Magnetic Island (Written by Tina)

Magnetic Island (MI) We boarded the ferry at 8.30am for our one and only Island adventure. I was on this island more than 20years ago, but I don’t remember much of if except for crouching down in the back of a Moke that Mum & Lee Sutcliff drove around on the steep and windy roads. I also learned that “bitumen” was not a swear word but that is another story. The view of Townville & MI we not very spectacular due to the dust and smoke haze that have been hanging around for days, never the less it was a very nice trip across the 8km’s of ocean to get to MI, nice and calm water just the way we like it. We arrived in Nelly Bay and awaited the public bus that would be our mode of transport around the island, it was only $6.30 for a day trip, and you can get off pretty much well as much as you like. First stop Horseshoe Bay, it is still a bit early and the town is not really awake yet, so a quite stroll up the beach to check out what water sports are available, jet skiing, tubing, swimming net all looked good. We decided to choose our next mode of transport a walk from Horseshoe Bay to The Forts walk about 8km up and down rocky tracks in our flip flops! No injuries to report phew! The first bay we walked too was call Balding Bay, it was so secluded and pretty, someone in a catamaran was moored in the bay.

We walked around the bay stripped off our shorts & T-shirts and went for a well earned dip, it was very warm and still early in the day but the water was cool & refreshing, after a quick dip we headed back to the track, this island really looks like we are on some Greek island with the Ring Pines and all of the rocks.

Onto Radical Bay which looks like there used to be some sort of structure but we did not find this out. From here we took the “bitumen” and walked the road around to Florence Bay, here we need a swim after all of the hot sun & steep roads we had walked. I forgot to buy some goggles & did not hire any so missed out some great reef viewing.

From here the road got steeper but we did get to see 2 Kolas a mummy & its baby further up the tree, it made it all the more worth while. Once we got back to the bus stop we headed back to Horseshoe Bay for some cold beer & lunch. There is not a whole lot to do unless you hired something,

so back on the bus & round to Picnic Bay, the Jetty is supposed to be good fishing, we did not bring our fishing gear! While we were there this guy feed 2 sea eagles off the deck that was cool. He hooked onto something but lost it, tell us about it! Picnic Bay is below Nelly Bay & on the other side of the island to Horseshoe Bay & the wind had picked up a little by now, we had to wait a while for the next bus so we, had you guessed it, another beer, we also had a read of the Townsville paper, and caught up a bit on local news. Then back to Nelly Bay and the ferry back to Townsville, once again nice calm seas prevailed. Next time we are hiring a Moke for the fun of it!

Adelaide United win in Townsville

Up early and off to Townsville, its AFL grand final day. We check into the CP for 3 days, that’s nearly like a permanent home for us. After set up we head into the city for supplies. It’s a great game and St Kilda has plenty of chances to win but cannot finish off so Geelong end up winning. Lots of Hot Dog’s & Beers and the noise show from the Air show. We didn’t see any of the jets but we heard them, and with all that dust I’m not sure anyone down at the Strand saw much either.
It is a bit of a hazy morning and I have a sore head. It’s a quite day and this arvo we are going to Dairy Farmers Stadium home of the NQ Cowboys to watch the A-League between Adelaide United & North Queensland Fury.

It’s a 5 pm start and the dust haze is really noticeable at dusk. The Fury dominates the 1st half but cannot score and Adelaide is lucky it is 0-0 at half time. The second half is completely different with Adelaide far more attacking. Adelaide score with 20 minutes to go and now have to defend. They score again and win 2-0 a great result especially for us.

leaving Innisfail

Today we are heading further south towards Townsville past Ingham to Jourama Falls a NP not far off the highway. It has a nice creek and large area for camping. We do some tidying up of stuff we have accumulated as well as finally putting a shelf up in one of the cupboards. Gary Ablet Jnr wins the Brownlow medal. There is a wetlands walk in Ingham, and we spot heaps of birds along with 2 snakes. It’s been getting pretty hot during the day but as usual its OK in the shade and the nights cool down nicely.

We pack up early and hit the road hoping to get a spot at Rollingstone. It is very popular and hard to get into so we are getting there early trying to pick up a spot when someone leaves. You are only allowed to stay for 48 hours. When we arrive there is plenty of room so we set up. It’s a great place by the ocean and a huge grassed area next to the park area. I go fishing straight away but there is no luck here. There is a bar/shop on the creek called Fishermans Landing so we have a couple of beers in the arvo. It was even happy hour. I’m up early and down the beach again for a fish, the tide is very low and there is no action at all. We go for a bit of a drive around to look for some other spots and Tina drops me off down the road and I fish there. Only two bites they are flatheads and I lose both, one in just 6 inches of water. In the Arvo we head down the bar again for happy hour where Tina gets to help out by feeding the Kookaburra’s. They take it out of here hand.

We move just down the road to Saunders Beach which is only 25k from Townsville. I’m straight down the beach again and I head down to the rocks while the tide is coming in and quickly land some small whiting. I use these as live bait and fish with these for quite a while. I did not land anything at all. I have exhausted my bait and as we are heading off to Darwin after the weekend I use up every last scrap I have, no wonder I can’t catch anything.

Paronella Park

Back at the park and after lunch we do the tour of the grounds and you see just how amazing it is than one man could have built this. Over the years fires and Cyclones have generated serious damage but left the buildings mostly untouched. It was probably considered a theme park in its day.

It’s quite a warm day and it’s the first time we have really used the Aircon and it is nice. After dark we head back to the park for the night tour where they light up the paths and castle.

Innisfail & Babinda

Car wash here we come and it is just amazing how much red dirt we can get out of the car. We give it a good going over and it comes up surprisingly clean. The engine looks like brand new. Once again we have done another 10,000km so oil & filter changes are done and new bushes in the front sway bar. The right hand side bracket has had and will need replacing some time. A 4 wheel align reveals no problems and all is good again after the rugged time we gave the Tojo in cape York. Friday night saw the Saints knock of the bullies and thanks to and early SMS from Mel, I new the result early. This is QLD and we don’t get AFL live on channel 7.

We went to Babinda the home of the equal highest rainfall in Aus 6,000mm a year. Had a lock at the Boulders & Josephine falls. The van is all packed up and we give James & Helen the gifts we got them. They let us stay under their house in a self contained living area and allowed us to store our van while we were in Cape York, so a big thanks to them. Its not a big drive to where we are staying tonight a road stop on the Highway to Cairns. After the van is set up we go back to Josephine falls for a swim. It is busy and the water is cold but refreshing. We watch a movie even worse than Cherry2000 called Blood Dolls. I’m eagerly awaiting the start of the AFL to see Geelong whip the Magpies. They come through and give them a bath after a close first half. I hear form Arny & Stevo who are at Thebarton Oval watching Goody Saints win their 5th flag in a row and this year a new opponent in Henley. It cools down nicely in the evening.

No rain overnight but the sun is up and heating up in the van early as usual.
We are on the road and off to Paronella Park a castle built by one man in the 1930’s in a rain forest. After the van is set up we head down to Mission Beach for the markets. It is quite a tourist place with Dunk Island not far off shore.

Waterfall Circuit

We head back towards Ravenshoe and do the waterfall circuit. There are about 10 to see and all have their own different characteristics.

Then we drive to the MaMu Rainforest walk which has over 1km of elevated platforms over looking the North Johnstone River Gorge.

It is spectacular and wasn’t built until after Cyclone Larry came through. 3 years on and you can still see the damage not just here but in many areas we drove through looking at all the waterfalls.

We decide to stay at the South Johnstone river campground which is 12.6km off the road down a very windy mountain road. It is one of those places you can only book over the phone which is a crap system. It’s a nice drive and a great little camp on the side of the river with good facilities. We play cards and a very ordinary movie call Cherry 2000. We had to move into the car because the wildlife was harassing us. They jumped on the table and into our tub we wash the dishes in. Although only Bandicoots and possums in the dark it is scary, one nearly ran up my leg.
It was a bit scary last night there were so many animals and large nuts falling on the tin roofs of the shelter it made it hard to sleep. The animals never let up the whole night.
This is a cool spot to camp.
It’s only a 40k odd drive back to Innisfail. It is good to be back in a room and after a bit of a rest we unload the car.

Tree Kangaroo's

We are up early I seem to have gotten over my faze of sleeping in and after a shower its off to the Garage sale at the Bowling club. It’s a fizzer so we drive out to Tinnaroo Dam a big dam with heaps of camping. Its bloody windy there and not nice on the water. It seems to have been quite windy here since we arrived. Next stop is the Curtain Fig tree a most amazing tree and nothing like I have ever seen. After we go to Milanda Falls which are not all that impressive but they have Tree Kangaroo’s there so we do the Rain Forest walk.

There is always lots of noises in the bush in NQ with bush Turkey’s everywhere. But this was a different sound so we moved on quietly, then a baby Tree Kangaroo climbed up a small tree about 1m off the ground. Then most likely its mum climbed up behind it and they both sat there for minutes while we watched them. It was so cool to see these in the wild and although we were not gamed to move in close enough to get better pictures we had a great view of them in the habitat.
Another last arvo watching V8’s while Tina reads. We walk down to the pub a steep hill 2km down and have tea for my Birthday which is tomorrow. Then on with the
Footy as the reception in the Cabin is crap on 10. The Crows are off to flyer but after dominating the first ½ weren’t able to put Collingwood away. I was real worried and predicted a Collingwood victory, and although they only just won it was so obvious that the same old problem that has haunted the crows all their history is no big gun to kick the winning goals. It was most disappointing anytime Collingwood win. It’s a brisk walk up the hill to the cabin just in time to see the final overs of the Aussies bowl to the Poms. Binga Lee cleans up and the boys have little trouble knocking off the 220 and lead the series 4 -0. If only they played like this in the tests.
We awake and I have a bit of a sore head, too many beers and not enough sleep. Tina gives me a bracelet & a jar of Tomato relish for my Birthday and I get a call form the kids. After we managed to get all our stuff back in the Tojo we are off. A quick stop at the Karia Sunday markets and then on to Ravenshoe, which is in a huge mountain range and claims to be the highest town in QLD. We are staying at a rest stop tonight and off to Innot hot springs in the morning. There are markets here too but mostly closing by the time we arrived.