Caves, Craters and Karumba

Chillagoe, Atherton Tableland, Karumba

Queensland

June 26 to July 5, 2019

We abandoned the east coast and started our trek west. First stop was Chillagoe, 200km inland from Cairns, an old mining town with the most amazing limestone bluffs and rock formations.

Balancing Rock. Legend has it that lightning fused the rock to the limestone beneath.
Hmmm. Maybe.

Garry contemplating this ancient, arid landscape which was once an inland sea.

We felt right at home. Beautiful peacocks and peahens roam the town.

Chillagoe is home to hundreds of limestone caves which now form the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. Who can resist a cave tour? Many beautiful rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites following. 

In the late 1800s, copper, lead, silver and gold were discovered nearby. A smelter and railway were built and by 1917 the town housed 10,000 people with 13 hotels quenching their thirst. Today the smelter lies in ruins, the townsfolk number just 192 and two pubs eek out an existence. 

The smelter never made a profit but is credited with opening up much of northern Queensland. 

Chillagoe also has a reputation for superb marble. 

One of several quarries ...

... and a beautiful slab. Bit too heavy for us to carry home :(

Time to leave Chillagoe and revisit the Atherton Tablelands for a few days. 

Just a nice windmill-sunset piccy.

Mareeba has the most amazing Italian deli. Yum.

We set up camp at Lake Tinaroo.

Garry enjoying a beer, shelling peanuts - bought way back in Kingaroy - and taking in the water view.

The lake is at 95 per cent capacity so lots of water is being released down the Barron River to drive the hydro power station near Cairns.

Wildlife abounds.

Mrs Cheeky Possum ...

... Mrs Sneaky Curlew...

... and Mrs Peeky Platypus.
 I've never seen one so close. Thrilling

This was our third time to the Tablelands so we didn't revisit all the water falls, just a few to keep me happy.

Mt Hypipamee Falls

Malanda Falls

And a few crater lakes ... 

 Lake Eacham 

Lake Barrine

And a few fig trees ...

Cathedral Fig

Curtain Fig.

It was time to get serious about heading west.  On to the Savannah Way via Mount Surprise, Georgetown and Croydon.

But first a dip in the Innot Hot Springs. Scalding. Is that a grimace or a grin?

Resident Green Frog in Georgetown loo

Beautiful lake near Georgetown - the legacy of an earlier mining boom and now home to hundreds of birds.
Twitcher heaven.

But it's mostly dry out here now. The mighty Gilbert River bares her sandy bottom.

More mining history in Croydon. Lovely restoration of its old buildings. 

Garry trying to work out how the water got into this railway tank.
The Gulflander still runs on this heritage-listed railway track between Croydon and Normanton, also known as the line "from Nowhere to Nowhere".

Brolgas en masse.

Helicopter mustering.

Finally to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

Straight to the Sunset Bar for bubbles.

Garry went on a fishing charter and scored two beautiful Mackerel.
Fish for dinner tonight!

That's all from us for now. 

Until next time stay safe, well and happy.