The Wandering Tops

The Wandering Tops

21 August, 2016

Atherton Tablelands


Continued on the Savannah Way to Pinnarena Station Farm Stay (Nadine & Ronnie) which has only been open for 6 weeks.  They have lots of ideas for this farm stay but think they should have waited to open as no facilities available and cost was $10 per night for a piece of dirt to camp on, no facilities and no dump point.
Ronnie cooking pizza in the wood fired oven. 

Had sourdough Pizza - all you could eat for $18 per person which we thought was a bit expensive, but I gave it my best shot to get value for money.  Hope this venture works out for them as they are great couple and are giving it a red hot go! They have nearly completed the cafe (Nadine make a nice coffee) and have plans for amenities block and powered sites.  There is a few old trucks and machinery around the farm which was interesting for me to look at, some quite rare stuff.

Camping ground has graded sites.

Desoto tipper


Morris Commercial, Diesel motor

British Dodge - has some type of winch system on the back
This is a borer for water bores, has a winch cable system.
Headed to Ravenshoe via Kennedy Highway then onto Palmerston Highway to Millaa Millaa where we stayed the night.  Arrived early so went on drive to Millaa Millaa Falls where we saw catfish and tortises, then onto Zillie Falls and onto Elinjaa Falls where we walked down the steps to the Falls. Off the next day to Malanda then visited friends Chris & Mike at Lake Tinnaroo for coffee before heading onto Atherton then to Mareeba.  Stayed at Kerribee Park Campgrounds (Mareeba Rodeo Grounds) where we were positioned quite close to next van (very popular camp ground).

Millaa Millaa Falls

Zillie Falls from the top, decided not to walk dow to the bottom.

Elinjaa Falls

(Mareeba) Kerribee Rodeo Grounds, early morning ballon flights

As we house sat in Atherton for 2 months in 2014 we have seen a lot of the area so intended to revisit some places and catch up on ones we missed.  Headed down to Cairns for 2 nights as had Van booked in for replacement of gas element cut out valve and Toyota booked in for Service.  Stayed at Cairns Holiday Park - crowded, people everywhere, planes taking off/landing, trains and traffic!! Had a great catch up for lunch with Lyn & Tom who own the Cannon Park Motel (luckily they had a bit of time off) at the Botanical Gardens Cafe.  Great walking around the Gardens - lots of very different plants. Back to the Caravan Park to a Ukulele Jazz Session - interesting to say the least!!

Mareeba Multi Cultural Show

Spent 4 nights back at Mareeba Rodeo Grounds and returned to the Coffee Works for stock up of coffee.  Spent an afternoon at the Multi Cultural Show which was a free event and provided wonderful entertainment with dancing, singing, poetry from different countries represented in the Community, including Fiji, Tonga, Germany, Spain, South America, Indigenous Australia. Also had food stalls selling authentic dishes from different countries. We stayed until the end and left feeling very uplifted.  The Rodeo Grounds also hosted a Horse Event and Helen sat up in the stands watching little kids and junior section riding around obstacles trying to maneuver the course in the quickest time.

20 August, 2016

Croydon

After Normanton we continued on the Savannah Way to Croydon where we stayed in the Caravan Park. What a surprise we got when visiting this town, starting with the wonderful Croydon True Blue Visitor Information Centre.  Here we watched an audiovisual of Croydon, saw the antique cars and looked in the heritage houses. Croydon had a very lucrative gold strike in 1885 and was once the third largest town in Queensland servicing an 18km long gold field.  We picked up the Walking Trail brochure and had a look around town including:
  • Exploring the Heritage Precinct which is a must as these buildings have been wonderfully restored. In the precinct there was the Police Sergeants Residence (1897), The Police Station (1896), Croydon Courthouse (1887) where you can sit and enjoy a case unfolding, Town Hall (1890) which is being used today as a Picture Theatre, Dance Hall and Live Music and Travelling Show venue.

Club Hotel built in 1887 is the last of 36 hotels once in Croyden

Croyden Town Hall built in 1890 with the original 1895 lamp posts on the footpath

Croydon Courthouse (1887) where you can sit and enjoy a case unfolding

Police Station built 1896

A Chinese headstone in the Chinese section.
 Cemetery - heritage listed and has operated since 1885. The old graves indicate the hardships of life on outback goldfields.

Lake Belmore - having coffee

Drove out to Lake Belmore which is approx 4kms from town where they have built a great facility for BBQs with huge shelter and table and chairs.  The view over the lake is lovely - we even spotted two crocodiles near the edge!!

Looked out over Croydon at Diehms Lookout
  • Federation Park/Anzac Park - sculptures by Hans Pehl, Blacksmith Artist.
  • Male Ward from the old Hospital  - originally built in 1894 but moved to make way for a new Hospital (still used for community events).
  • Rail Station - award winning steel replica replaced the original timber structure.  During tourist season the Gulflander train arrives from Normanton, returning the next day.
  • Old Butcher Shop - originally brought in from Little River approx 1940 but the iron and weatherboard structure collapsed in a storm in 1996 and was rebuilt from corrugated iron.
Metal artwork outside the information centre (on the right hand side!)

More artwork in the grounds of the information centre

Credit must be given to the community for establishing such a wonderful town to visit.

Left Croydon and travelled the Gulf Development Road (Savannah Way) towards Georgetown with storm clouds around us and weather very humid.  Stopped for lunch at Cumberland Dam approx 20kms west of Georgetown - nice free camp although quite a few vans already camped for the night. A brick chimney remains here from a Gold Mine.  Was looking for a bush camp but unable to find one suitable so opted for Mt Surprise Caravan & Motel which is a small park but lovely and only $18 for powered site!
Bird watching at Cumberland Historic Mine site

The remaining chimney at Cumberland Historic Mine

Before leaving the next day we stopped at the Market and bought some chutney which was pricey but locally made!  Only 2 stalls so did not take long before we headed off again.