Tropical North Queensland
12th Oct 2020
Wow, what a surprise driving into the Atherton Tablelands. Green grass. hills, mountains and rain forests, oh, and rain.
I didn’t get too far from Atherton as I was tied and visibility was becoming restricted due to the rain, so I pulled into Millaa Millaa caravan park where they parked me in the rain forest section (it was like parking in a cave). But the best part was the golf course was next door and you pay $15 at the caravan park and your set, I played twice.
The little town was a great little treasure with a rain forest walk right beside the shops. Just out of town is the Water Falls Drive that takes you to three great falls. Zillie falls being the best I’ve seen.
I was talking to a woman who said “that’s what you would imagine Heaven to look like”.
Travelling along the Parmanston Way I came to a big neon sign stating ‘severe downhill grade, trucks must use low gear’. After that were a series of safety off shoots with sand traps, plus more warning signs. Looking at the surrounding country I couldn’t figure how the road could descend but obviously it must. I travelled down a bit of a hill and a corner to a bridge at the bottom, That’s it. I had to laugh and thought the people responsible should go drive Talbingo or Sue City/Cabramurra.
I did the skywalk over the rain forest and gorge which was OK but I’m not too good with heights and there is a section three stories high that I had a little trouble with, but I did it.
I came out at Innisfail and stayed at the RV camp for a few day’s playing golf and looking around the town that I quiet liked.
As usual I awoke on Monday 19th Oct and researched my next move and that was to Paronella Park at Mena Creek. It’s an interesting place where a bloke built a so called castle beside a waterfall. It was actually a resort for people back in the 20’s, with ball room, tennis courts and rain forest walks etc. They give tours both night and day. I stayed in the great van park behind the pub.
My next destination was Mission Beach as I've heard so much about over the years. The beach is fabulous. Hard packed and smooth sand and Dunk Island looking back at you. Did the drive around the surrounding area and climbed a bloody big mountain and got some great shots from the top.
Not that far south of Mission Beach I stayed at Tully, another interesting place that is renowned for the amount of rain they get there. I did some research for you. Tumbarumba’s annual rainfall is 978mm. Narooma 982, Sydney 1150mm, Tasmania 2,400mm.
Tully dosn’t muck around with mm they talk meters! around 4.5 litres/year. In fact in 1950 they had an Australian record of 7.9 mts! Hence the golden gumboot in town that is 7.9 mts high.
There is a bloody big mountain overlooking the town that’s got a lot to do with the rain.
The golf course was as green as anything, and they don’t have to worry about watering here.
Speaking of Tully Golf Course I played in their Thursday comp and had a very interesting time. The course is 9 holes with 18 tees and I was playing the 2nd a par three of 170mts and hit an absolutely perfect 5 iron that went high with a solid draw right at the flag. The ball landed on the front of the green, took a couple of hops and disappeared into the hole. Yippee, high fives all round.
Gets to the green only to find my ball some 15 feet past the hole, DOH! It was an optical illusion as the green dropped away behind the hole that I couldn’t see from the tee. But it must have been close and I noticed that the hole was in a little rise and the hole itself was fairly overgrown and was hard enough to get the ball into the hole putting. But I got my par.
Came around to the same hole the second time and used the same iron, hit the exact same shot as before that did the exact same action on the green, a couple of hops and disappeared into the hole, yippee again!
But I’m not falling for that old trick. Got to the green and there is the ball in the hole. What a great way to get my third hole-in-one. I’m not sure which I was more delighted with, the hole in one or the two perfect shots. I think the later as it is only luck for the ball to go in.
I love the second hole at Tully.
I got a job done on my tow bar at the local engineering shop. (drill one hole and cut off the lower section of the tow ball extension). When I went to pick it up the receptionist said that will be $100 cash. I was a bit supprised at the price as I thought 50 to $80 would cover it. I said I’d pay by card if you don’t mind. She said, “oh, that will be $150 in that case” I said, “your kidding me, you telling me you want $50 to use my card?”. She said “well it causes a lot of other work for us”.
I told her that I just bought a coffee up town for $10 and used my card, they didn’t charge me anything. She started to say something but I stopped her and said I’ll go get her cash.
I told a neighbor about it and when he went to town he told a couple off businesses about it and of course they were horrified.
I was going to stay for a few more days in Tully and buy fuel, groceries and maybe some more golf. But it left a real sour taste with me so I left the town before spending another cent. I loved the town and it’s a shame on that one business. I’m yet to leave feedback to the right place so the town knows.
24/10/20 Drove South and came to a little golf course that cater for RV’s for $5/ night. That sounds like me. They provide toilets and showers and a swimming pool, and of course a golf. I played a couple of games and it’s amazing as there was no grass except the greens and tees. Yet I was only about 100ks from good old Tully.
Driving South I found Cardwell, with breathtaking views across the water to huge and ruggard Hinchinbrook Island. Travelled on and stayed at a sugar cane farm. Nice spot to camp by a creek under huge mango trees. Had a big storm that night and everything turned to mud around the van.
On Wiki Camps they say they take you on a cane burning tour and everyone enjoys a get together in the evening with a sing-a-long. As usual none of these things happened, I only talked to one of the workers who gave me a lot of info I wanted.
I don’t know how many times various camps have advertised get togethers or sing-a-longs.
I have yet to see one. Even when I get my old guitar out and start banging out a tune, everyone goes to bed (or leaves). Same as happy hour, that only happens in Northern Territory, only because they have a bar attached with cheap booze. But who cares, I have my own happy hour and sing-a-long.
I spent a fair while around Townsville hoping to catch up with my daughter, Teash. I won’t go into it and you don’t want to know, but I didn’t get to see her. So sad about that. At least I tried.
I’ll finish this section as it has been a lot and a long time. I’m currently at Proserpine about 60k’s South of Bowen in a free RV camp right in the main street, which is very unique in its self. I'll stay here and do some sight seeing around Airlie Beach etc. I was told fuel there is 99.9c/ ltr at the moment. How cheap is that and just so happens I need some.
Well my friends it’s been such a wonderful trip and I was reflecting on it today at what a great country I live in. Every country mile has been such a diverse delight. (especially the 2nd at Tully).
See you soon
Regards Doug
