Cairns Last Few Weeks

We missed our window to hike the 19km from Babinda to Goldsborough Valley so we didn’t get to see what awaits the other side of the Causeway. Definitely one for next year.

The car has had a complete overhaul of the suspension and brakes, and a service, and the caravan has had a wheel alignment, so we are good to go. The school holidays have just begun, and so we have left Lake Placid and now at our house sit looking after fish and budgies for my younger cousins who also live here in Cairns suburbia.

Had a great 3 and a bit months here…….see ya same time next year!


Now parked on our other Cousins rural acreage, whilst we vacate and house sit

  
This weeks hikes. WHITE ROCK PEAK the little white dot at the top of the peak. It is a 4.8km return hike starting from the top and along a ridge to the last 80m which was a sheer steep 50m downhill scramble to sit on the rock, had our hearts in our throats as we hugged each tree for dear life getting down,  haa haa it sounds gross but the view made it worthwhile.  Managed to pick up my first leech ….. yuck, didn’t feel a thing but lost heaps of blood

We were the only ones, and just as well as only room enough for 2 at a time


The beauty of the rain forest

Leech country, I had 3 inches of flesh exposed above my socks and below my pants, Derek had shorts and short sleeves, 😣😢


We also had time to do a small part of the GREEN ARROW on Whitfield Conservation Park in the middle of Cairns, awesome views every direction

Over the City

Out towards Craig’s home

Down the Barron Valley

From the highest peak




We had a quick walk along the houses at the start of the trail, all with million dollar views over the city, this caught our attention, looking up to their front door which was an engine train 

HARTLEY’S CREEK FALLS 10 km round trip at Wanghetti Beach. Not well known to tourists, it’s classed as a locals secret

First stop 1.9 km in was Flat Rock falls, also some creek crossings to get up the creek to the falls, one of us got a wet shoe!

Love mid week outings, no-one around








Trudged up, up and some down to then do a 200m rock hop to the falls

The usual obstacle course hiking through rainforest


Beautiful stop for morning tea, even soaked our feet. Many would have a swim, but it was freezing

We detoured on the way back up a small side track to the never used Quaid Road (long story about a 32km long private road built through Conservation land during the 1970s under Joh Beijelke-Peterson government only when the government changed it was disallowed) Umm, why am I on the side of the road, not like I am about to get run over!! (Maybe it was shady)

I really wanted to go up Smiths Track to Tobys Lookout, Kauri Trees and upper Stony Creek which meant walking up and over a ridge high above the caravan park up to 500m above sea level to the Speewah side

The weather has become very hot by mid morning, so this time we only aimed for the section that was above a Kuranda Rail Train tunnel, and pick off another cache

Cairns Lights Festival - one of the rare times we go out at night

Fabulous time spent with family too

Jumping Castle fun …race to the top

Dancing Concert time….Under the Sea


Swims and ice blocks, and beach parks and ice cream

My friend who I worked with here in Cairns asked me what could we possibly find to do in Cairns for 3 months ……

We still have not exhausted our list….. maybe whilst house sitting we will get time to explore the southern section of Lamb Range behind us, and a trip or 2 up to the Atherton Tablelands.

Bird of the Week - Red Backed Fairy Wren spotted on Quaid Road, Wanghetti 

Townsville Side Trip

Whilst we were getting some water ingress repairs done on the van we accepted an invitation to drive down to Townsville and spend a few nights with Derek’s mate Ian whom he’s known since 1974.

No van in tow, so stopped half way at Cardwell and the lookout on the Cardwell Range, both views of Hinchenbrook Island

Explored the Townsville dam and were surprised by Rock Wallabys

Impossible for me to sit at the foot of a hill and not want to climb it, Ian was walking distance too so we went up the Ironbark Track crossed the road then scrambled to the summit, but came back down the road then West Ridge

Castle Hill is about 25m short of being a mountain, it offered fabulous views in every direction, and across to Magnetic Isl, and although the saying goes “it’s not the destination but the journey”, we believe the journey ie effort and challenge is as equal a part as the destination which gives us the feeling of wonder and gratitude as we marvel at the beauty and wonders that surround us.

Half way up west side

View from top, and many view points

We arrived at the communication tower in the background from the west side, only to find it was all fenced off….oops, no warning at the scramble bit that that was going to be the case

We also had a stroll along Rowes Bay at low tide on these rocks and found a heap of sea glass….although very large pieces (always watchful for crocs)