Finally we are at Rick's sister's house up the Range from Cairns. We have driven just over 4,000 kms since we left Melbourne, and around 730 kms from our former home in Adelaide, to Melbourne. Looking at our route so far, we still have a very long way to go if we want to see all of Australia; this is a VERY BIG country!
20-5-09: We made it to Emerald, then on to Sapphire where we stayed at the caravan park for 2 days so we could try our hand at gem fossicking. We purchased a bag of wash from Blue Hollow Mine and were shown how to wash and sieve the muddy stones and find some treasures. We scored a few small sapphires and zircons and are happy with our find.
One thing we had to watch out for in this area was the local livestock, which are unfenced and wander all over the roads; cows, horses and some odd looking chooks. (pictured below)
22-5-09: We left Sapphire this morning hoping to reach Mackay before dark. We passed through varied countryside; Rubyvale, Capella & Clermont, then onto the Peak Downs Highway to Mackay, where we re-joined Bruce Highway. Photo below is countryside between Rubyvale and Capella.
This is the sign on a farm gate near Capella.
Wolfang Peak, on the Peak Downs Highway.
Mackay is a big town, surrounded by canefields, and there were a lot of coal mines in the area along the highway; saw more long coal trains. We drove 44kms further on to a nice camp ground at Seaforth; our first sight of ocean since we left Adelaide. Photo below is Winny parked at Seaforth.
Next day we drove a further 400+ kms through Proserpine, Bowen, Home Hill and Ayr; when we reached Townsville we headed out as fast as we could. It was like a city, with lots of traffic and confusing motorways. Well, it seemed hectic to us after all the distance we put in out the back of beyond. LOL
Mackay is a big town, surrounded by canefields, and there were a lot of coal mines in the area along the highway; saw more long coal trains. We drove 44kms further on to a nice camp ground at Seaforth; our first sight of ocean since we left Adelaide. Photo below is Winny parked at Seaforth.
Next day we drove a further 400+ kms through Proserpine, Bowen, Home Hill and Ayr; when we reached Townsville we headed out as fast as we could. It was like a city, with lots of traffic and confusing motorways. Well, it seemed hectic to us after all the distance we put in out the back of beyond. LOLWe found a nice free camp at Bluewater Creek, about 30kms north of Townsville, which was very popular that evening.
24-5-09: Left Bluewater Creek at 9.15am, through Ingham, stopped at Cardwell, which is the gateway to Hinchinbrook Island. This looked like a nice town, and we stopped long enough to try their famous Barra Burgers. Yum! (photo below)
This a view of Hinchinbrook Island.
After lunch we kept going; through Tully, which is supposed to be the wettest place in Australia, (but it was fine and sunny) Innisfail, which was devastated by Cyclone Larry in March 06, a major banana and sugar cane growing area. At last we arrived in Cairns. The traffic was quite heavy, and we copped every red light through the city. Finally we had the chance to see how Winny would handle the Kuranda Range, and she did a fine job; plenty of power up the steep and winding road.
So here we are in tropical Far North Queensland; supposed to be the beginning of the dry season, but it has been raining all day. Yesterday was sunny and quite warm, and we expect to get more of the same for the next 3 or 4 months.
This a view of Hinchinbrook Island.
After lunch we kept going; through Tully, which is supposed to be the wettest place in Australia, (but it was fine and sunny) Innisfail, which was devastated by Cyclone Larry in March 06, a major banana and sugar cane growing area. At last we arrived in Cairns. The traffic was quite heavy, and we copped every red light through the city. Finally we had the chance to see how Winny would handle the Kuranda Range, and she did a fine job; plenty of power up the steep and winding road. Photo below is banana plants at Innisfail. They cover the bananas with coloured plastic bags.
So here we are in tropical Far North Queensland; supposed to be the beginning of the dry season, but it has been raining all day. Yesterday was sunny and quite warm, and we expect to get more of the same for the next 3 or 4 months.
2 comments:
Congrats on the first 4000
Hey you guys need to slow down. LOL
Looks like you've done 1/4 of the continent in 1 month. When we were there on business, the couple that we met figured on taking a whole year to do it before returning to the USA. I believe they had been living there around 3 years or so.
Slow down & take a really good look at your wonderful country.
Post a Comment