Not much to report again today, just a visit to some of
Chillagoe's caves and
rock formations, and a 200km drive down across the
Atherton Tablelands to
Cairns.
The Chilligoe Eco Lodge and Observatory is highly recommended for anyone passing through this part of the world. Our spa suite had a verandah out the front with a table and chairs overlooking the lovely gardens and bar/eating area, a delightful place for a cup of tea and muesli bar for breakfast.
![The Chilligoe Eco Lodge]()
The Chilligoe Eco Lodge
![If you've got a 1950-something Chevy ute on the front verge you might as well make it a feature]()
If you've got a 1950-something Chevy ute on the front verge you might as well make it a feature
![Why it's called the Mungana Archways]()
Why it's called the Mungana Archways
Around 9:00 we headed back up the Burke Development Road to the Mungana to view the Aboriginal
rock art and Royal Arches
cave. The Arches aren't really a
cave, more a series of valleys though the
limestone rocks but that was more than enough amateur spelunking for a pair of claustrophobes. Back towards to
Chillagoe we also checked out Balancing
Rock. Yep. It's balancing alright. Oh the temptation to just give it a nudge...
![Cathedral-like limestone formations at Mungana Archways]()
Cathedral-like limestone formations at Mungana Archways
![Aboriginal art at Mungana Archways]()
Aboriginal art at Mungana Archways
![The aptly-named Balancing Rock]()
The aptly-named Balancing Rock
After that it is an easy drive down to
Cairns, some gravel sections but mostly bitumen. We lunched in
Mareeba, the biggest town we have seen since
Alice Springs. It must be civilised, it has a MacDonald’s, a KFC and a Red Rooster; a real shopping centre and more than one street! We found a shopping mall on the main street, bought a couple of coffees and some sushi and headed down the Kennedy Highway towards
Cairns.
![Cairns from Henry Ross lookout on the Kennedy Highway]()
Cairns from Henry Ross lookout on the Kennedy Highway
The landscape turns decidedly tropical coming down from the
Atherton Tablelands. Canefields, mango orchards and coffee trees sit in the middle of lush palms, thick bushes and riotous ivy. The road from
Kuranda to
Cairns is a series of tight switchbacks descending down to sea level, a rather unpleasant experience in a vehicle that weighs three tonnes with an accommodation suite strapped to the roof. Finally we reached the ocean - from the Indian to the Pacific in just over two weeks. Phew. What a journey.
A few days R&R (repairs and replenishment) in
Cairns. Finding a place to stay in town that had off street
parking high enough to accommodate a 2.4 metre tall vehicle is challenging. We have settled for a bit of luxury at
Trinity Beach – a one bedroom apartment with a washing machine - and Pete has found a spot to change the oil in the Landcruiser, hopefully without raising too many eyebrows, and to fix the
HF radio. That’s if for now, time for a beer. Next blog is likely to be on Saturday somewhere to the north of
Cairns.