Boulders, Waterfalls and a natural spa- all the great things we saw whilst trying (and failing) to escape the rain.

In our attempt to escape the rain we discovered a few lovely places and managed to get away from the worst of the predicted rain – though we still had some rain every day and we did not see the sun at all for 10 days!!

Babinda Boulders, QLD
Tuesday 28th - Thursday 30th June

We’d heard about this place from Matt (who stayed here on his way to Cape York). We weren’t planning on stopping but we were driving into a severe headwind, so decided to take a break. We discovered a great free camp just a short walk from the lovely Babinda Boulders swimming area. We did the walk to see the Devil’s Marbles – so named due the treacherous nature of this part of the river- and swam in the clear water at the safer swimming hole. It rained most of the time we were there, though some of the time it was only misty rain which we could put up with. The next day we ventured into the town of Babinda to use the library internet and we learnt that Babinda is the wettest town in Australia (we have since found out the Babinda and the nearby town of Tully fight it out each year for the title of ‘wettest town’). Babinda was a really nice little town though, and we enjoyed a great lunch at the pub as a treat (and a way to while away some time while it was raining heavily).

We looked up the upcoming weather for all the nearby locations and settled on Cardwell – where only a few millimetres of rain was predicted, as opposed to the 50+ mm that was predicted at Mission Beach (where I’d wanted to go).

Emilia was a bit unsure about drinking the coconut water from a coconut Jackson found..

...but Jackson just knocked it back.

Babinda Hotel - constructed with government funds in 1915 to control the manufacture and sale of alcohol- apparently its purpose was to control 'sly grog' and provide accommodation for the many workers who came to harvest the sugar cane. It was really lovely inside and we had a scrumptious lunch there.

Some of the many boulders that make up Babinda Boulders

It was picturesque (even in the rain) but it is apparently very treacherous and has claimed several lives.

Check out the misty mountains in the background.

Daniel and I went in for a dip in the swimming hole- it was so clear and refreshing. Both kids had colds so they just watched and took photos.

Cardwell, QLD

Thursday 30th June - Saturday 2nd July

Cardwell turned out to be a great choice. It is bordered by mountains in the west and south, then just out to sea is Hinchinbrook Island, which is made up of many mountains. Being surrounded by these mountain ranges means much of the bad weather misses Cardwell. Lucky for us it barely rained during the 2 days we were there, however it was very cloudy and overcast with Hinchinbrook Island barely visible on Friday.

Whilst at Cardwell:

• -          Jackson, Daniel and I walked along the beach and jetty (Emilia came down with a cold so she was resting)
• -          I went for a big walk up the beach whilst Jackson and Daniel went for a ride to Point Hinchinbrook and looked for mud crabs (they found 5, though they were all females so were returned).
• -          Jackson, Emilia and Daniel enjoyed the newly opened pump track.
• -          We visited the Rainforest Discovery Centre and learnt about the plants and animals in the rainforest, mangroves and ocean around Cardwell.
• -          We did the Cardwell Forest Drive and went to the Hinchinbrook lookout – though all we could see was white clouds!
• -          We walked up to Attie Falls
• -          We swam in the picturesque Cardwell Spa Pools – which are a vibrant turquoise colour due to 3 natural process that happen to occur here together (see a pic below that explains it).
• -          I was a virtual bridesmaid in one of my best friend’s weddings in the UK. Ruth and Ghal got married on Friday afternoon – 11.30pm our time. I sat out the front of our van in my bridesmaid dress and was lucky enough to watch the whole ceremony online. Although I wished I could have been there in person I was still grateful to be able to be a part of their day. Miss Roofie Hellard is now Mrs Supple!!!

The beach at Cardwell- lovely to walk along, no good for swimming due to crocodiles (but it was a bit cold and windy for a swim anyway)

Looking out to Hinchinbrook Island from the end of Cardwell Jetty. This was on Thursday - it was barely visible on Friday!

Cardwell Jetty - it is a third of it's original size after getting damaged in various cyclones.

Jackson with another 3 coconuts he found - after Daniel had cleared the outer husk with his tomahawk!

Of course you need to hold coconuts this way!!!!

Ready to drink - this one produced 2 cups of fresh coconut water.

Hitting the pump track.

A few grazes from the pump track - but that didn't stop him

Attie Creek Falls

Cardwell Spa Pool

The science behind the turquoise water - it was a bit hard to summarise!

This pool was like a little spa (alas not warm though)

Poor Daniel was getting attacked by mosquitoes while taking these photos- the mozzies were ferocious so we had to hightail it to the car once we got out of the water.

 

Me in my bridesmaid dress attending the wedding online.

The newly wedded couple - Ruth and Ghal Supple, and all smiles with Isha

Murray Falls, Girramay National Park, QLD

Saturday 2nd - Monday 4th July

We spent 2 nights at Murray Falls, in the Girramay National Park. It was a lovely open camping area really close to the raging Murray Falls (you could hear them from the campsite), and a short walk from 2 swimming holes. As with all the places we visited in the last few days, we kept saying how great this place would be if it was sunny! We still made the most of the times it wasn't raining to swim, walk to the base of the falls and hike through the rainforest to the top of the falls. It started raining heavily about 4pm on Sunday and didn't stop until Monday morning, so it was a wet pack up on Monday morning.

We drove in constant rain to Townsville, where we were spending one night before taking the ferry to Magnetic Island. We'd hoped to spend Monday night getting some of the packing done (as we were leaving the van behind and just taking a tent), but the rain was heavy and incessant - there was literally a river running through our campsite! After a hasty pack on Tuesday morning (still in the rain) we made it to the ferry on time (although it was still raining). 

Hopefully we get to see the sun whilst on Magnetic Island, it's been awhile!!

On the way to Murray Falls - low clouds made it eerie (and impossible to see the mountain ranges).

From the top of Murray Falls.

The rainforest walk up to the top of the falls - you couldn't stop long or the mozzies attacked!

Using river grass as a whip - he tore the end into 3 strands and it actually made a whipping sound.

It's not easy to relax with a giggling child watching over you!

Although it wasn't sunny the rocks were quite warm.......

...the water was not warm though, but it was still lovely to swim in.

Going rock hopping.

Murray Falls - it was flowing very fast.