Sunday February 28th


Today we explored Kuranda, first visiting the spectacular Baron Falls just outside the village.

 As the rains have not yet arrived , there was no indication of the raging torrent which it becomes but the gorge was amazing and the walk along the boardwalk fascinating due to all the information about the flora and fauna.


Back in the village we explored the hippy shops and vibrant markets, but it really is a tourist destination first and foremost and enough is soon enough! Very pretty though.

 

 The walk on the railway line is so much more inviting in daylight!

 

Couldn't resist going to look at Yorkey's Knob, which turned out to be audits a pretty beach.

 

 

 

In the evening went to see the daughter of a friend, and had a good meal in Palm Beach.




Monday 29th February

Had an early morning walk along the beautiful Kenwarra Beach

avoiding the creeks at each end which had crocodile warnings!

Then I drove into cairns to The Tanks, old disused (oil?) tanks now used as an arts centre and beautifully situated on the edge of the lovely Botanic Gardens.

The exhibition I saw was by a Chinese artist and depicted her family's spiritual move over the years from China to Australia.

Then it was time to take Pete the Hippie Camper back (all OK) and check in at my first luxury hotel of the trip. Enjoyed using the pool, sunning myself on the balcony and generally relaxing, before walking along the Esplanade to the harbour.
Had another enormous meal , Queenslanders evidently like their tucker!

 

Saturday February 27th

Today was waterfall day, having difficulty remembering which was which!
 The first one was Malanda Falls, where the pool at the bottom had originally been the town swimming pool. Signs showing the depth of the floods in recent years were quite staggering, and difficult to imagine. Fell into conversation with a local dairy farmer whose family have farmed their land for over 90 years.

Following the waterfall circuit in the guide book, the next visited was Ellinjaa Falls with another inviting pool at the bottom.

and a turtle taking the sun on a nearby log.

Through more glorious scenery

 to the Zillie Falls

and, finally the  Millar Millaa Falls

 

 

Millaa Millar itself was a lovely place. As well as serving the biggest scones I have ever seen the chat at the next table,a group of farmers' wives, was just fascinating, ranging from jelly making to farm machinery via local politics. Shamelessly eavesdropping !

 

 

 

Back on the road next to Josephine Falls

 and Babinda Boulders ,

then, ignoring the multitude of other waterfalls made straight for Koranda. The waterfalls are the result of all the volcanic activity on the Tablelands.
After a rather unspectacular meal in Kuranda, the waitress wished me an "awesome" night! I should have thought when walking to the village from the camp site that the return would be in the dark. The town was completely shut up and deserted, quite spooky.

Friday February 26th


After a walk by the lake this morning

I had a lazy morning on the camp and then went to explore some of the surrounding villages/towns.In Atherton shopped for provisions then went on to Herberton, a fascinating "replica" mining village. All the buildings are genuine and from the period but most have been shipped from elsewhere in the state. It makes a wonderfully evocative museum , fascinating artefacts and I could have stayed for hours.

.
The next stop was Yungaburra with its lovely old houses and shops

 and Curtain Fig tree.

 

  Next I visited the crater lakes of Eacham and Barrie

and the lovely old town of Yungaburra.

 

Monday February 22^nd

 

Walked the length of Colloroy Beach today as far as North Narrabeen.

 

 

Had to walk on the water’s edge as the sand was so hot, quite a few surfers,  and fishermen out so plenty to look at.

 

The lagoon at Narrabeen

 

Sat at the rock pool watching the swimmers then walked back along the road. I had paused for a breather under a tree and was reading the estate agents blurb on a board when he turned up, thought I was a potential buyer and invited me in. Of course I accepted and was shown round a beautiful flat which I would have found absolutely perfect had I been in a position to buy. It had direct sea frontage, first floor, 180degree view of the ocean, two bedrooms a gorgeous white kitchen, big verandah and a fantastic build in window seat, ideal for curling up with a good book! At $1.25it didn’t seem too bad! If only……

Back home packed up ready to go and then went down for a swim in the rock pool and a wander along the rocks as I watched the kite surfers. I don’t think I will ever get bored with it!

Tuesday February 23^rd

Up ridiculously early for the flight to Cairns. Surprised to see how many others in the hostel were up, I think lots of them must be working. I was surprised too to see how quickly the bus got into town, must be a good commute, though people did have to stand. Relatively good flight though there was “weather” near Cairns. Picked up my hippie camper, just lovely, and everything seemed quite straightforward.

 

 

The heavens opened in a first class tropical storm and traffic was very slow out of town. Drove along the highway to Ellis Beach and found a campsite right on the beach. So much easier than putting up a tent!

 

Wednesday February 24^th

The morning dawned fine and clear after last night’s rain, although the storm clouds were gathering. Major disappointment with Pompey who lost to Barnet, despite my message in the sand.

 

Had a walk along the beach, before the rain started....

                

 

 Then , when it stopped just as suddenly , left for Port Douglas. In the 60s this was a sleepy fishing village of about 100 inhabitants, but the building of the Sheraton Resort changed all that.Four Mile Beach was beautiful, though no swimming because of jellyfish,

 

but found the town itself antiseptic and the perfect place for all the elderly cruisers from the P and O ship anchored in the bay. All they seem to want to do is spend money in the shops .Interesting to see in the local newspaper that they are trying to get planning permission to build a retirement complex….. There was a lovely lookout at the end of the beach

and a super bookshop/café in the main street. Reading a biography of Jo Nesbo was amazed to see he almost played for Spurs but had to give up because of an injury, then formed a successful band whilst doing a business studies degree and qualifying as a financial analyst. He was then asked to write a book about his travels with the band but wrote a detective novel instead. How can one person be so successful in so many fields?

 

Leaving Port Douglas, and taking the road north arrived in Daintree,population, 146,  a lovely little village on the river where there were lots of menacing signs about crocodiles! From there it was a short distance to the ferry crossing the Daintree river and up to Cape Tribulation, a beautiful drive through the rainforest. Signs warn of cassowary crossings and crocodiles and the rainforest goes right to the white sandy beaches. (Myall and Trib.)

 

 

On the way back, stopped at Cow Beach which the book describes as “a little bit of paradise” – but they were drilling in the car park! I felt much better back over the ferry as wasn’t supposed to go north of the Daintree, and found a good camp site with a fabulous pool, in Mossman. The Daintree itself is protected by World Heritage status, but not before a long struggle with the loggers.

 

Thursday February 25^th.

After a swim in the pool I went off to Mossman Gorge where I did all the walks through the rainforest, very lovely but very, very hot!

The centre is run by Aborigines and centres round their possession of the land and what it meant to them. The shop was full of beautiful art and craft work and I was sorry not to be able to add to my luggage.

After lunch I drove through the Atherton Tablelands to Mareeba. This has a wild west atmosphere, selling saddles, hunting, shooting and fishing tackle and is the home of one of Australia’s biggest rodeos .It was once the home of the tobacco growing industry but today coffee, whisky distilling, mango wineries and numerous fruit and nut plantations have taken over. Lake Tinaroo, where the the night’s campsite is situated was once famous for tin mining but is now a favourite place for Queenslanders to get away from the heat of the coast. Up on the plateau of the tablelands the air is much clearer and the humidity drops noticeably.

z

Friday February 19th

Another day, another beach, but first walked over the headland to see where I was going! The path over the headland took me past the golf course, and it was obviously ladies' competition day so brought back many happy memories of Tuesday in Miri, especially with the sun and the sea on two sides....

 

On the top of the headland the local hang gliding club have established a launching place and it was amazing standing right next to them as they jumped off the cliff.

 

 

 

 

Then it was goodbye to Dee Why and off to Colloroy for four days at the beach.

 

 

 

 

Looking back at Dee Why 

 

 

Spent the afternoon finding my way around and in the evening cooked a barbecue on the public barbecues at the beach. The local mini rugby were in training, the surfers were still catching the waves and the local youth were playing volleyball so good to see that even at 7.30 pm the beach was still in use.

 

 

Saturday 20th February.

 

Spent the morning combing the local shops, bought a book about the lost children; those sent to Australia for a "better" life. In the afternoon went up to Darling Harbour with Charles to see the dragon boat races. It was fun but we were disappointed as we had expected more in the way of local markets and other CNY entertainments.

 

However, we finished off the day well with a wander round Paddy's Market and a good meal at Hawker, a Malaysian restaurant not far from Darling Harbour.

 

Thursday February 18th

Had a lovely day today meeting up with an old friend from Newbury here in Dee Why!
Lovely lunch, thanks Chris and now well up to date. Some good surf,

 

 So plenty of people out there.

 

 And a lazy day for others!

 

In the morning I went for a swim in the rock pool, keeping well away from the ocean as last night someone was swept into the sea from the pool ! Fortunately she was saved by people who had seen the incident and she was revived, but not without suffering injury from the rocks. The highest waves ever have been recorded all along the coast and the shark spotters have been out all day......

Wednesday February 17th

Went to explore the non beach part of Dee Why this morning. I discovered, written in the concrete pavement, a quote ( with no source) suggesting that the name Dee Why is derived from the formation of the swans which fly over in either a D or a Y. There are some very modern churches,

 

 

Apologies to all my RC friends,  but I have never heard of St Kevin! Looked him up on Google - founder and first abbot of Glendalough in Ireland, Irish name Caoimhin. Run by Scalabriniam fathers; had to look them up too. Mission is to  maintain Catholic faith and practice among Italian immigrants in the new world.

 

 Couldn't resist this, I love the colour.

Despite notices saying the beach was closed and the current was dangerous there were still many surfers out in the sea. Even when the shark siren was sounded and the lifesavers went out on the jet ski they didn't seem worried.

 

I thought this was an interesting plaque on Circular Quay. On it Germaine Greer says she cannot consider Australia home until both communities are united.are equal.

 

 

 

 

This was an interesting piece of city art, donated to Sydney by the Sydney Morning Herald on the newspaper's centenary.

 

In the evening went to a brilliant performance of The Barber of Seville at the Opera House. Superb production, very funny, costumes and set from the 20s, the latter impressive with a two story moving stage portraying the inside of the doctor's house.