9 - 2023 - May - Atherton Tablelands, Queensland

 

Entry 9 – 2023 – May – Atherton Tablelands, Queensland.

On our return from Cooktown to the elevated Atherton Tablelands we noticed a marked difference in the temperatures we had been experiencing whilst last in the tablelands just 17 days prior. It felt like the day time temperatures had plummeted from a constant 28-29 C daily maximums down to an almost chilli feeling 21 C maximums. The evening temperatures had dropped from a minimum of around 24 C to about 14 C. The change in the weather season had arrived. The night time temperatures certainly provided a much more comfortable sleeping environment. Even the constant daily rains had gone providing a more comfortable outside atmosphere.

Waking each morning our eyes were provided with a slightly different setting. We loved a beautiful blue sky enhancing the colour of our lake surface viewing. At times it was foggy. With our surrounds shrouded by fog, we found ourselves looking a lot closer at our setting and we were pleasantly rewarded with a closer focus of looking and more looking.

We had previously visited the Atherton Tablelands four years prior in 2019. Back then we had thought perhaps two to three weeks would be an acceptable time line to experience the offerings in this area of northern Queensland.

As it transpired, in 2019 we stayed in the Atherton Tablelands region for 3 ½ months and we could have easily stayed longer. There were plenty of things to keep yourself occupied. Just spending some chill out time at our Lake Tinaroo camp was gratifying with soul pleasing views all around us. 2019 we were in need to lever ourselves away from the Atherton Tablelands. There was more of Australia to explore and there was a necessity to consider the time lines with acceptable entry, before the arrival of the wet season inhibiting access.

2023 we continued to feel privileged being provided with access to the beautiful lake side settings. Initially we were provided with a spot by Michael & Sue and on our return from Cooktown, we were offered the use of Meg & Norton’s property all to ourselves. There are many other camp options around Lake Tinaroo with much of it surrounded by National Park protected forests with an abundance of campgrounds on its waters edge. We still spent regular time with Michael & Sue, helping when needed. Even at Meg & Norton’s holiday home we weren’t fazed when there was a need to clear some drains, conduct some repairs to a loo or notify council of a water leak out front. We were happy to contribute to their daily maintenance needs.

We enjoyed the setting of our own (Meg & Norton’s) beautiful patch of rainforest garden. If you look at the second picture you can see the lower part of our nearby caravan.

 We shared many a meal with Michael and Sue. One time Mary made fresh cauliflower soup, finished off with a beautiful apple pie. There were many great meal times, mostly home cooked with the occasional treat out at restaurants.

Another bonus for us, it was good to have an address for a period. We were in need to order some parts. Our tv remote had expired, a replacement lead for our air compressor and a clamp for our tow hitch all needing to be ordered from interstate locations, requiring a delivery address.

Another day we accompanied Michael and Sue for a drive to Cairns, about 100 kilometres down the road. They had some medical appointments not too far from the city centre. We spent a few hours on a Cairns exploration walk-about and were delighted to find a shop with a hard-to-get electrical connection we were in need of.

We were seated in a beautiful grassed area with uninterrupted ocean views out front of Cairns Hospital waiting for Michael and Sue’s return when a Medi-vac helicopter came in to land with a patient. Just another different experience.

There was an outing with Michael driving his Rolls Royce. Every now and then someone would provide us with a smile accompanied by a royal wave.

Early mornings got very noisy at times nearby the lakes edge. There were the ever-present noisy sulphur crested cockatoos. Then there was a mob of local kookaburras announcing the arrival of the morning with a wonderful chorus of cackling laughter. 

About 12 kilometres down the road was the township of Yungaburra, where it took us two trips before we were delighted to spot an elusive platypus. Yungaburra is one of those special locations where you might spot the rarely seen platypus in its waterways. It requires lots of patience, heaps of luck, a need to be looking in the right direction and right spot which also includes your attendance at the right time on the right day. It is a wild creature in a wild setting. Adding to its illusiveness, it spends the majority of its life living in a burrow under the water with no guarantee it will pop out.  When you do see one it provides a good feel sense for a long time. Very heart-warming. Spotting a platypus will stay in our memory banks as one of our highlights for 2023. 

Driving at dusk anywhere in Australia can often provide a grand setting. In the Atherton Tablelands the sun sets across the country side behind the hills. The hill topped wind turbines can be beautifully silhouetted by the setting sun.

 In Australia away from the populated cities when driving one needs to be extra vigilant around dusk, right through the night till just after sunrise. This is the primary feeding time for much of the wild life. On one of our outings, we were returning home just after the sun had set. A vehicle was following us way too close for some distance. We had the need to slow quickly for a kangaroo on the road directly in front. We deviated to the right around the kangaroo. The vehicle behind suddenly dropped back. When we viewed our vehicles dash cam, we saw this kangaroo bounce back across the road behind our vehicle and disappear into the following vehicles head lights. It was impossible to obtain clear footage of this from our rear dash cam camera. The best picture we could obtain, seems to show the kangaroos reflection, upside down on the road as it disappeared into the following vehicles head lights. A few seconds later this same vehicle was tailgating us again, indicating probably no contact and a driver lacking with safe driving practices.

At night time whilst sitting under our veranda we saw bandicoots and pademelons jumping by just on the outer edge of our house light beam.  There were the possums moving about. We would hear owls hooting and lots of other different noises not heard during day light hours.

It was time to move on and we were feeling a bit on the sad side to be leaving a most magnificent location. At the same time, we were feeling excited in anticipation of more new experiences at another location down the road a bit.