Wed, 28th Feb, 2018 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld (Barron Falls & Gorge)

Blue sky with a few clouds.

Headed up to Kuranda with Mum and Dad. There were a lot of photos recently on Facebook showing the falls flowing well so I thought it might be good to check it out even though Tinaroo Dam isn’t full yet so there probably won’t be too much water coming over now. Stopped for a cuppa in the village – did the tourist thing and read the info in the park which had a beautiful Rain Tree.

Bit of history here – I remember Erica saying they came up with Steve as a little boy and went across the river to ‘Paradise’.

Drove down to the Barron Falls Lookout. Mum found a friend.

Not so nice ‘Wait-a-While’ – just out of reach thank goodness. Steve and I have both had experiences with this and you do have to wait a while to get yourself unhooked from all the tiny barbs on the long tendrils hanging out from the plant.

Yep, hardly any water coming down the actual Barron Falls (hidden by the trees) but the other side falls looked nice. You can see by the dirty water in the bottom it was flowing recently with all the farmers’ topsoil!! The Kuranda Train is just below us.

Zoomed in on the weir.

Spotted some people on the other side at a Lookout – must be from the Skyrail Station. The Skyrail crosses over above it.

Great comparison photo.

Dad found a friend too – Praying Mantis. I wasn’t going to pat my friend as Rhino Beetles are my most scariest beetle.

A bit more info.

Drove back out a bit then turned off to check out Wright’s Lookout. I don’t think I have ever been here but I am sure Steve will tell me I have!! I think I would have remembered this view. Straight down Barron Gorge to Cairns. Fabulous. The power station should be somewhere below us. Zoomed in on the river then to Cairns, looking at the fuel storage and sugar terminal in Portsmith with some of the highrise in Cairns city on the left.

  

Chatted with another lady from Darwin who was doing the walks. She said there is a 3.2km walk to Surprise Creek from here but first she was going to walk down and across to The Bluff which is above the gorge.

Across the gorge and up the river a bit we spotted another waterfall. Then I noticed the Skyrail crossing over the top of the mountain where there is gap in the trees.

Drove back to Kuranda and down to the railway station – nice sign. Great fig tree as we drove back into the village.

Headed back down the Kuranda Range and stopped at the Lookout. Fabulous view across Trinity Bay and out to Green Island then over the canefields of Smithfield to Holloways and Machans Beaches with Fitzroy Island behind Yarrabah Point. You can see all the brown water flowing out into the bay from the Barron River. Over Mount Whitfield to the outer suburbs of Cairns and the mountains on the other side of the Inlet.

Zoomed in on Green Island.

Zoomed in on the Barron River as it winds its way out to the sea.

The Cairns Airport is just to the right of the mouth and then Mount Whitfield with the suburbs of Freshwater and Stratford on its base.

Continued down to Smithfield then around to Caravonica. Turned off and headed back up the Barron Gorge to the power station. Great map .

Walked across the bridge towards the power station.

Not much water upstream as it is diverted into the power station.

Walked further across the bridge. Surprise Creek is flowing well. You can see the Kuranda Railway bridge above it. The creek comes down to a flat area then falls down the rock face and then goes upstream into a pool where there is a big grate and then it is sucked down and flows out underneath the big rock on the other side of the bridge. The power station water comes out here too.

Looking back upstream. I zoomed in on the Skyrail crossing.

Looking downstream as the water churns its way down to Lake Placid then continues on to the mouth. Took a video.

Big umbrella trees with flowers.

Headed back. Had to stop to take a photo of the big ‘rock protection’ thing they built over the road so motorists won’t get hit by falling rocks.

Another pretty waterfall flowing down into the river.

Headed back home – the dark clouds are building to the south.

Home for a late lunch. Dad’s orchid is in bloom.

How’s this for an interesting pot plant – paw paw tree!! Don’t think it will give them any fruit.

Headed over to Kaylene and Rick’s just as the rain started to come down. Great sitting on their balcony watching the rain with a few rumbles of thunder here and there.

We had enjoyed a lovely cappuccino when we heard a strange sound and then saw smoke coming out of the coffee machine. No more nice coffees now.

Rain has stopped so headed home for dinner. Val is doing a bit better which is great. Still must have a few lives left.

Drove over to Greg and Kristine’s for a chat and pick up some Amway for Mum. Greg said they will meet us in Northern Territory in 2020 – we might be finished in WA by then.

The curlews are out everywhere as I headed home – I love their eerie call.