P.S Sorry if you got a Hughenden Blog earlier to you inbox....hit the GO LIVE on the wrong post as I am trying get back up-to-date. I do hope you are enjoying travelling along with us.
We had a quiet and relaxing time in Cairns, before hitting the road to Babina to check out the amazing boulders and waterfalls, then onto Paronella Park. This place was spectacular with a fascinating history that is well worth a 24 hour stop in. We did both the day and evening tour that was part of the camping fees (they do daily visits as well if you are just passing through). This amazing place was the dream of Spanish Jose Paronella in the early 1900's. He was very innovative, installing one of Australia's first Hydroelectric power systems in the the waterfall to power lights that light up the waterfall and the entire property. He created a spectacular castle in the middle of the rainforest. There are parts of the castles that still remain and that have survived the cyclones and floods that ravage the Far North Queensland region.
From here we headed onto Kurramine Beach which is a sleepy fishing village just north of Mission Beach. This became our home base for the visit to the Murdering Point Winery, The Pocket Cafe, El Arish Butchers, Charley's Chocolate and some bushwalking. The tour at Charley's Chocolate was great, learning all about the region, how is was selected to test out cocoa growing, their processes and method and the future of the cocoa industry.
The next camp site was Cardwell, and on the way we stopped in at Tully. Tully is home to a massive sugar mill and as you get out of the car, all you can smell is cooked sugar. On the east side of the main street is the Big Gumboot, standing 8 meters tall and representing the annual rainfall Tully receives each year. The kids enjoyed the staircase walk inside up to the top to then watch the shunting of the sugar cane carriages across the road in the mill yards. From here we jumped in the car and headed a little further south to Cardwell. While in Cardwell we took a drive around the sadly neglected Hinchinbrook Marina that would have once been impressive, but has now been left to ruins. We explored the surrounding national parks and went to the Cardwell Lookout, Five Mile Creek Waterhole with its amazing history, and Attie Creek Falls. Pictured below is the beautiful Attie Creek Falls....way too cold to swim, but well worth the 40 minute up the hill.
We are plodding on South & our next stop is Ingham....see you then
Absolutely gorgeous scenery.