Mareeba to Cairns plus pictures

Charters Towers

Sun13th Jan.- Still in Mareeba will be leaving here tomorrow morning as we have done all the touristy things. Yesterday looked around the township of Mareeba and there was markets in their Centenary Park that we wondered amongest, bought a few vegetables and more importantly some lemons for my gin!! Once we had finished there went onto check out Coffee Works and the Golden Drop Mangoe winery. Didn't think we would purchase anything there as we both thought not sure about mangoes in a wine as much as i like to eat them. Ian doesn't. We were both nicely surprised and one on one tasting's as there aren't many people around, as we left a bus had just pulled up.Bought a bottle of wine and a bottle of lime liqueur(to add to my gin also nice in a bottle of Corona).Certainly worth a visit. In the afternoon went for a swim to Emerald Fall's had a swim in the creek.Still very warm here 34degrees,36 tomorrow. Today went into Kuranda for a look around although as i said previously we have been there before with our 2 boy's. Visited Wright's lookout which took in a view of Cairns,Baron Fall's-great view,Kuranda railway,Onto Jenno's now.

Bowen to Cairns

Bowen to Cairns Well believe it or not we are on the move again after spending 12 months in Bowen working and enjoying the life there. Have now met some amazing life long friends and shared some great times with them all. Staying at the Queen's Beach tourist village was just the best and we would highly reccommend it if ever you are in Northern Queensland. Ian and i ended up managing the park for 4 weeks just before we left as the permanent managers went home to Brisbane for Xmas. Really enjoyed the new experiance and gives us something else we can do whilst travelling.Left Bowen Friday 5th Jan. and headed inland towards Charters Tower's being our first port of call. Went straight to the top tourist caravan park as rather warm and we were able to run the air conditioner although now Ian has bought a generator so we can actually run it when free camping if of course we are allowed some places don't. Charters Tower's today is the busy centre of a cattle and fruit growing district. In the 1890's it was a wealthy city and a population around 30,000 people due to a mining rush of gold. It's one of the few town's that has survived over the years once the gold rush ended. Charters Tower's has very elegant built buildings and during the rush even a stock exchange was opened 24/7 and many of the building's are now heritage listed. Also played a major role during second world war many Australians and United States servicemen stationed there. Next we made our way to the Undara Lava Tubes which is part of the Undara Volcanic National Park 275kms south west of Cairns. These are the most extensive series of lava tubes in the world. These strange landforms were created 190,000 years ago when a volcanic eruption sent sheets of lava flowing across the land for a distance of 160kms.The outer layers cooled rapidly and solidified but underneath hot streams of molten lava continued to flow.These eventually drained leaving behind Undara's long tunnel shaped rock cavities. Another great place to visit and stay. Ian and I were told we could get a job there if we wished ready for the new tourist season which start's in April. Wouldn't mind it would be a great place to work for the season and the people are really nice they employ around 35 every season. Climate fabulous as well. As it's not a busy time our tour guide who also own's the resort, spent 3 hours showing us around instead of the usual 2hrs in peak season.Arrived back at camp ground and left straight away at 1.30pm made our way along highway 1 towards Atherton in the Tablelands staying at a free camp spot-Archer's Creek nice little spot next to a creek.Moved onto Atherton staying at another free camp Rocky Creek War memorial.Wed 9th Jan.- Stayed here 3 nights in total as there was plenty to see and on the first day Ian spent the morning hunting down a new gel battery for our caravan as not much happens without it. Turn's out the old one was prchased in 2009. Whilst here visited Curtain Fig Tree, Lake Eacham,onto Lake Barrine,Lake Tinaroo(plenty water sking)Cathedral Fig Tree(over 500 yrs old) and by then stopped for a much needed coffee at Gallo Cheese and Choc factory. Thurs. 10th Jan.Visited the waterfall's Milanda Fall's,Millaa Millaa Fall's,Ellinjaa Fall's. Then went to Mungalli Creek Diary(just another tearooms!!).Left there and went via Mt Hypipamee Nat. Park to see a crater amazing you stand over the edge and look down then a swim at Dinner Fall's what a spot and a much needed cool down.Ian went back for a swim in the Milanda Fall's afterwards.Friday 11th Jan.A few kms up the road in the town of Mareeba staying in the showgrounds these are a lot cheaper than a van park. Went for lunch to Mt Uncle Distillery.We were reccommended to visit try their wares as one does. Tastings great liqueurs and spirits. Made great pizza and a great place to visit and soak up the atmosphere and surroundings.Probalbly be here for a couple of day's more as we will visit Kuranda from here before we head for Cairns and visit our friend Jenno.We have done Kuranda with our boy's a few years back and it was a really nice place so will check it out again. All for now enjoy the photo's. b

latest news from Bowen

25th May
Hi to all our friends and those that just read the blog. Haven't added much lately as Ian and I have both been busy working so not a lot to report but will keep you posted with the latest adventures. Ian is still with Isovale Fresh(tomato growers) as their maintenance manager and has a good reputation out there. Anything to fix he is the man!!!He really enjoy's the job and the tomato picking machines have never run better. Now he just has to keep them going for the season. This company has a contract to Woolworth's and i was reading today in the local paper that Bowen supplies 95% of produce at this time of the year all over Aussie.Eggplant's,bean's,capcicum's,melon's etc. Handed my notice in at the pub a week ago and had a week with my sister Di. Had been there since Feb. but really had enough of working nights and drunken bum's. Also my boss was quite different, really can't run a business. Started a new job last Monday in the tomato packing shed for the same company that Ian work's for, it's really handy we go to work together and i work full time as well. People are all really nice, lot's of young backpacker's. I'm on a production line were the tomatoes go into 10kg boxes, it's hard work and i have muscles i didn't realise i had, i am sure that will go the more i work. All good our plan's are to work hard, put money in the bank and have 6 months of. Had a great weekend a couple of weeks ago. We rented a penthouse in Airlie Beach for 3 nights and my sister Di flew in on her way home from Bangkok. For those that don't perhap's know Airlie Beach is part of the WhitSunday Is group and is 63kms south of Bowen. Also joining us was my sister Karen and her husband from Brisbane. Of course Jason didn't want to miss out on all the fun either. We had a spa on the balcony and a beautiful view of Airlie Beach it's a pity that the weather wasn't the best. The day Karen and Scott left sun came out and beautiful. Mind you Di stayed on with us for a week and the sun didn't appear either. Now it's a sensational 25 degrees and clear blue skies during the day and 10 at night with clear skies. It really is like paradise although i think both my sister's would say we are dreaming and telling lies!!!Have a look at Ian's facebook page and there is a good photo of 3 grown men in a spa. On that weekend we had planned a trip to WhiteHaven Beach but cancelled due to weather. This beach is one of the most photographed beach on the front of travel brochere's. All of us had done the trip before though. Whilst Di was here visited the Bowen River Hotel which is 100kms each way. This is a heritage listed pub and used to be a Cobb. and Co. stop over. Fabulous place to visit with memorbillia all on the wall's. It's in the middle of nowhere and you really need a 4WD to get out there. There is also a camp spot out there wouldn't mind staying out there for a couple of day's. Ian reckon's he would get our van slowly out there. Really is a peaceful place full of atmosphere. Whilst there 2 stockman pulled in on their horses,tied them to a post and stayed for a beer. They also hold the well known rodeo out there which was last weekend on the Queen's birthday longweekend. Jason partaked in the event but Ian and I had to work. Our next trip will be the last weekend in Sept. when Aaron comes up for a week. He has been here before so thought we would do something special whilst he is here. Both the boy's and ourselves are going on a catamaran for 2 nights,3 day's sailing around the WhitSunday's all meals included. The tour just sounded too good also on board is scuba diving which Jason and Aaron want to have a go at. Ian and i will pass.That's about it for now, hope those down south aren't too cold love Sue 

PICTURES OF BOWEN

our private waterfall

queens beach bowen

bowen township

jason,me,doug at montes

beach at montes

sue,doug,jason at dingo bay

our setup at queens beach, my new tinnie ??

LIFE IN BOWEN

our water front view

2 of the picking machines i am working on

road to my work after the rain

after the rain

sue at work QB hotel

St pats day  the QB

we are now in bowen ,far north queensland, 65km north of Airlie beach, top of the whitsundays. When we first arrived we stayed at the big 4 caravan park 100mts up from jasons place, very nice, right on the beach. the weather here has been great but was very humid when we first got here and 30-32 deg every day,i dont think i have drunk so much water in my life.We moved from there to Queens beach caravan park as a long term resident which is right behind the Queens beach hotel where sue now works behind the bar and doing the odd function, ie birthdays, engagment parties etc.i am now allowed to go to the pub for a beer and get served by sue, all good. I am working on a large tomato farm here looking after the matinace on all  there machinery. To date they have planted 700.000 tomato plants, yes 700.000 that is not a misprint and looking to plant more if all goes well so i am kept busy at the moment servicing the picking machines,4 in total be ready to go for the harvest starting end of may early june. The weather now is great as the humidty has now gone but still 30-32deg most days so most days i have a swim when i get home before happy hour up the road. We did however have about 500mil of rain over 4 days so everything was flooded,the bruce hwy was closed so no one could get in or out and where i work i have to cross a river which also flooded so we were stuck for a few days.We are off to Townsville on good fri as we are both not working so will catch up with Natalie & ben and karen and scott will also be there so will try to meet up with them. On weekends we try go see some sites so we have been to airlie beach a couple of times, bowen river hotel,dingo bay, hideaway bay etc, all very nice places to visit for a clensing ale after a hard week at work. all for now, cheers ian

Yeppoon to Bowen

Mackay harbour

whitangi day in mackay

At big 4 caravan park bowen

pool at caravan park

big 4 caravan park

Left kinka beach heading into Rockhampton, a quick look around, just another town, heading north to pull into a free camp spot at Carmila beach. nice spot right next to the beach, got the fishing rod wet but thats all and more walking along the beach, very nice. Stayed a couple of nights then of to Cape Hillsborough national park just north of Mackay. nice caravan park again right next to the beach and plenty of bush walks and swiming in the pool but also had swim at the beach to cool off but not for long as it is still stinger season up hear. Lots of mossies up this way  but otherwise very nice. 3 nights there then we headed of to Mackay for a few days. Busy little industral town with the mines not to far away and big ports taking the coal to china. Lots of kiwis there working so went to whitangi day celebrations in the park.departed Mackay heading for bowen. Booked into the big 4 caravan park just down the road from Jason again right next to the beach, spent a lot of time in the pool although the water was a bit to warm  to cool off properly but still nice. Even the sea water is warm but still have to look out for those stingers.have now moved to queens beach tourist park on a long term basis at the moment, nice park within easy walking distance to beach, bowls club and more importantly the queens beach hotel where sue now works as a bar bitch.took jason down to Montes ,(just out of airlie beach) for lunch on Sunday for his birthday then onto cactus jacks in airlie beach for some cocktails, all good.i am still looking for work so hopfully something soon, still a bit early for the picking season so will keep working on my tan.



walk in Cania Gorge

Cania Lake-Cania National Park

Somerset Dam

Overhang Rock-Cania gorge

Free camp spot-Carmila Beach

who's this fine specimen-Carmila Beach

can't escape rain-Cape Hillsborough