Planes, boats, a train and an automobile - hai Karumba!

[bPeteb]

more from the tubes, this time tubes that end. There's sixty odd ks of tubes and the Australian Space mission/agency (or something like that) is soon going to go out to Undara and using ground penetrating radar will map the full extend of tubes















then it was back to the resort for lunch and a cooling beer and more pool time

 

[bPeteb]

while we were in the pool one of the staff came over to let anyone on the evening sunset tour know that it would not proceed due to smoke in the area. Damn!! No micro-bat eating snakes for us. Next time. We were told we'd get a credit back to our credit card. Within an hour the credit had been processed, just like Qantas





fan on ceiling of our room



floor plan



rainwater harvesting



restaurant car



this cob was a huge winner but more oil and balsamic was needed



as was this perfect medium rare steak



and these fall apart beef ribs



we were playing cards and they callled last drinks at 8 or some crazy early time. We have no idea why we stocked up...

 

[bPeteb]

It was a decent drive the next day - to Mission Beach via some waterfalls, Ravenshoe, Tully Gorge and Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk.

A frill neck lizard put on a show behind our carriage



The Inott Hot Springs pub



Millstream Falls near Ravenshoe







the drive to Tully Gorge and the gorge itself

 

[bPeteb]

windfarm in the beautiful dairy country of the Atherton Tablelands



and another waterfall



the Mamu Skywalk. I coped with the walk but there was no way I was going up the tower. That was bAl's domain

 

[bPeteb]

from the top of the tower



native monstera







then it was straight down to Mission Beach and Eco Village Resort and yet another ginormous room







beautiful resort where sadly the beachfront bar/restaurant is closed. We had a swim in the very warm pool where we struck up conversation with some people who bizarrely went to the same Gold Coast highschool as me, just a few years earlier. Then we wandered down to North Mission Beach village and ate at the pub. No pictures for some reason.

 

[bPeteb]

Just why?



Eco Village Resort site plan



excellent and reasonably priced minibar







another friendly monitor, this one on the path outside reception

 

[bPeteb]

Everyone we spoke to said we needed to visit Paronella Park. I'd wanted to since uni so that where we headed. We loved it. An amazing story of love, persistence and accidental rescue.

 

[bPeteb]

 

[bPeteb]

Love the story behind the park and especially the hydro plant. Amazing that it has been restored and is now pushing out power onto the grid

 

[bPeteb]

We spent the afternoon on the beach next to the hotel. It was gorgeous. Yes we know there's possibly crocks in the water, and it's nearly stinger season, but we were those people, and had a paddle











Set for a Netflix show filming in town




cider and ice in our Gulflander tea cups

Caught up with an ex-colleague who took us for a drive around South Mission in the hunt for a cassowary and she found three!





and finished with dinner at Bingil Bay cafe. Really nice food plus German beers on tap

 

[bPeteb]

We got up early and walked out to Clump Point boat ramp then around to Perry Harvey jetty







then I had a wander around the resort to grab some pictures

closed restaurant/bar

 

[VPS]

Fantastic photos and TR as usual. What was the phone coverage like when you were out in the boonies

 

[bPeteb]

Easy drive up to Cairns through the banana plantations and canefields









dropped the car off at the airport and elt them know about the windscreen chip. Glad we paid for the insurance. The mistake I did make was filling up in Karumba. I should have got half a tank then only put in enough to get us to the airport as we'd paid for a full tank at the start at 1.15/l and returned the magic carpet with most likely 20+ litres in the tank.

Lunch at the cafe closest to the 'Marlin wharf'



and a couple of red snappers



and then we boarded the 1.30 ferry to Fitzroy Island. We bought a couple of ginger beers on the boat. $11 each!! How crazy that the prices of food, beverage and fuel right across to the gulf were if anything cheaper than Cairns and surrounds.

 

[bPeteb]

Fantastic photos and TR as usual. What was the phone coverage like when you were out in the boonies

Thanks VPS. I'm with Telstra and had coverage of varying strength everywhere we stayed. If no coverage we had access to wifi. bAl is with Coles (Optus) and had much less coverage. As we drove our phones would randomly ping as we'd go in and out of a coverage cell and messages would land.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just wow. I’m going to replicate this one day. And reading between the lines, I think, like me, it was a case of just pwhoar! in respect of the lava tubes . Doesn’t get much better, eh?

 

[bPeteb]

We booked a three night Good to Go package in a studio twin with queen bed. It was $899 and included ferry transfers, breakfast and a $50 credit. From the start of November it went down to $599! The picture of the room on the website shows this room



and it is described as having limited rainforest views.

Here is what we walked into



yes, this is a better picture of our limited rainforest view



if we stood against the window we could see some vegetation



and everyone could see us. I went straight back to reception. The view we could do nothing about but there was no way I'd be sleeping in a single bed. Sorry, sorry, it should be a queen bed, housekeeping is on their way now to chnage the configuration by pushing the beds together and adding a matress topper. I used to work hotel front desk and I had a bad feeling about this.

First we went for a swim in the resort's pool with what appeared to be a convention of loud bogans. Just horrible, so decided to leave the pool to them and headed to Foxy's, the casual bar that is also open to daytrippers.

This is an example of the weird standards on the island. They were there on day one and still there on day four



First we walked around to Nudey Beach, gorgeous



then settled in at Foxy's. It is such a nice bar and the most beautiful location just above the beach.

 

[bPeteb]

Neither of were surprised when we got back to the room after 9 and it was unchanged. It's never good having a couple too many drinks under your belt and being angry but it was what it was. I even started by saying I apologise in advance but that I'm going to get angry. The receptionist was lovely and immediately offered us a room with a verandah to sleep in that first night but that they'd get the room sorted in the mroning and we'd then move back. I said it was truly a horrible room and that we didn't want it. I asked how much to upgrade to a ocean facing room for all three nights. The receptionist played around on their computer and offered $200 and I said done. We might not get the same room but it would be $200 more no matter what.

She wanted to check the room was clean (it was supposed to be but she was clearly concerned) so we went together. It was. It was huge, it was on the ground floor, and even though it was dark I could still make out the yachts anchored off the beach.

I went up and got bAl and our bags and this is where we ended up. Room 114.







sorry the loo seat is up!



I'm not sure who would ever use this home size kitchen



when we woke up on the morning this is the view that greeted us. We could lay in bed and see the ocean!

 

[bPeteb]

coughie alarm clock, just like at home





the resort from the beach



that's our verandah to the right of the gate structure. The view was uniterrupted. What a contrast. If we booked today those rooms are $799 but just like our first room some of the ground floor rooms have a view of nothing except the back of the beach front cabins.









Earliest breakfast is 7.30 and you have to book. We booked 7.30. The package describes breakfast as a la carte. When you arrive you're handed a sheet of paper with details of what you're getting - breakfast is one choice off the menu with one drink. When you get to the restaurant you're handed the 'package menu'.



The choices are limited and compared to the full menu the meal servings are definitely a step down. I'd rather there be a fruit salad with muesli instead of a ghastly buddha bowl but no such luck





the view from the terrace is amazing

 

[jastel]

Glad you finally got here...
Seems the tide went out a bit and the thermostat was turned up since I went in May.

The sandy river at Cobbold Gorge is the Robertson...it joins the Gilbert later a bit further north.

You should have seen the "road" before!!

 

[bPeteb]

There are three walks on the island, four if you include the walk to Nudey beach - Secret Garden, Lookout loop and Lighthouse.

We should have started at 6 when we woke up but instead we walked on the beach, had breakfast, then started up to the lookout going anti-clockwise.

It was so f'n hot and so f'n humid. I have trouble with any kind of walking up steps and this was nearly a walk too far but I got to the lookout with some careful cajoling by bAl, my japanese manrag and a whole lot of water. The view was excellent.













from the lookout is was nearly all downhill except for the diversion to the lighthouse