Port Douglas, Mossman, Mareeba and Atherton

Sunday 31 August we drove to Port Douglas.  There were so many people, there was a Sunday market and the shops on the main street were also so busy,  Nice place to eat, shop and relax but again you cannot use the beach! 

We left Mossman on  Monday 1st September and headed to Atherton (in the Tablelands),  there was a very steep  climb up to Mount Molley.  We are staying in Atherton for at least 6 nights as there are lots of days trips we are going to do.

Attended mass on Sunday in this old stone chapel built in the 1800's.  Very small congregation,  we enjoyed a lovely morning tea later (sandwiches and cream cakes!)

Inside view

These huge trees are called "Rain trees",  the locals are not sure how old they are.  Our car is parked on RHS.

This chapel is in Port Douglas - St. Mary's by the sea,  the Alter is the open window looking at the water.

"Buster" in his MG - he loves to sit in it when his master goes for a drive.   We were neighbours at the Mossman C.P.

Once we left Mossman on Monday (1 Sept) this is the view from the top of  Rex Range.

This "Spanish style" Catholic Church was in Mareeba (built in later 1800's)

Neil standing next to Dakota at the Mareeba Airport museum.

Roo and bush turkey outside our camp at Atherton.

On Tuesday we went for a drive and our first visit was at the Gallo Cheese and chocolate farm factory.  They had an animal nursery - these piglets were actually snoring!

Two silky hens

Turkey showing off.

Curtain Fig tree - see below for how they grow.  It was huge.  A boardwalk was built around it to protect it from tourists.

The first waterfall was "Malanda falls"  there is a swimming spot here but no one was using it,  weather a little too cool,  even for us.  Malanda and surrounds was built by volcanic eruptions, hence the undulating nature of the landscape. 

The tablelands are beautiful, reminds me of "Gippsland, Vic" but with better weather.

Millaa Millaa waterfall,  there was a swimming spot here,  but again it was too cold.

 

Zillie Waterfall - had to put camera right over the safety rail to get this picture.

Neil standing near Ellinjaa falls

To reach the above fall there was a long walk down and on our return we had to wait for the bush turkey to come down!

Elkhorn at the front of the C.P.

Garden at front of C.P.

The plants here in QLD are enormous.  The tropical gardens are colourful, with so many bromeliads.