Lake Tinaroo & The Tablelands.

We had some friends Simon & Julie from SA, arrive. We had a day in Cairns with them mainly drinking & eating.
On the second day we took them up to the tablelands, we stopped of at the Old Fig tree which is over 500 years old & amazing. (The picture doesn't do it justice).
We then took an unsealed track  through Danbulla state forest, where we kept getting glimpse's of Lake Tinaroo.  This was a very pretty track, we stopped of at Motto Crater walk, a short circuit with a shallow water crossing, a very pretty walk.
when we were at the Lake Tinaroo lookout, which is a massive boulder and very impressive, however unfortunately you cannot see anything from the look out except trees!!! Simon notice his foot was bleeding and "yes " he had a Leech on him from the water crossing, I then noticed my foot was bleeding and I had 2 leeches between my toes & yes Julie had 1 large leech attacking the sole of her foot!!! Steve was the lucky one - with no leeches!!
We continued on with our drive and saw lots of tiny finches hopping from the long grass. Next we saw a large Red bellied Black Snake sunning himself on the road, however he soon disappeared before we could get the cameras out.

Over 500 years old. The Cathedral Fig Tree not Julie & Simon!!

(It was great to see some SA friends up here).

 

The Cathedral Fig Tree.

 

An amazing tree. 

                                         

Motto Creek Crater Circuit Walk. 

 

Steve, Julie & Simon at Motto Creek, catching Leeches!!! 

This was very unusual on a knobbly tree.

 

This two tier basket - just pretty.

Lake Euromoo. 

Do you see the black Leech that's one that got me!!!

A couple of Curlew's.

 

 

Lake Tinaroo is a man made reservoir, constructed 1953 to 1958. The water is used for irrigation, power generation & urban water supply.  415 square kilometres of farmland are irrigated by the lake, which supplies 205,000 megalitres of water each year. 176klm of channels using gravity fed systems or pumps.  Tinaroo Hydro power operation started in May 2004 and generates 1.6 megawatts, stopping 8,450 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.  Lake Tinaroo supply's the towns of Tinaroo, Walkomin, Mareeba, Kuranda, Mutchilba, Dimbulah & Yungaburra. 

Lake Tinaroo is a massive recreational area, used mainly for water skiing, sailing, fishing & camping.     

Lake Tinaroo.

The Dam Wall.

 

The back or front of the dam wall. 45.1 Metres high.

 

We also had a lovely pub lunch in Atherton.  Followed by a quick visit to Coffee works (which actually does, coffee, chocolate & tea). However I will save Coffee works for another time, as we feel we need to re visit this!!

  

Cyclone Ita.

We have had a very busy time, I (Dee) have started a new job at the Coconut Grove 5 star resort, which is extremely nice, all the staff seem lovely to.
Cyclone Ita was approaching Cooktown and the Far North coast, so we had to pack up our camper and head to shelter at Port Douglas.  It was good that we packed up and moved out as a large tree came down on our camp site and the Mossman River rose to the highest it has ever been and it would have been in our Camper trailer.  The Daintree river peaked at 10.5 metres.  Now Ita hit Cooktown at a category 4, by the time it got to us it was only a 2.  However you will see how much damage it did, there is still severe flooding in the area, sugar cane & Banana crops have been damaged and some wiped out.  A lot of people now have power although parts of Cooktown may be without power for up to four weeks.   Cyclone Ita sort of went round us and then back by us, so we nearly got it twice!!! 
Now we got offered a room at the Coconut Grove, however we had no where to put the ute & camper as the under ground car park may have flooded. So we decided to go back to the Lychee Tree (we were based here during the wet season).  Our apartment looks very nice, first floor, so a good view of the cyclone.  Unfortunately the neighbours filled their bath with water(as we all did), they then went to friends. Their bath leaked and this flooded our bedroom (nothing to do with the cyclone), the Friday night our bedroom carpet was getting wetter, by the Saturday night it was really bad and smelt like rotten potatoes!!! We had an emergency unit to go to, but somebody had already used that, the manager was away up in Mareeba at his property.  So we took the mattress of the bed and slept in the lounge, Sunday morning we moved out very quickly.  We didn't pay for our accommodation!!

As we were packing up, this stick insect was looking for cover.

 

The calm before the storm.

 

Port Douglas Marina, all the boats were up the creek.

 

We had a little rain!!

 

We had a little wind!!

Some ones yacht went down in the storm. (or up the creek).

 

Look empty!!!

The foliage all over the roads.

 

Four Mile Beach, this is big surf for Port Douglas!!

 

Macrossan Street (main Street) Port Douglas.

 

Main street closed an another tree down, this one brought power lines down.

 

Macrossan Street, Port Douglas. 

 

We tried going to Mossman, the road was closed.

 

Bashed sugar Cane, but should be ok.

 

Before Ita, packed up and ready to get out!!

 

Our evacuation accommodation.

Cyclone Ita.

The lounge at our evacuation centre.

 

The tree down on our campsite, after Ita.  Steve had great fun back at the caravan park, when he HAD to get his chainsaw out to help get this tree of the road!!!!

 

Our new site at Mossman Caravan Park- no power yet.

 

Day off and we decided to visit Newell Beach, which is 5 mins North of Mossman, what a pleasant surprise, the beach is soooooooo long and on a sunny day will be a stunning spot,  however today was a wet & cloudy day.  Nice coffee at the café:).

Steve on Newell Beach. 

All the fallen trees line the beach giving it even more character - Newell Beach.

Mareeba Wetlands & Mossman Gorge in the wet.

Day two, with Andy and we head up the range towards Mareeba wetlands. A lot of birds were seen today.

 

 

Me at the wetlands. 

A framed Finch.

A lake on the way to Mareeba.

Gouldian Finch being breed for release in to the wild.

 

 

Mareeba Wetlands.

A red Backed Fairy Wren.

A red winged Parrot.

A Golden Orb Spider & Steve.

 

 

Oh Yes we get a lot of cruise ships come into Port Douglas and on this one was Baz, Jodie, Mary-Anne, Tony etc. Plus Ricky whom lives in Cairns. It was great to catch up with some South Australians & have a few beers.  

Next we head back to Mossman Gorge to see it in the wet & yes it was raining!!!

Pretty little stream.

Just colourful.

The water is definitely flowing now.

 

Nice.

 

The highest point in Mossman gorge, on a wet day.

 

Look how this tree is leaning.

 

Me holding this boulder up!!

 

Steve checking the temperature and yes very fresh!!

Boulders all the way down.

 

 

Steve & I at a very old Fig Tree.

 

The old Fig Tree.

 

Just pretty.

 

The foot path with all the tree roots.

 

A type of Fungus.

 

More Fungus.

 

Steve.

 

More Fungus.

 

Fungus just fascinates me!!

This gorgeous little bird trying to keep out of the rain.

Rushing water.

 

Steve looking wet.

Nice.