It was a good choice to camp at Granite Gorge, the days have been warm with clouds, but no rain.
On Monday we went into Mareeba which is only about 15 kms away and visited the information centre which has a free museum, then Coffee Works and after lunch we went out to the Mareeba Wetlands. Mareeba is savannah country, with lower rain fall, so that is why we have been escaping the showers that Cairns and Kuranda are getting.
Loved this comical art work in the museum. Lots of detail.
The museum was well done – lots of local history. The section on tobacco farming was interesting – it was the major industry around here in the 50’s and 60’s and they strictly governed it so no “chop chop” illegal growing and sales occurred. When you see the percentages given to the farmers and retailers and the government cut (almost all of it) you understand why they are not serious on tackling this issue.
The Coffee Works is in the industrial area of town and is well done in a very large metal shed. They sell all sorts of home wares, coffee, chocolate and liqueurs.
You can get a “for all” entry pass which allows you to drink as much tea and coffee and each as much chocolate as you like – I thought that this was a bad idea (health wise for me) – so we had morning tea there and sampled a couple of pieces of chocolate. We bought coffee, coffee liqueurs and chocolates. We have only just opened the coffee liqueur we purchased at the Berry Farm in WA. We finished the Mulberry Liqueur (it was sensational) – I am going to make some if I can get my mulberry cuttings to strike.
The emu were taking advantage of a bird bath outside the reception.
This is the reception / cafe / viewing area at Mareeba Wetlands. These are man made wetlands.
We did a boat trip around the wetlands and saw green pygmy geese and a few other water birds. They have Gouldian Finches in cages – they are a really beautiful bird.
Now this is how you grow mango trees. The centres are cut out and the trees kept at around 2 metres so the mangos can be picked by hand from the ground.
After the Mareeba Wetlands, we visited the “Golden Pride Wineries” mango winery. Their mango wine and liqueurs sure pack a punch.
Warning signs about the patents on their mango trees – no stealing their genetic breeding of mangoes.
Tuesday 19th May 2015 – Sun with clouds, fine and warm
We are having some in camp days. Today was one of them.
We explored Granite Gorge Nature Park.
There are plenty of Squatter Pigeons and Bower Birds here.
Below one of the Bower Birds is having a bath.
The males have a bright purple spot on the back of their heads.
The cutest little rock wallaby. He could only just after a lot of trouble get back into Mum’s pouch.
They are very small – here is the mother and baby next to Glen’s hand.
There are masses of granite boulders – very large, just like Stanthorpe area but in the tropics.. There is a small creek flowing through which reaches incredible flood heights in the wet season.
All of the rock wallabies live in and around the rocks.
Squatter Pigeons.
A very young and shy Joey – with only the mouth and nose out for fresh air. I’m not ready for the world yet.
Life is the park is pretty good. Plenty of shade and water.
Wednesday 20th May 2015 – Sun with clouds, fine – warm
Our outing today is to Kuranda (back to the rainforest) – visiting Butterfly World, the markets and Barron Falls.
I know these are Birdwing Butterflies – They can’t produce enough flowers for the butterflies in the sanctuary, so they have to use artificial feeders.
By good luck, we arrived about 10 minutes after opening time, so it wasn’t crowded. The tour buses arrive nearer to lunch or early afternoon.
The entry includes a tour of the breeding program. All the butterflies are bred only for the sanctuary and are not allowed to be released.
They have a little Eden enclosure as a back up, because a few years ago a virus entered and wiped out their population in the sanctuary.
There are very strict rules on the butterflies. You are not allowed to catch or keep any part of the Ulysses butterfly, not even a wing if you find it on the ground. It is $1000 to apply for a permit to collect. It is a photographer’s place of torture as the butterflies do not rest for more than a few seconds.
Any flowers are really popular the with butterflies – but I would say that the nectar is long gone.
This is a Ulysses resting, you cannot see the bright blue.
I could not on my first visit capture a Ulysses, so came back later the in the afternoon and managed to photograph this one.
After our first visit, we went for lunch and a stroll around the markets – most of the stalls were shut and those that were open were overpriced and low quality.
We then walked around the shopping precinct which was quite good.
Our next stop was Barron Falls.
Above is Barron Falls railway station and the falls – There is a flow – It should be flowing a lot more, but the last wet season was a lot less rain.
We plan to do the Sky Rail and Train from Cairns when we return from the GC.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Sun with Clouds, fine, very warm.
Time out to smell the coffee– catching up with the blog, all our emails, confirming our accommodation and checking on our car storage etc for our trip home. Trying to get organized. After all of the travel, we have taken a few days out to just chill.
We made the right decision to stay up on the tablelands as it has been unseasonally raining down in Cairns.
Star Fruit
I happened to look up into one of the trees by camp and was very surprised to see Star Fruit growing. Unfortunately too high to grab to try one. Very popular with the bats each night.
Sunday 24th May – Fine Sunny with Clouds – warm
We had a dry and fine pack up at Granite Gorge this morning. That was the plan so that we didn’t pack up a wet camper trailer. We drove past Kuranda and down a very long and steep rain forested range to Cairns. Simply stunning views over the flat land and ocean. We booked into our cabin – over night prior to our early flight tomorrow. We have done a trial run to where we have to drop off the car and trailer tomorrow, so we are all sorted.
Below – the view coming down off the range. Unfortunately there is only one point in which to stop for a photo.
The next two weeks is on the GC – having a holiday from our holiday -
We had a wonderful two weeks on the Gold Coast catching up with family and friends. It was still raining in Cairns on our arrival back and the locals were not happy. We had a damp pack up with the trailer grabbing the only window opportunity to do so. The rain is continuing all along the coast, we opted to return inland again over roads we have previously travelled and headed down to Blackdown Tableland NP. It is a park that has been on our list for a very long time.
