Guy & Rach's Caravan of Courage with 4 children: Week 25

Mt surprise to the Daintree Rainforests

June 19th

Surprise we are here…. and in the occasion of surprise we decided to have a Mt Surprise party for a little bit of fun. The kids enjoyed decorating their own biscuits, making rum balls, and making their own sherbet…. Ok sugar high maybe wasn’t that great of an idea but a lot of fun.

It’s a very peaceful place and the camp spot is quiet, grassy and shady so a lovely way to spend the afternoon outside under a tree with a gentle breeze with the temp of 28 deg PERFECT. The kids spent the arvo playing games and kicking the footy around. The owner just happened to be a Snake handler and had a collection he liked to bring out to show the campers. Curtis was invited to touch the snake… Curtis trying to grab the snake’s head with both hands wasn’t what the handler or us expected him to do! He almost gave poor mummy a heart attack… I’m sure people down the road could here Rach scream in horror.

We went for a stroll 20 metre down the road to the Gem place to find out about fossicking for tomorrow. They hire out the equipment for the day at $25. And you can get your fossicking permit here too only 9.50 for a family. So we set off tomorrow morning for a day of fossicking for topaz…. Let hope we find a good size one that can be cut into a nice piece.

ATHERTON TABLELANDS

June 20^th

We packed up and headed off to the Atherton tablelands. On the way, we were interested in a walk through the Undara lava tubes. We were shocked at the over $200 fee just to do the walk and left. We stopped at the Milstream falls for lunch.

Ravenshoe, at 902m above sea level, it’s QLD highest town! We stayed at the railway precinct. Only $8.00 for an unpowered site. We recommend that you stop here for a night or more, the kids had the skate park 10 metres away from the van. Laundromat, fresh water shops…they have everything.

We spent a day driving around the local area. We recommend the Misty Mountains scenic drive from Ravenshoe through the dairy farms passing the wind farm. We visited the Millaa Millaa falls.

Then we drove on to Malanda. We went to the local bakery then moved on to Naranda Tea centre.

Then we drove on to the Curtain Fig Tree. How spectacular this is. It reminded Guy and Zach of scenes from Star wars, the bit with Ewoks?

We went to look at lake Tinaroo, but it was closed as they were having a memorial day opening (Opening by Julia Gillard (funny now writing this knowing she’s been given the arse!)).

Went through Herberton and was hoping to look at the old mining village, but the price was a bit steep $65 for a family.

June 22^nd

We stopped at the Big peanut, sampling the butterscotch and caramel peanuts and the sweet and sour. Then I was in need of coffee so we stopped at coffee works in Mareeba, I went here with Jake leaving Guy and the kids in the van, having a nappy of a time…lol Zach has no idea I have put this photo of him…..ooopps love ya Zach Jake was in need of mummy time, he enjoyed a choc milk and an endless supply of chocolate samples while I had an endless supply of coffee and tea….

We based ourselves at the Mount Molloy free camp spot all they ask is for a cold coin donation per vehicle, to help maintain the site. From here, it was only a short 200km round trip to visit the rainforests further north.

June 23^rd

Daintree / Cape tribulation.

We have decided this would be as high up Cape York we would go. The drive was scenic and the ride on the barge across the Daintree river got the kids excited.