Week 14  Aug 12^th – 18^th

We were not sure where we were going to end up today finding  free camps along the coast road is hit and miss all very busy.

From Mena Creek we past Kurrimine Beach, Mission Beach, Tully and Cadwell.  Twenty kms off the main hwy is Lucinda and of course we had to go in.  Lucinda is a major sugar mill processing and exporting town.  It has one of the longest pier in Australia, but somehow retains a little beachside town atmosphere. One caravan park that was full, lots of holiday units and houses for rent and of course that little general store that sold it all.

From there we drove down the hwy, checking out camps for the night. Free camps along the coast hwy have been very busy and full.  Through Ingham, Balgal Beach, Toomulla and finally into Bluewater Park, about 30kms north of Townsville. This will do for a few days while we look around the Townsville area.

Thursday and Friday saw the rain come in, so there was not much sight seeing done.  Friday night (date night) saw us walking across the oval at camp to the Community Hall to support the local bingo night.  “It was fun”.  Families, locals and grey nomands all chatting and playing for sheep stations.

Saturday we were on the move again, looking for some sunshine.  From Townsville we headed to Ayr along the Bruce Hwy to Home Hill and then into Bowen.  We had booked 2 nights at a homestay called Glen Erin, about 20kms out of Bowen.  Wow huge, green grassed sites and a host that paid attention to her customer’s needs.  “It was great”.  There was a campfire with damper each night and all the campers attended to talk about their travels.

Monday we moved to Lake Elphinstone, just outside of Glenden in the Central Highlands, once again mining all around. The Lake is a large body of water that hopefully will produce some good fishing for John.

Week 13  Aug 4^th – 11^th

We had a couple of days seeing the sights of Cairns. It is a huge city now, but when you have been in the bush for a while it can be very over whelming.  Same shops as home, the attractions are still the same, the only thing that was different was “The Esplanade”. The foreshore has been opened up to cater for family picnic and swimming areas. The marina is a large part of the complex and blends the tourist sailing craft, commercial fishing and recreational boats all within the Eastern end of the precinct. The Western end has open wide footpaths that cater for walkers, joggers and bikers.

From Cairns we moved about 50kms south to Babinda. We have meet people along the way that had spoken highly of this free camp. But when we got there it had been raining there for the last 2 days and everything was soaked.  We had to park on the high side with about 20 other van, very cosy.  It was only when we went to the information centre that we were welcomed to the wettest town in Qld.

The rain persisted for a couple more days and we were caravanned out, so went to see the sights regardless of the weather.  The Boulders were not far away so donned the coats and umbrellas.  Huge granite boulders dictate the flow of water down the Babinda Creek. “Nature at its best”, this was a great chance to try out the new camera.  From here we went to Josephine Falls, Brampton Beach and saw Qld’s tallest mountain, Bartle Frere in the clouds.

Monday came with the sun out.  We were excited about our day, we had booked into Paronella Park Qld’s #1 tourist attraction at Mena Creek.  So it was down the road for another 100kms with a great welcome.  We got there around 10.30am with a staff member on the side of the road waving us down and directing us to our campsite and then booking us in.  When you book in you get a card that allows free entry over the next 2 years.  “Wow something for nothing”.

The park is amazing, a group of buildings, a ballroom, teahouse, reception house, walkways, waterfalls and grand staircase, all built by Jose Paronella in the 1930’s and 40’s.  We were able to stroll through the park until 11.00pm at night. Guided tours are every half hour during the day, where you can hear the full history of the park from an expert. Night tours are offered and recommended as different buildings are flood light, as are the waterfalls.  The story of the park is all about one man’s dream for his wife and family.

We thoroughly endorse this attraction as being, value for money, helpful, friendly staff, tour guides that are passionate about their environment, spotless café and a place where the owners are there all hours of the day and  have contact with visitors.

Definitely # 1

Week 12 July 29^th – Aug 4^th

Still at Captain Billy Landing, we woke to the day being Harry’s 12^th birthday. We were well out of phone range so wished Harry happy birthday in the sand. The wind was still up but the day was perfect, we strolled the beach, then I sat under the shade of the Pandanus palms while John did a bit of fishing. The wind blew all day and night.

Wednesday we packed up and headed for Coen River, where we had camped on the way up. Today would be tough all those corrugations that we passed over on the way up would all now have to be repeated. We past Bramwell Station, Moreton Station and got into Archer River Roadhouse around 11.30am which was perfect timing for one of their famous Archer River Hamburgers. Twelve dollars for a burger with the lot and that takes two to consume for lunch. We got into Coen River around 2.00pm and “would you believe the same camp spot as last time it was great”.

Thursday was going to be a bit of an unknown day. “Do we bite the bullet and do 500km back to the van in one day, or do we break the trip up and have one more night in the tent”. We were unsure of where we were heading, at 100kms down we past Musgrave Station, another 60kms down and we were at Hann River Roadhouse. We stopped for coffee and fuel. Another 200kms on and we decided to have one more night in the tent.

We had found Archer Point on our trip to Cooktown late last month and remembered a perfect paradise setting, crossed our fingers that the place would not be crowded and headed in. “It was great there was only one other camp”. We picked a site between the palm trees right on the beach, just a special spot and all for free. With the tide out once again we strolled the beach, watched the sun go down behind the islands that were just in front of the camp allowing the palm trees to silhouette. As the sunset a small dingo came around to see what she may be able to get for dinner.

So Friday saw us roll onto our knees, grab the tent pole and pull ourselves up just as we had started 20 days earlier. It was a little sad, our old setup had worked well. We turned into Mt Carbine CP around 11.am to see our van just as we had left it. We booked in, moved the van to a site and then the fun began. It took the next few days to clean the car out and repack the car for the canoe and trip home.

Monday we moved on to Cairns, we had booked into the Cool Waters CP. It was about 30 years since we were in Cairns so it will be interesting to see the changes.

Week 11 July 22^nd – 28^th

Tuesday saw us heading for the “Tip of the Continent”. We did about 140km of rough, corrugated, sandy and dirt Development Rd before getting to the Jardine River. This is where a ferryman takes you to the other side for $130.00 return. But this is where the real adventure begins.

The vegetation changed instantly, rainforest, palms and ferns all appear. Nothing like the woodlands, scrubby bush we left behind. We went onto Punsand Bay which is the closest camping ground to the “Tip”. Could not believe our luck, we got a campsite right on the beach of the bay, only 14km from the “Tip” for two nights. The afternoon was taken up setting up camp and taking in the view.

We had always spoken about sitting at the “Tip” and watching the sun go down over the ocean. So we thought we would go and do a reccey. Checkout timing, number of people and where we would sit to take photos etc. As we got to the beach there were 2 cars leaving and another 2 couples already at the “Tip” so that was good.

“You can climb over rocks, or you can walk the beach if the tide is right and then climb rocks to the ‘Tip”. We decided to climb up the rocks and walk the beach on the way back. The views of the outer islands were spectacular late afternoon, it was warm, clear as a bell, with a strong breeze. It took about 15 minutes and the famous sign was in view. We were the only ones there. “We had heard along the way that you had to queue to take your photos”, so this was excellent.

John set up the tripod with the camera to take a couple of trial shots. I stood by the sign and John would setup and come in next to me. The camera flashed to take a photo and the wind blew the tripod and camera into the saltwater. Screams went out, we reached the submerged camera. Out came the memory card but it was too late for the camera, it had saltwater in the lens and the lens would not close.

“Not to worry we have our phone cameras”. “No wait they need charging and we are not on power at camp”. So there will be NO trip to the “Tip” tomorrow.

Wednesday was spent walking the several bays along the beach at the top of Australia. The climate has been unbelievable around 28c daytime 23c night. It is amazing how close the islands are Thursday, Horn, Prince of Wales and Possession, all right there for the touching. “Just a magic spot”.

Thursday we had to move as the campsite was booked, but we stayed until the last possible moment. We moved to Loyalty Beach just around to the next bay. Once again we got a site where we could see the ocean, this beach was different, mud flats, rocks and small waves, but the lure of watching the sunset over the water from our camp lead us to stay 4 nights.

A very popular, friendly place, camps were at a premium. Over the 4 days we were there, wild brumbies, wild turkeys and snakes would pass through the park at all hours of the day and night. Talk of a crocodile on the water’s edge always had you on guard.

The park had a restaurant that we went to Saturday night to celebrate Emma’s birthday, “it was roast night”. It was one of those nights again that can’t be repeated. Everyone mingled and you were encouraged to sit with a stranger. “It was great”. So we went back Sunday night for fish and chips out of the paper. It was the dishwasher’s night off, we had a great sunset over the water and great company.

We had used the park as a base over the 4 days to visit Bamaga Township, Bamaga Airport where WW2 bomber wrecks fill the rainforest, Seisia, Muttee Heads Beach and Somerset Beach there is a lot of history in this area.

Monday came and it was time to head back south on the Development Rd, over the Jardine River and down to Fruit Bat Falls. A very crowded spot we were back in civilisation.

We had booked a couple of nights at Captain Billy Landing with National Parks. Don’t get me started on trying to book a campsite with Qld NPWS when you are in a remote area with no internet or phone service and no self-registration, it’s a joke and embarrassing to call yourself a Queenslander to interstate travellers.

At the turn off to Captain Billy Landing the road narrowed, it took an hour to do 27klm to get in and with our fingers crossed we did not meet anyone coming out as it would have been difficult to pass. But “Wow” it was worth it another pristine beach on the east coast. But as before on the east coast the wind was around 30 knots. So it was a matter of setting the tent up away from the wind with plenty of tie downs.

The Landing, an old wharf has long since decayed, but at low tide makes a great spot for fishing.