Tropical North Queensland - Townsville to Cooktown

Moving on from Airlie Beach the next overnight stay was planned for Townsville (North Queensland) before making our way officially into Far North Queensland country. 

Officially Tropical North Queensland extends from roughly Mission Beach to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, however when you are travelling family style (i.e. not a 4wd caravan) sealed roads is where it ends for you at Cooktown.

Townsville - 

Unofficial capital of North Queensland, Townsville has a population nearing 200,000, and home to a large population of defence force personnel (10% of the city's population). As it was only an overnight stay, exploring didn't extend beyond the hospital, main waterfront, and caravan park with another check up and x-ray required for Cooper's broken arm. 

Townsville waterfront - The Strand, Townsville, QLD

Atherton Tablelands
After a very soggy and cold overnight stay in Mission beach, we decided to head inland on our way to Cairns and visit Atherton to try and escape the late end to the wet season.

Cattle on the road on our travels out of Townsville

East of Ingham about halfway between Townsville and Mission beach, is the Girringun National Park. Here you'll find Wallaman Falls, Australia's tallest vertical drop waterfall at 268mtrs. We were lucky enough to get a break in the clouds to see the rainbows created by the spray at the base of the falls (pictured) - Girringun National Park, QLD

Tully, situated 210kms north of Townsville, is arguably Australia's wettest town, with an annual rainfall average of 4200mm. In 2003 the town erected the 7.9mtr tall Golden Gumboot as a monument to the town's wet climate. Only fitting that is was raining heavily (pictured) where we arrived for a look.

Forget kangaroos or wallabies, you need to slow down for the cassowary's around Tully! - Cassowary Coast Region, QLD

Malanda Falls Visitor Centre - the visitor centres have been an amazing education tool for explaining to Cooper the geography, and history of the places we visit. Here he is learning how volcanoes shaped the landscape around the Atherton Tablelands - Malanda Falls Visitor Centre, Atherton Tablelands, QLD

The Curtain Fig Tree - this strangler fig, one of the largest known in North Queensland, stands at 15mtrs tall. Basically a fig seed germinates high in the host tree, the roots then grow to the ground. Once this happens, the fig grows rapidly sending roots quickly until the original host is completely 'strangled' and dies. For this fig, the original host tree died and fell over into another tree. The fig has then taken over the second tree, creating the curtain-like appearance of the roots growing to the ground - Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands, QLD

Gallo Cheese factory near Atherton also makes yummy chocolates!!

Some of the very tasty cheeses made at the Gallo Cheese factory. Our favourite? The rainforest cheese, think chive and onion dip crossed with cheddar cheese....nom nom nom! Gallo Cheese Factory, Athertone Tablelands, QLD 

Did you know in the early 1900's there used to be many coffee plantations in QLD? But due to rising labour costs for picking beans by hand, most were abandoned for other pursuits. Jacques Plantiation was the first commercial coffee plantation reestablished in Australia in the 1980's, and these clever folks also created the world's first automatic coffee harvester that can pick the beans from one bush per second! - Jacques Coffee Plantation, Mareeba, QLD

Here you go Coffee fans - this is what a coffee plantation looks like!

Close up of a coffee plant - each single berry contains two coffee beans, which are dried, roasted, then ground for making coffee.

Cairns - heading back to the coast from the tablelands, our next stay was in the far north Queensland town of Cairns. Popular with tourism due to its location for exploring the far tropical north and accessibility to the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, it is also close to Kuranda (famous for its heritage mountain railway) and the Barron Gorge National Park. 

Arriving at Cairns Coconut Resort the kids were pleased to find a jumping pillow to entertain them. And not just any jumping pillow if you look closely... this is the WORLD's biggest jumping pillow!!! Kids...umm....where are you!!

Great to catch up with my old workmate and friend of many years Brett. Such a lovely guy, made us feel super welcome by cooking us a very tasty dinner, spoiled the kids with ice-cream, and endless selection of kid's movies, and even squeezed in a song on his guitar much to Blaire (and Brett's) delight. Thanks mate, big hugs to ya xxx

The next day saw us take a step back in time and take a ride on the Kuranda scenic railway. My grandfather was posted in Cairns during World War II, and although information on exact postings of personnel is difficult to locate, it is thought by the family that he worked on maintenance of the railway when it was utilised during World War II - Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns, QLD

The kids, including our new friends, having a great time on a train, from left (Jas, Cooper, Eliza, and Blaire) - Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns, QLD

We met another family doing the 'big trip' (pictured from left: Dave, Jude, Eliza, and Jas Moar) and the kids had a great time playing together, and the adults had a great time sharing travel tips, blogs (wheretheraodleadsus.weebly.com) and war stories. Thanks guys, hope you have an amazing trip!

Views over Cairns from the Kuranda Scenic Railway - Kuranda, Cairns, QLD

The town of Kuranda is famous for its heritage markets. Now, I don't need convincing for having a hunt around the markets, and Kuranda had plenty of stalls with unique items on offer.... giant converse shoe backpack anyone?

Kangaroo fur G string??? Boys???

Ladies, you have NOT been forgotten! Kangaroo fur bikini???? And bow tie!!!

Ok, ok, perhaps something more practical... some zig-zag thongs?

Two very weary munchkins just a bit too over excited to keep bargain hunting at the markets - Kuranda Heritage Markets, Cairns, QLD

Jas and Cooper playing in the van - Cairns Coconut Resort, Cairns, QLD

Saying goodbye to our new friends (from left) Jas, Cooper, Eliza, & Blaire - Cairns Coconut Resort, Cairns, QLD

Saying goodbye to new friends (from left) Amy, Linda, Mike & Zara - Cairns Coconut Resort, Cairns, QLD

The rain continued to fall as we left beautiful Cairns

Port Douglas - Chasing the sun, we continued North to base ourselves in Port Douglas for a couple of days to visit the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge

Mossman Gorge - Daintree National Park, QLD

Having fun reading all about the rainforest climatology - Mossman Gorge, Daintree National Park, QLD

Love. Daintree style.

Taking one of the walking trails through the Daintree with the kids - Daintree National Park, QLD

Rex Creek - Daintree National Park, QLD

The closet thing I could get to a smile while waiting for the shuttle bus to take us out of the rainforest - Daintree National Park, QLD

Cape Tribulation is part of the coastal edge of the Daintree. Long tidal beachfront fringed by lush green rainforest, we didn't have to wait long to have the beachfront completely to ourselves. Peaceful and beautiful.

In the heart of the Daintree you can find the Daintree Entomological (Insect) Museum. If you are a fan of all things creepy crawly (...ummm) then this is the place for you. Great place for 4 year old boys...and 2 year old girl's for that matter! - Daintree Rainforest

Peppermint Stick Insect - Daintree Entomological Museum, Daintree Rainforest, QLD

One of the experiences that makes this place great, there are bugs to handle if you are willing! Check out this Spiny Stick Insect - Daintree Entomological Museum, Daintree Rainforest, QLD

So there were many, many, glass cases filled with bug specimens I took photos of and could have shown you, but I picked this one for a special reason. These guys on the left about the length of a Coke can, Giant Longihorn Beetles, are found all over the world, but are also native to Cape York Penninsula (where we were). 
Imagine snuggling into your sleeping bag and thinking, "What is that scratching at my ankles....AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!"

Blue Ulysses Butterfly found in the gardens - Daintree Entomological Museum, Daintree Rainforest, QLD

Adjacent to the Insect Museum at the Daintree we found Cooper Creek. So here is Cooper posing with his namesake creek - Daintree Entomological Museum, Daintree Rainforest, QLD

Leaving the same way you need to come in, the car ferry is the only means of transport into the heart of the Daintree - Daintree Rainforest, QLD

Restricted to staying in our car, and with the totally wrong lens on the camera, this was the best photo I could get of the first croc we spotted in the wild. Yep, that dark body on the bank, smack in the middle of the photo is our first salt water croc photo
- Daintree Rainforest, QLD

Cooktown - the furtherest point we could travel north in Queensland on the bitumen (with the kids and on-road caravan) was Cooktown on the Cape Your Peninsula  Cooktown is a popular launching point for adventurers exploring further 795kms to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula by 4WD. There was still the opportunity to explore the surrounds by day trip, and the scenery did not dissappoint.

Cooktown Woolies... the North Queenslanders obviously have a sense of of humour - Cooktown, Far North QLD

Archer Point just 20kms sth of Cooktown. The lighthouse lookout over the bay was windy, but breathtaking (excuse the pun) - Archer Point, Cooktown, QLD

Looking over Archer Point from the lighthouse - Archer Point, Cooktown, QLD

A bit of 'Blaire Chi' to soothe the soul - Archer Point, Cooktown, QLD

What's a tropical holiday without picking your own coconuts??? Damien doing the bloke thing - Archer Point, Cooktown, QLD

Blaire playing with the debris that scattered the beach following the very late Cyclone Ita (hit mid May 2014) - Archer Point, Cooktown, QLD

Back in the car and off exploring (me and Cooper) - Cooktown, QLD

Crossing a creek on the way back to Cooktown from Archer Point - Cooktown, QLD

Souvenir shopping at our most northern point in QLD. It is common knowledge that dogs are good croc bait... apparently so are little boys shoes... - Cooktown, QLD

Examples of the stunning colonial architecture evident among the northern towns of QLD - Cooktown, QLD

Battered yacht and sunset over the Endeavour River in Cooktown. Its not obvious when you visit, but evidence of recent Cyclone Ita is everywhere this far north when you look - Cooktown Foreshore, QLD

Here is a monument to the well travelled Captain James Cook. Cook, after mapping the East Coast of Australia, landed here in Cooktown on the 14th June 1770, where he docked for 7 weeks while essential repairs were carried out on his ship the Endeavour (namesake for the Cooktown Endeavour River). 

Cooktown main street facing away from the riverfront foreshore. Beautiful golden light at sunset with the looming clouds - Cooktown, QLD

The next day we headed out early to explore Elim Beach, and the coloured and cliffs not far from Cooktown. Pictured you can see the obvious difference between the coloured sands of the cliff and the white sand of the beach, but look carefully at the base of the cliff to see the black sand separating the two. I collected a container of the black sand to bring home as a reminder of the amazing geology of this place -
Elim Beach, Cooktown, QLD

Views over Elim Beach - Cooktown, QLD

Not sure what happened to this turtle. Looks like human intervention ended this guy although officially it is only the aboriginal people who have the cultural right to hunt marine turtles. The shell was quite beautiful, and sad at the same time -
Elim Beach, Cooktown, QLD

Off exploring in our dirty car - Battle Camp Road, Isabella Falls, Cooktown, QLD

More evidence of the inland destruction caused by tropical monsoon systems and cyclones like Cyclone Ita. Here due to the huge rainfall, the right had side of the road has washed away, and very dangerously undercut the road. Four weeks following the cyclone, and these remote roads have no warning signs apart from the kindness from a passerby with a stick and piece of neon tape to warn fellow drivers - Battle Camp Road, Isabella Falls, Cooktown, QLD

Blaire and I, at Isabella Falls - Cooktown, QLD

Pretty sure these guys are Texas Longhorn cattle. Saw then on the drive back to Cooktown from the Isbella Falls - Cooktown, QLD

One of final tasks on the coast before heading to outback QLD was to get Cooper's cast taken off (yay!!!). Cooktown hospital has a total of 1-2 doctors on at any one time for the whole hospital (approx. 12 beds). Considering this we didn't have to wait that long (2hrs) - Cooktown Hospital, Cooktown, QLD

Cooper, after protection from his cast for a few weeks, not very happy about feeling his arm moved to release it - Cooktown Hospital, Cooktown, QLD

After much reassurance, and some gentle handling, he calmed down enough to have a good look at his fixed arm - Cooktown Hospital, Cooktown, QLD

Leaving Cooktown we needed to head south from Cooktown before commencing our travels west towards the QLD outback. Last stop just south of Cooktown was the famous Lion's Den Hotel. Made from timber and iron it is known for its quirky decorations, and walls adorned with visitors signatures - Lion's Den Hotel, Bloomfield Track, QLD

Turn your head/screen sideways and see where we added our signature (in red) -
Lion's Den Hotel, Bloomfield Track, QLD 

Donated clothing to adorn the walls - Lion's Den Hotel, Bloomfield Track, QLD

Ok, so we snuck in one last night before leaving the tropical North, and made a very slight detour to Palm Cove north of Cairns. My excuse is we had to practically pass here anyway, and the scenery was too good to pass up (above). Don't think anyone is going to argue... could definitely move here to live! <3

Next blog takes post us west into QLD and NT outback country...