Week 2 - Mission Beach to Undara (via Cairns)

27 May - Mission Beach to Cairns

After a very windy final night we headed for Cairns. About 1 hour up the highway the rain started and wouldn't stop for 3 days but the good thing about rain is it's good for waterfalls and rain forests.

Approx 80kms south of Cairns we come to a small town called 'Babinda' and see a brown sign (generally used for world heritage areas) saying "The Boulders". What the hell, let's have a look!

This is definitely one of the coolest rivers I've seen. It was full of huge boulders (as the name suggests) and amazing swimming holes. Definitely worth a return visit.

The swimming hole below.

Another hour up the highway we booked into a park and had two days of rain. Luckily we had a bit of shopping to do to get the last of the loose ends. Of course we ended up at the Casino for a night also. Outcome: Myself(Tim) up $100 and Kristy not so good. Lol

29 May - Start of 'The Savanah Way'

The part we have been waiting for. Heading west!

We had planned to head to Cooktown and back via the CREB track but it is closed till the end of June for repairs. Bugger!

30 May - Millaa Millaa to Undara

A short drive to Millaa Millaa we check into a backpacker cabin as it's still raining and freezing cold. The next day we drove the Waterfall circuit and visited Millaa Millaa falls first.  

Still raining and with a coffee next was Zillie falls.

We then continued west towards Ravenshoe which is the highest town in QLD.

Along the way we pass 'Windy Hill wind farm'. Yep still raining.

Ravenshoe and the Tully Falls Hotel which is the highest pub in QLD.

Next was Millstream Falls which claims to be the widest falls in Australia.

The photo above is 2/3 of the falls. As it's still raining we headed back to the car.

On to Innot Hot Springs.

You can't really see the steam in the photos but the water was approaching boiling in some spots.

Next stop 'Undara Lava Tubes'  and the Undara Experience camping ground.

Undara - Classic Australian bush with Converted train carriages into dining rooms. 

Late afternoon walk to the Bluff!

The rain finally stopped just before we arrived at Undara but night one gave us 40 knot winds. We had spent most of the afternoon setting up camp including a huge tarp, but about 1am in the morning it had been half pulled over and was about to sail away so after 2 attempts to save it I called Kristy down from the roof top tent to help fold it up. Apparently she knew it was only a matter of time before I would call her as the swearing and carry on she had witnessed was never going to end well for her (one way or another). As always, today's debacles are tomorrows laughs! Lol

Did pretty much nothing the following day as we didn't get much sleep. By mid afternoon the wind was gone and we caught up on some sleep that night to wake to a perfect day (finally some good weather)

Undara is a must see place. We didn't do the lava tubes tour but I (Tim) did it last time I was here and it's pretty amazing. After a lazy afternoon and night by the fire we will be leaving tomorrow and continuing our way west.