Qld 09 - Week 3

Day 15 - Atherton Tablelands

Today was 'Waterfalls and Lakes' Day! The Atherton Tablelands have numerous waterfalls feeding streams and rivers flowing both East into the Coral Sea / Pacific Ocean as well as West towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. As it was getting towards the end of the dry season, we didn't expect too much water over the various falls, but there was enough to make us want to go back after the wet season.

The first set was Dinner Falls and The Crater at Mt Hypipamee. The Crater is an outlet from an old volcano that has become flooded. It has sheer sides that drop about 80 metres to the water. The depth below water level is unknown - divers have been down about 75 metres and the bottom was not yet in sight.

The green on the water's surface is a type of duckweed, not algae.

Dinner Falls - just a small flow, but the path follows it upstream for about 500 yds passed various small falls and rapids. It's a really pleasant and relaxing walk.

The next set of falls were Millstream Falls.

Millstream Falls claim to be the widest in Australia. I think it needs more water to assert that claim when we were there.

During the Second World War, the Atherton Tablelands were used as military bases for both US and Australian Army forces. The Millstream Falls area was one such area and the remains of one of the camps is nearby. Apparently the river and falls were really appreciated by the troops in summer.

Off again to Milla Milla Falls; probably the most photographed falls in Qld. However the dry season had certainly taken its toll on this one with only a fraction of its usual flow coming over the top. You can see by the surrounding greenery that it's usually very wet here.

The last stop on the trip around the Tablelands was Lake Barrine. This is another flooded extinct (17,000 years) volcanic crater and there has been an Olde Worlde Tea House here for about 80 years. The lake is about 1km across and 65 metres deep. No streams or springs feed the crystal clear lake; it is filled only by rainwater.

While we were indulging in our Devonshire Tea overlooking the lake, we kept hearing a very persistent squeaking noise. Investigation showed that a sunbird had built its nest under the eaves of the cafe and it had two babies in there. Every time the mother flew near, the babies let her know they were hungry. We watched her busily feed them for about half an hour before going back to the caravan. A lovely way to end the day!

Day 16 - Atherton Tablelands

On our 'Waterfall' day out, we had driven passed a heritage village at Herberton, an old mining town. Sue said she'd like to have a closer look, so off we went. The Herberton Historic Village is a collection of buildings and contents that started as one man's collection back in 1973. All the buildings are original but many have been transported here from previous locations. After closing in 2003, it reopened this year with new owners. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours looking through life in the area from the mining times in the 19th century up until the '50s and '60s.

It becomes a worry when you can remember using items that are now museum pieces...

Fortunately, I don't remember ever having ridden on or used this 1900, 28 horse, 10 ton wool wagon. Please do not make any comments about the other museum piece in the picture.

Part of the Town Centre

An original old pub, the 'Tin Pannikin'.

Late in the afternoon, we went down to a waterhole called Hasties Swamp.

Apart from the usual ducks, moor-hens and egrets...

...there was a large Sea Eagle who sat patiently while I took his picture.

Day 17 - Atherton Tablelands -> Toomulla Beach

Back on the road again. This time we were on our way back south to a family get-together with my cousin and her family. The venue was her daughter's place in the ranges west of Townsville. We stopped the night back at the same rest area we used on the trip north.

Day 18 - Toomulla Beach -> Herveys Range

Only a short drive today. We arrived at the family reunion and figured out how to fit our van in among all the fruit trees.

Note the deft skill with which we avoided running over the citrus tree with the van!

Andrea and Peter's place is right in the bush and has wallabies grazing in the back yard at dusk. As well, they have an amazing bird called the Stone Curlew that comes around about the same time. It's real claim to fame is that its call sounds not unlike someone strangling a 5-year-old child. Very unnerving until you realise what's making the noise.

Day 19 - Townsville

Townsville is the second largest city in Qld and default 'capital' of the north. It has a busy port as well as a large Army and Air Force presence.

Sitting in the middle of the city is Castle Hill, a fabulous viewpoint. We just had to go up there and check out the views.

Looking across to Magnetic Island.

Looking across the Townsville CBD and down the coast.

Day 20 - Herveys Range -> Ravenshoe

After the delightful interlude with the family, it was back to the hard work of trying to find out how the caravan performed under more arduous conditions. With this in mind, we retraced our tracks back to the southern part of the Atherton Tablelands and stopped at a rest area outside the town of Ravenshoe. Ravenshoe is the highest town in Qld at 3100ft (930m), so we were expecting a cool night and weren't disappointed.

We're in the middle of the picture with the Millstream River just behind the trees. This was the same river where we saw the Millstream Falls in Week 2.

Day 21 - Ravenshoe -> Mt Surprise

We're now entering an area where we have to contend with Road Trains. These consist of a prime mover and up to 4 trailers carrying anything from fuel to cattle to ore to general goods on single lane bitumen roads (That's not one lane each way, that's one lane for both directions!). Where the road conditions are marginal (narrow), they usually have Call Points set up and they report at these points on a set radio channel. The best procedure for us mere mortals with a caravan is, when we hear them on the radio, to find a spot to pull off the bitumen and let them go by. It's far better to let them have the bitumen as otherwise (if they do pull off) you get showered by 100kph stones from up to 18 axles and 70+ tyres. Likewise if they come up behind you, it's better to call them on the radio and negotiate a passing manoeuvre.

We watched this road train form up in Georgetown. He already had 2 trailers attached and was backing this to hitch onto another 2 trailers. It took him the best part of 15 minutes to get it connected! As someone who has to think hard to back the caravan, I'm in awe of someone who can back something with 2 trailers attached. This truck was carrying cattle on two levels of all 4 trailers. It left an interesting aroma on departure...

This evening we arrived at Mt Surprise (pop 35) and checked into the Bedrock Village Caravan Park. A veritable oasis with very helpful staff.

Continue on to Week Number 4 -> Qld 09 - Week 4