Tag:rivers
Wilsons Promontory National Park, or ‘The Prom’, as it’s affectionately known, is the southernmost point of mainland Australia. It’s also a top-rated destination. It has stunning coastal scenery, pristine wilderness, massive granite mountains, open forests, rainforests, sweeping beaches, and abundant native wildlife. It serves to make Wilsons Prom a photographer and holiday delight.
Accom at the Prom
Accommodation ranges from camping, and caravans to huts, cabins, and lodges. The prom has become so popular in recent years that it has its own manned police station in the summer months at Tidal River. It’s a far cry from my first visit 35 yrs ago. There were no amenities for campers save for a lonely toilet block back then.
Yanakie
We stayed in Yanakie just outside ‘The Prom’ on this visit. The main reason is that the caravan park was right on Corner Inlet. So if the weather gods were kind to us, we could get sunrise right outside our cabins without leaving the park. Some of our group took that to heart and came out to shoot the sunrise in jammies, only a few feet from the cabins. Why get dressed? 🙂
The weather gods did indeed smile on us. We had a magical sunrise on Saturday morning from blue hour, red skies and golden hour.
Tidal River
After a hearty breakfast cooked in our cabins or the bush kitchen for those camping, we headed into the park and made our way to Tidal River. Following the sunrise, it had rained, but the sun was now out, and we had stunning blue skies (prom weather is highly changeable) The temp climbed to around 30C. We were all melting. sun hats, sunnies and find shade became the order of the day
By the time we got back to the general store for lunch, the weather had turned again. The temp had dropped around 10°, and we were all reaching for the jackets we discarded earlier.
Squeaky Beach
After lunch, we headed to Squeaky Beach, so named as the fine sand squeaks when you walk on it. By now, the weather had indeed turned, and a storm threatened, so our time was limited. Nevertheless, the sand had a fabulous array of colours, and little streams led across the sand to the water.
We stopped off at Picnic Bay lookout – didn’t do the walk as it looked too long with the skies threatening.
Agnes Falls
The weather wasn’t kind for either sunset or sunrise the following day. However, we decided to call in at Agnes Falls on home from Wilsons Promontory. Considering it was the end of summer, the amount of water flowing over the top wasn’t too bad.
Back to the big smoke…
It was back to civilisation (in the form of Queensland’s Gold Coast). After four days and nights up in the Hinterlands of Mt Tamborine, we finally arrived back in the hustle and bustle of the city. We had booked an apartment on Queensland’s Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise between the sea and the Nerang River. We quickly found that traffic in surfers is terrible!. So many cars and people, and lights that take ages to change. Drivers tooting each other at lights to move if you don’t take off quickly, lest they are stuck there for another ten years waiting for the lights to change.
Carnival Rides
We checked into our apartment then headed over to Coles for supplies. It was only a 5 mins walk from the shops and restaurants, so the location was great. We made our dinner and then sat on our balcony watching the world go by. Watching the rides (and screams) from the slingshot ride on the block opposite and the antics of the people in the apartment opposite 😉
That light trail up the centre is the little pod the people are in. it flings them up like a giant rubber band and back down and back up and back down no thanks 😀 The other ride with the long arm has a cabin of sorts at each end, and it spins in a circle while the cabin rotates and swivels around double. No thanks
After driving down from the mountain and wandering around Springbrook on what turned out to be a hot day, we both packed it in and were in bed by about 9.30 pm. Tuning out the noise and light of Queensland’s Gold Coast, we headed off to bed as we planned a day at SeaWorld and Whale Watching tomorrow
For me, this was the highlight of the trip.. remote, isolated, heritage-listed, and with a landscape, unlike anything I had seen before. Mungo National Park.
Menindee
We left Broken Hill around 7.30 am and headed towards Menindee to get there. Unfortunately, mobile reception became almost nonexistent at 7.32 am (Telstra only, and then even that eventually gave up). Though we knew that wouldn’t last long, we had good bitumen roads to start us on the way. Menindee lakes had been empty for a couple of years but now had water in them again, something we wanted to see. While not the best time of day to see them (sunrise and sunset are superb), the lakes were pretty and worth the stop.
if you ever get a chance to go to the Menindee Lakes – go for a sunrise or sunset. It’s just beautiful. The birds are active. It has a much different feel at sunset, serene. Tranquil.
Pooncarie
We headed out of town from Menindee towards Wentworth, our destination Pooncarie. The only town between Menindee and the Mungo turnoff. About 10kms out, we hit the dirt roads apart from bitumen on the cattle grids; we had dirt roads for about the next 40kms. There was no petrol at Mungo, so we refuelled the cars and headed to Pooncarie’s Telegraph Hotel for lunch. Not the best choice, though. It was the only game in town. Onions on burgers were cold; the burger pattie was burnt outside and raw on the inside. The lady behind the bar just shrugged her shoulders when we complained. Luckily none of us came down with food poisoning. Leaving Pooncarie behind, we headed off again toward Mungo. We stopped for a photo-op at the car on the pole.
We continued until we hit Top Hut Road. From here, it was around 60kms of dirt road to Mungo Lodge just outside the park. All roads leading into Mungo are dirt roads. And they get closed in bad weather. Did I mention it was isolated?
Mungo National Park
Booking in, we met the lovely John, who had been chatting back and forth with me in the preceding weeks organising everything for us. The accommodation was all cabins set in a circle around a central park area. Rooms were fantastic, king beds, lovely clean ensuites, and back porches on each cabin. Touch of luxury in the middle of nowhere! Around 5 pm, we met our guides at reception, and we followed them off into the national park itself. The first stop was the Walls of China lookout.
Walls of China
After a brief stop there, we were back in the cars and heading down onto the walls of china. Access to the great walls is strictly by guide only to ensure the area is protected. The guides carried our packed dinner for us (provided by Mungo Lodge) as we planned to shoot and then eat dinner at sunset.
Aboriginal artifacts and remains dating back 50,000 years had been found here. Making it one of the oldest places occupied by humans since ancient times.. the remains of a 40,000-year-old female found in the dunes of Lake Mungo are believed to be the oldest ritual cremation site in the world. Back then, it was a lush lake area, part of the Willandra Lakes region, teeming with life as the lake dried up. The tribes moved on.
As it got darker, we started shooting the stars. And I ticked off a second bucket list .an orb at Mungo.
Days End
by the time we headed back to the cars, it was pitch black. Bobbing torches in convoy followed the guides back to the vehicles, then the hair-raising drive back to the lodge. In the dark following, clouds of dust from the car in front reduced visibility to about 3 feet. If any roo had jumped out, he would have been on our laps. We’d have no chance of seeing him in time to stop. I had planned to do some more light painting back at the lodge, but after all the walking and driving, everyone just headed for their rooms and crashed out.
One of my favourite places on earth is Tropical North Qld.
Correction, it’s my most favourite place. It’s warm, usually sunny, the people are beyond anyone’s yardstick for friendly, and the lifestyle is so laid back you don’t need yoga or massages. I visited here in 2012, came back in 2014 and returned in 2016. This trip was impromptu – I usually don’t travel in the high season, but I wasn’t turning up the chance to go again.
Flights
We flew Jetstar, and apart from the struggle with cabin baggage restrictions, it was problem-free. I would guess 7kg as carry-on is acceptable for the regular holiday traveller. However, it is a challenge for someone who travels with a DSLR and several lenses. Fortunately, hubby was travelling with me this time, so I could span my gear across our cabin bags and the clothing was checked in.
A Pillow To Lie My Head On
We stayed in Trinity Beach this time rather than Cairns central, which turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Unlike Cairns, there were no parking problems or wall-to-wall people. Cairns is fabulous. But parking is problematic, and it’s becoming crowded.
Hopefully, it takes a while for people to catch on that Trinity Beach is only 25 mins from Cairns and awesome 🙂 (shhh, you didn’t hear it from me ). Our rooms at the Trinity Beach Club Apartments were fabulous. Comfy, well-appointed, reasonably priced, and only 5 mins walk from the beach. We made good use of the saltwater pool and spa too 🙂
Getting Around
You can use the ‘Sunbus’. I saw many of them around, and it seems an easy way of getting around. Each time I have been to Cairns, we have hired a car. Mainly because of the gear I lug around. And I hate waiting for public transport. As usual, we opted for an economy class car which before has served well. However, there was no cruise control, and the vehicle, a Hyundai Accent, struggled on hills with inferior pickup, Something I will be aware of next time when I book.
What To Do
Hubby is happy to just veg on holiday while I look for photographic locations when we are away. One given, when in Cairns, is we have to go to Hartley’s.
Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
I have been there every trip up North and never tire of it. It’s the best place to get croc pics and see them up close They also have excellent wildlife areas that cover lots of other Australian animals and reptiles Last time, I sat in on the Croc attack show. This time we were there in the morning, so we took in the Croc Feeding OMG, awesome, doesn’t cover it, And Ryan really needs a pay rise No way would I hand feed the beasts!
Cape Tribulation
Apart from Hartley’s, we finally drove to Cape Tribulation. I had wanted to go here for ages but never got there till this visit. The drive up from Cairns is about 2.5 hours, including crossing the Daintree on the car ferry. There is no bridge, so it’s the ferry or swim. And with about 60 crocs in the river, that’s not advisable. The ferry is a reasonable $26 return. It takes about 10 min Peak hour can see quite a lot of cars queued up, but if you avoid 10 am-12 pm or 3 pm-6 pm, it’s good. Once off the ferry, we drove to Cape Tribulation beach. It’s pristine, clean and quiet. Even though there were about ten other people there, it felt like you were the only ones on earth. The rainforest reaches right down to the sand. Idyllic doesn’t begin to cover it.
Kuranda
We took the Skyrail up and back to Kuranda to visit the market on Saturday. Another of my favourite things to do is the Kuranda Market. The heritage markets aren’t large but worth the visit. Loads of other shops, the traditional markets, cafe’s, Birdworld, Butterfly World, and Venom World are all within an easy walk. Being smart and too lazy to walk uphill, we took the courtesy bus up to the markets and then strolled back downhill when we were ready to return to the Skyrail.
Hubby also went out on a morning fishing charter with Paradise Sports Fishing and had a ball. While he was doing that, I chilled at the Esplanade Lagoon with my book.
Eating…..
We just about camped at the Trinity Beach Bar and Grill. Sprawling across the corner opposite the beach, it seemed a favourite of both locals and tourists. The food was great, portions large and reasonably priced. We tried the Trinity Beach Tavern one night, and the seafood was superb. Likewise, for the Blue Moon Bar and Grill. Both provided excellent food and good service. Our biggest disappointment was Chiantti’s Pizzeria. The pizza was ok, pasta less so.
Sunrises
One of the things I always try for and rarely get while on holiday is a decent sunrise. Out of the five days we were there, we went out twice. The best one of the lot was in the middle of our stay. With a huge rising red sun and a deep red, Of course, that day, I was driving into Cairns to take the man to his fishing charter and missed it 😐 On the days I did go out, I shot bracketed shots, combined them into HDR, and came home happy with the two I managed to get.
We have already promised a return in 2018. So if you are looking for heaven on a stick, Tropical North Queensland is the only contender in my book.
Bright, set in the Victorian High Country, is famous for the fall colours of its European trees changing colour in the autumn, and it’s something I have wanted to photograph for a while. But unfortunately, I arrived about a week too early, and while the trees had started to change, the glorious fall colours were minimal.
Mount Buffalo
We drove up to Mount Buffalo on the way into Bright. It is a very, very winding road to the top (but nowhere to stop and photograph it). The Chalet at the top has been closed for a few years now, but plans are to restore and reopen it in the future.
Bright
We stayed in the heart of Bright at Willow Dene Apartments. They were reasonably priced, comfortable and handy to the town centre. Using Bright as our base, we took a day trip on the 230-km Bogong Alpine Way (part of the Great Alpine Road). This road loops through Bright, Mount Beauty, Falls Creek, Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham.
Wallaces hut
Driving past Falls Creek, we stopped off and walked to Wallaces Hut. The hut was constructed in 1889 by the Wallace brothers (Arthur, William and Stewart). An easy 700m walk from the carpark hut will bring you to one of the oldest mountain huts in the Alpine National Park.
Deer farm
On our third day, we called in at Wandiligong before heading to Beechworth and visited a Deer and Emu farm on the way back.
Our third day was visiting Walnut Farm and Brown Brothers Winery at Milawa.
The weather was great—sunny blue skies with crisp mornings. We tried covering as much ground as possible in our three days but still didn’t see everything. However, a trip in winter to the waterfalls is looking good.
In 1930, the then Board of Works created a Redwood Forest at Warburton. This one predates the Otways Redwood Forest by about nine years.
They cleared some eucalypt trees and planted Bishop Pine, Douglas Fir, and Californian Redwoods in their place. This was done for “experimental purposes as part of the Board’s hydrology research program”. Over 1476 trees range from 20 metres to the tallest being 55 metres. I don’t know what happened to the program, but the trees are still there for unrestricted access, and the site is just magic. The site is now heritage listed on the Victorian Heritage Database, ensuring survival from logging.
The Yarra River runs along the back of the forest…
and we headed to this first, trekking through a narrow goat track and undergrowth to find the river, and then found a wide path coming back. In the forest, none of us thought to record our Indiana Jones moment 🙁
The river is lined with lush green tree ferns, water tumbled and washed over rocks. Not a sound except for running water and the birds. We were only able to get down to the river at one point, with high banks preventing access most of the length, but the spot we found was beautiful, and we spent about an hour there.
Back in the forest, we found more ‘odd’ evidence on what happens in a Redwood Forest (on a full moon?). Dotted throughout the forest were circles made from twigs and branches and, in one instance, a small shelter. There were dozens of the circles, a couple shaped like large nests, more than a bit ‘Blair Witch’ and no way would I go in there after dark 😉
Getting there:
Drive through Warburton, following the Warburton Highway until it becomes Woods Point Road. After about 7 km, take Cement Creek Road on the left. The road is unsealed and a little rough in places, but 0.7 km along, you will find a small parking area on the right along a fenceline and a small gate barrier. Walk through the gate, and there you are. Walking through the plantation will lead you down to the river, following the walking tracks each way.
I spent the weekend at Apollo Bay & Otway Ranges in late February with the MPE family of addicted photographers. We started our weekend with Hopetoun Falls. Then a picnic lunch at the Redwood Forest and afternoon tea in town at Cafe 153 before dinner at the Brewhouse. That night we did some light painting at the Breakwater with Deanne and Bill Holmer from Melbourne LightPainting.
Midway along the Great Ocean Road is the seaside town of Apollo Bay. With the lush green slopes of the Otway Ranges at her back and the blue seas of Cape Otway at her feet, Apollo Bay is a great staging point to visit the valleys, rainforests, rivers and streams, waterfalls and light station.
Sunday was an early start for a 6 am sunrise that never eventuated. Cafe 153 for breakfast, then off to the light station. It was a quick 36-hour visit, but my exhaustion when I got home was a testament to how much we crammed into it 🙂
Hopetoun Falls
Getting here is easy. If you come through Colac or the Great Ocean Road, head to Binns Road, and it’s well signposted. Once at the carpark, you have a one-way in and one-way out downhill walk.
Hopetoun Falls has a good flow for just about all year. Even though it was February, we still found a good flow coming over the top and into the Aire River below. The walk from the carpark to the first lookout is an effortless downhill walk of about 20 metres. The one-kilometre return trip of 200 plus steps to the bottom lookout (and 200 back UP) is a test of endurance for my old legs. It’s definitely worth the walk down, though. You can’t see a lot from the top lookout, and the walk through the ferns along the boardwalk to the base of the falls is impressive.
Redwood Forest
Just a few minutes away from Hopetoun Falls in the Otway Ranges is the Redwood Forest. I hadn’t been here before, didn’t even know it was there until recently, but what a fabulous find it is. Heading towards Apollo Bay from the carpark to the forest is on your right-hand side, just before a little single-lane bridge. There are picnic tables and chairs and a long drop toilet on the other side of the road. We stopped and had our picnic here before spending an hour wandering through the forest.
Running along the back of the forest is the beautiful fern-lined Aire River. The forest itself has a fantastic atmosphere.. you feel the quiet and serenity as soon as you step off the path into the trees. While I didn’t see them, others found some fabulous pagan? Stuff down back, twisted vines and things hanging from trees. The mind boggles as to what goes on in there.
Sundown
We hoped to get a sunset at the Apollo Bay Boat Harbour before light painting started. But it fizzled out on us. However, I did manage to get a pinkish sky using a 0.9 ND Grad.
Light Painting
We held our light painting session down at the Breakwater Led lights, steel wool spinning pixel sticks fabulous night.
Sunday Morning – Sunrise Failure
Sunday morning, despite getting up in the dark and heading down to the breakwater full of enthusiasm, it fizzled out on us again.
Cape Otway Lightstation
It sometimes gets sunny at the light station, but I seem to bring clouds. I have been there a few times, and getting a photo of the lighthouse in full sunshine against a blue sky is very hit-and-miss. It was a patchy cloud, then a full cloud for a quick, brief bit of sun and back to clouds when we headed there.
We came across two french girls guarding an injured Koala and reported it to the conservation centre for pickup (rang the next day, and the koala is doing fine). So down to the lighthouse for some shots and a walk around before heading back to the car for the 3-hour drive home. Fabulous weekend and we are already planning the next one.
Well worth a day trip is Trentham Falls and the Railway Station. And if coming in from Melbourne, the bakery at Woodend is a must to stop at! Trentham is a little town with a population of 1,411 nestled at the top of the Great Dividing Range. It’s halfway between Woodend and Daylesford and is an easy one hour from Melbourne up the Calder Hwy. The Falls are just a couple of kms out of town. On Sunday, we were there, the carpark was packed, and people were constantly coming and going.
The Falls
The falls flowed well when we visited in August. They are only a short 70-metre (downhill) walk from the carpark. The lookout above the falls is quite good. It formed millions of years ago from molten lava rapidly cooling along the river. They are Victoria’s highest single-drop waterfall, plunging 32 metres into the quartz riverbed below. The Trentham website called it the ‘former’ river, but there was a river flowing the day we were there. I had planned on setting the tripod up in front of the base of the falls. But the water was too deep.
The track to the base of the falls is ‘closed’ with signs of unstable cliffs, but that stopped no one. The barrier is about 2ft high, and no impediment to stepping over or around. So we followed the goat track to the base of the falls and spent a pleasant half-hour down there among the mist, hitting the rocks, photographing the falls and the river. Going back up was a little more complicated. I felt like a veritable explorer. Until I saw a man with his pregnant wife and small son strolling down the goat track!
Trentham Railway Station
Leaving the falls, we headed into Trentham to visit the historic railway station. The station was built in 1880 but closed in the 1970s. It has been restored with some rolling stock and buildings open as a railway museum. A small market is held there on Sundays.
As it was now mid-afternoon, we decided to head back to Woodend for afternoon tea before heading back to Melbourne. After walking uphill and down dale at the falls, then around the station, we were well and truly ready for a sit-down and cuppa!
Looking for more victorian waterfalls? Check out HERE
Inspired by Woolworth’s Christmas propaganda and warm and fuzzy advertising of happy families all gathering to bask in each other’s company, our big, weird mob decided to stage our own gathering. I chose the big enough location to take us all but at a bargain-basement price. Then, over the Australia Day Weekend in January, we all (grownups, kids and dogs included) headed inland to the King Valley for a weekend at King River Camp.
It was hubby’s birthday and the Australia Day weekend, so it was a good excuse for a big family gathering. We decided to forgo the boring drive up the Hume Hwy and go via the back way through Yea and Mansfield. No longer in the distance but more picturesque. We briefly stopped in Bonnie Doon for lunch and a brief break before continuing.
Once past Mansfield, the road climbed and narrowed. It wasn’t as hairy as the Great Alpine Way, but plenty of clouds and misting rain made it a very attractive, though slow enough drive for some of us. I would have loved to stop for a pic of the mist and clouds over the valley, but there was nowhere to stop. By the time we got back down into the King Valley, the sun was shining, the rain had moved on, and we arrived at the King River Camp mid-afternoon.
We were a big group of five families and took over the cottage and one of the lodges. Accommodation is comfortable and roomy, but it’s not five stars. If you are expecting luxury, you are in the wrong place. Unfortunately, it never occurred to any of us to take a group photo. I have to work on getting into family holiday picture mode, lol.
The scenery and surroundings are quite beautiful. The King River courses through the property, and the kids were either at the river or racing on bikes all weekend.
Powers Lookout is only half an hour away, and we took a side trip up there on a Saturday afternoon. As the song goes, I can see for miles and miles and miles.
Just down the road is Lake William Hovell. While the idea was for the guys to fish that weekend – no one caught anything; however, several worms drowned in the name of male bonding.
We left on Monday morning at the end of our King Valley Weekend to head home. Being waved off by our lovely hosts, Glenda and Geoff. We decided to come home via Glenrowan and down the Hume, thinking it would be quicker. No, no, no, no, NO. Never again. I will use the back way each time. While it may have been faster, it’s such a bum and brain-numbing boring drive it seemed to take forever. I had never done the big family getaway before. But it was fun, and I’d definitely do it again.
After months of planning, bookings, and revised dates with real-life intruding, Lucy and I finally got away for our weekend to Wye River in the first week of December.
Lorne
As is the way, the weekend we were due to go initially in October was glorious. Sunny, mild, a great weekend to be alive. The weekend we went was overcast, wet (very wet), cold, and one to remind us it’s best to stay rugged up at home. We drove to Lorne to stretch our legs and photograph the entrance with a brief stop.
Big 4 Wye River
After leaving Lorne, we finally arrived at the Big 4 Holiday village in Wye River; I say finally as I think we broke our U-turn record. Once there, we booked in and got lost INSIDE the Holiday village… it sounded simple enough: drive through the gate, turn left, then left at our ‘street’ Currawong Way.. how many times can you do a U-turn in a caravan park? LOTS.
The sign for our street was non-existent. The numbers didn’t run logically. Watched by the increasingly curious gazes of other cabin dwellers, all who seemed to know where THEY lived, we drove around, and around, and around. Finally, before asking for help on our last U-turn, we tried a street with no name and found our home!
Once parked, unpacked, and settled in, we started ‘arting’ Our goal was to complete some dolls that Lucy’s hubby John had cut from MDF (like Mary Jane Chadbourne’s class). We had a scouting party on the deck later that afternoon. Who totally turned his nose up at the sourdough bread.
Wildlife
The following day brought an abundance of wildlife we would see all weekend: birds, koalas, and kangaroos. We spent loads of time on our deck feeding the visitors first thing in the morning. Then, we were up and out of bed, coffee in hand, bread bag tucked under the arm to wait for the ‘guests.’
Saturday, we braved the cold and walked around Maits Rest before the rain drove us back to the cabin.
The highlight of our weekend was visiting a koala. He/she came by Saturday afternoon and stayed till Monday morning.
We didn’t see half the things we planned to visit. But I had a great time and got some art done. just two dolls: the one on the left is mine, and Lucy’s is the one on the right
This last pic was taken Monday morning before we left, and yes, as you can see, it was still overcast, wet and foggy when we left. So much for playing it safe and going in December!
After a terrible night of almost no sleep at the Daintree River Village Lodge (I really should learn to travel with my own pillow!), we were up before the sparrows and down on the Daintree River Jetty by 6 am, still in the dark. The light came pretty quickly, though, and by the time we pushed off at 6.30 am, it was light enough to see. We took a cruise with Ian ‘Sauce’ Worcester,
Cape Tribulation Rainforest
Cruising up the various arms of the Daintree and up to the Barretts Creek bridge that you drive across to enter the village was a silent and serene experience. Cape Tribulation Daintree Rainforest expands over 1200 square kilometres and is the largest area of continuous tropical rainforest in Australia. It is believed to be around 135 million years old. It is also considered to be one of the most ancient and primitive rainforests in the world. The river is totally still and silent save for the occasional bird call… it was like entering a prehistoric world. The river banks are totally overgrown with lush vegetation and bring to mind what I would expect the Amazon to look like. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a native with a dart gun peering out of the trees).
Daintree River
Ian is an extremely knowledgeable guide with eyes like a hawk. How he spotted birds and snakes from a moving boat camouflaged was a skill to behold. We saw plenty of wildlife on the cruise, including Crocodiles, Tree Snakes, Sacred Kingfisher and Ulysses Butterfly. However, in a small moving boat, none are easy to photograph, especially the crocs. As soon as they slithered off the bank into the river, Ian throttled up and got out of dodge 😉
Hartleys Crocodile Farm
Returning to the jetty, we packed up our room, headed to civilisation, and headed back down the Captain Cook Hwy to Cairns, stopping at Hartleys Crocodile Adventures for yet more crocs.
Hartleys, while commercial, is extremely good. The entry price is fair, and their cafe serves some of the best food we had while in Cairns at excellent prices. The entire place is outstanding value for money. We had a delicious lunch (chicken schnitzels and salad) and then boarded the lagoon cruise boat, which is included in your entry fee. The cruise is only about 15 minutes around the lagoon, but you get to see a jumping croc. They rise straight up out of the water. So scratch sitting in on a low-hanging branch tree as an effective haven from crocs in the wild.
With our croc adventures complete, we continued into Cairns and booked into our hotel. We had chosen the Hilton alongside Trinity Inlet for its proximity to the reef cruise centre and esplanade. The room was lovely, and the view was great, but the service was pretty average. If I get back to Cairns again, I won’t stay at the Hilton. We had a delicious meal on the esplanade returned to the hotel, and crashed out early (was becoming a theme, up by 5.30 – 6 am and in bed by 9 pm lol)
Next Morning.
was another gloriously sunny day, and we left the hotel by about 7 am and headed up into the Atherton Tablelands and Waterfall Way.
The first stop was Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra… it’s a HUGE old tree with a massive canopy. They are Strangler Fig trees with the fig seed dropped by birds on the top of a tree. It germinates and sends aerial roots, some as long as 15 metres, down to the ground, eventually strangling the original tree as it takes over.
Waterfall Way
From the Curtain Fig Tree, we headed to Ellinjaa Falls, a beautiful waterfall that’s about a 15-minute downhill walk from the car park. Getting back up was a little taxing, but not as bad as some I have been to.
We drove from Ellinjaa to Milla Millaa, probably the most famous waterfall on the Palmerston Hwy circuit. It’s got a lot going for it. It is stunning, and just over 18 metres tall. There is plenty of water pounding over the top, and a pool below it that’s popular to swim in. Even better, it’s right beside the carpark!
We left the tablelands late afternoon and headed back for Cairns, a hotel with thoughts of a shower, wine and dinner… and suitably accomplished all three before crashing out again at about 9.30 pm.
I have a strong fondness for Cairns and Far North Queensland (FNQ). In my opinion, the warm and humid tropics feel more genuinely “Queensland” compared to the typical tourist destination of Surfers Paradise. However, during my last visit in 2012, I unfortunately missed a few experiences. Therefore, I eagerly accepted my sister’s proposal to revisit and explore the area together.
Flight Out
We had an early flight from Melbourne, so we had to wake up at 3.30 am and leave the house at 4.15 am. Fortunately, we left early because we struggled to find the entrance to the long-term parking lot. The darkness and heavy rain caused us to miss it entirely, and we ended up back on the freeway. We had to take the next exit, return to the highway, and head to the airport. All the while, we were stressing about missing our flight! We finally parked the car, boarded the shuttle bus, and arrived at the terminal by 5 am.
Our flight departed on schedule, and we arrived in Cairns, FNQ, at 9:20 am. The weather was windy, but it was a pleasant change from the chilly 12C temperature we left behind in Melbourne. We stopped for lunch at the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas after breakfast.
Wildlife Habitat
The Wildlife Habitat has been around for 25 years. Besides the birds, the habitat houses Kangaroos, snakes, koalas, and crocodiles. The venue is beautiful and reasonably priced, and once you are in, there are numerous free shows to enjoy. However, I suggest skipping the buffet lunch and ordering something from the cafe instead. In my opinion, the lunch buffet was not very impressive.
After leaving Wildlife Habitat, we booked in to Thala Beach. Upon arrival, you drive up to the entrance, where you hand the keys to the valet and head inside. While they take your luggage to your room and park your car, you can relax and enjoy the view from the sitting area. All while sipping on your complimentary tropical punch.
Thala Beach
We were only at Thala overnight with our next stop, the Daintree River – so we called up for the golf buggy to take us to breakfast; while we ate, they took our luggage back to the car and then had the car waiting for us at the foot of the steps ready to drive off (gotta love the Thala VIP treatment!)
Mossman Gorge
Leaving Thala Beach, our first destination was Mossman Gorge. The place had undergone significant changes since my last visit. They now boast a beautiful new visitor centre and deluxe coaches that transport visitors from the centre to the gorge for a fee of $15. On my previous visit, we had to self-drive a bumpy, floodway-riddled goat track before squeezing into a small parking lot. Mossman Gorge, located at the southern end of the world heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, is the oldest surviving rainforest in the world.
Below is the Rex Creek Bridge. It’s a swing bridge, and boy, does it swing. Trying to take a photo while standing on it is a challenge. People kept walking over it, and it would start swinging again. One step from the edge, and you can feel it instantly in the middle. It’s like trying to take a photo standing on jello. I waited for ages until traffic had left both sides, and it stopped wobbling enough to get the shot quickly.
Daintree River
We stopped in at the visitor centre on the way out for coffee and a muffin. Next, we drove up the Captain Cook Hwy again towards the Daintree, stopping at Daintree Cruise Centre, just before the village. We booked a 2-hour Croc Cruise with Adam on the Matilda II. Yes, I had the theme song of Gilligan’s Island stuck in my head for hours.
According to Adam, a veritable Crocodilia encyclopedia, the Daintree River has about sixty crocs. Which he said is a ‘low’ population, while Kakadu has more. But in his quote for the day, “It only takes one to ruin your day.”
Reflecting on my unforgettable journey through Cairns and Far North Queensland, I am grateful for the remarkable experiences and natural wonders I have encountered. From the vibrant coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef to the lush rainforests of the Daintree, this region has left an indelible mark on my soul. Simply basking in the tranquillity of nature, every moment spent here has been a treasure. Until we meet again, Cairns and FNQ, thank you for the adventure of a lifetime.