It’s been a while but I have finally got around to updating the site; on top of this I still have to do Cape York, Mission Beach and a couple more so I need to get a move on
Prior to our trip to Cape York we wanted to sight see around the Cairns area so we stayed for 9 nights at Crystal Cascades Holiday Park at Redlynch, this is about a 15 minute drive to Cairns city center. The park is a Big 4 and our decision to camp here was based on some friends of ours (Des & Kath) having done the Cape York trip and previously stayed at this park. We left our van on site whilst we were away hooked up to power at a cost of $30 for the week, the car also stayed on our site so it is a good service they offer. Des & Kath also told us the park was very good and being away from the city is quiet and safe for travelers. On our return from Cape York we had a further 2 nights (washing of clothes & scrubbing the dirt off us) before moving on.
We were not disappointed with the staff being very friendly and most helpful during our stay; even though we were left on power they suggested we pack up our fridge and freezer in to bags and put them in their freezers just in case our power tripped inside the van, there would be nothing worse than coming back to a freezer full of rotten food.
The amenities were spotless and shower curtains were changed on a daily basis; the grounds were kept well and the sites were of a good size (van, slab and car at the side), the park had a good sized camp kitchen, pool and BBQ’s. Price here for us after discount was $31 per night but come the 1st June it hits peak rates until the end of October (Victorian Migration) so the prices were going up. Overall in our opinion this is a great park with very helpful management & staff.
We have all heard the term for us travelers, “Gray Nomads” “Sundowners” “Geriatric Gypsies” etc but at a park we stayed at just recently they referred to the Victorians as “Silver Tsunamis” because they come in waves; quite funny I thought.
Our site at Crystal Cascades; plenty of room with the sites being a typical layout of most parks.
The above is the esplanade in Cairns and the great water facility that has been built; this is a beaut area for families to enjoy the fantastic weather. If you look closely you will note how the pool complex blends i with the ocean in the background.
The above birds are Curlew’s and they make a weird sound mostly in the evening or early am; not sure how to describe it but Linda says it is a like ghostly wail; to me it sounded like some poor bugger having a red hot poker shoved where the sun don’t shine. Women have weird ways of describing things but us blokes can always paint the right picture (mine is the closest to correct).
The birds are like an oversized plover (for those that know what a plover is); the bodies of these birds seem so out of place on the long legs they have. There is a family of 4 at the park and they make home each day on one of the empty slabs; walk past these birds and they growl like a dog.
The above is Palm Cove just north of Cairns; the palm trees all lean towards the ocean, this is to give them strength against high/cyclonic winds. The beach here is quite good but again the stingers keep most out of the water during the stinger season.
We drove up the Gilies Highway towards the Atherton Tablelands to see the Cathedral Fig; my advise would be don’t take your van up here unless it is reasonably small as the climb is quite steep, very windy and the distance of the climb is 18km. This tree is huge and the walkway you see at the base is about a 50mt walk around the base; at one part of the tree you can walk towards the center of it and looking up through the branches is quite amazing.
Above is a photo zoomed in of the upper branches of the fig tree; there are large moss like clumps on the branches and ferns are growing quite well, if you are in the area it is a sight to see. There is an animal that lives in this area called a tree kangaroo; I know what your thinking but it is true (google if you like), people we met at Crystal Cascades showed us the photos they took on their trip to the fig.
Well that’s it for Cairns; I will now be starting Cape York but will most likely do this in parts 1, 2 & 3, I promise it will not be as long winded as Home & Away.
We are currently in Richmond and our next stops are Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa and then Boulia for the camel races (mid July); following this it will be (at this stage) Winton, Normanton/Kurumba, Georgetown then out to the coast.
Until the next post stay well and drive safely.
Love & warm regards to all our family & friends – David & Linda – The DavLin Rig
