The push to the tip

With Elliott Falls behind us, we pushed on across the Jardine River, through Bamaga and onto Punsand Bay.  We parked the van and headed to the beach to catch some fish for dinner.  Max was the only one who managed to land a fish.  Mine got away!!!

Next day we drove to the tip and waked the final 500 metres to take the photo and prove we had made it.  After feeling victorious, we walked down the beach for a while.  Not far off the beach we watched a  shovelled nosed dolphin herding fish into the shallows and then having a feed.  We watched this being repeat three or four times before the dolphin headed back to the deep waters.  We felt we were in a David Attenborough documentary.

To catch some fish, Simon, Maddie and I headed on a fishing trip with a guide.  What magnificent fisher people.  We caught a huge mackerel, queenfish, long tom, barracuda, coral trout, giant trevally, blue bone, spangled emperor and a rainbow runner.

Three days at the tip and the southward journey began.

Up to Cape York

Leaving Cooktown we headed north towards the trip of Australia.

Before we left, it was time for more dental work on Maddie's braces.

Our first stop was Archer River.  A lovely campsite after an 8 hour dusty drive.  After a swim in the river it was relaxing around the open fire.

From here we had a quick trip to Weipa to get a new universal joint for the Hodgson's car.  In Weipa we passed some time with a Bauxite mine tour.  We were rewarded with a magnificent sunset that we watched from our beach campsite.

Back on the road the next day, this time heading for Bramwell Station.  Another campfire and the traditional cinnamon scrolls followed by damper the next morning.

After a swim at Fruit Bat Falls, it was up the Old Telegraph Track to Elliott Falls, some deep river crossings and rough roughs before we got there.  We were rewarded by magnificent swimming with our own jump rock.  Max lead us into the depth of Elliott Falls.

Three days to relax here before the push to the tip.

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.