Wednesday, August 24. 2011
Another short hop again 120 km to the Cane Village Caravan Park in Bundaberg. Same as yesterday we arrived in time to set up and have some lunch. We then went to Sugarland Shopping Centre which is just about next door to buy some groceries and search for a hairdresser, a barber and and electrical component store. I bet that's got you wondering. Lorraine wanted a trim, I wanted a haircut and the electrical compents are to solve a problem with our DVD player. We didn't find what we were looking for so went into Bundaberg CBD where we found all three within a stretch of 6 shops. After having haicuts, trims and buying components we went for a drive to look at the beaches and beach suburbs of Bundaberg some 15 km to the east. On the way we dropped in to The Bundaberg Barrel, a giant half barrel which serves as the retail outlet for Bundaberg Brewed Soft Drinks. We tasted most of then and bought a selection. After our drive around the beach suburbs it was back home for tea.
Wednesday, August 24. 2011
Another short hop today. 120 km to Agnes Water which is on the coast about 50 km east of the Bruce Highway. Arrived at Discovery Coast Caravan Park in time to set up and have some lunch After lunch we went to tour the two towns of Agnes Water and The Town of Seventeen Seventy (1770 for short). 1770 is where Captain Cook came ashore in 1770 after anchoring the Endeavour in (what is now) Bustard Bay.
Lunch at Agnes Water
View from Wave Lookout, The Town of Seventeen Seventy
A drivers dilemma, The Town of Seventeen Seventy
Sunday, August 21. 2011
Drove out to Emu Park where we saw and heard the singing sailing ship. A monument to Captain Cook who discovered and named Keppel Bay. The Sunday markets were on so we took a stroll around for a couple of hours. Then headed north past Causeway Lake and Rosslyn Bay. At Rosslyn Bay there is a man made bay that houses a marina and it is also where the ferries leave and arrive from Great Keppel Island. After looking around the marina we were feeling a little hungry and headed up to Yepoon for some lunch and a look around. Enjoyed a lovely leisurely lunch at Meglomania and then wandered around Yepoon for a while.
On the way back to the caravan park we went up Mt Archer for what we thought would be a panoramic view of Rockhampton but there was too much smoke from a nearby bush fire and too many trees to be able to get any more than a glimpse of the town 600 metres below us.
Singing Sailing Ship Monuement, Emu Park
Rosslyn Harbour with Double Head in the background
Looking across Lammermoor Bay to Rosslyn Harbour and Double Head from Wreck Point Lookout
Sunday, August 21. 2011
356 km to Rockhampton. Not much to see along this stretch, very few towns, the occasional petrol station and plenty of rest stops. Along the road there are signs indicating this is a stretch of road notorious for accidents. The signs call for motorists to stay alert, rest and not speed. We had lunch in a rest stop at around the 200 km mark where we chatted to a couple from Narooma. They had spotted the Nowra sticker on the back of our van and asked if we were from Nowra. Arrived at the Big4 Discovery Holiday Park at about 3:00 pm, set up our vans and had some afternoon tea whilst deciding what to do for tea. Rockhampton Leagues Clud was selected as they had a courtesy bus and that meant we didn't have to drive or navigate. The meals were excellent, we all took advantage of the $13.50 chef's specials which included a soft drink and all you can eat icecream.
Sunday, August 21. 2011
Today each couple did their own thing. Phil and Eleanor spent the day with their grandson and his partner. They enjoyed a tour of Mackay and lunch.
We went south to The Sugar Shed at Sarina. Here there is a mini sugar mill contained in one building and on one level.
We arrived in time to catch the 11:00 am tour and it was very different to the tour we did at Tully. The whole process was explained from planting to sugar crystals. The mini mill is a batch process each of the six steps to creating raw sugar from cane is completed independently. An excellent tour and explanations. The best bit was when we got to the tasting of the liquers that are made there, Mango Liquer, Coconut Liquer, Rum Liquer and lastly at 38% alcohol their Rum. Oh and they also do a 'home made' ginger beer (no alcohol) and that was very nice too.
We then drove out to Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay, two of the largest coal loaders in Australia. The two facilities sit side by side, Hay Point is operated by BMA (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance) and Dalrymple Bay is operated by the Queensland Port Authority. Both facilities are huge. There were three ships being loaded and we counted another 26 sitting offshore waiting for a berth. Heading back into Mackay we went to the Caneland Shopping Centre to pick up some groceries to make tea and to have a look around.
Dalrymple Bay Loader foreground and left. Hay Point Loader is to the right of Dalrymple Bay jetty.
Thursday, August 18. 2011
Left Airlie Beach at 10:00, getting used to late starts, as today was a short drive of 155 km to Mackay. A slight detour on the way to Colour Me Crazy (again) in Proserpine, stayed there long enough to make it worthwhile having an early lunch before heading for Mackay. Checked into the Andergrove Caravan Park in North Mackay. We set up our vans, had some afternoon tea and headed off into town. Found the TIC (should know what that is by now) and picked a few things that looked interesting to see/do while here. A tour of the Mackay Marina was next where there is a very impressive display of vessels of all shapes and sizes. After walking around the marina we headed back home via a Woolworths to restock on groceries. Tea tonight was prawns we had bought from a fisherman selling around the caravan park with some crusty bread and salad washed down with an appropriate fluid.
A view across Mackay Marina
Thursday, August 18. 2011
A really lazy day today. The girls took one car and went to look at Airlie Beach in more detail while Phil and I headed for the nearest golf course, Proserpine Golf Club (the nearest golf course to Airlie Beach about 40 kms away) they had advertised 2 people could play 18 holes and have a cart for $76.00 so we thought that was OK. Unfortunately when we got there we found the front 9 was having a make over and there was also a ladies comp in progress. We were permitted to play 2 of the front nine that were not being modified and could then follow the ladies. All worked out OK as we got to play 11 holes for the price of 9. After golf we had some luch at Airlie Beach and had a look at their man made lagoon. On returning to the caravan park we found the girls relaxing by the pool totally exhausted from their wanderings around Airlie Beach. BBQ tea tonight, quick and easy as well as tasty.
Airlie Beach Lagoon
Feeding the lorikeets at Airlie Beach Resort and Van Park
Thursday, August 18. 2011
A late start and on the road at 10:00. Stopped for fuel at Ayr and for lunch just outside Bowen. The girls had spotted an advertisement for a shop in Proserpine they thought looked good so we headed the few kilometres past the Airlie Beach turnoff to spend a little time in Proserpine. Checked into Airlie Cove Resort and Van Park located on the Shute Harbour side of Airlie Beach. After setting up the vans we toured Airlie Beach and had some tea at an Italian restaurant. It was then back home for some supper and another good nights sleep.
Monday, August 15. 2011
Phil and I dropped the girls at CastleTown Shopping Centre and then headed to Townsville Golf Club. It cost us $10 for 9 holes. Townsville Golf Club is a 27 hole course and we played 19 - 27. A good course with a few bunkers and no water .... well at least on the holes we played. Our round was followed by the Monday special lunch deal another $10 for lunch. We chose the fish and chips with salad.
Mid afternoon saw us heading back to CastleTown Shopping Centre to pick up our other halves and their shopping which they told us everything they bought was on special! We stopped in at The Coffee Club for afternoon tea before heading home.
Monday, August 15. 2011
Today we continued our journey southwards. Arriving in Townsville at the Magnetic Gateway Caravan Park we set up the vans and had some lunch. After lunch we drove to the top of Castle Hill for a 360 degree viewing of Townsville and its suburbs on descending Castle Hill we toured the centre of Townsville and visited the tourist information centre.
Looking east from Castle Hill towards Magnetic Island
Sunday, August 14. 2011
Well not far today, only about 100 km. We wanted to tour a sugar mill and so Tully Sugar Mill was the one. Checked out of Innisfail right on 10:00 as it was only 49 km to Tully and we didn't need to be there until 1:30. Arrived at the tourist information centre in plenty of time to collect our tickets and view the exhibits. We then went for a walk around town, including an obligatory climb to the top of the 8 metre high Golden Gumboot which represents Tully's (and Australia's) highest annual rainfall of 7.93 metres in 1950.
Tully (inland) and Mission Beach (on the coast) are the heart of the area where cyclone Yasi came ashore and more than 6 months after the cyclone there is still plenty of evidence of the power and destruction it brought.
The sugar mill tour was very interesting and very informative. It took us through the whole process from cane harvesting to loading raw sugar on ships for export. 100% of Tully Sugar output is exported to Japan and America. Tasting of sugar and molasses was allowed at various points in the process.
The tour over we headed a further 50 km south to Cardwell. Again we witness plenty of evidence of cyclone Yasi.
Tea was at the Cardwell RSL Club, a truly wonderful club with great volunteer staff and a courtesy car from the caravan park to the club and return. The meals are excellent value for money, so much so that we had to abandon the prospect of enjoying a dessert.
The Golden Gumboot, Tully
Tully Sugar Mill
Saturday, August 13. 2011
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)
Thursday, August 11. 2011
A short drive of 90 km to Innisfail for a 2 night stay. There are a number of attractions here that we want to see. We checked in to the August Moon Caravan Park approx 5 km south of Innisfail shortly before lunch. After lunch we went back into Innisfail to visit the tourist information centre and to look around the town. It is a very interesting town which was mostly destroyed by a cyclone in 1918 and rebuilt in concrete art deco buildings in the following years.
On the advice of the tourist information staff we went out to Etty Bay to see if we could spot a cassowary. We had been told that the cassowaries frequent the beach and picnic areas at Etty Bay. We were not dissapointed. We saw three cassowaries at very close quarters.
Dinner tonight was at the Brothers Leagues Club and it was a very good meal and excellent value.
August Moon Caravan Park Innisfail
Close encounter with a cassowary
Thursday, August 11. 2011
Today is our last day in Cairns, tomorrow we move on starting our journey down the coast. We couldn't leave Cairns without seeing Crystal Cascades, our caravan park's namesake. So after a lazy morning we headed the 5 km up the road for a 1.2 walk to the cascades. A pretty walk along the river to a small waterfall.
Crystal Cascades
Tuesday, August 9. 2011
Headed to Mareeba stopping off at the Barron Falls at Kuranda. Coffee Works at Mareeba. What a wonderful place. For a reasonable fee you can sample without limit 16 different types of coffee, 4 different types of tea, 12 different types of chocolate and 3 different types of liquer. Oh if only I hadn't driven. There is also a very interesting and comprehensive museum of all things coffee from early espresso machines, coffee grinders, filters etc and also a section with a collection of tea pots through the ages and from different countries.
After spending several hours here we went into Mareeba to have a snack before visiting the tourist information centre where we found yet another museum with a very good collection of memorabilla and displays relating to history and life in the local area.
Returned to the caravan park in time to change and depart for our sunset cruise and dinner on Trinity Inlet. The cruise was excellent with nibbles and champagne. On returning to the marina 90 minutes later we walked over to Dundee's restaurant for the dinner. Wonderful dinner, fantastic staff and service. An excellent end to the day.
Barron Falls
Coffee Works Mareeba, some early espresso machines
Sunset over Cairns from Trinity Inlet
Dinner at Dundee's
Tuesday, August 9. 2011
This morning it was into Cairns for Lorraine's xray. After the xray I went and got 4 new tyres on the Sorento. While waiting for the tyres to be fitted we had some lunch with Eleanor and Phil in the Cairns Central Shopping Centre. When we picked up the Sorento we drove out to Smithfield shopping centre leaving Phil's car there we drove up to Palm Cove. Spent the afternoon exploring Palm Cove and watching life go by from the deck of one of the local establishments.
Palm Cove street view - Peppers Resort on the right
Tuesday, August 9. 2011
The day started with a visit to the Cairns 24 hour medical centre to check on Lorraine's hand which has been causing her some concern. The doctor ordered an xray and bandaged it up. He suggested the hand should be bandaged all the time. Met Eleanor and Phil at Stocklands, Woree shopping centre. Explored the shopping centre and had some lunch. After lunch Lorraine and I returned to the caravan park and caught up with some domestic chores while Phil and Eleanor toured the northern beaches by car and on foot.
Sunday, August 7. 2011
Atherton and Herberton were the focus of our attention today. First stop Atherton, the major town on the Atherton Tablelands. Apart from checking out the town the girls wanted to visit The Crystal Caves, a jewellery store which has all types of semi precious stones and crystals to buy and jewellery made from the stones. Their main claim to fame is a simulated crystal mine in the basement. The amethyst crystals they sell are contained in geodes and are imported from Uruguay.
It was then a 15 minute drive to Herberton Historic Village located at Herberton which itself is the oldest town on the tablelands. With buildings dating from 1870 this assembly of original buildings with intact interior displays, original machinery, vehicles and related vintage items is the most significant collection in Queensland. The buildings have been relocated to the Historic Village precinct from all over the surrounding area. The surrounding area was once a hive of activity at the many tin mines that once existed throughout the area.
Grand Hotel and Crystal Caves car, Atherton
Herberton Historic Village
Butchers Shop, Herberton Historic Village
Friday, August 5. 2011
Lazy day today. The Sorento went in for new front brakes. The girls went shopping and had their nails done. Phil and I went to Cairns Golf Club (20 minutes south of Cairns) with the intention of playing 18 holes only to find that today is day one of the three day Cairns Classic. So back on the road to Half Moon Golf Club (20 minutes north of Cairns) at Yorkey's Knob.
We asked about a game and all they could offer was 9 holes as there was a comp on there too. We only got to play 8 of the nine. The ninth was abandoned due to rain.
Back into town to pick up the Sorento and the girls and back to Crystal Cascades for a sausage sizzle and some New Guinean food prepared by the New Guinean staff of the caravan park. After the food tasting they dressed in traditional dress and performed traditional dances. An excellent show.
At the sausage sizzle
The dancers
Friday, August 5. 2011
Today we headed for Cape Tribulation. We took a break in Mossman to investigate a tour of the sugar mill. Lorraine and I had tried to take a tour on previous visits to Cairns but were always too late in the cane harvest season. Unfortunately the mill tours are no longer conducted. Continued on to Daintree Village with the idea of taking an Argo 8x8 tour of a working cattle farm and a pocket of Daintree Forest. Rain made us think twice so we booked a Daintree River cruise instead. After a picnic lunch we boarded our boat for a croc spotting river cruise. We were rewarded by the sighting of three salt water crocodiles, the largest at an estimated 3.5 metres. The guide pointed out eastern water dragons, common tree snakes and a variety of birds and trees. All very interesting.
On our return to the boat ramp the weather had cleared and we decided to take the Argo 8x8 tour. We drove 1 km out of the village to the farm and met our guide and driver. The Argo is an 8 wheel drive skid steer amphibious vehicle and seats 6 including the driver. Peter drove us around part of his farm over some very rough and steep tracks to a far corner of his property where it adjoins the Daintree Rainforest. We drove through the rainforest, on his property, with a commentary on the plants, mountains and aboriginal artifacts. Peter pointed out varieties of cycads that are believed to predate the dinosaur and another cycad, the Hope Cycad, that is believed to be 1500 years old. The tour was billed as one hour but Peter was in no hurry and we returned to his shed nearly two hours later. We were accompanied all the way by his cattle dog, Rusty, who rang along side, infront of and behind the Argo.
It was then back to Daintree Village for a coffee and cake before we went back to the caravan park.
Alas we did not make it to Cape Tribulation ..... maybe another day.
Eastern wter dragon Common tree snake
3.5 metre saltwater crocodile A cormorant rest on a fallen tree
The track descends into the Daintree Forest All aboard the Argo
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