Getting ready and packing the van.

As usual there is a lot to do getting ready for any trip. We have quite a bit to do but are hoping we will be able to roll on time.
We have said goodbye to the trusty old Hyundai and now have a moreもっと詳しく
The burn.

Today we departed (only one day late) for our North trip. The new car has run well giving us an impression that it will cope quite easily with towing the small van.
Tonight we are camping at Saintもっと詳しく
Guthalungra

Lunch today in a good rest area. We are getting back in the swing of travel. We stopped here last trip and the place is still a credit to the local council.
Toomulla Beach

Toomulla Beach is right on the coast not far north of Townsville. I say that because we encountered quite a few "beaches" that were a sandy point on a river. A small tidal creek enters the ocean alongもっと詳しく
Tyto Wetlands Centre

The info centre at Ingham is the start point for the wetlands walk. Quite a few van parking bays and a beautiful area nearby. A short walk from here is the start of the wetlands walk.
A few hundredもっと詳しく
Avenue of Honour

Yungaburra is one of those memorable little towns. A well run Cafe for lunch. A nice walking track along Peterson Creek and a bit further out on the dam we found the avenue of honour.
This memorialもっと詳しく
Curtain fig tree

Strangler fig trees are not particularly rare, but when the host tree falls and gets wedged against another tree the results are unpredictable and in this case spectacular.
Rising up many meters inもっと詳しく
Jaques Coffee plantation.

Our second visit here. This is a well worth the short drive out of Mareeba to experience one of their coffees and a delicious scone.
The Jaques family has fought great obstacles and seeing the shortもっと詳しく
Little Annand River

Near Cooktown about 40k south the highway crosses this delightful place. Crystal water bubbling over interesting rocks and beautiful clear pools. We always enjoy a stop here.
Black Mountain

Don't climb Black Mountain alone, don't climb Black mountain if your stoned. The sage words are the lyrics of a song by local band The Roadtrippers. My advice though would be simply don't climb Blackもっと詳しく
Black Mountain (Unplugged)

The music festival here has finished now and it was a fantastic weekend. From the Friday evening right through, we enjoyed every minute of this small and exclusive music festival.
The weekend rockedもっと詳しく
Bloomfield River Bridge.

When we crossed here a few years ago, the causeway was to the right of the new bridge. We drove through water about 10 inches deep over a very undulating crossing as the crocodiles watched from theもっと詳しく
Fungi

Growing on a log this was quite an interesting fungi.
Blooms Cafe

Sometime a trip has unexpected surprises. Here is one of those. A lovely place to stop for coffee and a scone or a full breakfast or lunch. Quite a good menu and all the food is delicious andもっと詳しく
Wujal Wujal Falls (and a croc)

The falls are a bit bigger than last time. A lot of water tumbling over with a loud roar. Just down the river a bit a small crocodile is sunning on a nice warm rock.
There are some birds but they areもっと詳しく
Looking down at the Bloomfield River

A short drive over the Bloomfield River and heading south is a steep climb to an impressive view of the river. We just happened to have good light to get a nice photo.
The track to here is a samplerもっと詳しく
Weary Bay

A short detour from the main road leads to the beach on Weary Bay. This beach runs south from where we drove in to the Bloomfield River. At that point the river is quite wide as it enters theもっと詳しく
Keating Lagoon

We have been here before but there was a lot more water in the lagoon still quite a few birds and a nice walk.
Finch Bay

Pretty spot on the Cooktown coast.
Elim Beach

Elim Beach camp is basic and remote. Getting here is not a drive to the shops and you need to bring everything you need. There is some potable water and cold showers.
Long walks on the beach isもっと詳しく
Lost Dreams

Young groups decide to have a nice spot to relax and fish or older families build a shack with friends to get away.
As time goes on people move, friendships change. Economies make remote living moreもっと詳しく
Coloured sands - Elim Beach

One must do while visiting Elim Beach is a visit to the coloured sands. It is best colour wise to go early in the morning. At this time there are rich red tones and vivid yellows that will mature andもっと詳しく
Arachnaphobia

In the Australian bush there are many animals. There are the normal furry kinds such as wallabies, koalas, marsupial mice, and kangaroos. There are slithering kinds of all types. Giant pythons withもっと詳しく
Isabella Falls

Not far north of Cooktown is Isabella Falls. This beautiful crystal water tumbles over a rock lip then down a bit further over the falls.
Well worth taking a short stop here to enjoy nature.
A very late breakfast.

All day breakfast at Cooktown. With a nice cup of coffee. We decided to visit the Cafe at the gardens. We had cerial earlier after deciding not to spend the time preparing our own bacon and eggs. Theもっと詳しく