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