Reef and beyond

A trip to Kuranda saw Maddie grab a parrot and put it on her shoulder.  Then a rainforest walk to Barrow Falls.

A trip to the reef is a must do.  So we set of with Wavelength.  Great company.  We dived at three sites and saw the range of reef fish.  Plenty of sharks and turtles.  Really was a lovely day with still winds and low tides.

Then it was up to the Daintree Rainforest to see crocs, more cassowaries, birds, kangaroos and more rainforest walks.  The Hodgsons joined us at Cape Tribulation and we set of for our first four wheel drive up the Bloomfield Track.  In 1984 I was blockading to stop the dozers making the track.  Today we drove it.  It was a great drive with steep hills at a 1:3 gradient.  At the end we saw the Bloomfield Falls then finished the day at Cooktown.

Went down to the wharf to go fishing and not even a bite.  Very disappointing.

Atherton Tablelands

The wet topics of north Queensland were certainly wet. We spent lots of time doing rainforest walks one of which was rewarded with a platypus sighting. Maddie thought she would try and get a little closer and was rewarded with a spectacular slip! We caught up with David's parents for a couple of nights at Malanda which was a lovely change of pace.

We are now in Port Douglas and have just visited Mossman gorge which is very different from how David and I remember it (25-35 years ago). See if you can spot Max in the photo of the rapids.

Rafting

Tully is the wettest place in Australia with a rainfall of more than 6 metres per annum.  With looming black clouds overhead we ventured off on a rafting trip down the Tully River.  It was a magnificent adventure that we all thoroughly enjoyed.  The rapids were grade 4 to 5 on scale of 1 - 6.  Maddie and Max loved it.

When we got back we headed down Cassowary Drive to Mission Beach to see if we could see some cassowaries in the wild.  We were lucky enough to see one close to the road and another in the distance.

Tomorrow its up into the hills to see Atherton Tablelands and the surrounding towns.

Having left the Gibsons, we hooked up the van and headed for Wallaman Falls.  It has to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen (this included, Jim Jim, Twin, Niagara,etc).  Its up there with Victoria Falls.  We hiked down to the bottom and had our photo taken by a passing tourist and then started the hike back to the top.  I had to listen to Maddie moan about her sore legs as we trudged up the steep climb back to the campsite.

After a quick recovery we spent dusk with the platypuses down at the river.  Meanwhile Maddie had cooked a magnificent chicken kiev for mains which was followed by cinnamon scrolls cooked in the camp oven.

The next morning, Max and I set of on the bikes for a ride down the mountain.  On the flat, Max wanted to get some sugar cane from a passing train.

I write this from Hull Head near Tully.  Tomorrow we go rafting down the Tully River.

Far north Queensland

Having left family and friends we headed north.  1770 was a bit disappointing, howling winds.  Then to Airlie Beach for a taste of tourist fever.  Onward, and finally we hit a national park.  What a great relief to be away from the tourist parks.  We camped at Alligator Creek, in Bowling Green Bay National Park.

What a beautiful place.  Then we hit Townsville, staying with the Gibsons.  Fraser and Sue Ann welcomed us with a magnificent roast lamb dinner.  The next day it was off to Paluma Dam with a swim at Little Crystal Fall.  A stop at Birthday Falls resulted in an encounter with a yellow belly black snake.

Tomorrow its off to Cardwell and may be a visit to Hinchinbrock Island.

Trip Number 2 - Far North Queensland

Hello all,

The Hawkins family have bought another caravan and left cold Melbourne for Cape York.  The trip so far has included a great night with the Daltons in Benalla, shooting rabbits and sitting around the fire having dinner.

Next stop was Sydney, dinner with Chloe and Amanda (what a rich chocolate pudding) and then on to Mossman to stay with Nette.  It was great to see her again and be part of the next stage in her journey.

Leaving Sydney we travelled to see our friends Russ and Margy at their new house in Gumma.  We met Russ and Margy on our first trip and hope they will join us for part of this trip.

After two nights, it was back in the car to find an orthodontist as Maddie's braces kept coming off.  Her trousers kept falling down, ha ha.  Unfortunately, the orthodontist wasn't any good so we reverted to the good old wire cutters.

Wet N Wild was the theme park of choice.  A great day filled with screams, laughs and wedgies as we rocketed down the water slides at a breath taking speed.

After a quick change we set of to see Malcolm and Bianca at Pacific Paradise in Qld.  What lovely weather as Daniel and Tatiana put more wood on the fire, we take off our clothes to stroll around in tee shirts and shorts and enjoy the beautiful seas.

Tomorrow, its goodbyes and then to 1770 to follow in the footsteps of Capt Cook.