HEADING SOUTH.

 We have been heading south from Port Douglas along the coast for the last month or so, but the weather hasnt been very kind to us , we have had a lot of rain but things have now started to improve. We travelled with a group of Victorians for three weeks and had some good fun. We were all tavelling in the same direction so we decided to travel togther, the group finally split directions but we are all going to keep in touch.

 We have spent a couple of weeks just north of Townsville, nice camps on the side of the ocean. Its lovely listening to the sea when you are lying in your bed. The only downside to this area is the sand flies and the mozzies, they have bitten me to pieces but they dont find Andreas very tasty(must be all the alcohol in his blood)

 We went on a tour in Tully around a sugar mill , it was very interesting. When you see all the sugar cane up here its good to know what happens to it. You see fields of sugar cane, bananas and some pineapples. Up in the tablelands you see coffee and tea so much so that i now drink Nerada tea which is from the tablelands up here in Queensland.

 Here is the croc that andreas caught in his crabpot, it was a huge surprise and was a point of excitement in the camp. Unfortuntely it drowned but we didnt know this when we dragged it in, if it was dead or alive. Very scary, it turned out to be a very healthy 5yr old male (thats what the fisheries guy told us when he came to collect him), so no shoes for me or belt for Andreas. So I now have my very own Greek Dundee.

 Below are a couple of pictures from a place called Paranella Park, it is a very interesting place to visit.
All built by a Spanish migrant, with its own Hydro electricity plant. The present owners are slowly resorting it back to its glory. Most of it was constructed by this one man, he was very ahead of the times

• We are still having a great time, not sure which direction we are going to take now just waiting to see wether we are going to be driving very quickly down to melbourne for the last weekend in September
•  GO DOCKERS

ATHERTON TABLELANDS.

 Well since we have left central Queensland the scenery has changed so much from dry pastures with nothing growing at all to the green rolling hills, waterfalls, and lots of healthy looking livestock. 

We visited five waterfalls in one day and this is the most famous in this area(Milla Milla), very special area with lots of visitors everyday. 

We love this area but have only been here at this time of year, what it would be like in the summer might be a completely different, its the only place so far that we have visited that we have said that we could live here.

 This is the dam wall at lake Tinaroo which is just outside of Atherton, for those of you reading that dont know I was born and lived in Atherton UK till I was in my late 20s.

We went for a drive around the lake to see if we could bring the caravan to the campsite but the road was too narrow and full of potholes, it was a shame as it would be a nice place to camp by the lake.

 We visited granite gorge which is just outside Mareeba, it was a nice walk and we got to feed the rock wallabies. the second part of the walk turned out to be a climb rather than a walk but we both managed to complete it.

 I was very lucky to go for a hot air balloon ride,(only cost $50), I went on the stand by list and only had to wait for two days. Andreas decided to stay at home and used the excuse that we had to get picked up at 5am, the weather wasnt the best it was very overcast but I am very happy that I did it. Not the most exciting thing in the world but I can tick it off the list.

 We are planning to stay up here in Northern Queensland for at least the next month, hopefully the weather will stay sunny although it has been drizzling all day today.

WHERE ARE WE NOW !!!!!!!!!

 A few weeks have past since I have put anything on this blog, thought it was about time that I filled in the gaps as to where we have been.
Since leaving Carnarvon Gorge we have travelled further west and north to Longreach and Winton.

Longreach is the home of the Qantas and we spent a day having a look through a couple of the planes that they have here. It was very interesting and you can easy spend a whole day here. Also at Longreach is the stockmans hall of fame, came to a show in the evening which turned out to be a good evening including a good meal. 

Then we moved onto Winton which is were they have found the remains of many dinosaurs, there is even a place where there is the stampede of the dinosaurs which can be seen in the ground.

Now we have moved up to the Atherton Tablelands, the weather has improved but it does get cold at night, (good cuddling weather), We are going to stay in Northern queensland for the next month, we are planning to fly back to Perth in September to watch the dockers play finals but as I am typing this blog we are being slaughtered by St Kilda . 

As you can see from some of these photos it is so dry in the outback, no water anywhere and it is so dusty. Wait till I put photos of the Atherton tablelands and see how different it is here. very pretty green rolling hills. We both really like this area.

CARNARVON GORGE

 Well here we are at Carnarvon Gorge, we have heard so much about this place that we decicded that we couldnt be so close and not come and see it.

We had a great day and there is plenty to see but lots of walking, it ended up taking 6 hours to complete the 14k walk. The majority of the walking was pretty easy going but I have to admit that the pace did slow down on the way back, one way and one way out .

Lots of people are walking this gorge and most of them a lot older than both of us , we have had a great day and very glad that we came here.

Disappointed that there wasnt very much wildlife but the scenery made up for it, we crossed 11 water crossings but they have made it easy and the water is pretty low so even if you do slip and fall in all that would be hurt would be your pride, not even a wet trainer for us both.

We both slept very well that night and woke up a bit sore but had a great day and would recommend it to anyone that maybe passing through this area.

If you are not sure where this is ( on a map ) head west from Rockhampton till you get to Emerald then south for about 200k.

Carnarvon Gorge in Central Queensland.