Tully to Cooktown

July 2 to July 9

As we headed to Paronella Park (south of Innisfail) on Sunday, it was our third day in a row of rain. This was one of a couple of “must do” visits we had on our list. The park has a really interesting history from when an Italian migrant constructed the series of castles, gardens and hydro power in the 1930’s.

Paronella Park Castle Ruins, who needs to go to Cambodia?

It was in disrepair and not open for a long while, but new owners have done a marvellous job in the last 20 years. The entry price includes day and night tours, a camp spot if required (and power if you’re lucky), and free entry for the next two years.

Our Camp Spot right at Reception

Given the weather and our lucky camp spot, we spent the time between showers to join tours and explore the park ourselves, and the nearby locality of Mena Creek.

The night tour was well worth staying for

After more rain in Innisfail and Babinda (with a great wet weather, but busy free camp) we finally got some good weather for another planned excursion, the Skyrail gondola from Cairns to Kuranda and the Barron Falls. The day we arrived in Cairns a cruise ship had docked so the town and esplanade were crazy busy, as was the Skyrail. We organised tickets for the next day which worked our really well, better weather and an early start.

Barron Falls, not much flow though

We did the Kuranda railway trip back in the 80’s, but this gives you the experience from the tree tops, with two additional stops to walk the forest at Red Peak Station, and view the Barron Falls and Gorge.

Fine weather looking back to Cairns from the Gondola

Add a couple of hours to walk around Kuranda (the town is just one, big “weekend markets”), you can easily spend five or more hours on this trip.

The only quiet spot in Kuranda

We enjoyed the coastal drive to Port Douglas, but Port Douglas is even more like “Noosa” than I remembered. We had a great Member Stop Over camp at Mossman before heading north to Laura and Cooktown for a few days.

Although I was up here four years ago for my motorbike ride through Cape York, it was nice to drive the bitumen and see the countryside. We dropped in to the Lion’s Den Hotel, near Cooktown, where we camped the first and last nights of the bike trip.

Nice to return four years after the motorbike trip

Laura was still busy with left over indigenous visitors from the Laura Dance Festival the previous weekend. We enjoyed a leisurely visit to Split Rock and the rock art sites.

Ancient Rock Art at Split Rock, Laura

Cooktown was very busy with the “Cape York” traffic, but we got to walk the waterfront area and visit Finch Bay.

Finch Bay, Cooktown

Although there are a few official free camps around Cooktown and Laura, we found a couple of quieter spots away from the crowds.

Tinaroo Dam, Atherton Tablelands - the dam levels are very low for this time of the year

Saturday we returned south to the Atherton Tablelands, where we’ll spend some time exploring the many hinterland towns.