Rainforest pics

Just a couple you can never capture the real beauty

30th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo Yungaburra

We went into Malanda today, one of the little close towns, these towns are so nice, there is so much history in the area there is always something to see.
First we went to a local dairy farm which made their own cheeses and chocolates.
There was an observation room that you could watch the cheese being worked, but also a great video set up that showed all the stages of cheese making, as well as the growing and cropping extra food.
They had great product, we bought a ginger yoghurt and a very nice camembert, yum yum, it is nice to support local industry.
Right in town there was another dairy that normally does tours, we were going to do this but when we got there we found out they only do them Monday to Friday.
They did have a fascinating museum there that was all about the dairy industry in the tablelands, the different articles from the past, particularly the war time and the negative influence the Americas had when they were based up here.
There was a lot on when cyclone Larry went through, photos of the destruction, they also describe things that most people wouldn't think of, like no power to milk 300 cows, dairies blown down, one farmer had to chainsaw all day to get to his dairy, he got there at 2pm and found the cows in a lot of distress waiting to be milked, he was on of the lucky ones, he had a generator he could hook up for the milking.
We tend to forget the impact of natural disasters on animals.
It was lunch time so we wandered through town, dropped into the local pub, they didn't seem to have what we wanted, they did have a lot of interesting old pictures, one of Prince Charles when he was going to school in Australia,  he visited up in the area for a special function.
We found a fish and chip shop, so that was lunch in the park.
The locals have a swimming area at the base of a small waterfall, it is right on the edge of town, it is a very pretty area but we wasn't tempted to swim, still very cold.
On either side of the road near the falls are walking trails through the rainforest, we did those walks hoping to see another tree kangeroo, but mostly enjoying the forest, we can never seem to get over the size of the trees.
We did see a different bird, one I had not come across before, it is called the cat bird because it's call just sounds like a cat, it is quite pretty though.
Some of the birds up here make strange sounds,  there are a lot of curlews that run around at night and their call is high pitched and sounds like someone is being strangled, they have long legs and funny eyes, very different.
Picked up some more refreshments, port for the cold weather, beer for the hot.

Crystal Caves

Just a few pics

29th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo Yungaburra

Another day for exploring the area, everything seems so close after WA distances.
Our first stop the Cathedral Fig Tree, we did go to the Curtain fig tree but this one amazed us more than the other one, the roots are so large you can walk in to the middle of them, it is like a room, hence the name cathedral, the tree is also very, very huge.
On to Crystal Caves, this is a man made set of caves to wander through.
The caves are full of the most beautiful and interesting crystals attached to the walls and ceiling, these crystals have been sourced from all around the world.
The most interesting thing to me was the fossils that was there from the Sahara Desert, they were large, and a lot of them were nautilus shells, there certainly was a lot of climate change back then.
There was a jawbone of a mammoth, that one didn't come from the Sahara.
On to a local wetlands area to watch the birds then back to camp.

28th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo Yungaburra

Today is June's 60th birthday, I can't be with her in body but I certainly am in spirit.
We took our canoes up to Lake Eacham, the lake is only a small one approx 3km round, it is a volcanic crater.
When we paddled around there wasn't much bird life as the water is too deep for any apart from shags.
When we finished paddling we left the canoes on the bank and went for a walk on the trail around the lake, we never get sick of walking in the thick rainforest, with the sounds of the birds, smell of the bush and amazing plants. There was a young tour group there, mostly from overseas, swimming,  it was way too cold for us, would probably be great on a hot day.
Next was Lake Barrine, this lake was slightly larger, even though it was in a national park it was all about commercialism, there was a cafe and gift shop so there wasn't any nice bbq areas like at the previous lake, also they run boat cruises on the lake so nobody else was allowed a boat or canoe in the lake.
We looked at the cafe, $8.70 for coffee and scones, not likely.
Then it was a tikki tour up around the top of Lake Tinaroo, it is a national park but there is also pine plantations being logged, these have been planted, I think they were karrie pines.
The road was a dirt one with potholes so big you could almost drive in one side and out the other, no doubt this is caused mostly by the log trucks.
There are some great camping areas in the park,  we would have loved to stay in one but the road was just too bad too take the camper and boat.
We found another crater lake that had a great walk trail so we did that.
By the time we got back out of the bush area it was around 3pm, we hadn't had lunch so we just had to stop and get an icecream and chocolate bar.
Stopped at Atherton for a few goodies then back to camp for quiche dinner.

27th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo Yungaburra

I had forgotten to say that we are at Yungaburra on Lake Tinaroo, the lake is a big one with lots of different areas to stay.
Last night we met a lady who wanted to play golf but her husband couldn't, back injury, so we decided to take her up to the Milla Milla golf course.
It was a sunny day and the course looked pretty good,  the lady, Betty, was a regular club member at Derby and was not used to hills, her club was completely flat and she was carrying her large bag of clubs, ours us only little.
We had a great time only done 9 holes as Betty was a bit worn out carrying the bag up and down the hills, it was the best game I have ever put in with a score of 55, Betty also got 55 and it was the first time ever that I have beaten Merv score. Then it was fown to the local cafe for hot coffee and muffin.
In the afternoon we took the canoes out on the lake, the lskehas lots of finger areas so we headed up one of those, it wasn't long before we were away from all noises apart from those from the rainforest.
As we were paddling along we were keeping our eyes open hoping to see a tree kangeroo, and luck was with us I noticed one as he was jumping from limb to limb, we were able to sit below it and enjoy watching. There was another small group of people with a guide so we called them over and showed them where the kangaroo was.
A bit further we came across a rather rare orange breasted kingfisher.
Being in those canoes it is so quiet it is easy to sneak up on things.
The next thing was a snake, I was watching in close to the banks for platypus or turtles when I saw the snake, we watched it go in and out of the water several times before heading up the bank.
Murphys law I didn't have a camera with me, it's a bit hard to keep mine dry in the canoe.
The canoes are great, Merv and I were talking and both agreed, if we had to leave anything behind at home boat or canoes,  it would be the boat.
Another cool night means another nice day tomorrow.

Platypus Hunt

A few pics I got during our hunt

26th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo

Another very cold night but woke up to a beautiful sunny morning, no wind, we have had a lot of cold wind.
After breakfast it was a walk along part of the lake checking it out for the canoes, unfortunately by this time tbe wind had come up again quite strong. We decided to go to another lake tomorrow for a paddle,  it is in a crater,  not very big and should be sheltered.
After lunch we went to the information centre, they told us about a small river close by that we may see platypus,  they did say early morning or late afternoon was best.
There is a big tree we went to first, the curtain fig tree, what a tree, not only the size but the amount of roots and the distance they come down to the ground, and then the huge healthy ferns that grown in it.
Then down to the platypus hunt, there is a lookout and also a trail along the river, we went quietly along the trail, and guess what? PLATYPUS!!! yeah they aren't mythological.
We watched for ages, when they caught a worm they would come to the surface and eat it, then back down again.
It was funny when they were in the bank under you it was easy to hear them sucking and searching.
The sun came out, the wind dropped so it was back to camp for a beer after such a great day.

25th August 2014 Lake Tinaroo

Time to move on so we head up the road to Lake Tinaroo.
The road was something else, 100% concentration from the passenger as well as the driver but was it well worth it.
The caravan site we have is $150 per week powered with an uninterrupted veiw of the lake.
The lake is a large one with a circumference of 200km, and is used for all different water sports as well as fishing, it is a stocked lake and has huge barramundi come out of it.
Accross the road from us there is a great memorial for all the diggers, and the special dogs, lost in Afghanistan,  it is well done.
The wind came up and the night became quite cold

Ravenshoe to Milla Milla

A bit more

Scenery from Ravenshoe to Milla Milla

Words or photos cannot do justice to the unbelievable beauty of this area.

Fun with June and Neville

This is just a little of the fun times we had, a bit late but blame the computer

24th August 2014 Ravenshoe

We went back to the visitor centre today to spend a bit more time going through their museum, it is so well done,  whst we found surprising was the displays of aborigine artifacts and early photos.
Because the far north Queensland aborigine had plenty of foid in the jungle they we're not nomads like the southern relations, with this they built good homes, used to weave fish and animal traps as well as utensils for everday use.
They climbed up trees, with a rope made from vine, placed around the back of them the same way the polyneasians would climb coconut palms, they would do this to catch possum and tree kangeroo.
They also carried shields that looked just like Papua New Guinea Armour, all the gear looked like it was from over the water.
After that we went back to the Ravenshoe golf course to have another 18 holes with the people we had met, great day but hard doing 2 days like that carring your gear.
Camp fire and port tonight, still no platypus.

23rd August 2014 Ravenshoe

We are off to play golf today on the Milla Milla golf course, it looks great and a bit of a challenge,  best thing is it is so cheap.
As we played around it was the most amazing feeling being surrounded by rolling green hills and rainforest, it was hard to concentrate sometimes, i was too busy watching and listening to the birds.
It ended up being the best game we had played,  very enjoyable day, to finish it nicely we went down into Milla Milla for a hot coffee and a double chocolate muffin, yum.
Back to camp to light a campfire and look for platypus,  we did pick up some more wood on the way back.
I am beginning to think that the platypus are like the bunyip, mythological,  though Merv has seen one, not me yet.

20th August 2014 Ravenshoe

When we were at the visitor centre they suggested that we go to the Herberton pioneer town, they said we would need a whole day, so that is where we headed.
Driving through the country made me feel like I was back in Tasmania in the north west or west coast, the roads very hilly and windy, but the countyside is spectacular, I don't think I could get sick of looking at it.
When we got to Herberton we did find a good sized town people lived in and also the best preserved town I could imagine.
They had everything from the early days, Herberton was a mining area, there was nothing that wasn't there from the chemist shop with all the old gear, bulldozers, tractors, fire engine, rail ambulance, so much machinery and tools for every day life, all the buildings were relocated and restored, school, bank, police station, newsagent, printers, photographers, just too much to name them all, it certainly was a full day.
We came back to Ravenshoe to stay in one of their caravan parks near a river for tonight.

16th, 17th, 18th August 2014 Surprise Valley Bedrock Caravan Park

The first night we had light rain, not much but very nice.
In the morning we went down to the gem shop and picked up a fossicers license, hired a kit, got information needed and headed out into the fossicking area.
We spent approx 4 hrs and found one nice topaze that weighed over 15 carats.
That night the park was doing wood fired pizza, that was our dinner, it was delicious and so interesting watching how they are cooked, it is so quick it takes just 3 minutes.
Next day we went out to the Undarra National Park to climb the Kalkine volcano and walk around the rim, once again great scenery.
When the Undarra volcano erupted it spewed lava that went down through water courses,as they cooled they created long tubes that continued to carry the hot lava, these are called the Undarra  Lava Tubes. The lodge in the national park has been well done most of the accommodation and dining area are refurbished train carriages, most look like the old days with the leather seats and the fittings. They also have standard type rooms and caravan park area.
Next day was a bit of a lay day as Merv wanted the workshop to doa bit of welding for him.
There is a lovely little creek that runs near the park so we went for a walk, Merv took his rod, they did tell us there was bream in the creek but if we caught any could we release, that suited us.
No fish but hundreds of butterflies, Merv wandered up the creek while I scratched around in the gravel until a big bull came down for a drink near me, I thougth it was time to go, he probably was as gentle as a lamb but he was a very big one.
The park was one that would be easy to spend a month at,  friendly people, hot home cooked meals everynight for anyone that wants it, great sites, birds, butterflies and really fantastic amenities.

15th August 2014 Surprise Valley Bedrock Caravan Park

Move off today after a very pleasant stay, as we travelled we came across an early day gold crushing site, only the big chimney remained but beside it was a beautiful billabong filled with large white water lilies and lots of water birds, there was one jabaru but when it saw us it flew off into the cow paddock and walked away among them.
It was a very pleasant place and lots of people use it for an overnight stop but we hadn't gone far enough to stay, push on.
We stopped a bit further along at Georgetown and had lunch in the local park, once again the council had done it right,  a very small town and wonderful facilities.
The trip went through lovely hills with great veiws
When we arrived at the Bedrock Caravan Park we booked in for two nights then went to find out what the area had to offer.

22nd August 2014 Ravenshoe

Today we decided to go to all the waterfalls that are in the region.
As we drove through the country it made both of us remember the beautiful greens that are in Tassie or NZ, the scenic route was windy wnd narrow, but mind blowing, words or photos cannot do justice to any of it.
We went around the 3 waterfalls that was on the circuit,  each one different, we sat and had our lunch at one with the wild turkeys wanting their share.
After lunch we went to the Milla Milla golf course, we were really taken back with this one, we actually walked it because it was so beautiful.
We stopped and talked to some of the locals that were playing,  they told us that the course is owned by the community and is looked after by volunteers, the membership is $210 per year and for us to play it us $10 for 18 holes, we are going up for a game tomorrow.

21st August 2014 Ravenshoe

Last night wasn't quite as cold as the night before but we still had a fire and went in early.
The day was very mild so we went down to the golf club for a look and a game, when we got there the carpark was overflowing with cars and even a bus, we thought this might be the wrong day for a game, but then we noticed that nobody was on the course so we went around the  back for a look.
We started talking to the guy who worked there, he said it was $10 for 9 holes and that nobody else was playing, they were all being entertained as it was seniors week and the government was paying for a luncheon.
We went out to play, we were only on  the second tee when the manager and the other worker, who had  been watching us, came out to us and gave me a new $60 chipper club, they noticed I was a lefty and decided they wanted to give me the club, they took a photo of us both and got my email address to send it to.
It was a great game, a lovely course,  when we were on the 9th hole the guys came back out and told us to make sure when we put our gear away and took our hats off to come into the clubhouse for lunch.
We went in there was heaps of sandwiches, anything we wanted to drink, all the people were so friendly and nice, real country people, they want us to go back on Sunday to have a game with them.
Fire again tonight, it is cool but everthing is so green.

19th August 2014 Ravenshoe

Yesterday we arrived at the Ravenshoe visitors centre, which gave us lots of information on things to do, they had a  great film showing of platypus that had made their burrows in a dam before a drought and when the water receeded they had to climb back up rock walls to get to them, the northern platypus is only half the size of the southern platypus. One great thing we were told was a free camp approx 15km out of town in an old gravel pit, they said if we were lucky and used a spotlight we may see a tree kangeroo or cassowary, we didn't have any luck  but the sounds of all the birds in the trees made up for it, it was like you were I  some amazing jungle, noises I had never heard,  if I didn't know any better I would swear some of them was monkeys calling, but it was just our animals and birds.
The down side was it was the coldest  we had been since I don't know  when, we both had thermals and beanies outside when we were spotlighting, we ended up going to bed in thermals, socks and I had my onesie overtop.
It was such a peaceful night and so nice to wake up to the beautiful dawn chorus.
The reason for the cold we were at 3731 ft with a lot of tall trees about not letting too much sun in.  Ravenshoe is the highest town in  Queensland.

Croydon

From the lookout

14th August 2014 Croydon

We stayed another night here as it is such an interesting place and the is a dam we want to check out.
The dam called Belmore is the town water supply, the council has spent a large amount of money to put in showers, toilets, a boat ramp and a pontoon for swimming, there are lovely lawns with picnic tables and bbqs.
All this is done to encourage the locals to enjoy the area, not like in Perth no one is allowed anywhere near the dam water.
Fishing is encouraged with barramundi up to a metre being caught.
We were told at the information centre before we went out that the water was down to 45%, I asked about birdlife and was told I would see more in the gardens there.
When we arrived at the dam we took the canoes out, we did have our rods and a lure but wasn't really that worried about fishing, as it turned out because the dam was so low there was too much weed to fish with a lure.
The most wonderful surprise when we went around a corner, there was so much birdlife, bugerigars, kingfisher, rainbow bee eaters, sea eagles spoonbill both black and yellow bill, pelicans, heron, ibis many varieties, various types of ducks, pied stilts, jesus bird and one very large jabaru.
Jabaru don't appear to be a flock bird as each time we see them it is in ones or twos.
There was also a freshwater crocodile, the peacefulness of paddling around watching nature is just the best. The only reason that I could think of that the woman in the information centre had no knowledge of these birds is that when the locals go out it is with power boats
ski-ing and jet ski.
On the way back we stopped at the historical site of China Town.
When there was gold strikes the Chinese were quick to arrive and set up market gardens and grocery stores, there were laws at the time that that didn't allow the Chinese to work on mine sites.
The laws at the time made it illegal for a white Australian to marry or have relationships with the aborigines but the Chinese could, and did.
This was a small but very interesting town, and it rained tonight,  first rain in 3 months.

12th August 2014 Bang Bang Rest Area

We travelled through more ranges today, then Mt Isa, a very large mining town.
We headed up toward Normanton and stopoed at the Bang Bang Rest Area,  this one was very large and also very quiet, no road noise.

13th August 2014 Croydon

Arrived in Croydon around 1 o'clock booked into the caravan park.
Croydon is one of Australia's great early gold fields.
It is a small town now but has fantastic history, the council has restored buildings that was accessable to wander through, some of the buildings are still used, like the town hall.
The visitor centre run a very informative film, everything is well done.

11th August 2014 Fountain Springs

More wind today as we head for Mt Isa.
When we got to our rest area we walked up some steep hills on the escarpment,  the view was amazing,  the whole area through here reminds us of the Pilbara.
This is a very noisy stop so its ear plugs tonight.

10th August 2014 Avon Downs Rest Area

Just a steady day of travel today,  extremely windy, a lot of signs along the road warning of crosswinds and wind causing extra fuel consumption.
Pulled into the rest area approx 2.30.

9th August 2014 rest area

Left Daly Waters, heading south till we hit 3ways to go across to Queensland.
Pulled into Attack Creek road side rest area around 2.30 for the evening, this rest area was the site where John Mcdonall Stuart had to turn back on one of his attempts to get from South to North, he turned back because of sickness and violent natives, there is a memorial for him and a young mounted policeman killed there in the course of his duties.  Travelled enough for today.

8th August 2014 Daley Waters

After the amazing experience in tge thermal pools we set a course gor Daley Waters.
There wasn't much shade when we got to the park which is part of the old historical pub, but we sat around with some other people and relaxed with a drink under a big tree.
One of the main reasons we stayed there, spart from the history, was we were told by lots of people about the great meals at good prices.
Evening we had what they called a 50/50 bbq, the best piece of steak I have eaten in I don't know how long, and a huge piece of juicy wild caught barramundi all with as much salad as you want from the salad bar.
Some people had all steak or all fish,  it was their choice and cooked to the way of their preferance.
All this for $29 and then live music, a guy with his guitar singing lots of old rock songs, we got up dancing, everybody even the kids enjoyed the night, the entertainment is there every night, he said that this night was his 190th night in a row.

Kakadu National Park pics

Another one