Iron Range National Park

Had a later start, heading off this morning. We stopped near the airfield, where Jeff took us for a look at some old WW11 bunkers and storage facilities.

Underground bunker

Can you spot the bat???

Here it is, there were heaps of bats in the bunker

We then wanted back into Lockhart River community to the local art shop, where local artist paint and sell there paintings.

Morning tea was at the historical site of the WW11 Gordon Strip, at the Lockhart River airfield. Here we saw a gun that was in place of the Operation Blow Down trial. Operation Blow Down was a trial conducted in 1963 to see the effects that an atom bomb would cause to rainforest, due to the Vietnam war and 45% of Asia being rainforest. 50 tonnes of TNT was used in the experiment.

Operation Blow Down

Gun that was used in Operation Blow Down

Total Destruction - nearly 50 years on

This is the outcome of the trial, nearly 50 years ago, all vegetation was destroyed and still has not grown back.

The rest of the day was spent at Chilli beach, where we had lunch and then onto Portlands Road beach.

Chilli Beach

Mark and his lovely bunch of coconuts

Chilli Beach

Archer River to Iron Range National Park

We packed up camp and went for a walk down to the Archer River crossing, where the locals were still partying on the banks of the river. Music, dancing and empty beer cans everywhere. Sad that they treat their home as a tip.

Archer River

Rosalie & Ray walking across the crossing at Archer River

Mark with Carol, John, Liz & Neil, in the background

It was Rosalie's 65th birthday, so Kath decorated her seat in the bus.

Rosalie with her party hat.

Jeff pick us up in the bus, after the crossing, then we stopped at the Batavia Goldfields for morning tea. Jeff took us on an informative tour of the relics of by gone years. We stopped at Mt  Tozer for lunch.

Mark at Batavia Goldfields

We then journeyed onto Lockhart River, which is an aboriginal community. No alcohol is permitted within the area otherwise a $75 000 fine occurs. There is packs of dogs roaming the streets, along with the horses. No paddocks around here.

Col & Sue were dropped off at the hospital, while they were there we went off down to the beach, where Kath gave a talk on things that were found along the beach.

Kath & Jeff giving a talk on things found at Lockhart River

Mark at Lockhart River

Not a place to pull over and stop for a cold beer

Then back into town to pick up Col & Sue then off to Cooks Hut campground where we are staying for two nights. Yeah we don't have to pull down the tents for another night.

Mark found a Rainforest snail, which was huge, about the size of your hand and some glow in the dark fungus. We had a bit of rain, but it was still warm, so it was enjoyable.

Campsite at Cook Hut Campground

Massive rainforest snail

Kalpowar Crossing to Archer River Roadhouse

Again up before light, packing before breakfast, loading the truck and setting off for Archer River Roadhouse.
We stopped at White Lily Lagoon to check out the birdlife and as we were pulling out this is what was on the road. Check out the length of the python against the 4x4 tyres.

Snake trail across the road

Python

Then went to Red lily lagoon and look at what was found.

Green Tree Frog

Red Lily 

Starting to see some large termite hills. We stopped at Hans Crossing were Mark found a bit of broken termite mound.

Jesus Bird

Termite Hills

Inside a termite hill

Musgrave Station

Archer River Roadhouse

Archer River Roadhouse Campground

We stopped for afternoon tea at Musgrave Station, then pulled into Archer River Roadhouse for the night. After setting up camp, showering, Ray, Rosalie, Mark & myself thought it would be nice to go up to the roadhouse and have a drink and buy a bottle (or two) of wine for the night, but after meeting the locals decided against sitting and having a drink. Instead we purchased our wine, after several comments from the locals that we were taking our time (not a friendly environment) we headed back to camp for the night. The tour camping area is separate from the general campers, so we had the showers and toilets to ourselves.

Cooktown to Kalpowar Crossing

Friday 13th July 2012, we are all up around 6am, as we have to pulled down the tents and have bags, mattresses and bedding at the back of the bus, prior to breakfast. Our breakfast is cereal and toast. Once the bus is packed Jeff & Kath drop us all of in Cooktown, before taking the bus to the mechanics, as the microphone isn't working.

Lookout at Cooktown

Cooktown's main street

Mark & Lorelle with Captain Cook statue

Cooktown's Museum

We spent the morning walking around town, had morning tea before setting off to the museum and then had lunch prior to getting back on the bus. We stopped at Isabella Falls and Old Laura before stopping the night at Kalpowar Crossing

Isabella Falls

Ol truck at Old Laura Station

Our first croc sighting

Happy Hour

Cane Toad

We pulled into Kalpowar Crossing and a Relay for Life team of approx 130 people were in the campsite, they had a generator going all night.

Anyhow, prior to dinner Jeff took us down to the river and we saw our first croc for the tour. Mark loved the fact that he found some cane toads. Geckos and tree frogs were spotted in the toilets.

Cairns to Cooktown

Thursday 12 July 2012 at 7am we were picked up by our Oz Tour bus and farewelled by Brian & June, who are keeping an eye on the bus and trailer while we are on the 12 day Cape York tour.

Mark & I were the fourth couple to be picked up then Carol & John were picked up from their caravan park, the bus pulled up further north of Cairns were the rest of the team joined us. There were 19 people on the tour and including the tour guide we had a total of 21 people. Our tour guides, Kath & Jeff then introduced themselves and explained that due to the rain, the Bloomfield track beyond the Daintree NP was closed.

Kath & Jeff - our tour guides

We headed up towards Mareeba and stopped for morning tea at Mt Molley, lunch was at Lakeland then called in to the Lions Den Hotel for a drink, before stopping at Black Mountain for a look and pulled into the Big 4 Caravan Park at Cooktown.

Lions Den Hotel

Lorelle, Lorraine & Pam

Jeff and Kath gave a demo on erecting the dome tents, then kitchen, wash and dining tables and chairs were set up. 

Our first night

Tent City

Ray, Rosalie and myself went for a walk to the pub after 6pm to buy some drinks, as we didn't take any with us. We could only buy cask wine, as we couldn't have any glass bottles on the trip and cask wine could only be purchased after 6pm.Tea, chops and veggies were cooked on an open fire, followed by dessert, everyone was in bed by 8.30pm

Jeff cooking dinner

                                     

Cairns

On Sunday 8th July we left Paronella Park and arrived at a caravan park in Cairns. Weather has turned for the worse we have had days of rain. We met a couple at Paronella Park from Moe, June & Brian, who also pulled into the same caravan park and have been driving Mark & myself into the hospital, so we didn't have to put in the awning in the rain. We have spent the next couple of days with hospital appointments and packing our bags for the Cape York Tour.

Paranella Park

From Mission Beach we went to Paranella Park, Queenslands No 1 tourist attraction.

Jose Paronella's dream was to build a castle. He chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park. On 13 acres beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic areas at the lakeside, tennis courts, tunnels and bridges and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7000 tropical plants and trees.

Mena Falls

The Castle

The Picnic Area at Mena Creek

Kauri Lane

The Lower Refreshment Rooms

Night view of Mena Falls

Nighttime at the Lower Refreshment Rooms

The Gecko that has been traveling in the bus with us

Mark found this gecko, who has been travelling with us in the bus since Capricorn Caves (Rockhampton) and released him at Paranella Park.