Final days

Heading South to Mamu Skywalk and Paronella Park – both fantastic attractions (twin tickets make it better value if you want to do both).

https://mamutropicalskywalk.com.au/

Mamu skywalk was constructed without removing any trees – they followed the line of cyclone devastation.  Very informative about rainforests and plants, fantastic views.

https://www.paronellapark.com.au/

Paronella Park was most probably the most surprising and amazing attraction.  The story behind it is about one man’s dream and determination.  I did not expect to find it so fascinating. The grounds and buildings are just incredible.  Even the toilet block was ornate – and the first plumbed system in Queensland. The picture below is the toilet.

Another first for Paronella is that the whole place was run on Hydro Electricity – the first in Queensland and even before the big Snowy River Scheme.

I would highly recommend this to anyone in the area.  The evening light show to an orchestra is so atmospheric.

Etty Bay, an overnight stop to see wild Cassowary. 

Only one campsite here and it was packed, the only option a cabin.  This was the worst place we stayed, tiny container.  Nowhere for clothes or bags, no table or chairs inside just a bed and kitchenette.  No worries we thought, table and chairs outside under a carport – wrong.  It started raining at 6pm and not just raining, pouring down all night.  The carport leaked everywhere – it was like being in the rain.  So all you could do was sit on the bed – a bit much for a lot.  Their older cabins were bigger – with tables, wardrobes etc and cheaper.

Still we did see the Cassowary’s.

Ingham and Tito Wetlands – which I had not heard of till friends we met on this trip said they were going there. So glad we did – the best wetlands I have been to, many walks, lakes, different habitats.  Incredible, we had another brief glimpse of the rarely see Eastern Grass Owl, along with many other birds and more Kangaroos and Wallabies than you could count.

By now it is very hot inland so we spend long days driving and stay in a motel overnights, Hughenden our first stop – nothing special but interesting to find most motels still full of road crew, never seen so much road works.  Covid has been useful for roads.

Mount Isa, another bird spot surprisingly, specifically for a rare bird called the Kalkadoon Grass wren which we were lucky enough to spot one briefly, although no pics. We did get pics of the Spinifexbird though. Unfortunately the motel we chose, was not great and the pool was unusable – very green.  Luckily only one night.

Boulia our next stop – and this is the first time we stay in a caravan park with only one other guest – amazingly empty.  Last time we came through the river the park is on was flowing well, this time, only puddles.  While here we heard that Alice Springs is having a lot of rain and it was predicted that it would be heading our way.  Hopefully we will be fine.  Some great birds on this next part of the track so many stops – each one short as so hot you did not want to be out of the car for many minutes.

Birdsville, the end of the bitumen and again a motel with not one other guest.  Just as we arrived the heavens opened.  The carpark filled and the water was almost coming in our room.  Not sure whether the track will be do-able tomorrow.  Luckily the motel manager had staff that went down the track today and would report back at the other end.  They said the track not bad, just a few water crossings about 300mm deep.  All OK unless any more rain.  We wait to see if it rains any more overnight.  If not we will go, if it does, back to Boulia and then across the plenty to Alice Springs (if that road is open). 

All good, no rain so off we go.  Some lovely water puddles on route found some interesting birds.  Half way which was our planned stop the manager of the roadhouse said not to stop as more rain coming and we could get stuck so a long day it was and such a shame as that roadhouse is on a lagoon with so many birds, many rare or uncommon to us.  Will go back here sometime.

Late arriving in Maree and overnight in a dingy motel before going off to Burra and Redbanks National Park.  Not to be, heavens opened after we got to Burra and did not stop all night so we missed out on the National Park.  Shame to end this amazing trip without one last place but then again, we can go back another time.  And so to home, 3 months after leaving.

Lists of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish etc seen are below the gallery for those interested.

The gap in this route is a google issue, we drove down from b to c (boulia, bedourie, birdsville, maree) on the birdsville track but google will not allow the route.