11 months on the road – we’re now at the point where fellow travellers’ eyes look a bit wide when they ask how long we have been travelling. Followed by the sympathetic look when they, and we, realise it’s almost over.
We spent the whole month in Nth Queensland and rapidly came to the conclusion that we would be back. There is much to explore here including a town we put on the “liveable” list.
We ticked off three of the girls’ bucket list items this month – from the magic of the Daintree Rainforest (Matilda’s) to Emily’s top two Big Things – the Gumboot and the Mango!
The info centres up here are amazing – we spent ages in the ones at Mareeba, Malanda and Ravenshoe in particular.
It was also the month of incredible ice cream, particularly for those of us who don’t eat dairy… our top tips: Daintree Ice Cream Company, Cape Tribulation; Gelocchio, Cairns; and Emerald Creek Ice-Creamery, Mareeba.
Once again we were blessed with great people this month – catching up with some old friends and some made along the way. Honestly, this will be one of the hardest parts of going home – it’s been so wonderful to meet such incredible people.
Let’s look at the numbers for our second last month before we give you a run down of the places we’ve been:
- 4,214 kms travelled (43,818kms) + approx 860km on the Spirit of Tas!
- Fuel bill for the month: $1,061 ($13,775)
- Cheapest fuel: $1.95
- Most expensive fuel: $2.19
- Most expensive campsite: $94 per night (most expensive of the entire trip! Ouch!)
- Accommodation costs: $1,337 ($11,726.61)
- States & Territories visited: 1 (7)
- ParkRuns completed: 2 (17)
- Playgrounds visited: 10 (110!)
- Big things: 11 (33)
- audiobooks listened to: More David Walliams – Grandpas Great Escape, The Midnight Gang and Code Name Bananas.
Our month started in the tiny little town of Mt Surprise and with an adventure to the Undarra Lava tubes for Emily and Garth. They returned with stories of bats, butterflies and the incredible tubes made from flowing lava a long long time ago.
From here we headed east for a night at Innot Springs where we ran into rain for the first time in months.
We boiled our bones in the hot creek and then the pools in the van park. We stopped for a cuppa at Pinnarendi Station Stay & Cafe the next morning, where the girls snagged some leftover sourdough pizzas for dinner that night and some cool little 3D printed geckos. We’ve popped this place on the “stay next time” list.
After exploring the great little town of Ravenshoe we headed up the tablelands to Atherton. From here we explored the tablelands, falling just a little in love with this area despite the mud between our toes. For the first time since Cygnet, even the girls were tempted by the real estate signs in Yungaburra.
Mareeba was next, a cracking stop at Ringers Rest – RV Park where the fire is warm and the damper is original. The kids loved the climbing trees and freedom of the camp site. We all loved Coffee Works (gluten and dairy free chocolate!), the ice cream and the epic waterfalls.
Our next stop was an adventure… we did mention it had been unseasonably wet up this way didn’t we?
It’s too long of a story for here but let’s just say we ended up on a dirt (mud) road, that in places was axel deep and required 4WD at quite the pace to get through. The campsite at the other end was both welcomed and wonderful and we found ourselves a dry spot on the hill for the night, complete with a campfire.
However after a night of torrential rain and very little sleep it was time to get out before we had to stay for a lot longer than expected! The downside – the only way our was that same road.
From here we headed just north of Cooktown to an awesome HipCamp with the best bath ever.
Cooktown is a fabulous place and we had a great time exploring this beautiful little town.
Port Douglas was next – it’s long been on Hayley’s list of places to go, and we weren’t disappointed. We caught up with another travelling family here, explored the fantastic markets, went on a cultural tour of Mossman Gorge (one of the best indigenous activities we’ve done) and spent a day visiting Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest. We cannot wait to go back and spend more time here – it’s definitely got the holiday vibe – not to mention Cassowaries and incredible tropical fruit!
After sadly leaving Port Douglas we headed to Cairns – making a beeline for a van park where we would meet two other travelling families for a few days. It was good for the soul to spend time together and enjoy their company (even if there was some sore heads the morning after Korean night!)
Cairns is another great destination – we even scheduled in a pamper day: hair cuts for the girls, massage for Dad followed by lunch with friends who were by chance in the area and then off to Barbie at the movies.
We travelled on Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (wow!), enjoyed the night markets and Rusty’s (so much tropical fruit!) and spent a wonderful afternoon with our beautiful friend Danielle (and didn’t take a single photo 
After lunch with our travelling friends (and their hilarious impromptu birthday cake!) we headed to Paronella Park where we celebrated Garth’s birthday in style! Not everyone gets to go to a castle for their birthday after all. This place and its campsite is definitely one not to miss.
Further south and we stopped at the little town of Tully (home of the big gumboot) for a couple of nights. We organised a twilight tour of the sugar mill which is highly recommended. It was so interesting and you actually get to walk through the working mill. Definitely a highlight.
We also took a day trip to Mission Beach (a little slice of paradise) to explore and have lunch on the beach with Dan, Em and the boys.
Next was a cracking little farm stay at Townsville and a huge day trip to Bowen for the sole purpose of seeing the the big mango!!!! Emily’s dreams come true.
Charters Towers was next. Baby snuggles were 100% the highlight here – we were so grateful to be able to meet young William and to catch up with Maggie and Stephen. The trip out to the river with them was a definite bonus. We also enjoy exploring town before heading on once again.
We rolled out of Charters Towers excited to begin the dinosaur trail, not realising we were also hitting some of the worst roads we’ve been on in the entire trip. A stop at Hughenden was welcomed and included a chance catchup with Garth’s friend Peter who just happened to be in town.
Next stop Richmond – what a great spot! We came for two nights and stayed for three! We spent hours and hours at the museum learning about the great inland sea and the incredible fossil record that now exists in the rock layers at Richmond. Garth and Hayley’s science brains were. There’s so much to learn out here. We finished off our visit with fossil fossicking and a walk around the lake. We really enjoyed this little town.
Hot tip: the unpowered sites at the campground are excelent.
Last day of the month was back on the roads towards Winton!
Editors note: more images to come…
Highlights
G: SkyRail and Kuranda train, Daintree, Cooktown, Yungaburra, Tully Sugar Mill, Paronella Park, spending a beautiful afternoon by the river with Maggie, Stephen and baby Will (let’s face it – Garth loves baby cuddles!) and catch ups with Sam & Nathan, the Fitzpatrick’s, Dan, Em and the boys and Mr Kenzler and getting to know the Sth Tacoma crew.
E: Undurra Lava tubes (Daddy & Emily adventure!), Innot Hot Springs, Yungaburra, Ringers Rest, CoffeeWorks (for the chocolate!), Zazen’s bath, water play in the caravan park at Port Douglas, seeing a Cassowary in the Daintree, Cairns and Mermaid braids, baby Will, Richmonds dinosaurs and finally ticking off two of her bucket list items – seeing the Big Gumboot and the Big Mango!
M: Innot Springs, Yungaburra, Ringers Rest, drinking out of a coconut at Zazen, Port Douglas Markets, Mossman Gorge, Daintree Rainforest (one of Tils bucket list items!), Cairns (allll the things), Paronella Park, Bowen, swimming in the river at Charters Towers and Richmond.
H: The Atherton tablelands stole my heart, I could easily live here; finally spending time in the Daintree and seeing our first (and only!) cassowary; lying in the bath, warmed by a fire under the stars; tropical fruit and ice cream I could eat!; the view as the sky rail topped over the trees; the indigenous walk at Mossman Gorge; my people – Danielle, Sam and Nathan: it’s been way too long and the Fitzpatrick’s, Dan, Em and the Boys and the Sth Tacoma crew who all made this month special; meeting Baby Will and spending time with his incredible parents; my pamper day out with the girls; my gorgeous hubby’s birthday; and Richmond, the town, campsite and the fossils!
The next lap
Ohhhh this list got a LOT longer in Nth QLD.
We would definitely stay at Pinnaarendi Farm, visit Cobold Gorge and Talaroo Hot Springs.
We’d spend a lot longer in the Atherton Tablelands (while trying try not to buy a place in Yungaburra) and see many more waterfalls that we missed due to the weather, visit Granite Gorge, stay on Cape Tribulation, buy more at the Port Douglas Markets, go to Rusty’s markets in Cairns as soon as we arrived (and again and again), visit all of the places we missed south of Cairns (Babinda, Joesphine Falls), spend more time in Townsville and visit Magnetic Island and get out into the dig sites at Richmond.
Just to name a few!
Knee Deep Travels 