Campers Road Trips

[Camper]

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Kuranda is in a loop of the Barron river and constricted by it.





There are a lot of Bed n Breakfast and private camp grounds around Kuranda but I wasn't feeling them, I got to town on Sunday afternoon with out having booked anywhere. I really wanted to be right in town but couldn't manage it.

I had scouted a camp ground (Speewah Conservation Reserve) as back up but decided against it, mainly because I hadn't had a proper wash in 4 days but also because I couldn't have a fire and there is no water/river there. Nice enough place though, secluded and sealed roads.

So I ended up in a cabin at the Kuranda Caravan Park, good to have a proper shower, if you come here ask for cabin 11, it's on the edge of the property and looks into the forest. I lucked out.












Shortish walk into town along an unused railway, under a bridge and along the Barron River.















There is a lot to do in Kuranda, more than 1 days worth which is why I wanted to stay in town. Cable cars, a Steam Train, Boat rides, Butterfly house the works.

The Skyway cable cars were down for maintenance which ruined my main plan of catching the cable car down and train back up the range.
So I drove the range road... down and back 3 times before I realised there is average speed cameras at each end.
Might have a fine waiting for me at home, might be OK, they take your Rego at each end and record the time taken, if you are too quick you get fined. I stopped at lookouts a couple of times but can't recall if I did one trip straight through or not.

I remember Kuranda from when we went there when I was a kid, probably with rose coloured glasses. The markets were wonderful, a maze of haphazard tiny wooden stalls, real, actual hippy's that had hand made stuff trying to flog it to tourists to subsist in the forest. I have a folding/sliding castle hand carved out of Camphour Laurel that still blows my mind, so intricate. I can still taste the sausage roll bought in the main street. The Butterfly house was huge, they landed on me, I made friends with a butterfly. We were a happy family.

So take it with a grain of salt when I say the town seems tired, more tourist trap than commune.





Having said that I met some locals in the pub who were great, classic bar fly types. You can still find local produce, the forest around the town is beautiful and a butterfly did land on me at the butterfly exhibit.
I had a lovely time on the boat cruise, and spent a few hours wandering along the river walk, truly worth the trip.

[gregbark]

You can probably get as far north as Cooktown on bitumen and it is worth a couple of days stay. There are so many places and pubs with character you might not want to come back south. Port Douglas can be expensive and is like Sufferers Paradise at times. It is Grey Nomad/ Caravan country so camping spots can often be full. Regardless it is still one of the top parts of Australia that is easily accessible, still close to all facilities and yet can have some remote areas where there is no sound of human habitation. As they say you Gotta Gotta Go.

[wbute]

You need to see if you can go all the way to the UK! Plenty have done it on motorbikes.

[Camper]

Should mention, it is blacktop all the way, some of the Lynd Highway between Charters Towers and the Lynd turn off is single lane, you could get around this by using the Bruce Highway (coastal) all the way up to Cairns or Port Douglas then heading up the range and following signs for Cooktown.

Any dirt/gravel roads I went on were purely for fun/exploration or to get to camp grounds and do not need to be travelled. There are many places to stay, you could do pubs or motels all the way.

[Camper]

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Next up a boat ride on the Barron River on lovely sunny afternoon.

Fun fact, the Kuranda side of the river has been logged extensively up until 30 years ago, the other side is the worlds oldest Rain Forest, over 30 million years old, the dichotomy got me wondering, watching the birds, which side do they prefer, wonder what it looks like from the air. The old forest is so thick you really cant see into it from the river.

The guy who runs the boat tour often see's a Cassowary and can sometimes call it down to the bank for photos and snacks. Not my day.














These little birds have a nest in the top of the boat, under the roof and kept pace with the tour flitting about, they seemed civil enough and let people take their photos.

















If the turtles were smaller they might be in trouble but the Croc knows he can't bite through that shell and doesn't bother them. I would happily swim here but was a bit cool that day.








Dam Wall! River is part of a hydro electric scheme, Powers Kuranda and surrounding area





Another little Croc, both would be under 4 foot.











And we're back where we started, 1 hour cruise for $18.00 well worth it.


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[Camper]

All Right, next day and we are off to Cooktown.

Had a quick look at Barron Falls and every other lookout I could find on the way.





Famous Barron Falls, pretty tame during the winter.













Headed west and then north at Mareeba





Rifle Creek Rest Area, would be OK for an Overnight stop, toilets etc right by the road, about an hour out of Mareeba. From here the country changes very quickly back to the average Aussie bush.

















Black Mountain, getting close now!








and finally, 6 days after I set out, Cooktown!

















There are a couple of different view points as you head up to Grassy Hill Lookout








Then it was time to find somewhere to stay for the night.

[Kiwivan]

Absolutely awesome keep the pictures coming
You do have such a Beautiful country
I have spent a bit of time in northern Queensland

Cheers Kiwivan

[Camper]

Absolutely awesome keep the pictures coming
You do have such a Beautiful country
I have spent a bit of time in northern Queensland

Cheers Kiwivan

Thanks Mate,

we went on holiday to the South Island when I was little, beautiful over there as well, closest I've ever come to snow was just outside Milford Sound, what an amazing area. Upside down waterfalls! I also really liked the country around Queenstown.

[Kiwivan]

Thanks Mate,

we went on holiday to the South Island when I was little, beautiful over there as well, closest I've ever come to snow was just outside Milford Sound, what an amazing area. Upside down waterfalls! I also really liked the country around Queenstown.

Have to agree beautiful country here as well.
But I do enjoy far North Queensland
Just love the pics as it does bring back fond memories.
How is the van running?
Are you pleased with her?
Any issues or advice if I were to buy one.
Thought one day I may have to get one when I find the sandy I have gets too hard to drive

Cheers Kiwivan

[davegmh]

Brilliant pictures Camper, really enjoying this thread.
The Amcat canopy you had fitted to your Ute, are you still happy with it ? And the 3M clear protection film, is it protecting the Ute as you had hoped ?