quite delicious and of course a few samples were bought and hopefully they will survive until we get home. Then again this travelling around is thirsty work so one never knows!
Our final destination for the day was Paronella Park. In short it was created in the 1930's as the dream of a Spaniard to build a castle in Northern Queensland. It was opened to the public in 1935 and boasted its own hydro electric plant, a ballroom/theatre, an icecreamery along with swimming and boating below Mena Falls. Paronella Park has survived cyclones and floods but being built from concrete made on site reinforced with railway lines it is falling victim to concrete cancer. The buildings are heritage listed and there are plans to preserve and restore them.
We stayed on for the night tour so we could see the buildings floodlit and to hear more of the intriguing story of the man and his family who built his dream.
A cuddle with Fraser the Alpine Dingo (Johnstone River Crocodile Park)
Bruno has morning tea (Johnstone River Crocodile Park)
An attempt to overcome an emu phobia (Johnstone River Crocodile Park)
When you have food you are everyone's friend (Johnstone River Crocodile Park)
Australian ingenuity, tractor modified to increase height to clear young cane. (Sugar Heritage Centre)
Lower refreshment rooms (Paronella Park)
The castle (Paronella Park)
Lower refreshment rooms under flood lights (Paronella Park)
Mena Falls under flood lights (Paronella Park)