Cairns & North-A Road Trip

[RB]

We hadn't visited Cairns since 2006 and Mrs RB had some flight credits and lounge passes at her disposal. The last few years we have had a couple of road trips out of Townsville and we have thoroughly enjoyed those times. We had a few concerns that we may be leaving it a bit late in the year to be heading to Nth Qld but it turned out our worries were unfounded.

Our Plan

 

[RB]

We drove from Port Macquarie to Brisbane via Casino & the Lions Rd to stay 1 night at Geebung. A walk down to the local RSL club and the Wed night deal was Steak Night- 2 visitors $38 got you a good rump, excellent salad & chips.
Transfer to Airport- Uber was having a large surge (maybe the morning after the Paul McCartney concert?) so we joined Didi & enjoyed a quick & cheap $20 ride to the airport

Lions Road – The Rainforest Way









A couple of minutes walk to Geebung RSL-very friendly club

 

[RB]

VA783 in Y
This flight had a 1 hr change (later) after we booked and another 20 odd minute delay on the day. We checked-in online, used the self serve kiosk for our bag tags & joined the line for the bag drop. We were through security (belts off & laptop out) & heading to the lounge in less than 15 minutes from the ride share drop-off.
Mrs RB had a couple of lounge entries via a credit card. Our first visit to an impressive looking lounge & very open but there seemed to be heaps of wasted space mid morning. We had an excellent barista coffee but the rest of the food was very so so-think we had the slops from breakfast & no fresh lunch offerings out yet. There was a gate announcement that hand luggage was to be weighed, a few came forward & offered up bags & the weighing idea disappeared. Our seat partner was a lady flying up to celebrate her 21st.
We used Uber from the signposted Share ride area. Our chariot was a new Lexus of some sort-apparently has self drive features & the outlay to buy qualifies you for 3yrs of car washes, valet parking at some airports & invites to charity golf days!

Cairns Arrivals






Very dry in Cairns

 

[Cossie]

Watched a Backroads episode on the ABC yesterday on Kyogle and the Lions Road, most interesting the locals could do something the various Governments wouldn't. Back Roads: Series 7 Kyogle, NSW

 

[RB]

1300 Meteor Car Hire
We have previously used the Townsville depot for 2 seamless hires, they offered a good deal and so we were matched up with a Toyota Yaris Cross with about 30,000km on the clock. I am not a big fan of Corollas that we have test driven previously & I found the steering of this vehicle felt a bit "light". Plenty of room for our 2 bags (about 12kg each), 2 backpacks (25 litre size ones) & small bits of shopping (water & breaky supplies). We travelled with the back seats down. Must say we enjoyed remarkable economy according to the vehicle display- regularly claimed between 5 to 5.4 litres per 100km so our 1300km trip didn't drain the bank.



Happy to report the detail photos were not required

 

[RB]

Agincourt Apartments Clifton Beach -Agincourt Beachfront Apartments, Clifton Beach – Updated 2023 Prices
Google maps guided us around a traffic block & through many roundabouts to the Clifton Beach shopping Centre. We stocked up on some breakfast food, coffee and other odds & ends Our poor turning circle doesn’t help in shopping centre carparks! The apartments are about 5 minutes drive from the shops. We opted for a garden view apartment. Being individually owned, apparently the apartments vary in quality of fittings but we were super impressed by apartment 32 on the 2nd floor. Plenty of space, comfortable bed, good air con, quiet, spotlessly clean and with good wi-fi, it made for a comfortable 2 night stay.









Didn't use the heated pool while we were there






Views from back walkway

 

[RB]

Around Clifton Beach
Our last visit to this area was in 2006 so the has been plenty of change. We had no concrete plans so it was simply a drive around and look day. We took in Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob ( Yorkeys Knob, Queensland - Wikipedia) and Palm Cove where we had lunch at The Cairns Surf Club-I hope the fish & chips is not the best version I have on the trip! Nothing special & for some reason served on a bowl like plate more suited to holding cornflakes. We rounded out the day with a meal of very nice prawns eaten at the apartment.

From above Trinity Beach




Yorkeys




We were just before the Melbourne Cup- saw a few of these


Pretty ordinary




Palm Cove

 

[RB]

Clifton Beach to Thornton Beach Cape Tribulation
A very easy, spectacular but slow drive. First stop was Rex Lookout-only a couple of other cars so no problem getting photos. We timed our run at the Daintree Ferry (had online return tickets) and only waited a couple of minutes & floated over with about 6 other vehicles-one local in the priority line. Next stop Mt Alexandra lookout- a couple of mini buses & half a dozen cars, some people who knew how to behave in a group & others who didn’t!
We enjoyed the Discovery Centre. Easy close parking when we arrived & no crowds on the walkways. Did the 112 steps to the top & enjoyed the view by ourselves. Found the signage to be excellent & thought it would be an outstanding facility to take kids. Had our info book filled in case we wanted a free return visit but didn’t use it.
Decided to look at Cow Bay & happened upon a cassowary crossing the road but too slow for a photo.
Dropped our bags at Thornton Beach Bungalows- a great host who provided us with heaps of extra info scribbled on the tourist map. Surprised to see the tea plantation that looked very healthy. Lunch was the last pie & sausage roll at Masons shop. Had a look at the swimming hole there, quite a few in the pool but some having trouble getting out. It is a slow drive & many speed bumps but very little traffic. Did the Kulki & Dubuji boardwalks and then back to the cabin for a spell, a few drinks & then wandered over the road for fish & chips & a drink at Thorntons-very relaxed place, bottle beer, fish & chips wrapped in paper, outside tables with groups mixing and 20 odd metres to the waters edge. Saturday is fish & chips only & served between 5-7pm so no late parties happening.

A long public service


Rex lookout view




Only a short wait for the ferry


Mt Alexandra




Discovery Centre






Boardwalk was in excellent condition

 

[RB]

More from drive to Cape Tribulation




At top of viewing platform










Not as glamorous as Palm Cove


Small tea plantation Daintree Tea Company - Destination Daintree


Swimming hole at Masons

 

[RB]

More of drive to Cape Tribulation

Keeping Qld informed


Kulki Boardwalk





Dubuji Boardwalk




Our hosts for fish & chips & drinks


Great spot to eat




I seem to recall it was some reef fish-great, plenty of it, fresh & really well cooked

 

[RB]

Thornton Beach Bungalows.
Only 3 rooms (2 small) available, off-grid & no bold promises made but an excellent stay for us. The cabin we had was small but planned in an excellent way and unbelievably clean. The bed was very comfortable, the front deck had comfortable seats, the fridge worked well, all drawers were used astutely. The small bathroom had an excellent shower with a clever dry area on the edge of the shower. The attached outdoor kitchen was also excellently planned-good camp light, baby weber, heaps of cleaning gear, camp chairs, beach style umbrella, hammock etc. I think the owner probably does a bit of camping and has noted the best of facilities wherever he has stayed. We were greeted warmly & provided with a map, given instructions for the best sites to suit our interests & those things were clearly drawn on the map. Just an outstanding set-up with a bar/food & the beach across the road. Keep in mind we were only paying around $120 a night for a 1 night stay



Bar & Food across the road and popular but no noise problems












Couple of camp/beach chairs hidden in a corner-all space smartly used

 

[Flyfrequently]

These are the gems you can find when on a road trip @RB

 

[RB]

Thornton Beach to Newell Beach Caravan Park.
We headed north first up to walk along Thornton beach and then did the loop at Madja Boadwalk. Then some backtracking from here but plenty to see. We were lucky & drove straight on to the ferry. Next stop was Daintree Village- virtually no one around, only 2 people boarded the river trip that we saw set out. Wonga Beach is a quiet waterside village with good beach facilities. Near Rocky Beach we diverted off the highway to track the signposted bombing site at Bamboo- surrounded by farmland is the monument for the small child who lost her life to a 1942 Japanese air raid.
Mossman was pretty quiet on a Sunday but I enjoyed a great beef burger & Mrs RB had an excellent quiche from Temptations Coffee lounge.
We cleared the atrocious roundabout that spans the rail line at Mossman & drove out to Cooya Beach-some new land release mingled in with older homes. Not much there but less than 10 minutes to Mossman.

Newell Beach
A short drive north of Mossman with a turn off the highway at the well maintained golf course. Newell Beach is another beachside village with not much in the way of facilities but a great beach location & cane fields and horse paddocks on the western side. The shop shuts on Mon & Tues so Sunday night was our only opportunity- had a great seafood pizza & well cooked calamari.

Thornton Beach


Still no rain


Found heaps of useful signage




Qld Comedy


Back on the ferry






An idyllic grazing paddock

 

[RB]

Wonga Beach




Can't say we were aware of this before our visit











Simple food done well


Newell Beach


Pretty good spot to stay

 

[kookaburra75]

Great report, thanks for putting it together. MrsK and I have been thinking about what to do about our next trip "Up North", and it's given us a lot of ideas. Bummer about the meal at the Surf Club in Port Douglas, as they are usually a lot better than that.

 

[RB]

Great report, thanks for putting it together. MrsK and I have been thinking about what to do about our next trip "Up North", and it's given us a lot of ideas. Bummer about the meal at the Surf Club in Port Douglas, as they are usually a lot better than that.

Yes just took it as picking the wrong thing on the day. We had a great time and especially enjoyed Cooktown, so I hope you pick up a few things when I get to that

 

[RB]

Newell Beach Caravan Park & Holiday Units
Just the road & a public park back from the beach so the south easterlies were excellent (max temps only about 30c & humidity hovering around 60% so pretty pleasant). Thirty sites & 5 cabins but pretty sparse numbers for our 3 nights. The happy hour/sundowners didn’t really get off the ground & the pool was being repaired so not a lot of interaction with others. The owners were very friendly & outgoing & the cabin was comfortable- no wifi working (apparently since the particular cabin was refurbished) & the tv was over the head of the bed but overall good value.

By the time I realised I hadn't taken photos the cabin had a lived in look!



Had a couple of bunks if needed






Small undercover area out the front of room

 

[RB]

Around Newell Beach
Mossman Gorge- only 10 minutes or so drive from the cabin to the Gorge entry & not many people when we arrived around 9.30am. Straight on to the first shuttle & some disappointed people reading the advice that the day was not suitable for swimming. Quite a big % only made it to the first swimming holes so the gorge circuit track certainly was not crowded. A good clear track all the way & plenty of signs along with abundant shade made the Grade 3 3.4km circuit very easy. Obviously a huge diversity of plants but very few butterflies or birds spotted. Rex Creek bridge certainly gets a bounce up & there were a few disconcerted travellers. The shuttles arrive every 10-15 minutes & we walked straight onto a bus to return to the visitor centre.
Took a couple of photos of the very distinctive Mossman hospital on our way back to town.

Have to take the shuttle- no parking at gorge & no walking allowed along narrow entry road


Plenty of space to get out of the road when taking photos

Early in the walk where everyone reaches


Rex Creek bridge




Soon after the bridge

 

[RB]

More of Mossman Gorge


Only cave we saw


This was more typical of the loop section of track surface




Mossman Hospital Mossman District Hospital - Wikipedia

 

[RB]

We then decided to take a look at Port Douglas- not our usual style of place but interested to see changes over the past 17yrs. Visited the lookout over 4 mile beach & had a general poke around.
Dropped into Woolies at Mossman on the way back- a pretty well stocked store for the size of town.
We spent Melbourne Cup day walking around Newell Beach & watched the races in our cabin-no winners backed. Also drove & looked at the boat ramp- an excellent facility for what is obviously a popular pastime.

Taken at Trinity Bay Lookout


At Rex Smeal Park at Port Douglas


Very dry in early November




Four Mile Beach