The Ultimate Outback Adventure – Cobbold Gorge Mon 21st May to Fri 25th May

We headed further inland through to Georgetown to restock supplies before heading bush to Cobbold Gorge on the massive Robin Hood Cattle Station. The Station is located 80 odd km south of Georgetown and you pass through the small town of Forsyath on the way. The property is massive, over 10,000 sq km and has over 15,000 head of Brahman roaming this rugged land. We booked in for two nights and stayed four, it was awesome. We had implemented a no screen time policy and the kids had the time of their lives!
The last section of the road was very rough with numerous washouts and corrugations. We managed to pop a few bottles of beer in the fridge but no other major breakages in the van. The kids enjoyed being surrounded by a few hundred head of cattle as they past us down the road.

We got straight into it and booked in for the Tour of the Gorge on the first afternoon. It was more a interesting walk around the escarpments and a lesson in the history of the land and flora and fauna of the area. It was pretty hot out on the rock platforms but again the interesting guides kept the kids attention for a few hours. Ella collected sticks along the way and made Janene carry them when she was riding in Dad’s backpack.  We finished the tour with a boat tour up the gorge. It is very narrow in parts and some 30m high. 
 

The next day was a quiet one. I did a run up to Robertson’s lookout first thing but we hung around the campsite and went for a great swim in the nearby creek, with everyone having thong blowouts as they walked along the rocky bottom. We finished the day with marsh mellows around the campfire, yes folks this is living J



Wednesday was adrenalin day and after Janene had done the same run up to the lookout she took Mya and Tas on their maiden helicopter ride of the property. It was only 15 min but the kids really enjoyed it. Tas rode upfront with the pilot and had no door on his side!

 We spent the rest of the day doing activities like aqua golf which you had to retrieve your balls with the kayaks on the lake. Sunset was spent out at the Quartz Blow.

 

If Wednesday was adrenalin day Thursday was adventure day. The owners were great and draw us a map of how to get to the Dam which had been stocked with Barra. It was an adventure just navigating there through rough dirt roads and numerous creek crossings, let alone the few hundred head of cattle that were sitting around the ‘lick’ station which we had to pass by and find were the road continued on. Unfortunately for the cattle it took us a few goes to find the roads path and we upset many of them as we did circles.

The Dam was beautiful, secluded with not a sole in sight, waterlilies and our own boat for the afternoon. We really struck gold and whilst fishing with three kids is a bit tricky it was pretty cool spot that we will all remember with great birdlife and loads of water lilies but no Barra!

Our last stop was Agate Creek a fossicking area on the south of the property where amateur fossickers with pick and shovels hunt for coloured gem stones. The gold was all mined back a long time ago but we were told by one of the Tour Guides Kerre to head up Black Soil Creek road and they will be chips of coloured Agates everywhere. Sure enough there were little chips of reds, oranges, light blues and even greens lying on top of the surface. Again we all loved it, not something you do every day.

We had run out of food and ate with the Tour group at the restaurant and ended up staying to watch a video shot back in the 70’s about life on the property mustering by horse. A tough life but the family really enjoy it and with choppers today it makes spotting the cattle immensely easier than 40 years ago.

Friday was travel day back to Innot Hot Springs. The road out of Cobbold was slippery as it rained last night and all of today. The car and van qualify for the dirt works awards! It was just over 300km but a long day for the kids in the car with loads of Simon says, saw it and eye spy to pass the time. T bones for dinner and a nice hot dip in the thermal pools.

Innot Hot Springs and Undara National Park Lava Tubes Fri 18th May to Sun 20th May

We all had a sleep in until 7, which is quite a record in the van, the heavy rain overnight made it perfect sleeping weather. We restocked yesterday in Mission Beach and with the coastal rains forecast to continue it was time to head inland. How far we go who knows. Back in 2000 Janene and i did most of the ‘big loop’ and travelled this way heading all the way across the top end on what is now called the Savannah Way.

Our first stop after taking the compulsory Cassowary signs was near Innisfail at the Australian Museum of Sugar. It could have been a dud but was well worth the stop with the kids learning the full history of the industry in Australia way back to the ‘slave labour’ used in the 1800’s and then the mechanisation of the industry in the 1900’s with lots of farmers creating weird and wonderful machines to cut the cane.

The kids loved climbing in the model T Ford and old Steam Engines. Tas wanted to go and get some real sugar cane and as per usual up this way there was plenty of choice.

We headed further north and then turned west up into the Atherton tablelands along the Palmerston Highway. The rainforests in this area are dense and with the rain continuing it was slippery and muddy underfoot when we stopped to take in the views.

We continued on after lunch and headed on the waterfall circuit, stopping at a waterfall and then Milla Milla Falls. Some backpackers jumped in for a swim right over under the falls and I asked the kids who was up for it. Mya and I took off first with 2 noodles crossed on the surf mat. The wind generated at the bottom of the falls was strong as was the water falling upon our heads as we went under the falls. The view was special from the inside of the falls looking up at the rocks and Mya was very proud of her adventure. Tas was next on the cruise under the falls and we had all had a wonderful time.

Our destination for the day was Innot Hot Springs another 55km up the road. We were in road train territory so had to watch out on the single lane road, not to mention the cattle!

Innot Hot Springs is a tiny place with a motel and caravan park both backing on the hot thermal water in the creek. We set up camp, trying to dry out the rig and had a look around with Ella trying to copy Tas’ wheelies in the park!

Post an early dinner it was time to check out the man made variety of hot springs – there are 6 in the park, the kids loved jumping from the cold to the hot pools. An amazing day of adventure and with the 5 of us together on the road it feels good!

Sat 19^th May

After morning jogs for the parents we hit the road again and called the family from Mt Garnett. We only had a 100km or so today to Undara Lava Tubes so reached our destination and set up in the campgrounds. A family with 5 yr boy twins is next to us and Tas is in heaven riding bikes around the sandy roads of the complex. We booked into the Archway Explorer 2hr and our guide Tim was very knowledgeable of all things Volcanic. The kids were amazingly behaved, for the full 2 hours there was no whinging, fighting, or attitude. They really soaked up the info about how the lava tubes were formed and enjoyed descending into semi darkness walking through cold water to explore some of the intact tubers where millions of years ago lava flowed.

We also saw a variety of wallabies and kangaroos in the late afternoon eating the new sweet green shoots which are growing after some controlled burn offs in the National Park. It was definitely beer o’clock on our return and after an early dinner pre prepared by Janene (masterstroke) we hijacked a younger couples fire next door who needed some assistance getting it going. Mya had checked out the lollies up at reception and came up with the idea of cooking marsh mellows. We had a great chat with couple from Netherlands and then put the kids down after another big day of adventure in the outback.

Sun 20th May

Up and at it with a great run on some of the bush walking tracks. It is definitely weird running after doing nothing but cycling for the last 6 months. Along the trail I learnt about the old Telegraph line passes through this region. It was set up the 1880’s to communicate from the coast across to Normanton on the Gulf. It is pretty amazing to think these days we expect mobile coverage where ever we go but in those days Morse code transmission would have only been for news and emergencies.

After some bike repairs and seat adjustments Tas and I went on a little adventure and whilst Ella was sleeping Janene took the two big kids on a walk up behind the resort to the Bluff to take in the 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape. Tas had a near encounter with a Kangaroo at high speed on the decent and took evasive action which left a 10m long skid on the dirt track. We spent the afternoon poolside.

Dinner was great at the Bistro but if you asked Mya for her top five moments of the trip one would be the Volcano dessert at Undara, hot chocolate cake with a runny chocolate sauce centre that ‘erupted’ when you sliced it open. Yummy, yummy!

Mission Beach Post Tour de Cure R&R Mon 14th to Thr 17th May

The days post Tour de Cure were spent at Mission Beach just chilling out and catching up at Castaways Resort with some of the Tour families who had stayed on a few night. It was an amazing setting to complete an epic journey.

We rode our bikes down the beach with Tas becoming a massive fan of zooming into the surf on the bike. Janene and I did some beach runs on alternate mornings and just took in the pristine nature that Mission Beach offers.

Edith and Gavin, Janene’s parents headed back to Sydney during the week and it was sad to see them go after being the ultimate support team over the last few weeks on the road. They made the Tour a lot easier for Janene to drive the van and the 3 kids some 1700 km  plus the 500km we covered on the rest day knowing they would be at every stop to help set up at the end of the day.

One of the highlights this week was our rainforest walk as a family through a 1km circuit where Cassowary’s live. The photo’s below were mostly taken by the kids. We played a game where if you saw something new eg plant or animal you got 5 or 20 points. The Cassowary droppings were a hit and got the family on edge looking for the endangered prehistoric flightless bird.

Another highlight this week has been Tas and my Fishing sessions down at Clump Point Boat ramp. We got the right advice from the local bait store, even though Tas loved the big display lure we settled for the prove frozen prawns and got 1 small fish in our first session and 2 fish the next day. The second session was only for the hard fisherman, which I would put Tas in, there is no stopping his enthusiasm. It is not a rainforest area for nothing and I could see the rain coming in sheets off the mountains down to the coast. Luckily no one was around and we jumped on the Dive boat and took shelter whilst continuing to wet a line!

Tour de Cure 2012 Brisbane to Mission Beach

There is s much to write about the 2012 TDC but this will have to wait until another time.

There is some great info at tourdecure.com.au with Paul Egans blog and also the links to the Channel 7 footage.

Cheers
Reidy

Byron Bay

Our stay in Byron has been quite rainy but in between the rain periods we have had a ball.

Tas has enjoyed riding his bike down to the main shops in Byron and Mya and Ella have been making loads of friends in the park playing make believe jungle games in the playground. The wildlife has been on its toes with the kids chasing brush turkeys away from peoples campsites.

Janene has done a few runs up to the scenic lighthouse past Watagoes Beach and on our last night we had a family feed down at the famous Beach Hotel. The view from the lounge and kitchen area of the park is sensational. A tough place to BBQ!

We made one final stop at the Byron Bay Cookie Company on the way out of town and our 3 little cookie monsters loved them! Ella is wearing the result of the yummy choc chip cookies below

It is now off to Brisbane to catch up with the Tour de Cure team and switch modes as we embark on an epic journey of nearly 1700km riding and raising awareness and much needed funds for cancer research, awareness, and support.