Tablelands Tourism News
Looking for something to entertain the kids while you are in Kuranda?
Head to the Kuranda Original Markets and check out the mountain top mini golf course set admist lush tropical gardens. Fun for all the family! From just $5!
While you are there discover funky hand-made wares unique to Kuranda. Clothing, jewellery, curios, craft, massage, food and many more surprises.
Tip: you have to try a Kuranda Tropical Homemade Icecream. Yum! Perfect for a warm summers day!
World’s most dangerous bird
The giant, flightless Casso-wary is the world's most dangerous bird. If disturbed, these endangered rainforest residents are capable of inflicting fatal injuries. The Cassowary also holds the title of Australia's heaviest bird, and the worlds third tallest after the Ostrich & Emu. In Australia, Cassowaries can only be found in the Wet Tropics of Far North QLD.
World’s longest fern
The king fern, or angiopteris evecta, produces possibly the longest fern fronds in the world (up to 7m in length). Excellent exam-ples of the king fern can be seen on the 1km Lake Eacham Waterfall Walk, on the Atherton Tablelands.
Since May this year we now visit Mungalli Creek Organic & Bio-dynamic Dairy where guests get to taste and buy the locally made cheeses and yogurts.
This photo was taken yesterday on tour with Billy Tea Safaris on the Chillagoe Caves & Outback Tour.
The Chillagoe Limestone Caves were formed some 400 million years ago, these are spectacular. There are over 600 caves in the Chillagoe area. This area was once an inland sea. The weather yesterday at Chillagoe was beautiful and sunny, the rain is only on the coast. This is one of the many attractions you will get to see on this fabulous outback tour.
Need a boat? Contact Tinaroo Boat Hire
57 barramundi were weighed in for a total weight of 670 kg at Barra Bash 2009!
Lake Tinaroo has a population of large barramundi stocked by the Tableland Fish Stocking Society Inc.
A Stocked Impoundment Permit (annual $35 per family & weekly $7) is required to fish Lake Tinaroo.
Mangrove Jack, Sooty Grunter, Archerfish, Sleepy Cod and Redclaw Crayfish are also caught in the lake.
The competition is fished from Friday 6.30 pm to Sunday 11.30 am with presentations from 12 noon. Nomination forms are available from tackle stores on the Tablelands and in Cairns, Mossman & Innisfail.
THE TINAROO RURAL FIRE BRIGADE
QLD FIRE & RESCUE has declared a FIRE DANGER WARNING for the WHOLE of QLD.
Beginning at midnight Sunday 4th September 2011 until further notice.
The BAN means all fire irrespective of size requires a PERMIT TO LIGHT FIRE. This can be obtained by contacting the local FIRE WARDENS Don Neville 07 40958388 or Les Green 07 40958006.
Barefoot Tours has been ranked as the #1 of 51 Tours in Cairns for 2010 - 2011 according to fan reviews!
Check out what our customers have to say at:
Now don't miss out on the #1 tour and enquire about our tour NOW!
The Yungaburra Markets are on the 4th Saturday of the month* from 7.30am to 12.30pm and are easily the most popular markets on the tablelands.
More information on stalls at the Yungaburra markets can be found at http://www.yungaburramarkets.com/.
Why not book a weekend at A Country Church B&B on the 4th Saturday of the month and stroll down to the markets! It pays to go early as some stalls do sell out early!
*There are some exceptions to market days in December and April. See yungaburramarkets.com website for more information.
We are delighted to announce that the Tablelands branch of Hire For Baby will open on Monday! Juanita Hunter (nee Paronella) is a born and bred Tablelander and is looking forward to assisting with all your baby equipment requirements!
Phone 4091 1047 or email
Skyrial has been getting lots of reviews on Tripadvisor lately. But don't just take our word for it! Check it out for yourself http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1152915-d522679-r114613895-Skyrail_Rainforest_Cableway-Smithfield_Cairns_District_Queensland.html#REVIEWS
We are delighted to announce that the Tablelands branch of HIRE FOR BABY will open on 1st August 2011.
This is a fantastic opportunity for people living in or visiting Atherton, Mareeba and the surrounding areas to take advantage of HIRE FOR BABY's fantastic products, fantastic prices and fantastic reputation!
Contact for more information!
When: Monthly
Where: Centenary Park Mareeba
When: 16-17 July 2011
Where: Kerribee Park Mareeba (camping, parking, food, bar and toilet facilities available).
Online: http://www.mareebarodeo.com.au/
Come and Experience Undara Lava Tubes in May and you have the option to swim in one of the wind tunnels at the end of your tour!
Free ferry trips across the Daintree River will be offered during the Easter holidays, encouraging locals to take advantage of the attractions that exist right on their doorstep.
Thanks to Cairns Regional Council, the ferry service will waive all crossing fees for the duration of the holidays, as part of an economic stimulus package to get local tourism moving.
Council has recently completed significant works to improve access north of the Daintree, including upgrades to the Cooper Creek and Mason Creek river crossings – both designed to cope with a one-in-five-year rain event – and Melelee Bridge.
In addition, a $360,000 upgrade was last year carried out on The Switchback area on the Bloomfield end of the Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road. This work included laying reinforced concrete to assist with traction and to quickly disperse rainfall run-off.
“This is an opportunity for Cairns residents to get out and explore their own backyard,” Mayor Val Schier said.
“Council has put a lot of work into improvements north of the river and we would love for people to see first hand what we’ve done to make the experience more enjoyable.
“We live in one of the most spectacular regions in the world – why not load the family into the car and see our stunning rainforests, beaches and attractions?
“We also hope tourists will take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy what the northern parts of our region have to offer.”
Division 10 Councillor Julia Leu, who welcomed the good news, said she hoped people would visit the Daintree and think about what they would like to see next time.
“I’m pleased that Council has agreed with this request,” Cr Leu said.
“We are currently in the process of developing a Daintree Gateway Master Plan and we are looking for public input.
“This is the perfect opportunity to visit this truly amazing part of our region, which contains world heritage-listed rainforest, and have some input into its future.”
The free ferry service will run from 6am on Saturday, April 16, to midnight on Monday, May 2. Tickets will still need to be obtained from the ticket booth.
Existing concession card holders will have access to a priority lane to avoid delays.
Skyrail now has a webcam which is located on the top of Tower 25, adjacent to Skyrail's Barron Falls Station.
There is a 125 watt solar panel supplying the camera and modem. A daylight sensor is installed to shut down the camera and modem at night to conserve power. The video stream runs on demand wirelessly through the cellular network.
In this day & age it is important to stay in touch with family & friends .. we are pleased to offer all our guests FREE wireless internet throughout the Park, if you are travelling with your own laptop. Just ask at reception for your password.
We also have an internet kiosk available for those who have left their laptop at home!
"We're roasting at 9am each day and it’s a terrific process to watch. It takes about 15 minutes to complete the cycle, and it's tantalising - you really want that cup of coffee when you smell the roasting beans!," said Skybury owner Ian MacLaughlin.
Skybury's new roaster has a capacity of 15kg per roast and is equipped with a loader and separate green bean hopper to enable continuous roasting so it’s capable of processing up to 90kg per hour. The roaster has probes which monitor the temperature of the coffee roasting drum and the coffee beans. These measurements are used by internal computers to modulate the gas supply and temperature according to the pre-set roast specifics.
More information: Skybury Coffee +61 7 4093 2194
Rainforestation Army Duck Driver Murray Freeman has celebrated reaching his 30th year of employment at the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda.
Murray started working at Rainforestation on 23rd September in 1979, when it was known as Mountain Groves. At the time, the only other army duck driver was founding Managing Director Charles Woodward.
Murray remembers starting his employment with the company particularly well as he married his wife Laura the following week.
“So techinically, you can say I’ve been married to my job longer than I have my wife!” he said.
In those early days, Murray’s duties were varied and extended beyond just driving an army duck, from serving behind bar, to helping out in the restaurant.
“I remember on my first day, I wore good clothes to work, then my first task was a trip in the old truck to the dump – with a particularly messy batch of rubbish,” he said.
Over the years, Murray has seen the attraction evolve from a small business employing six people, to an internationally successful operation with currently 75 employees.
Due to his extensive knowledge of amphibious war vehicles, Murray has often been used as specialist consultant for film and television productions, such as the Steven Speilberg produced mini-series The Pacific which is currently in production.
Rainforestation Managing Director Charles Woodward said it was great to see a long-term employee remain so dedicated and passionate about their work.
“After 30 years, his tours have remained fresh and interesting – although some of his jokes haven’t changed,” he said.
“Murray has been presented with many opportunities to move into more senior roles, but has turned these down as he is content in this role, and continues to give it 100%. We are pleased to see him reach this milestone, and are proud of his ongoing commitment to Rainforestation,” he said.
Today, Murray has the additional responsibility of training the army duck drivers on driving, safety skills and guiding.
The award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda has just completed a successful exchange of koalas with Alma Park Zoo in Southern Queensland for breeding purposes.
The aim is to introduce new genetics into the breeding programmes at both Rainforestation Nature Park and Alma Park Zoo, Queensland's longest running zoo, situated 30 minutes north of Brisbane.
Sakura, a 2 year old female koala born at Rainforestation in their successful breeding program, has
swapped places with Alma Park Zoo's Kodi, a 3 year old male koala.
Rainforestation Head Wildlife Keeper Kate Coughlan said it is hoped Kodi will become one of their
top breeding males, as well as a star in the "Koala Experience" for koala photos.
"Kodi has settled in nicely and is revelling in his new role posing in the Koala Experience, so we're
also hoping he will take to two of our female koalas in the next couple of months," she said.
Meanwhile, Sakura is also expected to be a future breeder at Alma Park Zoo, with Rainforestation to
receive the first female offspring she produces, bringing new genetics into the koala colony again.
Both Rainforestation and Alma Park Zoo plan to work together for Koala management for the future,
thus beginning a long term partnership between the two parks.
For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact CaPTA PR Manager Ben
