Charters Towers

Another big day on the road to get to our next stop so we took off as early as possible.  Stopping to get petrol at Lynd Junction and at a truck stop for some lunch.  Got to see many road trains on the John McEwan Beef Track.  The road way only one car with in places so we pulled over when we saw them coming.

We arrive in Charters Towers intending on seeing the area plus catching up with some well needed schooling time for the kids but in the end neither of these happened as Nigel and I both ended up with a bug of some description.  Nigel came down with it first.  He stayed in bed for most of the day trying to shake his aching body feeling away.  The next day it was my turn to spend the day in bed.  Neither of us were really good company but the kids kept themselves entertained on the jumping pillow and riding their bikes.

We did see a little of the town including the Towers Hill lookout.  It was a pretty view across the whole of the town and into the flats around the district.  We took in the historical old buildings around the town and did a little shopping around town.  We even had enough time to get Jordan’s ears pierced for an early birthday present.  She was so brave when she got them done.  They had to do one at a time.  So when the second one was being done she knew what to expect and the tears flowed even before the gun went off.  She was so great about it.  She did not want us to see it was painful because she so wanted them done.  What a precious gorgeous girl she is! Oh how we love her and her bothers. 

We had a nice time in the park even though we felt poorly on and off.  We sat around the campfire pit and listen to Tom and Patty sing country and western songs and enjoyed damper cooked on the open fire.  We even enjoyed a bangers and mash night with the other campers and it was delicious.  We met a lovely family from Magnetic Island, Michelle, Nick and their two boys.  We met Rob (an amazing artist) and his wife June and some other lovely couples also.  I even got to see and amazing sunsets and you know how much I love those.

Just before departing Charters Towers we took Kaleb to the optometrist.  He has been rubbing his eyes on and off for weeks and we were a little concerned about his vision.  You will be happy to know that he has 20 /20 vision with the normal long vision problems all children encounter at this age.  He has the symptoms of dry eye.  Eye drops are the solution.  Oh well...better the devil we know.

Undara

Nigel met up with Lance a mate from Derhams that he worked with.  They chatted for around an hour before it was time to begin our trip to Undara.  It was still overcast and cloud at that point but the further south we continued the clouds started to thin out and we saw our first patch of blue sky in over a week. 

We stopped and Innot Hot Springs and walked along the natural spring.  The water was a staggering 72oC.  Pretty hot and at times to hot to even stand in.  The rocks also absorbed the heat so if you stirred them up to much they would scold the bottom of your feet.  One guy had gotten up from where he was laying and his back was bright red.  Ouch.  Quite remarkable how the water bubbles up from under the ground and it holds temperatures like that.

We saw our first road train and was she a big one.  Four trailers long and carrying a huge load.  She had only just pulled out and it took her awhile to get going.  She still hadn’t reached full speed after 10kms down the road.  Big beast! 

We arrived at Undara and did get lucky and scored a site in the overflow area.  No water or power but that was okay.  We had toilets and showers 10 metres away, the main reception and tour pick up and drop off point 50 metres the other way and the restaurant 100 metres away.  It was even closer to everything than the powered caravan sites.  What a good deal.

Our tour left at 3.30 in the afternoon where we visited three different locations.  Bill our NZ tour guide was really good and we enjoyed listening to him telling us all about the Undara Lava Tubes.  Our first stop was at the Road Tube.  We walked into this tube and followed a path around 150 metres.  We walked on a boardwalk that was sat directly onto the silt lining the base of the tube.  The tubes are all approximately 20 metres high in place and they were created around 190,000 years ago.  The information was mind boggling.  Our second stop was a Stephensens which was filled with water but can no longer be visited.  Our final stop was a the Arch – Ewamian tube opening.  It was also partly filled with water due to the wet season and we got to wade into the water.  It was really such soft silky water.  If anyone watches sunrise it is the same lava tube in which Grant Denyer had same in just a week earlier.  They have nicknamed the tube Sunrise since their visit.  It was amazing but these tubes would never have been found if the roof collapses had not occurred.  They truly are special.

 

After arrive back from our tour we took a quick walk up to the bluff to take in the sunset.  It was another pretty sight in Undara.  One of many.  That evening we sat around our first open fire since starting on our trip.  The boys were just mesmerised by it.  The following morning we got up and had a traditional bush brekkie around the open fire with billy tea, cereal, fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, tomatoes and pancakes.  What a yummy breakfast indeed.  Even the Kookaburras got a sausage for brekkie.  Stolen off the plate of a poor unsuspecting guest. 

 

Atherton

Hypipamee Crater

Dinner Falls

The weather still continues to be miserable.  It is putting everyone in a bad mood.  No sun, no smiles.  Had to get ourselves out of the doldrums so we took a drive around the countryside.  Surprisingly it  only to a short time to turn our frowns upside down.  We started at Hypipamee Crater.  An amazing but unusual crater between Herberton, Millaa Millaa and Atherton.  Dinner Falls was also there and they were quiet a picturesque waterfall.  We continued our drive towards Millaa Millaa where we stopped at the lookout that overlooks the picturesque valley leading into Millaa Millaa.  Our drive then took us along the waterfall circuit.  The first falls was Millaa Millaa which were beautiful and flowing really well.  We found out that the falls were only a 5^th of the size the week before.  See the rain was important.  Next was Zillie Falls and the Ellinjaa Fall.  Both very beautiful also.  I particularly like Ellinjaa Falls.  We continued our drive then back up the road to see the final of our waterfalls. Malanda Falls.  Nestled at the base of these falls was the local swimming pool.  Pretty spectacular place really.  We did one final stop that afternoon at that was at Gallo Dairyland – Working milk farm and coffee, cheese and chocolate shop.  We had a taste of some lovely chocolate and had a nice coffee also.  The kids had some ice cream and we selected a few chocolates also.  Yum Yum! The day ended quite nicely.

Millaa Millaa Lookout



Millaa Millaa Falls                                                       Zillie Falls                                                             Ellinjaa Falls

Malanda Falls

The next day, yes it was still a little dreary but this did not stop us again.  We ventured to The Crystal Caves were we saw displays of different pyrites and geodes.  The larges know Amethyst Geode know is called The Empress of Uruguay.  Obviously that was where it was found.  It was tall than Nigel and weights a staggering 2 ½ tonnes.  Her crystals are naturally created and are of jewellery quality.  Very amazing and very pretty.  We really like the cubed pyrites which are formed without any human contact.  They were just amazing.  After visiting the caves...(yes they were fake caves inside a shop front...lol) we headed for lunch at the Barron Valley Hotel.  What a great meal.  The kids and I had the lamb cutlets and how we enjoyed them.  The kids got 2 large ones each and I got 4 large ones.  What a feast!  No food for me tonight.  Nigel had a delicious steak that was nearly as big as his plate.

Following lunch we took a drive out to Yungaburra, hoping to finally see the elusive platypus in their own environment.  We sat at the view platform for 5 minutes or so with no luck so decide to walk down the path and along the river.   It was a little muddy at time but well worth it.  We saw our first little platypus around 100 metres down the stream.  He frolicked and played in the water for ages and we were just mesmerised by the cute little thing.  We continued our walk along the banks and found another 2 platypus and watched them play.  The older ones were very shy and once they noticed us they hid very quickly.  We walked back to the car then and drove the 5 minutes around the corner to a most amazing curtain fig tree.  It was an incredible site.