Atherton, Qld

A woman's work is never done! Our site in the Woodlands caravan park in this pretty Tablelands town where soils are rich and tasty produce can be grown. During the pioneering days, bullock teams hauled supplies up to Herberton  and iron ore back to Port Douglas along what is now the main street of the town.

A variety of waterbirds including flocks of Plumed Whistling Duck chicks feed and inhabit the Nyleta Wetlands (Hastie's Swamp). This is a seasonal wetland with an annual wet and dry cycle. It was the seasonal camp for the Yidinji who followed strict laws regarding the seasonal use of plants and animals for food.

Another of nature's many lessons for us: differences can equal living in harmony for these wetland birds!

Julatten, Qld

A solitary caravan in beautiful Kingfisher Park...our rainforest home for 3 days.

Ratings: CP ** Surroundings *****

 Emerald Ground-Dove

Spotted Catbird

Spot the Rufus Fantail about to have a bath in a waterhole! Our bird watching skills are improving after 3 days with the experts at Kingfisher Park!

A brief visit to this quirky general store in Mount Molloy to make contact with the outside world due to no internet and mobile coverage in Kingfisher Park .

Why bother towing your caravan when you need to bring along your fishing boat? This unique Queenslander home on wheels drew up at the general store to refuel while we were checking emails.

Mossman, Qld

Ratings: CP *** Surroundings ****

Yellow-bellied Sunbird

Mossman Gorge in the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest where crystal clear waters flow and where we meandered through the damp lush rainforest. The local Kuku Yalanji community run guided walks and share narratives of the rainforest and their special relationship with it.

Overcast skies over tropical Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas which boasts an international reputation as a sophisticated resort town but has retained its village charm.

A deserted Thorton Beach at low tide discovered on the road to Cape Tribulation in far north Queensland where I walked among busy little crabs making their homes.

Cairns, Qld

Ratings: CP ** Surroundings ****

Blue Ulysses 

Striding out through Barron Gorge National Park in Kuranda, Northern Queensland where winter days are around 27 degrees! Woody scents, musty dampness, shining foliage and ancient trees with thickened vines reaching for light in this closed rain forest overwhelm the senses. The rain forests are also home to the ever fluttering electric blue Ulysses butterfly ...no wonder it has one of the shortest lifespans of any butterfly, living only 2 weeks!

The cascading Barron Falls on one of our many rainy days. It is 125 metres high, descends from the Atherton Tablelands to the Cairns coastal plain and supplies hydro electric power. These falls are usually thundering in the wet season but summer has been unusually dry in Northern Queensland and lakes and rivers are relatively low. 

Looking towards the Coral Sea and the vibrant city of Cairns from the summit of the Kuranda Ranges after a visit to the quirky village of Kuranda.

Townsville, Qld

Ratings: CP ** Surrounding ***

Tropical Townsville...where the Outback meets the Coral Sea and coconut palms frame Magnetic Island. The foreshore, known as The Strand, offers views across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island, plenty of family fun, waterfront dining or a relaxing 2.5 km stroll absorbing the atmosphere.  Stingers and the occasional crocodile inhabit these swimming areas at various times of the year and a crocodile had been sighted on the day we visited the foreshore. Needless to say, that deterred me from having my first swim in the Coral Sea!

Atop the giant pink granite monolith of Castle Hill which stands in the centre of Townsville and gives a panoramic view of Townsville and surrounds. It is also popular with those determined athletic types who use only their stamina (and perhaps a bicycle) to reach the summit ....that didn't include us!  We drove to the top on a steep and winding road.

The pink hues of Castle Hill.

We visited the Reef HQ Aquarium, the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef. We were treated to an informative talk about sea turtles and a visit to the turtle hospital at the aquarium. This green sea turtle was recovering from a spinal injury following a strike by a boat's propeller. Australia is home to 6 of the 7 species of sea turtles in the world and they are endangered mainly due to human activities. They also have many predators and only one sea turtle in 1000 is likely to survive to maturity.

Proserpine, Qld

Helmeted Friarbird

Ratings: CP *** Surroundings ****

Looking towards some of the Whitsunday islands from the drier coastal section of Conway National Park.  Hoop pines growing on the coastal ridges and in damp gullies emerge from the rain forest as they have done for thousands of years. The Ngaro and Gia people harvested riches of the land and sea for thousands of years and the pandanus woodlands still bear the fruit which they used for various purposes.

Damp, lush rain forests lie behind the coastal forests. Vines wrap their tendrils around towering trees reaching for the light and fig trees drop their aerial roots, at times up to 15 metres to the ground. Illusive birds sing their songs in the green canopy and a Ulysses butterfly flashes brilliant blue across our paths.

 Palm fronds shimmer after a light shower as sunlight filters into the rain forest.