All posts tagged Travel

Day 17: Atherton

Today was the least distance travelled since the beginning of this trip. Came to Atherton in the morning and I ‘like’ this town. It has a little city centre, neighbouring farms and mountains; and Cairns is only about 80km away. The town apparently won the ‘Tidiest Town in Queensland” back in 2004 (whatever that really means!)

Also, spent a couple of hours at the Herberton Historic Village today. It was a nice place to travel back in time.

My journey in Queensland is about to come to an end. Next, I will be travelling towards the ‘Red’ centre. There will probably be a few more stops before crossing the border. It looks like a lot of driving is coming again….

John @ Atherton, QLD

Today’s image: Atherton Countryside
13 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , 1 3

Day 16: Weipa

If you are into fishing or mining; then Weipa is for you. However, neither of these are my ‘thing’. So Weipa is not really that interesting of a town for me. But I have say that people here are really friendly though. I mean noticeably nicer.

I said I would stay for the another night but couldn’t spend all day there without being bored. So I headed off for another destination, Lockhart River. Unfortunately, the road was closed for maintenance. So no go again. Not having a lot of luck with my destinations at the peninsula.

Well, Lockhart River was the last place I really wanted to visit before nead back south. So guess  I have no choice but just do that.

About 750km later, I arrived back in Mareeba. Here I will stay for the night. It actually works out for me as there are few more places around here that I wouldn’t mind paying a visit.

John @ Mareeba, QLD

Today’s image: Jardin River Ferry
13 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , , 0 0

Day 15: Reaching ‘The Tip’

The internet didn’t really work at Seisia Beach yesterday so I couldn’t blog. There wasn’t mich happened anyway. It was mostly driving from Coen to Bamaga. It was a long but pleasant drive. The road mostly unsealed but wasn’t too bad except probably 25% of it was quite rough, bumpy and muddy. The highlight definitely was the drive through Jardin River National Park. The soil was red and all the green trees made such contrast.

After over 5000km in 2 weeks, I have finally reached the tip of Australia. It certainly is a milestone of my trip. It was wet and very windy at the tip. It was very difficult keeping my hat on. The forecast for Cape York is not good for this whole week so I decided not to stay. However, I am glad that I came just after the wet season so I could have a sense of what it would be like in the wet season. I can tell you, I don’t think I want to be here during the wet season 🙂

So I have gone as far north as I could; it’s time to head back south. I decided to head over to Brumwell Junction and see how I feel. Once I got there, I had a much needed coffee and decided to get myself to Weipa. So here I am in Weipa after another lond day of driving. I think I will be staying here for a couple of nights to recover.

xox

John @ Weipa, QLD

Today’s image: The Tip
13 years ago /  Tagged: , , , 0 0

Day 13: Cooktown to Coen

Left Cooktown this morning hoping to camp in Lakefiled National Park but found the road was closed after 15km into the park. Bummer… had to turn around and find another destination. The choice were either Musgrave Roadhouse or the town, Coen. I picked Coen.

It was a long drive (felt like it anyway). I must have driven on a straight stretch of road for more than 50km, thought it would never end. Arrived at Coen just after 3pm and I was exhausted.

The car got a serious workout today, some might even say torture. It was completely covered in red dust. Had to borrow a hose here at the homestead to hose it down. Then I found a small hole punctured on the back passenger door. It must have been hit by a rock on the way. Ouch!

I remember that I kept thinking how can anyone live out here. It’s hours to the next town. I have never been anywhere as remote as this. Then I am going to more places that are even more remote. “What have I got myself into?” WINK…

Nah, its all fun and a great experience. I am enjoying it greatly; just hope I can finish it in 3 months.

No pictures were taken today so will try tomorrow.

John @ Coen, QLD

Today’s image: Old Fishing Boat at Cardwell by the Sea
13 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , , 0 0
Mick the Miner Statue at Cook’s Landing
James Cook Statue
Black Mountain

Day 12: Cooktown

I had more time today to explore Cooktown. It is a relatively small town made up by a handful of streets. You can easily walk around the town in half a day. It has a nice sea dock where locals and tourists fish. There’s also the Botanical Gardens and a couple of bays. I will try to go to the bays later at dusk to see if I can get some good shots.

There are few statues around the dock area. James Cook, Mick the Miner and even a Chinese sculpture. I guess Chinese must have a bit of history here as well. A retired lighthouse stands on top of Grassy Hill here. I read that it was built in England and it was shipped over and installed back in 1885. That’s one ‘old’ lighthouse.

Just 25km south of Cooktown, there is this strangest mountain range formed by black granite boulders, the Black Mountain National Park. You can clearly see this from Google maps using satellite view. It is a must see for anyone travelling this way.

It is a Saturday today, so a bit of crowd was around earlier in the day. There was a little street market, tourists were stopping over and having their lunch at cafes. It didn’t last very long before it all went quiet again except the local pubs. I suppose this is how small little fishing town like this works.

It’s been good spending a couple of days here. Tomorrow, I will be heading further north; not sure where I will be staying yet so stay tuned.

^_^

John @ Cooktown, QLD

Today’s images: 1. Mick the Miner Statue at Cook’s Landing; 2. James Cook Statue; 3. Black Mountain National Park
13 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , 0 0

Day 11: Cairns to Cooktown

Never thought I would say this but I love 4-wheel driving! So there.

It took me 9 hours today to get from Cairns to here, Cooktown. I did stop at many places and look around. Port Douglas is too ‘resort-ish’ for my liking but it is a nice holiday destination, I must say. Then, stopped at Mossman, pretty much the last stop before going off-road so I topped up the tank.

Next, I headed to Daintree Ferry to cross the river; then went to Daintree Rainforest Discovery Centre for a side trip. It was almost all off-road driving after Daintree. Crossed many little creeks and rivers. Some of the hills are so steep that I swear our ‘dog’ van would not made some of them. It was so much fun and scary at the same time.

Haven’t have much chance to take any pictures today but did take some that I really like. Like the one today 🙂

xox

John @ Cooktown, QLD

Today’s image: Cows Resting Near Diwan, Queensland
14 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , 0 2

Day 10: Mareeba & Chillagoe

I had a little taste of the outback today. I could see the earth turned from ‘brown’ in Cairns to ‘red’ around Chillagoe. I loved the drive. It was remote and I was alone most of the way.

Many times now that I drove pass places on the highway that I thought “here will make a good photo”. But it is hard to just stop and take the photo when you are doing 100km and cars are behind you. It happened again today!

I saw this stretch of downhill that just go as far as I could see. The dark sealed road and the light yellowish grasses glowing like flames on the road side. I liked the colour and contrast. I thought should I stop to take the picture but before I could make up my mind. What I saw was disappearing because I came down the hill. Damn! I missed it again.

After spending a little time in Chillagoe, it’s time to return. Now, I have to take that shot that I wanted. I drove up to the top of the slope, parked the car on the side of the highway. There were a few 4WDs and trucks came pass. I waited they all passed and I could hear no more sound of coming traffic. Quickly, I stepped to the middle of the highway and Snap! Snap! Snap! I think I got the shot that I wanted.

I was a happy man then.

Afterwards, I went on to Mareeba and checked out its heritage museum. Lots of interesting things in there.

Now, I am so looking forward to tomorrow. Cooktown, here I come!

John @ Cairns, QLD

Today’s image: Road to Chillagoe
14 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , 0 5

Day 9: Townsville to Cairns

One thing I have noticed in the last few days is that sugar cane farms are just everywhere here in Queensland. It makes me wonder how much sugar do we consumed. The scenery changed quite a bit from Townsville to Cairns and the weather is definitely a bit ‘stickier’. Stopped at a few little towns along the way. Some are like hidden gems.

At the Tourist Info Centre, talked to a most helpful staff. He gave me all information that I need for the Cape York adventure. I am feeling much more confident to tackle the journey.

John @ Cairns, QLD

Today’s image: Townsville at Dusk
14 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , , 0 3
Cyclone Memorial
Lest We Forget

Day 8: Mackay to Townsville

I didn’t blog last night because I was too tired after all the driving yesterday. It was a public holiday in Queensland and everything ‘Shuts’. So didn’t get up to much at all.

Got to Rockhampton and hung around for a couple of hours, took a few pictures. I like the town, it has character and quite pretty. As for Mackay, it was OK. There are many memorials around the city. Got up just before sunrise and snapped a few photos including the one here, the Cyclone Memorial.

Got to Townsville and didn’t feel like driving to Cairns so decided to spend a night. I like Townsville, it has has a little bit of everything. I went up to one of the hill in the middle of town and it is a popular exercise track for the locals at dusk. They were walking and jogging up and down the 3km steep hill.

Tomorrow I will go to Cairns and there I will stay for a couple of days. Mainly to organize everything I will need for the first real adventure of this trip. Going to Cooktown taking the coastal route via Cape Tribulation. After that, I will be heading over to Weipa then up to Cape York if roads are open. Can’t wait!!

Nite all

John @ Townsville,QLD

 

14 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , , 0 0

Day 6: Brisbane, Beerwah & Maryborough

Woken up by the sound of breaking waves and it was dark still. It was time to continue the journey. A destination was needed. Brisbane? No… wanted to cover a bit more distance today. Hervey Bay was one of the choice but then I didn’t want another “beach-y” destination. That’s how Maryborough came to be. Bit more inland, mountains and forest for a change.

Stopped over at Brisbane and drove around for an hour or so as nothing really opened yet at 8 in the morning. It was time to move on and decided to do a detour when I saw the “Tourist Drive” sign to Glass House Mountain. The name grabbed me for some reasons. It was kilometres after kilometres of parkland. An unexpected visit to Australia Zoo about 50 minutes into the detour. Still hard to believe that Steve Irwin was killed almost 6 years ago. Hope the zoo can get going on…

Finally arrived today’s destination, Maryborough, just before 2pm. Staying in a motel here after sleeping in the cars for 2 nights. Checked in, made a chicken and avocado sandwich, cleaned myself up and now writing this. Think will have an early night tonight.

John @ Maryborough, QLD

14 years ago /  Tagged: , , , , 2 2
← Older Entries
Newer Entries →