Discover Atherton Tablelands 2015/16

2015/16 VISITOR’S GUIDE

Atherton Tablelands

Cairns Highlands & Beyond Uplifting by Nature

Uplifting by nature

athertontablelands.com.au

www.athertontablelands.com.au 1

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Welcome to

Atherton Tablelands, Cairns Highlands & beyond ...

The tropical Far North is undeniably one of the most exciting and diverse region’s to visit in Australia and the Atherton Tablelands sits at the very heart of it.

Explore the gateways from the reef to the rainforest before you find yourself spoiled for choice in our stunning region. Plan to stay at least five days, as there is so much to see and do.

The Atherton Tablelands’ fertile plain forms part of the Great Dividing Range and its rich soil can be attributed to the volcanic origins of this stunning part of the country.

For history buffs, the Tablelands boasts some incredible historical points of interest from wartime to Chinese settlement and Australia’s early pioneer days. Country markets brimming with local produce and homemade craft are also worth a visit.

Lush rolling hills, vast green fields, abundant wildlife, rugged bushland, tropical waterfalls, impressive lakes, rich history, gourmet food and friendly hospitality sum up an Atherton Tablelands experience.

People often ask what is the best thing about the Atherton Tablelands but if you have ever visited the region, you will have discovered there is more than one. Visitors love to spend their days enjoying scenic country drives, leisurely boat cruises, wildlife spotting, experimenting with local food and unearthing the fascinating geological history.

Produced annually by Tropical Tablelands Tourism, Discover will take you on a self-drive journey of discovery.

For those who like to play, you are entering an adventure playground complete with water sports, mountain biking, hiking and camping.

For more information once you are here, be sure to visit one of the friendly volunteers at the Visitor Information Centres. For more information on where these centres are located see page 50. Enjoy your holiday and thanks for visiting.

During your stay with us, acknowledge the traditional owners of this amazing region, and learn more of their ways.

AthertonTablelands www.athertontablelands.com.au 3

Contents 4

Finding Your Way

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The Great Tropical Drive

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The Savannah Way

10 Gourmet Delights 12 Birding & Wildlife 14 Adventure & Tours 16 Cassowary Coast & Canecutter Way 18 Lake Tinaroo 20 Millaa Millaa & Waterfalls 22 Herberton & Irvinebank 23 Mt Garnet, Ravenshoe & Innot Hot Springs 24 Malanda 26 Regional Maps 30 Regional Event Highlights 31 Events & Markets 32 Atherton 36 Tolga & Walkamin 38 Mareeba 42 Chillagoe & Petford 43 Julatten, Mt Molloy & Mt Carbine 44 Yungaburra 48 Kuranda

Finding your way to the Tropical Tablelands Tropical North Queensland has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and diverse localities to visit in the world and finding your way around has never been easier, with some fantastic tried and tested drive routes that all lead to the Atherton Tablelands and beyond.

Chillagoe & The Wheelbarrow Way The Wheelbarrow Way encompasses some of the richest and most important history of our national heritage between Mareeba and Chillagoe. Drive through ancient landscapes, with spectacular escarpment formations and be sure not to miss the beautiful limestone caves at Chillagoe. Spend some time in Chillagoe touring the historic copper mines of the Old State Smelters, marvel at ancient indigenous culture at the Chillagoe Museum - housing some of this country’s oldest and most important Aboriginal rock art – and ensure to take a torch for your tour to the Bauhinia and Pompeii Caves.

Cooktown & Cape York The push to the tip of Australia is a must for the intrepid road warrior. Visit amazing Aboriginal rock art and relics, marvel at nature in the national parks or try your luck sport fishing. Why not enjoy a farm stay at Bustard Downs or stop at Mt Carbine Caravan Park enroute? Both are ideally located for further exploration of the Palmer River Gold Fields, Lakeland Downs, the Annan Gorge, the mysterious Black Mountains and historic Cooktown.

Heading out west to Palmer River visitors to the solitary roadhouse perched above the famous river can get a glimpse of the remnants of one of north Queensland’s most famous gold mining towns – with tens of thousands of miners, including Chinese immigrants, flocking to the town in the 1870s sparking the establishment of the ports of Cairns, Cooktown and Port Douglas.

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...

HISTORIC VILLAGE HERBERTON

A GREAT AUSTRALIAN STORY Discover the real story of pioneer Australia at the Historic Village Herberton. With more than 50 restored period buildings showcasing Australian collectibles, vintage machinery and vehicles and thousands of genuine antiques, the Historic Village Herberton is the most significant outdoor museum in Queensland.

Plan to spend the day and treat yourself to delicious homestyle cooking at the Bakerville Tearooms. Don’t forget your camera and dogs on leads are welcome. Special event programs run during school and public holidays. Visit the website for more information.

Historic Village Herberton 6 Broadway Herberton Queensland 4887 Telephone 07 4096 2002 info@historicvillageherberton.com.au www.historicvillageherberton.com.au Allow a 90-minute drive from Cairns Day tours operating from Cairns also available

Open hours

High Season (Mid-March to Mid-October) 9am–5pm, last entry 3.30pm Low Season (Feb to Mid-March & Mid-Oct to Christmas) 9.30am–4pm, last entry 2.30pm Refer to website for more information www.athertontablelands.com.au 5

The Great Tropical Drive

Find Your Way With Drive North Queensland The Drive North Queensland smart phone app, which is available for both iPhone and Android, is the first of its kind in Queensland and offers general information on key destinations in the region as well as more detailed assistance for those accessing mapping information and specific data.

The app is geo-positional and designed to give the drive market traveller a very clear picture of what features they want to stop and see or tours they would like to take.

Drawing its data from the Australia Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), users are guaranteed current up to the minute information regarding more than 700 products in the region.

This includes visitor information centres, free council provided facilities as well as more specific product information on local attractions, maps and even the weather forecast.

The app covers four unique North Queensland drives – the Savannah Way from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, the Overlanders Way from Townsville to the Northern Territory border at Camooweal, The Great Tropical Drive from Townsville to Cooktown and Epic Cape York to the tip of Australia.

For more information on the best drive routes in Far North Queensland including the Great Tropical Drive, visit:

drivenorthqueensland.com.au

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The Great Tropical Drive offers self-drive travellers a holiday choice unlike any in the world with its vast array of experiences and everchanging scenery taking in pristine rainforests, azure coastlines and the dramatic landscapes of rural and outback Queensland.

The 2079km Great Tropical Drive incorporates the coastal drive from Cooktown through Cairns and Townsville to Ayr and Charters Towers in the south, plus the Tableland communities’ of Mareeba and Atherton. Incorporated within the Great Tropical Drive is a series of 13 shorter drives or Tropical Discovery Trails, enabling visitors to explore shorter sections or offshoots of the primary route.

The route travels through areas of enormous environmental and aboriginal significance including 70 National Parks, conservation areas and state forests, the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook Island and World Heritage tropical rainforest. Towns along the Great Tropical Drive offer insights into the early history of the area, while others present opportunities to savour unique tastes of the tropics and experience exhilarating adventures.

Some of Australia’s bestknown attractions such as the Undara Lava Tubes can also be seen on this drive.

From Cairns, through Port Douglas and on to Cape Tribulation there is 200km of tropical coastline that mirrors the Great Barrier Reef that it stretches alongside and is truly one of the most spectacular drives.

No journey would be complete without a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. See the big crocs up close during feeding times as well as experience the wetland boat rides and wildlife presentations.

Visitors can tailor the Great Tropical Drive itinerary according to their personal interests, length of visit and preferred destinations.

While a few of the offshoot trails require a 4WD, most of the primary loop of the Great Tropical Drive is sealed, making it safe and easily accessible for all vehicles.

Visitors can also obtain detailed local information at visitor information centres along the way.

FARMGATE Light Lunches • Hot & Cold Drinks • Cakes & Scones • Coffee • Papaya • Bananas

the webs it our mont e for coffee sp hly ecials

Why not visit Australia’s oldest coffee plantation to enjoy freshly roasted barista coffee and the most breathtaking views on the Tablelands?

FRESH ROASTED COFFEE PACKS • GIFTWARE & MERCHANDISE • CHOCOLATE COVERED COFFEE BEANS • COFFEE LIQUEUR OPEN: Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm (closed weekends, all public holidays and from the 24th December to the 3rd January inclusive)

Located 9km west of Mareeba, 1.5 hours drive from Cairns / Port Douglas 136 Ivicevic Road, Mareeba

/SkyburyCoffee P 07 4093 2190 ❘ E info@skybury.com.au GPS S 17° 00.662 ‘E 145° 20.296’

TM

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The Savannah Way The adventure drive of the Savannah Way, stretches from Cairns to Broome via Katherine. The route, which covers almost 3700km, traverses some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery, including four world heritage listed areas and over 15 national parks.

THE ROUTE With the road sealed from Cairns to Karumba, 4WDs, motorhomes, caravans and the family car all travel well.

You can visit the Savannah Way all year round – the summer and winter months have their unique aspects and travel during the Green Season is comfortable and uncrowded. Traversing the six Gulf Savannah shires of Etheridge, Croydon, Carpentaria, Burke, Mornington and Doomadgee, the route features unusual outback attractions and welcoming country towns.

Activities include fantastic fishing, exploring natural springs, caves, waterfalls and lakes ideal for bird watching.

ATTRACTIONS At Undara Volcanic National Park, stop and marvel at the 160km lava tube system – the world’s longest lava flow from a single volcano. A network of professionals from across northern Australia known as Savannah Guides, lead tours here and guests have the choice of camping or staying in the Lava Lodge’s authentic turn-of-the-century restored railway carriages.

A 1960 rail motor, the Savannahlander train, comes from Cairns to Forsayth once a week and can be combined with an Undara tour.

Another famous train, the Gulflander, tracks from Croydon to Normanton each week. Enroute to the Tablelands visit the historic town of Georgetown, which has a caravan park, motel, hotel and museum.

Located near Forsayth, Cobbold Gorge, which opens from April to October, is a spectacular oasis and wildlife habitat accessible by tours led by Savannah Guides. A boat cruise and tour is the best way to experience the sheer, sculpted walls of the gorge, and there is a campground for RVs as well as ensuite accommodation.

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Croydon, Kurumba & Beyond Croydon town was famous for its gold rush, but the port for the gold was Normanton, which is now the major service centre in the Gulf Savannah.

Karumba, at the Norman River mouth, is the centre for prawning and barramundi. Don’t miss the Barramundi Discovery Centre or sunset at Karumba Point.

Beyond Karumba and Normanton lies Burketown, Gregory, and Boodjamulla National Park’s spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge and the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields.

The town of Katherine is renowned for the magnificent 13 gorges in Nitmiluk National Park, where you can canoe, take a boat cruise, swim, walk and enjoy a scenic flight.

Spectacular gorge & working cattle property.

Daily tours.

Scenic Helicopter Flights Daily Great range of accommodation options.

Free Call 1800 669 922 www.cobboldgorge.com.au

Gateway to the Tablelands (300m off Kennedy Hwy) • Nice Shady Areas • Peaceful Bush Setting • Drive-through Sites • Air-conditioned Cabins

• Modern Amenities • Dogs Welcome (on leash) • Non Powered Campsites • Disabled Facilities

Lot 2, Nymbool Road, Mt Garnet - via Kennedy Hwy (Savannah Way) PHONE: +61 7 4097 9335 info@tablelandsaccommodation.com

www.tablelandsaccommodation.com

SAVE $20 on your rental

Rent a selected car from Budget Port Douglas or Budget Cairns for 4+ days and receive $20 off*.

Quote coupon MPNZ111 when you book.

CAIRNS 153 LAKE ST CAIRNS AIRPORT PORT DOUGLAS 2/11 WARNER ST

4048 8166 4033 9777 4099 5702

*Valid for car groups A, B, C, D and E only. Subject to availability at time of rental.

Valid until 30 June 2015. Min. length of rental is 4 days. Conditions apply.

Contact Budget for details. CT10541

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Gourmet Delights Since the 1900s, visitors have been coming to the fresh, clean highlands of the Atherton Tablelands for rest and recreation. Today they also come in search of delicious, fresh produce and award-winning wines, cheese, fruit, coffee and chocolates.

Rich fertile farming land has not only created stunning landscapes as far of the eye can see but also some of Australia’s best coffee, tea, milk, sugar, tropical fruits, cheese and more.

At Millaa Millaa, the biodynamic dairy Mungalli Creek produces exquisite cheeses, yoghurts, icecream and milks. Break for a cuppa and a tour at the Nerada Tea Plantation or stock up at roadside produce stalls.

Gourmet travellers will also discover the day tour that has all the foodie highlights Food Trail Tours.

At Mareeba, you enter the coffee zone. Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, Skybury, is an attraction not to be missed.

Travel off the beaten track to visit private plantations, experience exotic tastes, and uncover secrets even locals do not know.

Perched on the Great Dividing Range around 550 meters above sea level, the centre is located at the edge of the 300 acre coffee and tropical fruit plantation and is a place where visitors can taste and take home some of the world’s purest Arabica coffee. It also has a cafe, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, offering light lunches, wraps, cakes, scones, smoothies and of course coffee.

If you love exploring new flavours why not take a lesson in native cooking at the Rainforest Bounty Cooking School? Its slow food experience begins with a stroll through the native fruit orchards and kitchen gardens before a hands on cooking class.

In town, a gourmet feast awaits at The Coffee Works. Compare the finest flavours of coffee, tea, chocolate and liqueur. Don’t miss the exquisite chocolate in the chocolaterie. Take the time to stroll through the gift store, offering unique homewares and gifts handpicked by the owners, after enjoying a delicious meal with coffee to finish.

DINING OUT Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant, Eden House, Tolga Woodworks Cafe, Bridges Cafe at Mt Uncle Distillery, Snibbles in the Rainforest at Atherton Rainforest Motor Inn, Tinaroo Lake Resort and the region’s picturesque, welcoming pubs are just some of these.

Award-winning fruit wines, liqueurs and spirits are found at Murdering Point Winery, Golden Drop Mango Winery, De Brueys Boutique Wines and Mt Uncle Distillery.

Want to learn more N DS’ about TABLELA

on’t miss the PRODUCE? D Tablelands Tastes of the annually festival, held in October.

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The Original Boutique Roasters & Chocolatiers of Tropical Australia.

Mareeba CBD MAR EEBA

WE ARE HERE Turn at Jackaroo Motel

Mareeba Main Street

Est. 1988

.com.au

ROASTERY+CHOCOLATERIE Port Douglas 1 hr

136 Mason St Atherton Ph 4092 4101

30 min

Indulge a little, Discover a lot!

Over 50RS FLAVOUed creat !

by US

DIVE IN to a totally delicious experience... UNLIMITED all-day gourmet tastings!

Kick b fabulousacBk & enjoy Flamin cake & dele BQ lunches, coff ’ ee ctable de sserts!

Relax as y lusciouosu sip and savour exclusive LIQUEURS to CoffeeW orks!

S FT GI T EC Find the PERF ous …from gourmet to gorgeter s! raf the to ed ck we’re pa

Kuranda 30 min Cairns 1 hr Mission Beach 2.5 hrs

Mareeba Heritage Museum

BLENDIST TO SyU es ever onS! TASTE

discover ourH GO WILD! … leaves FRES rare beans + lantations! from LOCAL p

LD over 2,00st0 COFFEEWOR la S …see the rl TREASUREd d! o w e th of their kin in *Brin you togrethis with $ 5 OFFceive… every Adult COFFEEENTRY to EXPERIWORLD ENCE !

It’s a Delicious Adventure!

Explore and enjoy… • Café • Gift Shop • Boutique Roastery • Chocolaterie!

MAREEBA TOWNSHIP (turn at the Jackaroo Motel)

www.coffeeworks.com.au

CoffeeWorld Experience open 9-3pm

HOT TIP: Arrive in the morning & allow at least 2 hours to Explore!

Picture here. Cairns OPEN EVERY DELICIOUS DAY 9-4 pm! Only 1 caption hourto gofrom & Port Douglas! www.athertontablelands.com.au 11

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Wildlife

Birding

Playful platypus, dancing Brolgas, and cute tree kangaroos these are just some of the unique Australian wildlife you will discover in the region. Viewing and studying wildlife is made simple by a network of National Parks, bushwalks, wildlife spotting tours and the knowledgeable interest of so many local people.

Birdwatching on the Atherton Tablelands attracts global attention due to the diverse avifauna and variety of local habitats including riverine, wetland, woodland, rainforest, grassland, agricultural and parkland.

Birders can easily find the best spots by downloading the free Bird Trails North Queensland app, which highlights all the top locations in the region with GPS precision and provides a wealth of birding information.

The Bat Hospital in Atherton is internationally known, and has a visitor centre where you can see and learn more about these microbats and flying foxes. You can also see wildlife at excellent attractions such as Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. If you look very hard, you may be able to spot a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo up high in the branches or platypus in freshwater lagoons.

WORLD HERITAGE STATUS The outstanding natural universal values of Australia’s Tropical Rainforests were recognised in 1998 when the Wet Tropics of Queensland was inscribed on the World Heritage List. You can learn more about World Heritage listed places from regional visitor centres, or look for the green tree frog logo as you explore the area.

Top birdwatching spots include the dry regions of Mt Molloy and Kaban, Nyleta Bird Hide (Hasties Swamp), Nardellos Lagoon, Bromfield Swamp, Abattoir Swamp, the National Parks of Mt Hypipamee, Crater Lakes, Davis Creek, Barron Falls, Mt Lewis, Mareeba Wetlands and the Wongabel State Forest.

October to April may be the region’s hotter and wetter months, but it is also the time when the migrant species arrive from Papua New Guinea including the beautiful Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Common Koel.

Many birds such as the Noisy Pitta are also breeding at this time of year, and are easier to observe as they search for food. During the cooler, drier, winter months from May to September Victoria’s Riflebirds are displaying and winter breeders such as Whiteeared Monarch can be seen.

At this time, Brolgas and Sarus Cranes can also be found on the Tablelands feeding on the agricultural fields.

Did you know?

There are more than 430 bird species in the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef and 327 of these can be seen right here on the Atherton Tablelands.

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Bus CAIRNS to KARUMBA 3 return trips weekly All services connect: Undara Experience Bookings visit: www.transnorthbus.com.au

For more information:

Ph: 07 4095 8644

www.transnorthbus.com.au

The Best Vantage Point The best locations right at your fingertips

Featuring GPS precision and a wealth of birding information on the 327 species found on the Tablelands.

Download FREE: Bird Trails North Queensland App www.birdingtropicalaustralia.com.au

Waterfall Tour

Rainforest Tour

Savannah Tour

Spectacular World Heritage Tropical Rainforests • Rolling green Tableland mountain pastures • Outback Historical Towns • Swim under cascading Waterfalls • Must see local attractions - Lake Barrine, Millaa Millaa Falls, Curtain Fig Tree, Babinda Boulders and so much more.

Ask about our special tailor Charter Service to selected North Qld destinations - you choose what you want to see!

Visit our website for ion more informat s. ur to r ou on

BOOK TODAY! Office 4225 0133 | Mobile 0428 732 444

undercover swimming pool

Do not move this

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Adventure

Tours

If you love the outdoors, then the Atherton Tablelands offers some of the best and diverse adventures that can be found. Experience the heights of hot air ballooning, sail the calm waters of Lake Tinaroo, fire up the jet ski for some heart pumping fun, snag a world record barramundi or take in some of the best scenery across the Tablelands on dedicated mountain bike trails.

Want to explore all the Atherton Tablelands has to offer but want to sit back relax and let someone else do the work?

Choosing a guided tour can be a lot of fun and ensures you get the most out of your visit learning a lot of about local culture, art and history. It also offers the chance to meet other like minded travellers and of course the friendly locals.

HIKING With the option of summiting Queensland’s two highest mountains – Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Kerr from the Atherton Tablelands, the region has also become a draw card for hiking enthusiasts.

MOUNTAIN BIKING Mountain biking is an exhilarating way to experience the stunning beauty of the Tablelands and there is no doubt this region offers some of the best mountain bike and road cycling adventures.

The Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park has world class dedicated mountain bike trails and is conveniently located just 3km from Atherton township. There are currently 30km of single track and endless fire trails. At Dinden State Forest Mareeba, the Davies Creek Mountain Bike Track has approximately 21km of fireroad and single track loops.

HORSE RIDING There is an extensive network of tracks suitable for horse riding, particularly on the Herberton Range. First explored by early pioneers, followed by mining and logging activities, it is the tracks opened by these ventures that are now used.

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FOOD EXPERIENCES Food Trail Tours offers unique and exclusive food experiences that will allow you to savour regional foods at their source and hear the stories behind the foods.

Departing from Cairns daily, you will travel across the Tablelands where you will sample locally grown coffee, macadamias, cheese and more.

OUTBACK EXPERIENCES Let Billy Tea Safaris take you to the Chillagoe Caves and outback with stops at Mt Uncle Distillery and Mareeba Wetlands.

Wilderness Expeditions also offers a range of different walking

treks and camping with pack donkeys that will give you a once in a lifetime opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of Australia’s most famous explorers, with a friend to carry your gear.

TABLELAND TOURS Offering waterfall, rainforest and savannah tours, Tablelands Tours and Transfers covers a lot of ground, highlighting some of the region’s top attractions on their small and personalised tours.

Transport Trans North offers three return trips weekly from Cairns to Karumba connecting at Undara.

Let Billy Tea Safaris take you there!

Chillagoe CAVES & O UTBACK

Day Tour

Ph: 4032 0077 www.billytea.com.au

g Treks & camping Walkinwith pack donkeys

more online

Discover North Queensland’s Outback and Cape York,see the flora and fauna,live some of our heritage, and explore with a friend to carry your gear!

For more information on where to stay and what to see on the Atherton Tablelands visit

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Discover the Atherton Tableland’s history, World Heritage Wet Tropics and visit Lake Barrine, while you explore what regional food and wine producers have to offer.

Savour foods at the source and hear the stories behind the foods.

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Food, Wine and Discovery See more of the region

CA

Atherton Tablelands

 4096 2266 • www.wildex.com.au

Includes regional, tropical fruit wines, chocolate, cheeses, macadamias, coffee, and plantation tours.

The tour departs from both Cairns and the Northern Beaches.

Tel: 4041 1522

www.foodtrailtours.com.au

Atherton Tablelands

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Cassowary Coast & Canecutter Way A major highlight is the Canecutter Way. Described as 42km of pure magic, this stunning drive sits between Innisfail and Kurrimine Beach and has become renowned for its immense beauty, picturesque towns, and fascinating early history.

It is home to standout attractions such as Paronella Park and Murdering Point Winery.

Learn about the Berryman family’s 50-year history of making tropical fruit wines at their Murdering Point Winery, with produce sourced directly from their farm.

From stunning beaches to rugged coastal ranges and fertile flood plains, the Cassowary Coast Region is a fascinating gateway to the Atherton Tablelands.

The region is known as the nation’s banana-growing hub as well as the home of both the endangered southern cassowary and the giant golden gumboot.

It encompasses the larger towns of Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell and Mission Beach and is a must see tourist destination.

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You can taste medal-winning wines made from fruits and native exotics such as Lemon Aspen and Davidson Plum.

a dramatic evening tour. As well as being a visionary, Jose was a pioneer in eco-tourism with the park powered by fully restored original 1930s hydroelectric generators.

Stay over in Mena Creek at the caravan park and camping grounds with its six boutique cabins or at the Mena Creek Hotel, which offers comfortable, air conditioned rooms (including family room options).

Mena Creek is also home to a number of walks including the Gorrell Track, an easy 3.7km to MacNamee Creek’s lush rainforest and picnic spot.

Another area that should be explored is Babinda. Nestled in a valley between Queensland’s two highest mountains of Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Kerr and with attractions such as the Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls and Eubenangee Wetlands, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Paronella Park, located at Mena Creek, tells the amazing story of one man with an incredible dream.

Built in the 1930s by immigrant Jose Paronella, it was voted the number one thing to do in the 2009 RACQ poll. Since then it has received a number of awards including best major tourism attraction in the region.

Kurrimine Beach remains almost untouched and with the reef just off the beach, it offers one of the best fishing spots in the country.

Today the dream continues at this beautifully restored, intriguing venue.

During the day, visitors are charmed by guided tours including the Tunnel of Love. By night, the park presents

From Innisfail, the Palmerston Highway is the easiest road route to the Atherton Tablelands. There are a number of highlights on this drive that will lead you to the Tablelands.

B OOK ONLINE NO W Paronella Park- The wonderland that was voted the #1 must do in Far North Queensland

Enjoy restaurant quality food and drink at pub prices at the

Mena Creek Hotel

1671 Japoonvale Rd Mena Creek Ph: 07 4065 0000

www.paronellapark.com.au

Extend your experience stay overnight in either Paronella Park’s Cabins or Mena Creek Hotel’s Rooms

Corner of Japoonvale Rd & Mena Crk Rd , Mena Creek Ph: 07 4065 3201

www.menacreekhotel.com.au

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Where to stay Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is a popular pet-friendly holiday spot with a range of accommodation options including 47 waterfront villas, poolside, family and studio units, budget cabins and caravan and camp sites. The park has plenty to keep the family entertained with a large resort-style swimming pool and a giant jumping pillow. Guests can also hire peddle carts, kayaks, canoes and boats.

Lake Tinaroo At the very heart of the Tablelands is Lake Tinaroo. With over 200km of shoreline, it offers fishing, sailing and water sports enthusiasts plenty of room to spread out.

More than 500,000 people visit the lake each year, built in the 1950s on the Barron River.

Lush green scenery and deep, clear water affords the perfect backdrop for sailing, boating, canoeing, water skiing and more. Recreational fishing is also popular with ample opportunity to snag a barramundi, sooty grunter, sleepy cod, mouth almighty, archer fish, spangled perch and many species of crayfish, including the red-claw and yabby.

Drive along the shores of Lake Tinaroo, stopping at Platypus Rock Lookout for a view over the lake and Tablelands.

EVENTS The Lake Tinaroo Barra Bash is an annual fishing competition held each October and attracts local and out-of-town fisherman, both young and old, to compete for prizes and land a big barramundi. The Tablelands Fish Stocking Society Incorporated use this annual competition to monitor and collect data on the fish they stock.

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The Yungaburra Triathlon is an annual event held at the beautiful Avenue of Honour at Lake Tinaroo in November.

This event embodies the essence of the Soldier On Organisation, which is to inspire and empower.

DAY VISITS There is plenty to see and do around Lake Tinaroo from fishing and kayaking to bird watching and bushwalking. Visitors to the region can also enjoy tours of the lake, or explore the surrounding national parks.

HISTORY Built in the 1950s on the Barron River, the dam wall is 45.1m high and traps enough water from the Barron River to create a lake threequarters the size of Sydney Harbour.

It was built to irrigate approximately 9000 hectares annually in sections of the basins of the Barron, Mitchell and Walsh Rivers, also supplying around 800 local farms from the channel system and streams fed by Tinaroo Falls Dam. This water also supplies the Barron Gorge Hydro Electric Power Station in Kuranda.

Tinaroo Lake Resort is a stylish home-away-from home with all apartment balconies providing views of the lake. The resort has an outdoor pool, barbecue area, library, restaurant and bar so there are plenty of places to relax and unwind after a day out on the lake. Canoe and bike hire is also available for guests.

Need a place to stay?

All your accommodation needs can be booked all in the one place

B OOK ONLINE NO W

• Fully appointed, 4½ star AAA rated, self-contained, luxury apartments on the shores of Lake Tinaroo • Magnificent lake views from all apartments • Fully licensed restaurant • Conference facilities • Perfect for couples, groups and families

Phone/Fax (07) 4095 8912

athertontablelands.com.au

www.tinarooresort.com.au

info@tinarooresort.com.au

Mention this ad for a 5% discount on accommodation bookings* *Subject to availability

B OOK ONLINE NO W www.athertontablelands.com.au 19

Millaa Millaa Beautiful Millaa Millaa, known as the Village in the Mist, is gateway to the southern Tablelands. The image of its picturesque waterfall has graced thousands of travel pages. At 850 meters above sea level, the town is nestled among emerald hills surrounded by lush dairy pastures, majestic rainforests and magnificent waterfalls.

MILLAA MILLAA TOWN The village celebrated its centennial in 2011 and its rich, rural heritage is outlined in the local museum. Don’t miss the massive Kauri pine logs evidencing the logging industry of the past. Next to the museum is a covered picnic area featuring a sculpture of the famed explorer, Christie Palmerston. One of the most superb vistas in the region can be seen from the Millaa Millaa Lookout just west of town.

WATERFALLS Millaa Millaa’s picturesque waterfalls, which have been attracting visitors for over a century, are Queensland Heritage listed. The Waterfalls Circuit begins at Theresa Creek Road just east of town and the drive encompasses Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls. All the falls have walking tracks, however Millaa Millaa Falls also has picnic tables, change rooms and toilets.

Other falls to visit include Pepina and Souita, which are located 10km from

Waterfalls Here in the northern tropics, there is plenty of water. Luckily, the rivers and streams cascading from the highlands to the coast spill over terrain that creates natural features such as lakes and cascading waterfalls, which are the stand-out attractions of the region.

In fact, they are record breaking with the region home to Australia’s tallest waterfall (Wallaman Falls), the widest single-drop waterfall (Millstream Falls) and even a waterfall that featured as the tribal council on the television series Survivor (Blencoe Falls).

20 www.athertontablelands.com.au

It could be easy to spend days exploring all the waterfalls across the Tablelands.

All the waterfalls are easily accessible and within a reasonable distance from each other. Some of the more notable falls include Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, Mungalli Falls, Nandroya Falls, Tchupalla Falls, Malanda Falls, Dinner Falls, Lake Eacham Falls as well as the Millstream and Little Millstream Falls.

Millaa Millaa along the Old Palmerston Highway towards Ravenshoe. From town, travel east 11km to Junction Road and follow the signs onto the Mungalli loop, which includes the Mungalli Falls, the highest waterfall on the Tablelands.

MISTY MOUNTAIN TRAILS Millaa Millaa is also the gateway to the Wet Tropics wilderness long distance walking trails. There are over 130km of tracks that have been constructed.

This network of short and long wilderness tracks takes visitors through pristine, high altitude rainforest with crystal clear creeks, waterfalls and panoramic views. These tracks are intended for visitors with medium to advanced bushwalking and navigation skills.

GOURMET PRODUCE Don’t miss the very successful bio-dynamic/ organic dairy, Mungalli Creek where you can sample its range of award-winning products as well as watch them being made.

ATTRACTIONS Take a walk in the clouds in Wooroonoon National Park just 30 minutes out of Millaa Millaa on the Palmerston Highway. The Mamu Skywalk allows visitors to explore the rainforest from the forest floor to the canopy, in comfort and safety.

www.athertontablelands.com.au 21

Herberton & Irvinebank ambulance and a genuine pioneer’s slab hut built in 1870. The original Herberton State School c.1883 is a great place to take children and show them the pews and slates yesteryear’s pupils made do with.

In the late 1880s, miners like John Moffat created a boom on the back of the tin they extracted from the bush clad hills. Today, the towns’ well-preserved buildings and inviting streets are drawing people back with a new vibrancy. Connect with Australia’s history and folklore by re-visiting the past.

HISTORIC VILLAGE HERBERTON This astounding collection of Australiana is an entire village of over 60 buildings on the fringe of the Herberton township. Spanning two centuries, the dwellings, vehicles, memorabilia and antiques, which fill this cultural asset have been meticulously restored and inventively displayed. Among many treasures, there is a fully restored 1926 rail

22 www.athertontablelands.com.au

New attractions at the Village include Elderslie House, an historic 120 year old pioneer homestead that has been meticulously restored to its former glory. Must see exhibits also include the coach house, chemist shop, John Deere tractor shed, Day’s Garage and more.

Serving food daily is the Bakerville Tearooms. Visitors are urged to spend the day. Dogs on leads are welcome.

HERBERTON TOWN The oldest town on the Tablelands has its entire precinct listed on the National Heritage Register, and is best discovered via its intriguing photo posts and self-guided Heritage Walk. See the earliest building, the 1881 School of Arts, in the main street and wander down to the Jack & Newell Store c.1882, which houses the fascinating Spy & Camera Museum.

THE RAILWAY MUSEUM Also worth a visit is the Railway Museum, located at the end of John Street. Open on weekends and public holidays, the museum is operated by the volunteer organisation The Atherton - Herberton Historic Railway Inc. Having restored the old train line, they now operate train rides from Herberton Station to the

Historic Village Herberton on a regular Sunday timetable between 10am and 3pm. Please check the Historic Village’s website for more information on public and school holidays.

THE HERBERTON MINING MUSEUM AND INFORMATION CENTRE Occupying the site of the first big tin discovery at the Great Northern Mine, the museum has themed areas telling the fascinating story of Herberton’s mining history and the town’s development. There are mineral collections on display plus a small theatre for multi-media displays.

Nearby, the Mine Walk leads visitors to two restored machinery sheds featuring rare examples of early mining machinery. The museum is the trailhead for longer walks through spectacular upland scenery.

IRVINEBANK Established in 1882, Irvinebank boasts many century old buildings such as Loudoun House, the original home of the town’s founder John Moffat and now a museum.

The region experienced a boost of prosperity at the turn of last century, when the ‘Mighty Vulcan’ mine became the mainstay of the town, yielding the purest available tin in the world at the 1907 London World Expo. At nearby Montalbion, a former Cobb & Co. stop, you can fish in the dam and camp under the stars.

Mt Garnet During its heyday, large deposits of copper, silver, tin and lead were extracted from Mt Garnet, the town named from a large garnet lode discovered during copper mining.

If you would like to experience real Australian bush style hospitality, turn up at Mt Garnet on the first weekend of May for the town’s races and rodeo–as a community event this rates as one of the top in the country. Choose to stay the night at Mt Garnet Travellers Park, offering shaded areas, a peaceful bush setting, air-conditioned cabins and more.

After 10 years of closure, the The Kirrama Range Road has now reopened. It offers an opportunity to explore the southern end of the World Heritage Area and visit some of the area’s most scenic natural wonders.

Through interpretive signs and a new

boardwalk, visitors will learn about the cultural and historical importance of the Kirrama Range Road and the settlement of Society Flat that shaped the region.

From Mt Garnet you have easy access to Blencoe Falls. Located 96km southeast of Mount Garnet in Girringun National Park, Blencoe Falls is considered one of the most stunning waterfalls in Australia plunging 90m to the pool below, before cascading a further 230m to the bottom of Blencoe Gorge. Access should only be attempted in dry conditions and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Access roads are not suitable for caravans.

Ravenshoe & Innot Springs Surrounded by natural wonders like Millstream Falls and Lake Koombooloomba, the locals here live a lifestyle to be envied, and celebrate it every year during the annual Torimba Festival and Festival of the Forest in October.

RAVENSHOE Queensland’s highest town, Ravenshoe is 920m above sea level and is home to Windy Hill wind farm, which generates enough electricity to supply approximately 3500 homes.

Created on the extinct Windy Hill volcano in 2000, its 20 wind turbines take advantage of the consistent winds.

The Ravenshoe Visitor Centre at 24 Moore Street provides first-class tourist information and has excellent displays on the rainforest, timber-milling, dairy farming and the WWII military presence in the area. It also incorporates the Nganyaji Interpretive Centre and Ravenshoe Heritage Gallery.

Ravenshoe is the highest point in the Misty Mountains walking tracks network, and is a great location for wildlife watching, particularly for platypus, 12 species of possums, 340 bird species and of course, the Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, one of 14 species of kangaroo to be found in the area.

The wildlife and landscape of the region are beautifully translated into fine Australian art and woodcraft at Win’s Gallery.

INNOT HOT SPRINGS In an often quoted local export story, the hot water bubbling out of Nettle Creek at up to 75 degrees celsius was bottled and shipped to Europe as a health treatment over 100 years ago.

Today, visitors take to the waters at the Innot Hot Springs Leisure & Health Park, which has six public pools. Innot Hot Springs is also great base for gem fossicking, fishing and bird watching. www.athertontablelands.com.au 23

Malanda The pretty town of Malanda is situated in the heart of the Tablelands rainforest region. It is great for bird watching, bushwalking, and taking a cooling dip in the falls. As well as being the centre of a highly successful dairy industry, the village has many resident artists.

Their work can be viewed on an art trail showcasing a series of vibrant mosaics depicting the town’s history.

ACCOMMODATION Today’s visitors have a choice of accommodation options including The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary, Foxwell Park and the historic Wagtail House in Tarzali.

ATTRACTIONS Take a break at

possible. The park and its natural surroundings are a place for families and groups wanting to participate in activities such as platypus tours, fishing, nocturnal tours and camping.

ACTIVITIES The Malanda Falls Visitor Centre is a great place to start. Allow time to browse the fascinating displays and learn about this unique tropical region, its natural history and its people.

The area’s traditional owners are the Ngadgon-ji people. Informative and highly personalised guided rainforests walks with an Indigenous elder are available on weekends or by appointment at a small cost.

the historic Malanda Hotel and step inside for a cool ale. The Malanda Dairy Centre in the main street features an innovative retro milk bar restaurant.

Centre volunteers provide local information so make sure you ask about the guided rainforest walks through the Conservation Park, which are moderate, enjoyable trails.

Nearby Tarzali has a terrific attraction in the Tarzali Lakes Aquaculture Centre where you can buy the freshest fish

In the rainforest surrounding Malanda there have been more recorded daytime sightings of the rare Lumholtz’s Tree

24 www.athertontablelands.com.au

Kangaroo than elsewhere. It is common to see platypus, turtles and lizards as well.

Two self guided walking trails, the Tulip Oak Walk and the Rainforest Walk weave through the forest or along the banks of the North Johnstone River, each taking approximately 30 minutes to enjoy, and start right near the visitor information centre.

The beautiful Malanda Falls is a mustsee stopover with year round swimming and picnicking.

At Glen Allyn Road, visitors can tour the Nerada Tea Estate in the shadow of Mt Bartle Frere. This is the largest tea plantation in Australia, and the visitor centre provides tours and tastings.

Not far from Malanda is Bromfield Swamp, an extinct volcanic crater.

A roost to hundreds of cranes each winter, this is a must for bird enthusiasts hoping to see the enchanting dancing displays of the Sarus Cranes and Brolgas.

FOXWELL PARK LODGE

Historic Wagtail House Luxury Bed and Breakfast Accommodation Circa 1920

Accommodation, Restaurant, Functions and Events A place to unwind

• Romantic Getaways • Group Bookings • Corporate Functions • Weddings and Parties • Licensed Café/Restaurant

“Far from the madding crowd” Full English Breakfast included in Tariff

275 Hitchconole Road

En-suite Bedrooms

Tarzali, Atherton Tablelands

European and Asian Menu

Ph: 07 40951361

116 Acres of Privacy and Country Walks

www.wagtail-house.com

For more information contact our friendly staff: Ph: 4096 6183 Foxwell Road, Malanda Q 4885 info@foxwellpark.com.au www.foxwellpark.com.au

Pet Friendly Studio Available

Hogan Road, Tarzali Phone: 4096 5364

www.canopytreehouses.com.au Just a pane of glass between luxury & wilderness

V I S I TO R S C E N T R E

CAIRNS

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Visit our tea plantation and factory on the Cairns Highlands just 10km outside the town of Malanda. Discover how beautiful tea is grown and processed. Free factory viewing, buy fresh tea, a special gift or relax and enjoy an amazing cup of Australia’s Own Tea.

Glen Allyn Rd, Malanda.

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Closed Weekends, Public Holidays, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day and the month of February.

Phone [07] 4096 8328 www.neradatea.com.au

www.athertontablelands.com.au 25

Your complete driving Dimbulah guide: Road Conditions, Accommodation, Restaurants, Maps and Attractions, t Pinn Live Online MInformation acle

Download FREE!

Plan your Adventure on the move!

Smart Phone App National Park

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Railway line

TTABLELAND ABLELAND Minor road - Unsealed ATIONAL ATIONAL NATIONAL Track P - 4WD ONLY PARK

Main road - Sealed Main road - Unsealed HANN road - Sealed Minor

Major route - Sealed

World Heritage Area / State Forest

PLACES OF INTEREST

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Ellis Beach Buchan Point

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Scale in Kilometres

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Lake Mi Mitchell

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Mt Molloy

Mt Lewis

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Malanda to Herberton Millaa Millaa

Mareeba to Atherton Chillagoe Julatten Kuranda Port Douglas

Ravenshoe to Mount Surprise

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drivenorthqueensland.com.au

2hrs 30min

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Windy Hill Wind Farm

Lake Koombooloomba

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Cathedral Fig

Ellinjaa Falls

Lamins Hill Lookout

Nandroya Falls

Mungalli Falls

Josephine Falls

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Deeral Bellenden Ker 1593m (2nd highest mtn Qld)

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Kearneys Falls

GREY PEAKS NP

Aloomba

Fishery Falls

Goldsborough Valley

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www.athertontablelands.com.au 29

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REGIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Visit www.athertontablelands.com.au or download our app for a current and comprehensive list of events and markets along with organisers details.

Mareeba Rodeo Hold onto your hats as the Mareeba Rodeo and Festival gets underway from June 27 to July 12.

Don’t miss the Downtown Parade, Garden Show, the announcement of the Rodeo Queen, wood chopping, agricultural shows and more. www.mareebarodeo.com.au

Pioneer Weekend Step back in time as Historic Village Herberton comes to life for one weekend a year on May 2 to 3. Watch experts demonstrate blacksmithing, wood chopping, tin panning, small engines and more. Enjoy great local entertainment and train rides for the family over the two-day event. www.historicvillageherberton.com.au

Tablelands Folk Festival Celebrating music, friendship and cultural understanding, the Tablelands Folk Festival is the longest running folk festival in Queensland. Held in Yungaburra, surrounded by rainforest and crater lakes, it features family entertainment over four days from October 22 to 25. www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org

Tastes of the Tablelands This event will once again be held at the Chinese Temple Grounds on Herberton Road on October 18 from 9am to 4pm. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed for a garden party as there will be lots of shade, non-stop entertainment, gourmet food and cool drinks to while away the day. www.tastesofthetablelands.com.au

Kuranda Festival Opera in the Outback & Blues Festiva at Undara Hosting two fabulous events every year, the Undara Outback Rock and Blues weekend, April 24 to 26 and Opera In the Outback, October 8 to 10, have become firm favourites on the annual event calendar. As the sun slowly sinks below the distant horizon of the beautiful eastern Gulf Savannah, the stage is set for some of Australia’s most accomplished operatic performers to deliver unforgettable experiences, while in contrast the Undara Experience erupts for a fun filled weekend of rock and blues. www.undara.com.au

The Kuranda Festival on October 19 to 20 will be two big days of entertainment and fun activities as the village in the rainforest celebrates its official survey. Quirky events include the Bash of the Barron River Raft Race and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Free activities include live music, horse and carriage rides and river cruises. www.kuranda.org

DISCOVER THE ATHERTON TA

EAD E FDOR WNLO 30 www.athertontablelands.com.au

March 2015

August 2015

13

1 2 8 8 15 - 16 16 - 4 16 29

St Paddys Dinner Dance, Atherton

April 2015 3-5 Normanton Barra Classic 4 Kuranda Easter in the Park Celebration 24 - 26 Undara Outback Rock & Blues

May 2015 2-3 2-3 9 - 10 15 - 17 27 - 28 30

Mt Garnet Races & Rodeo Pioneer Weekend, Herberton Big Weekend Chillagoe Rodeo The Great Wheelbarrow Race Rotary FNQ Field Days, Mareeba Dimbulah Lions Festival

June 2015 5-7 Mt Garnet Races 19 - 21 Kuranda Roots Festival 27 - 12 Mareeba Rodeo Festival

July 2015 3-4 3-5 3 7-8 10 17 - 19 23 - 26 25

Oak Park Races Malanda Show Mareeba Rodeo Ball Atherton Show Mareeba Downtown Parade Chillagoe Country Music Festival Christmas in July, Mareeba Christmas in July, Ravenshoe

Forsayth Turnout Atherton Gem Festival Nth Qld Gold Panning, Mareeba Mt Carbine Bull & Bronc Ride Atherton 8hr Mountain Bike Race Atherton Maize Festival VP Day Memorial Service, Tolga Mareeba Multicultural Festival

September 2015 5-6

Herberton Flower Show

October 2015 8 - 10 3 - 17 10 10 - 12 18 18 18

Opera in the Outback Torimba Festival Torimba Festival Mardi Gras & Parade FNQ Country Music Festival, Mareeba Kuranda Festival BikeFest www.athertonbikefest.com Tastes of the Tablelands Festival, Atherton 22 Tablelands Folk Festival, Yungaburra 17 - 25 Croc Trophy

November 2015 14 - 15 22

Yungaburra Triathlon Challenge Tablelands Toy Run

MARKETS Archer Creek

2ND SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Kennedy Hwy.

Atherton

1ST SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Platypus Park, Herberton Rd. 2ND SUN OF THE MONTH, Atherton Show Grounds Lions Park, Louise St.

Herberton

3RD SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Wondecla Sports Ground.

Kuranda

EVERY DAY - Original Markets (9am-3pm) and Heritage Markets (9am-3.30pm).

EVERY SUNDAY 9am-2pm Speewah Country Markets.

Karumba

EVERY SUNDAY (April until 6th September), 7am-12noon.

Malanda

3RD SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Malanda Showgrounds.

Mareeba

2ND AND 5TH SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Centenary Park.

Mt Molloy

1ST SAT OF THE MONTH, MarchDecember, 8am-12noon, Fraser Rd.

ABLELANDS THE ‘SMART’ WAY It has never been easier to explore the Atherton Tablelands. If you love Discover magazine, you will love the app even more. Totally mobile, you will have up to date information about the Atherton Tablelands at your fingertips – and better yet this can all be downloaded before even leaving home so you don’t have to use up your valuable data. Just jump onto the app store and search for Discover Atherton Tablelands.

Tolga

1ST SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Morrow Park Racecourse.

Tumoulin

4TH SUN OF THE MONTH, 8am-12.30pm, Tumoulin, Ravenshoe.

Yungaburra

4TH SAT OF THE MONTH, 7.30am-12.30pm, Bruce Jones Park, Yungaburra.

www.athertontablelands.com.au 31

Atherton From its beginnings as a timbergetters’ camp and staging post between the outback tin mines and the coast, Atherton has blossomed like its trademark jacaranda trees into a diverse regional centre. Well known to the locals as a highland getaway destination, Atherton is also famous for its rich soils, which grow superb produce and flowers.

ATTRACTIONS The region has a wealth of artists whose works are best seen at the Tablelands Regional Gallery. Check out the wonderful pre-war Barron Valley Hotel, browse through the town’s quaint shops like Atherton Antiques & Australiana and enjoy a picnic at Halloran’s Hill with a view of the Seven Sisters volcanic cones.

Hasties Swamp (Nyleta Wetlands) is a seasonal wetland with an annual wet and dry cycle. The two-storey Bird Hide provides wheelchair access on the lower section only.

Finally, take time to get to know the inhabitants at The Bat Hospital on the road to Herberton. Here, you can meet flying foxes and microbats at the visitor centre. This internationally renowned facility is operated by a not-for-profit group dedicated to the conservation of bats and their habitat. They achieve the rescue, rehabilitation and release of hundreds

32 www.athertontablelands.com.au

History of bats each year and the facility is open seasonally to the public.

THE CRYSTAL CAVES In the main street, you will find one of the most remarkable and novel attractions in the whole of Australia. The Crystal Caves are a spectacular private mineralogical collection with over 600 specimens made up of rare crystals, gemstones and fossils.

These gemstones have been brought together by one visionary who found love at first site more than 40 years ago after cracking his first geode along the banks of Agate Creek in North Queensland. René together with his wife Nelleke Boissevain have made it their life’s work to build one of the largest mineralogical collections in Australia.

Back in the days of the pioneers, Atherton was a key town along the Mulligan Highway connecting the seaside port of Port Douglas to the newly opened tin deposits at Herberton.

The Mulligan Highway passed through the present Main Street of Atherton, which was then known as Prior’s Pocket, and bullock teams hauled supplies up to Herberton, and ore back to Port Douglas. The route also opened up the area to logging of magnificent rainforest timbers, and Cobb & Co ran a service up and over the Great Dividing Range.

The road was named after James Venture Mulligan, as was the nearby Mount Mulligan. An adventurer and prospector, Mulligan was responsible for opening most of the North Queensland mining fields.

Today, the caves are a natural history adventure museum where visitors don a miner’s helmet complete with headlamp for a fun tour of this fairytale cavern. Marvel at the world’s largest amethyst geode, The Empress of Uruguay, and the gravity defying attraction, The Magic Spheres.

The Fascinating Facets gift shop is also an attraction in itself. It features the largest collection of amethyst geodes in Australia, beautifully displayed under lights to create a glittering showpiece.

John Atherton was another colourful local. A pioneer grazier and adventurer who lent his name to the town and the region, Atherton first discovered tin while prospecting in 1879, naming the site Tinaroo Creek, now the site of Tinaroo Dam.

Rural Outlook, on the outskirts of town...

Atherton Holiday Park

Nestled amongst an amazing variety of native plants, birds, widlife, palms and giant karri trees, close to the centre of town and the Hospital.

Large flat sites • Ensuite van sites • Pool • Country views 4km east of Atherton Post Office - on the Gillies Hwy.

• Semi self-contained Rooms • Two bedroom unit available • Room service meals • Free Wireless Internet

Units • Villas • Cottages • Caravan Sites

44 Cook St, Atherton Ph (07) 4091 3311 www.athertonhinterlandmotel.com.au

(07) 4091 1099 • www.athertonholidaypark.com

•

•

Check our website for opening hours: www.nationaltrust.org.au/qld

The Bat Hospital

Visitor Centre

134 Carrington Road, Atherton (turn right off Herberton Road, 6km from Atherton) Phone: 07 4091 2683

Open daily all year 3-6pm

Bookings essential October to June and public holidays Adults $18, Children $10 (5-15)

Enter an upside down world and discover the real stars of the night, both big and small www.tolgabathospital.org Close to Hasties Swamp

The Tableland Regional Art Gallery is one of the most vibrant cultural destinations in the region with a mix of innovative and diverse exhibitions.

YOU WILL LOVE THIS SHOP! EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! FULL OF LOCALLY SOURCED ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. A warm welcome awaits you.

DROP IN AND SEE OUR CURRENT EXHIBITION – ENTRY IS FREE

OPEN: Tues to Sat 10am-4pm • Sun 10am-2pm 16 Robert Street • Atherton • PHONE: 4091 5261

www.tablelandgallery.trc.qld.gov.au

www.athertontablelands.com.au 33

SAHARA SEABED COLLECTION Next to the Crystal Caves, the adventuring Boissevains have created another attraction featuring some of the world’s oldest items. These fossils dating back more than 240 million years are found beneath ancient rocks under the Sahara desert, where sediment captured countless small animals such as the ancestors of the beautiful Nautilus shell and preserved them for all time.

Collectors can enjoy them today in the exclusively imported homeware items and collectible fossils in The Sahara Seabed Collection.

CHINATOWN Gold attracted Chinese settlers to North Queensland in the late 1800s and when the gold ran out, many turned to timber cutting and market gardening. The remains of Atherton’s Chinatown are now an archaeological site featuring the community’s fully restored place of worship, the Hou Wang Temple.

It was the social and religious heart of Atherton’s Chinese community.

Apart from the temple itself, there was also a community hall, kitchen and pig oven. People gathered here to worship, celebrate festivals and discuss community issues.

34 www.athertontablelands.com.au

The Temple is part of a complex featuring a Chinese museum with interactive displays of Atherton’s Chinese heritage and a prized collection of original artefacts and historic photographs of the once bustling precinct. During October, the Chinatown grounds host the food festival, Tastes of the Tablelands.

AGRICULTURE The soils of the Tablelands are suited to horticulture, and around the Atherton area they yield an amazing range of produce.

Small to large farming enterprises produce lettuce, strawberries, macadamia nuts, bananas, beans, maize, corn, sugar cane and avocados. Sample these at roadside stalls and take away a memory of the taste of farm fresh produce.

ACCOMMODATION Atherton has always featured as a service centre and a stopover point for travellers.

Today, the Trans North transport service provides linkages between Atherton, Kuranda and Cairns all the way to Karumba via Undara.

Visitors can enjoy comfortable accommodation at the Rainforest Motor Inn, Atherton Hinterland Motel, Atherton Blue Gum B&B, or holiday parks such as Halloran’s Leisure Park.

FREECALL: 1800 885 030

www.halloransleisurepark.com

152 Robert Street, Atherton QLD 4883 (Hwy ) Phone/Fax: (07) 4091 4144 Email: holiday@halloransleisurepark.com

AAAT PARK

Overlooking Atherton from the base of Hallorans’ Hill Lookout

B OOK ONLINE NO W

10%

UNT DISIGCHOTS MIN. 2N

13CTN044

AAAT CABIN

* Not valid with other discounts. Door rates only.

SALT WATER POOL ❱ KIOSK ❱ BBQ ❱ WiFi INTERNET DRIVE THRU SITES ❱ CAMP KITCHEN ❱ GAS ❱ TOUR BOOKINGS 2 & 3 Bedroom Villas • Spa Villas • All Ensuite • Disabled Villa • All Self Contained • Patios • Reverse Cycle • Air-Conditioning

www.athertontablelands.com.au 35

Tolga A thriving community today, Tolga began life as a simple staging post.

At the outbreak of World War II, the region became a training centre and staging base for Allied forces.

Discover the past at the Tolga Museum, which houses memorabilia of WWII and the local timber and agricultural industries, and at the Tablelands Heritage Centre.

ROCKY CREEK WAR MEMORIAL PARK During 1943 to 1945 the Atherton Tablelands became the largest military base in Australia hosting between 100,000 and 300,000 troops from 140 different units.

The Rocky Creek Memorial Park was established over a decade ago at what was originally the site of the largest field hospital in the southern hemisphere, and honours servicemen and women.

Dedication ceremonies are held in the park each August on the Sunday nearest Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day. For further exploration into the region’s war history, follow up your visit with a trip to the Mareeba RSL, which has excellent historical displays.

ATTRACTIONS Tolga is central, pretty and the ideal holiday base with a choice of budget accommodation.

Tolga’s foremost attraction is the

36 www.athertontablelands.com.au

Walkamin established fine woodwork gallery, Tolga Woodworks, on the main road.

As well as exquisitely crafted handmade timber pieces ranging from small spinning tops and bowls to fine furniture, the gallery features a large array of hand forged iron and hammered steel, ceramics, fused glass and silver jewelry.

These showcase the collective talents of North Queensland’s finest artisans. There is also a great cafe, which serves lunches as well as morning and afternoon tea. For more locally sourced souvenirs, fine silver-smithing and a superb range of Australian gemstones fashioned into modern jewelry, visit the studio gallery Rainforest Gems.

The Tolga racecourse is the venue for the markets, with a wide range of local produce and crafts on display on the first Sunday of every month.

Heading to Atherton, the road turns into a leafy canopy of rainforest at the entrance to the Tolga Scrub.

Walkamin was built during the 1950s during the construction of Tinaroo Dam. Described as food bowl country, the site for the town was chosen due to its perfectly balanced weather patterns with the ideal climate for a wide variety of crops.

Just north of Tolga, Nardello’s Lagoon is a peaceful retreat with waterbirds. Or visit the Cellar Door and Bridges Cafe nearby at Mt Uncle to taste its excellent liqueurs and spirits.

The distillery is nestled on the fertile foothills of Mt Uncle from where it claims its name. The mountain was named after the uncle of the founding pioneer John Atherton. Bridges Cafe looks out onto native woodland and provides a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere and interestingly has the largest selection of teas, with over 50 from around the world, in North Queensland.

DISCOVER THE TABLELANDS WITH AVIS Tropical North Queensland is famous for its lush rainforests, spectacular white sandy beaches and historic towns.

And what’s the best way to see it all - in an Avis car of course!

You’ll receive: • Competitive rates • Portable GPS • Free Holiday Vouchers • Professionally maintained low kilometre vehicles To make your reservation please call:

CAIRNS - 4048 0522 135 Lake Street

North Qu

eensland

0 worth

North Queensland$30

of Holiday

Savings

Vouchers

CAIRNS AIRPORT - 4033 9555 PALM COVE - 4059 2499 Coral Horizons, 137 Williams Esplanade

$300 worth of Holiday Savings Vouchers

PORT DOUGLAS - 4099 4331 3/11 Warner Street

Ask Avis for full details. W.T.H. Pty. Limited - ACN 000 165 855 - Avis Licensee. CT9304

T O L G A WO ODWORKS

Gallery & Cafe

Creative woodturning

Stunning woodwork

Forged steel

Sculpture

Café

Glass

Kennedy Highway, Tolga Ph: 07 4095 4488 > www.tolgawoodworks.com.au Open 7 days 9am – 5pm > Closed February

more online For more information on where to stay and what to see on the Atherton Tablelands visit

athertontablelands.com.au www.athertontablelands.com.au 37

Mareeba Located 417m above sea level, Mareeba is a region of breathtaking landscapes, rugged gorges, savannah grasslands, crisp blue skies and clear nights perfect for stargazing.

Mareeba is the largest town on the Tablelands, once serving as a railway and communications centre.

A multi-cultural district rich in wildlife, museums, coffee and wine, Mareeba has a history going back to the gold mining days, and a strong sense of community spirit, which sees support for traditional outback sports such as the famous annual Mareeba Rodeo.

Considered the heart of Australia’s thriving tropical fruits and coffee industry, you will find large mango and paw paw farms, coffee and macadamia nut plantations, along with sugar cane, pineapples, cashews, bananas and a whole banquet of other crops.

COFFEE AND WINE Over 70% of Australia’s coffee crop is grown in Mareeba and you can taste, buy and explore at a number of local coffee roasters and coffee plantations.

With a background of over 25 years roasting experience, Coffee Works owners, Annie and Rob Webber have

38 www.athertontablelands.com.au

always strived for excellence, creating and perfecting more than 43 rich and delicious coffees, luscious liqueurs and fine handcrafted chocolates. Located in the centre of Mareeba, Coffee Works offers a range of dining options, plus a selection of cakes, pastries, chocolates and more.

Taste, experience and take home Skybury Coffee. Skybury is Australia’s oldest commercial coffee plantation situated on the rolling hills and huge rock formations behind Mareeba. Just 10 minutes from the town centre, Skybury Farmgate is a destination in its own right, with its majestic cafe souring high above the Atherton Tablelands, offering breath takings to take in while enjoying their hospitality.

Fruit wines are another specialty of the Mareeba region. Golden Drop’s wines will introduce you to the delights of mango.

Their wide range of products includes sparkling wine, port and liqueurs, which are available at retail stores throughout the region.

At de Brueys Boutique Winery, taste the fabulous fermentations of lychee, mango, jaboticaba, bush cherry, mulberry, passionfruit and star apple.

VOUCHER ENTITLES YOU TO SAMPLE ONE (1) OF OUR

AWARD WINNING SPIRITS OR LIQUEURS *LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON

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1819 CHEWKO RD WALKAMIN, QUEENSLAND KURANDA

CAIRNS MAREEBA

WALKAMIN

GORDONVALE

TINAROO Lake Tinaroo YUNGABURRA ATHERTON

www.athertontablelands.com.au 39

DID YOU KNOW? Skybury is one of Australia’s largest exporters of Australian Coffee and supplies around 50% of Australia’s red papaya picking around two million pieces of fruit annually.

Get Airborne Each year, more people choose to experience hot air ballooning in Mareeba than anywhere else on earth.

Events The Mareeba markets are held on the second and fifth Saturday (when they occur) of the month between 7am and 12noon next door to the Heritage Museum in Centenary Park.

Gourmet homemade jams, delicious fresh produce with an abundance of tropical fruit, arts and craft including woodwork, handmade baby clothes and stunning jewellery are just some of the things you will find at this great little market.

Mareeba also welcomes plenty of grey nomads for its annual Christmas in July celebrations. The Far North Nomads Chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia hosts the event, which is held at the end of July. The event is now in its 17th year and has become an extremely popular celebration in Mareeba.

The Mareeba Rodeo, which kicks off on June 28 and runs through until July 13, has a history dating back to 1949. See the town come alive with an agricultural show and exhibition, wood chopping competition, junior cowpokes, night parade, garden show and the announcement of the rodeo queen.

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From the minute you arrive, you will see the spectacle at launch of so many large colourful balloons standing ready for take off at dawn. Enjoy the 360 degree panorama, before coming gently back to earth.

BIRDING The Mareeba region is acknowledged by birding experts as the richest region for birdlife in Australia.

Nearly half of Australia’s 750 bird species can be found here, and birders have recorded over 300 species within a 15km radius of nearby Mt Molloy.

rail ambulance, railway carriage and a workable blacksmith shop and tobacco display.

Further on, located between Mareeba and Atherton is Mt Uncle Distillery.

Having earned a reputation for its award-winning premium liqueurs, which are all produced on site, Mt Uncle Distillery is set in landscaped gardens on a banana, avocado and macadamia plantation.

The Cellar Door and Bridges Tearoom/ Cafe also serves delicious produce seven days a week as well as offers gluten free banana flour.

The Mareeba Wetlands is a regionally significant Brolga and Sarus Crane roost.

Nature based experiences can include cooling off in the rock pools after exploring around Emerald Creek Falls where there are public toilets, barbecues and tables, and a walking track leading to an excellent lookout.

ATTRACTIONS Beautiful sunny

ACCOMMODATION Located on

skies and crisp cool days ensure a morning out isn’t too hot either. After exploring the markets, make your way into the Mareeba Heritage Museum, which is also the town’s visitor information centre.

Offering a real insight into the region’s rich history, the museum is a must do when visiting Mareeba. In fact, many visitors call into the museum for tourist information and end up spending a considerable amount of time there.

See into the past with displays on Aboriginal culture, tobacco, early explorers, pioneer and early history, the war years, the Mt Mulligan mine disaster and the timber industry.

Outside, the facility has an historic

the edge of the CBD, the family owned Mareeba Lodge is a short walk to restaurants, supermarkets and shops.

With spacious, comfortable rooms, it is perfect for all the family.

For a nature experience like no other a visit to Granite Gorge is a must. Hand feed the cute rock wallabies and take a dip in the cooling waters of the gorge.

- 15 rooms - Quality, spacious accommodation - Renovated rooms - Convenient central location to stay whilst exploring the Tablelands - Communal kitchen and BBQ area - Complimentary breakfast - Tea/coffee, toaster, refrigerator, aircon, digital TV and DVD in all rooms - Family rooms and undercover parking - Close proximity to tourist information at the Mareeba Heritage Centre - A short walk to supermarkets, hotels and restaurants - Cycle tourism friendly

261 Byrnes Street Mareeba QLD 4880

Ph: 07 4092 2266 Fax: 07 4092 2207 Email: info@mareebalodge.com

Interactive heritage displays for all the family

FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUM

Centenary Park, 345 Byrnes St, Mareeba (Lat 17° 01’ - Long 145° 25’)

Ph. 07 4092 5674 www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au OPEN DAILY: 9am—5pm

the Atherton Tablelands the smart way and get mobile!

www.athertontablelands.com.au 41

Chillagoe & Petford Chillagoe Caves Millions of years ago Chillagoe was once the site of an ancient coral reef but today the coral has been transformed into massive limestone bluffs with some scientists believing the landscape around Chillagoe began to form about 400 million years ago.

These bluffs contain over 560 known caves, the largest having over 11km of passages. All are heavily decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. At the extremities of these bluffs, colourful marble and rich mineral deposits can be found.

Three limestone cave systems, Donna, Royal Arch and Trezkin Caves, have been chosen by National Parks because of their different stages of natural development and have steps, walkways and lights for guided tours.

Near the caves is a 10m high balancing rock resting on its few centimetres base.

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Easily accessed by conventional vehicles via the Wheelbarrow Way, Chillagoe is a genuine outback town with fascinating attractions and abundant wildlife.

Starting at Mareeba, the Wheelbarrow Way was named after the gold mining pioneers who, when work was scarce and transportation limited, trudged out bearing their worldly goods in a wheelbarrow. An annual footrace with wheelbarrows commemorates this along The Way each May and raises money for charity.

On route to Dimbulah, the gateway to the gold fields sprang up on the Walsh River to service the ore trains. Once mining faded, cropping became the focus and today sugar cane, mango and lychee plantations can be seen.

Almaden, Petford and Emuford are all linked by the Etheridge railway line, which welcomes the Savannahlander train on its weekly run from Cairns via Almaden and Mt Surprise to Forsayth.

Petford, the junction of the road from Herberton, was originally called Wadetown and known widely as a watering hole for the miners of the day.

Climb the range to the remains of the 100-year old Lappa Pub, another famed stopover of old.

On entering the Chillagoe region, a dramatic landscape created by massive limestone bluffs and rock formations greets travellers.

History After the gold rush in the 1880s, Chillagoe’s population grew to thousands in a new mining boom, however the muchanticipated mother lode of copper did not materialise and the State Government took control of the smelter until production ceased in 1943. The ore smelter was never reused and can now be viewed from a high vantage point that also features interpretive storyboards.

The site of the old smelter is also of interest for visitors who can view the tall brick chimney set high on the hill overlooking the town. This is Chillagoe’s landmark that can be seen from a great distance.

Billy Tea Safaris offer a fully inclusive one-day Chillagoe and outback day tour, so why not let someone else do the driving, so you can take in all the history.

Julatten, Mt Molloy & Mt Carbine MOUNT MOLLOY Further along the Mulligan Highway, just 30 minutes from Mareeba is the historic mining and timber town of Mount Molloy. At its height Mount Molloy was a copper mine in the 1890s, named after Patrick Molloy who found the copper outcrop while searching for stray bullocks.

Today, this small town with a population of around 300, is much more humble with a bakery, general store and petrol station. Its main industry is cattle grazing, however tourism is steadily growing as visitors discover the beauty, wildlife and history of this area and its surrounding towns of Julatten, Maryfarms and Mt Carbine.

HISTORIC SITES Located at the south-east corner of the Mount Molloy cemetery near the mature grevillea tree is the resting place of James (Venture) Mulligan. A very condensed but beautiful biography of his life can be read on his tombstone. Visitors can also visit the old steam engine that was used to supply the power to the local

sawmill, which is located at the southern entrance to Mount Molloy.

JULATTEN Tucked away in the rainforest just to the west of the popular coastal town of Port Douglas and just 10 minutes from its neighbour Mount Molloy is Julatten. This small town attracts thousands of birders each year, on the lookout for species that include Spectacled Monarchs, Pale-Yellow Robins, Lesser Sooty Owl, Red-Necked Crakes, Pied Monarch, Yellow-Breasted Boatbill, and OrangeFooted Scrubfowl. In summer, the spectacular Buff-Breasted Paradise Kingfisher is another highlight.

NATURAL SITES Not far from all three towns is the imposing pyramidshaped Black Mountain within the Mowbray National Park. This National Park is popular among birdwatchers, with cassowaries known to inhabit the rainforest in this area. The park is also popular among bushwalkers, bikers and horse rides, featuring a few trails.

Nearby the Mount Lewis Forest Reserve can also be found and is home to some of the most accessible and scenic upland rainforest in the area. It is known as a good spot for birdwatching, where Golden Bowerbirds, Noisy Pittas, BlueFaced Parrot Finches and Chowchillas can be seen.

MT CARBINE On the way to Mt Carbine as you travel north, you pass through a small town that was once known as Maryfarms. You can choose to stay at Bustard Downs offering farmstay and bed and breakfast accommodation options as well as caravan and camp sites. Further along you will reach Mt Carbine, another historic town dating back to the 1890s when Wolframite was discovered on Carbine Hill.

Mt Carbine Caravan Park is ideally located for the traveller wishing to explore the Palmer River Gold Fields, Lakeland Downs with its vast cropping areas, the Annan Gorge, and the Mt Mulligan Coal Free Van Storagefield.

STAY @

Caravan & Camp Self-contained Cottages Farmstay, Bed & Breakfast Maryfarms - Mt. Carbine T: 07 40943094 www.bustarddowns.com.au

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Yungaburra Amazing Lakes At Lake Barrine, take a cruise to spot wildlife and enjoy a break at the quaint 80-year old teahouse, which serves excellent Devonshire teas. There is also a short walk to the towering twin Kauri trees, thought to be over 1000 years old.

At Lake Eacham, a long stretch of grassy lawn meets the lake’s edge.

There are barbecues, picnic areas, an all weather shelter and toilets. Guests at the neighbouring Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge enjoy free nocturnal animal viewings each evening.

Avenue of Honour Australia’s newest war memorial opened on June 22, 2013 to honour the diggers who have been killed in Afghanistan. This living Memorial commemorates the courage and commitment of those who served and is dedicated to the memory of the young men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terror in Afghanistan. Private Ben Chuck, one of three commandos killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010, was from Yungaburra. Located within the Avenue is a sculptured set of wings in full flight depicting the contributions made by all services and symbolising the undaunted spirit of the Australian Digger.

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Yungaburra, the historic heart of the Tablelands, is a picturesque village established in 1890.

With 18 heritage-listed buildings, it is the largest National Trust village in Queensland and with its lovely streetscapes largely unchanged from those early pioneer days it is easy to see why. Wide verandahs and historic shop fronts line the pretty lanes, while charming cafes, award-winning restaurants and arts and crafts galleries complete the picture.

ATTRACTIONS Yungaburra’s high profile landmark, the amazing Curtain Fig Tree, is only minutes from the village and is accessed by a short boardwalk from the sealed road.

The Cathedral Fig Tree, another 500year old strangler fig, is located in the nearby Danbulla State Forest.

The Lake Eacham Hotel, or Yungaburra Pub as it is commonly known, is a magnificent showpiece of federation architecture. Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant, an awesome Alpine-style chalet has also become an icon in this Australian country town thanks to the passion of its owners Nick and Gina Crameri. Opening in 1986, Nick’s has earned a reputation for its original dishes with a European and Australian flair. They also offer free guided tours of their organic garden, explaining the workings of their worm garden and the different herbs grown and used.

ACTIVITIES Bushwalking is the ideal way to encounter the wildlife of the surrounding areas. A network of easy and moderate walking tracks lead through wetlands, rainforest, scrub and lake-side paths.

The village is set below Mt Quincan, an extinct volcanic crater whose slopes cradle the award-winning timber pole treehouses of Mt Quincan Crater Retreat, which also happens to be a great place for wildlife watching or functions.

Yungaburra’s focal attraction is the Peterson Creek Walking Circuit where there are nearly always platypus to be spotted. The re-vegetation program has ensured the Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos are also making their home there.

The platypus viewing platform at Peterson Creek also provides an excellent place to watch these elusive creatures.

Nearby Tinaburra Waters is popular for water skiing and windsurfing.

There is easy access with a boat ramp and special areas set aside for water skiing and jet skiing.

Active travellers will love exploring the lakes and trails by bike, hire or kayak.

The world’s largest barramundi was also caught in these waters coming in at 121cm long and weighing 38.75kg. The lake’s ability to produce world record fish also make it a unique fishing destination.

mbah Pocket

A

llumbah Pocket

Crater Lakes Rainforest Cottages

Enjoy the luxury, experience the heritage...

Winner Trip Advisor and Tourism Awards. Boutique self contained cottages in the heart of Yungaburra. Free wifi and complimentary wine.

Heritage-style, self contained, boutique, bed & breakfast cottages, in the heart of Yungaburra.

24 Gillies Highway • Ph: 07 4095 3023 www.allumbahpocketcottages.com.au

• • • • •

Stay in the rainforest where the wildlife comes to you Victoria’s Riflebirds display during the season Boutique, self-contained cottages Bordering Crater Lakes World Heritage National Park Exhilarating tours available on board VW 3 seater trike.

Eacham Close, Lake Eacham | Phone: 4095 2322

www.craterlakes.com.au

FIVE BEDROOMS • 2 LIVING AREAS • LARGE VERANDAHS • BBQ

A destination above the rest!

With wonderful views over Lake Tinaroo and a short walk to the Historic Yungaburra Village this tastefully renovated five bedroom, two bathroom house is the only place to stay.

Phone Cheryl on 0402 998 383 or email cheryl4879@gmail.com

Nestled amongst some of Tropical North Queensland’s most breathtaking scenery. A private paradise - luxurious self contained accommodation in awarding winning designed pole tree houses.

• Woodfires• Double spas • AAA 4.5 Stars • Unique wildlife

www.hilltopsyungaburra.com.au

www.athertontablelands.com.au 45

If you are looking for more adventure, hire a kayak, bike, or join a cycling tour.

Hilltops Holiday Rental is perfectly located to enjoy all the amenities of Lake Tinaroo while only being a short walk to town.

YUNGABURRA HOSPITALITY Yungaburra is something of a foodie heaven. As well as Nick’s and its adjacent pizzeria, there are quaint cafes and restaurants.

Yungaburra is also known for its great hospitality, which can be experienced first hand from local hosts at Allumbah Pocket Cottages, Eden House or Birds ‘n’ Bloom Cottages.

SHOPPING The village features a garden centre, boutiques, art and gem galleries, crafts and country style antiques, a popular second hand book store, and a foodmart/newsagent/ delicatessen. Today the town’s interests are fostered by the Yungaburra Business Association.

HISTORY Volcanic activity shaped much of the Tablelands, and evidence of this is easily spotted around Yungaburra.

There are the obvious geological features of the Seven Sisters (cinder cone hills) and Mt Quincan with its dish like crater.

Also nearby is Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine. These explosive craters known as maars were created when rising lava came in contact with the water basin.

Yungaburra has existed largely unchanged since 1910, and The Eacham Historical Society has chronicled much of the town’s early history. The town’s original name was Allumbah Pocket, and in the early days of the 1880s miners en-route to the tin and goldfields used the hamlet as an overnight stopover.

The readily available Old Town Loop Map , available from the local Visitor Information Centre, is another great way to take a self-guided walk around the quaint village nestled in the hills.

Mountain Biking Atherton Tablelands offers some of the best mountain bike and road cycling adventures in Queensland.

Magnificent flowing single track, family trails, epic mountain bike rides and scenic back country roads that take the breath away are just some of the highlights on offer.

Ride some of the newest single tracks in Australia only 3km from the Main Street of Atherton. There are a range of different trails to suit all abilities including green level, as per the IMBA standard, as well as intermediate and black levels. There is also 6km section of blue level trail (Trail 6, also known as Ridgey Didge) designed and constructed

by Glen Jacobs and his company World Trail.

It is very hard to resist the charm of this small village, offering unique accommodation, award-winning restaurants, adventure sports and fishing, an abundance of animal and plant life as well as early Australian history.

Events On the fourth Saturday of each month the famous Yungaburra Arts & Crafts Markets, the largest and most popular of all the region’s country markets, are held on the green in the village centre.

Fresh produce, flowers, homemade crafts, local wines, books, wooden furniture, clothing and more can all be found here.

In late September, the Tablelands Folk Festival takes place in various venues around the village, bringing musicians, singers, poets and fans from around the region and interstate.

Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant is the place to celebrate Octoberfest in early October with German beer, music and dancing.

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Stay & Relax Establised 1986

l surrounds cottages in peacefu

European Chefs

Weekday packages available

Dine in or Take-away

Great hospitality, MULTI RD food and drinks AWWinniAng

Spa & Fireplace Large 2/3 Bedroom Natural wildlife

s pastas, local pr Deliciou oduce & hom emade desserts short walk

A

to Pla

typus

spotting!

LUNCH FRI-SUN 11.30am - 3pm DINNER TUES-SUN 5.30pm - 11pm Groups - Open any day by prior arrangement

LUNCH: Fri-Sun 11.30 - 3.00 DINNER: Tues-Sun 5.00 - 10.00

After a spendid Dinner at Nick’s, it is a short stroll to the luxurious and elegant cottages with views and privacy.

33 Gillies Hwy, Yungaburra Next to Nick’s Restaurant

Ph: 07 4095 3330 33 Gillies Hwy, Yungaburra

Ph: 4095 3577

www.nicksrestaurant.com.au

yungaburrapizzeria.com.au

Ph: 0438 953 330 www.bnbcottages.com

Eden House Retreat

B OOK ONL INE NO W

Right in the heart of Historic Yungaburra Village

Luxury Accommodation • Restaurant • Beauty Studio • Weddings and Functions Air-conditioned one bedroom villas with double spas Contemporary Australian Dining with fresh local produce Indulgent massage, body & beauty treatments

+61 7 4089 7000 | indulge@edenhouse.com.au | edenhouse.com.au www.athertontablelands.com.au 47

Kuranda Markets & Shopping Over the years Kuranda has become a great place to shop. There are bargains to be had, as well as exquisite artisan pieces. Spend time browsing the unique stores or the delightful Kuranda Heritage Markets.

Kuranda Colourful and quirky, Kuranda is the place to find art, tropical handicrafts and jewellery by local artisans.

The Village in the Rainforest is one of the gateways to the Atherton Tablelands where you can be entertained by buskers, dine at an array of restaurants, enjoy walking trails or a river cruise and experience the region’s iconic nature-based attractions.

ATTRACTIONS One of Kuranda’s most treasured landmarks is the Barron River and its spectacular gorge, – home of the mighty Barron Falls. The Kuranda Riverboat Wildlife Spotting Cruise operates from beside the train and Skyrail arrival stations.

During a 45-minute calm water cruise, spot freshwater crocodiles, turtles, snakes, water dragons, fish and many gorgeous tropical birds.

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia is a beautiful garden aviary containing more than 1500 colourful butterflies.

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Birdworld Kuranda has one of the best single collections of free flying birds in Australia with over 300 species from around the world.

BatReach is a rescue and rehabilitation centre operated by volunteers located off the main street. Admission is by donation.

Kuranda’s Koala Gardens is ideal for visitors with limited time who want to see Australia’s best known wildlife like koalas, wallabies, wombats, crocodiles and reptiles.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES Historic buildings from the past now house a variety of upmarket restaurants, cafes and bars. In between shopping, try the locally grown coffee, honey, macadamia nuts and homemade ice creams or sit back and relax at one of the cafes or restaurants.

Foodworks also offers a range of food items.

EVENTS Kuranda hosts two free community events each year, Easter in the Park and Kuranda Day, which commemorates the official survey of Kuranda in 1888.

These markets are very diverse and have been a feature of the Village for 25 years. Start your day here and take advantage of the free shuttle from the Skyrail / Kuranda Scenic Railway Station. These markets are all-weather and are open daily from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Offering free admission to its fossil and gemstone museum, why not get up close and personal with a nine metre Allosaurus dinosaur skeleton at Emu Ridge Gallery. Many of the products sold in Kuranda are made by the people who live and work in the town.

Whether it is an original painting, individually designed jewellery, locally made sweets or a handcrafted bowl, these unique gifts are sure to be perfect even for the person who has everything. Best Kuranda buys are the hand-made local products such as Ceti bath soaps. You will also find handmade toys as well as locally designed and produced fashion items.

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Easter in the Park has free activities for the whole family including a giant Easter egg hunt, live bands, buskers and plenty of games for the kids.

HISTORY Kuranda has always been a magnet for visitors. The village began life in the 1800s as a retreat where locals could escape the heat and humidity of the tropical coast.

During the 1960s, a new wave of settlers arrived, embracing the alternative lifestyle movement of the day and establishing Kuranda as an arts and crafts nexus. Catering for visitors, in one form or another, forms the basis of commerce and lifestyle in Kuranda today.

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ACCOMMODATION There is plenty of accommodation to be found in and around Kuranda so plan to stay a while at B&Bs, spoil yourself at the affordable, multi award-winning Cedar Park Rainforest Resort, get close to nature at Kuranda Rainforest Accommodation Park, a peaceful multichoice accommodation and nature park or enjoy comfort and fine hospitality at the Kuranda Hotel.

Around Kuranda The journey to Kuranda is an exciting one. Other than the scenic highway route, you can choose to travel to Kuranda via two of the region’s icons – the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

This is a not to be missed opportunity to learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas.

A popular option is to combine both a trip on the train and Skyrail.

WALKING TRAILS Kuranda has a network of interlinked walks that provide access through the village and its surrounding environment, including Barron Gorge National Park.

The Village Walk showcases the main street and finishes at the site of the original Kuranda markets. Jumrum Creek Conservation Park is a walk through the rainforest while the Jungle Walk passes through a regenerating forest. The River Walk offers a pleasant riverside stroll down a tree shaded esplanade. The walks are linked, so you can mix and match options to suit your interests and available time. At the start of each track is an introductory sign.

Visitor Information Centres

On-line or On-the-road

can help you!

Call

Click

Come in

ATHERTON TABLELANDS INFORMATION CENTRE

HERBERTON MINING MUSEUM & INFORMATION CENTRE

KURANDA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

MALANDA FALLS VISITOR CENTRE

Centrally located in the heart of the Tablelands region.

OPEN DAILY: 9am to 5pm Cnr Main St & Silo Rd, Atherton Ph: 1300 366 361 athinfocentre@trc.qld.gov.au www.iTablelands.com.au

Immerse yourself in the history of the oldest town on the Tablelands. Try panning for tin!

OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4pm 1 Jack’s Road, Herberton Ph: 07 4096 3474 info@herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au www.herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au

Located in the heart of the unique rainforest village.

OPEN DAILY: 10am to 4pm Therwine St, Kuranda Ph: 07 4093 9311 info@kuranda.org www.kuranda.org

Learn about the unusual wildlife of the Tablelands OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4.30pm Atherton Road, Malanda Ph: 07 4096 6957 info@malandafalls.com www.malandafalls.com

Lat 17° 05’ • Long 145° 28’

Lat 17° 23’ • Long 145° 23’

Lat 16° 49’ • Long 145° 38’

Lat 17° 35’ • Long 145° 58’

MAREEBA HERITAGE MUSEUM & VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

RAVENSHOE VISITOR CENTRE

YUNGABURRA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Interactive heritage displays for all the family.

OPEN DAILY: 9am to 5pm 345 Byrnes St, Mareeba Ph: 07 4092 5674 info@mareebaheritagecentre.com.au www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au

Discover pioneering history & the rich heritage of the Jirrbal people.

OPEN: Oct-April: 9am to 4pm, May-Sept: 9am to 5pm 24 Moore Street, Ravenshoe Ph: 07 4097 7700 ravenshoevc@trc.qld.gov.au www.ravenshoevisitorcentre.com.au

Explore the village walks and the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour. OPEN DAILY: 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm Maud Kehoe Place, Yungaburra Ph: 07 4095 2416 yungaburravic@bigpond.com www.yungaburra.com

VISITOR INFORMATION ALSO AVAILABLE AT CHILLAGOE MT GARNET & MILLAA MILLAA

Lat 17° 03’ • Long 145° 25’

Lat 17° 61’ • Long 145° 48’

Lat 17° 16’ • Long 145° 36’

would love to see you!

www.athertontablelands.com.au 51

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