Atherton 27 August 2011

Atherton 27 August 2011

We went back down the Bruce Highway through Edmonton to Gordonvale to attack the climb up to Atherton through Yungaburra (where a large Saturday morning markets was in full throttle).  Anne here: The route up to Atherton was scenic with lovely views of Cairns and Pyramid Hill (574m above sea level and perfectly shaped). Apparently every August there is a race up and down the hill! You know who would not be
competing!

Pyramid Hill just outside of Cairns, near Gordonvale

Double click on any image to enlarge to original size

The roads up here are very poor. They are built up high above the surrounding land and made narrow with one lane each way so there is nowhere to get off the road and the strange little side parking places are far too short to pull up a big vehicle travelling at highway speed and are so close to the road that they are almost another lane. In addition there are very limited passing opportunities so if you get stuck behind a slow vehicle you are there for many kilometres. Of course most drivers relax and speed through the overtaking places so they are not working for the traveller who has not got a lot of very fast pick up in their vehicle. The speed limit is 100kph with lots of 80k and 60k areas thrown in. The RTA’s response to ‘high accident’ areas is to reduce the speed limit to 80k or 90k rather than provide a wider and safer road with passing opportunities for faster vehicles – especially in hilly areas. The condition of the surface of the roads is not good with potholes, and ripples on the edges that can be quite high. There are lots of road works that involve the replacement of one side of the road with the consequent delays of up to 20 minutes and the bunching up of the vehicles. The signing on the exit side of the road works is very inconsistent and thus can be quite confusing. On this trip of about 80km we had two of these stops on the mountain climbs which left me searching for a place to pull over to let the long groups of faster vehicles through.

The Woodlands Tourist Park - Big4 at Atherton was a great little park with a helpful assistance in parking the van on a good site and good amenities etc. We spent a pleasant afternoon sightseeing at Lake Tinaroo Dam, taking the Dunbella Forest Drive and exploring the camping options and walking in to see the Curtin Fig just outside Youngaburra and the Cathedral Fig.  Both of these trees are impressive and we could not help including a few shots of them.   

Information board on the curtin fig

Anne demonstrating the immense size of the Curtin Fig outside Yungaburra

The Cathedral Fig on the Dumbella Forest Drive

James demonstrating the internal dimensions of the Cathedral Fig

Looking up into the canopy of the Cathedral Fig

We then by-passed a lot of interesting attractions to get to the Mareeba wetlands before sunset. Unfortunately this place is only open to ‘the public’ from 9.30 to 4.30 and locked up for the enjoyment of guests on safari there at other times. We had to leave a bit disappointed and a bit angry at the poor and misleading advertising. By then all the consolation prize attractions were closed too – so another time in Atherton!