Paronella Park and the Atherton Tablelands

Paronella Park and Atherton Tableland.

Leaving the coast we headed inland slightly to Mena Creek where Paronella Park is located. Paronella Park is the  13 acre dream of Spanish immigrant  Jose’ Paronella who purchased the land in the 1930’s and handbuilt the buildings and gardens himself with very little help. The place has been overgrown, rundown, burnt and ravaged by floods and cyclones. Yet through the passion of its new owners it lives on as a lovely place to visit and to admire.

                                                     Jordy successfully annoying his mother

                                                     The old refreshment rooms by day.

                                                                     And by night.

   Avenue of magnificent Kauri pines.

   Kurt with some friends.

                                                                  The falls by day.

                                                                     And by night.

Leaving the coastal plain and heading up onto the Atherton Tableland  is a spectacular drive through the beautiful hills,  cane fields,  then cattle country, rainforest and then finally the farming country of the tableland. The red soil of the tablelands needs to be seen to be believed and anything including, bananas, coffee and wheat is grown here. The temperature is instantly cooler and the humidity less evident as we reach the Atherton area and Lake Tinaroo,  our camp for the next few days.

Lake Tinaroo is a freshwater dam which supplies water for the tablelands and Cairns. It is the water playground for the locals with no crocs and only 40 minutes  from Cairns.   It also has an awesome reputation for Barramundi but with the wind blowing hard the fish were not playing the game for anyone.

                                                     The red soil of the tablelands

                                                       Parked up at Lake Tinaroo.

                                                             Lake Tinaroo foreshore

One critter that was playing the game was the local platypus population. On Wednesday we spotted several at Yungaburra and Atherton along with turtles and water dragons. They are funny critters to spot -  to make them believe  you are not a predator, you need to keep talking but not point at them. They happily go about their business of diving for food, a bit of a swim and another dive. They basically carry on regardless and are good at hiding when they want to.  It is great that when you visit the platypus park or viewing platform in each town that there are actually platypui, turtles and water dragons in the area and haven’t been hunted or harassed by anything. If you are patient enough you will probably see something.

                                                                   A couple of locals.

                                                      A fine specimen of a water Dragon.

                     

                                                                    The turtle gang.

The tablelands are quite unique. The towns are full of lovely little shops and plenty of places to visit. There is always as well a good butcher and  a classic Queensland pub somewhere to be found.  

                                                      Overlooking Cairns and surrounds.

The descent from Kuranda to Cairns involved a lot of dropping down gears, tight turns and braking and we were back to the coast and the humidity.