TOWNSVILLE TILL CAIRNS: by tableland
Townsville – herveys table range 40
Herveys table range – star river – burkedin river 85
Burkedin river+10 – A& -greenvale 117
Greenvale – the lyndt – 8 miles creek 89
8 miles creek – cross savannah way 70
Cross savannah way – mt garnet – ravenshoes-17 93
Ravenshoes-17 – ravenshoes – milla milla+5 50
Milla milla +5 – waterfall circuit – malanda – atherton 78
Atherton – tolga – lake tinaroo 41
Lake tinaroo – tolga – mareeba 50
Mareeba – cairns 70
Total complet 3900 kmTownsville – Herveys Range – Star River – Burkelin River – A7 – Greenvale
I decide to take the Hervey range, till the end, to join the A7. The gravel road proposed by the National Trail looks too much isolated, no shops, and a farm each 50 km.
From downtown, there are 10 km by suburbs till the shopping center. Then the road enters in the forest, and I go slow with strong headwind. On Alice river, 15 km ahead, there is a village with petrol station and convenience store, where I do some shopping. It is just before the cross to join the Bruce hgw. It continues to be flat a while, and then comes 4 km steep climbing, I do it pushing the bicycle. At the top there is a awesome view of the flat valley beneath, covered with forest, and rounded by peaks. There is a campsite (fee) a little ahead on right. I go a little ahead and I see on left at a crossroad a community house, where I decide to camp. It is a Short day but I am tired.
The place looks perfect, water and shade and seats and table. But at 8 pm a group of young people comes for 2 hours, it a school crew who rents the place. No problem I just move the tent and all the stuff in the neibourg field, jumping the fence. Fortunately it was clean too. And I do have a very good sleep.
Then the road follows through the military camp, so no way to rest for 45 km. the yellow grass and open forest comes back. At the end of the military camp there is a farm. 15km ahead there is the cross with the road Laoona Paluma near Star river bridge. On km 75 I cross the Burkedin river and battery farm. On km 85 there is a picnic area, with an historic point about the road, and a creek with clear water. There is water because it is stopped by the old causeway, from the old road. I camp there, and drink the creek water.
5 km ahead the road joins the road A7, and I turn right. There are some big trucks, my first road trains, that means trucks with 3 or 4 wagons. But they drive very well, really overtaking, and the road is large enough for the few traffic. The wind comes now from the south. It is very hot and dry, through open forest, and the trees give poor shadow, there are long and gentle hills.
From the cross with the A7, on km 16 there is a road house, camping 5 $, restaurant and petrol, but no shop, just milk and ships. Well I drink a café. Then km 67 there is a picnic area, with toilet and water, where I take a lunch. But I miss food so I continue. Then comes 50 km of easy climbing, through a very wild and dry forest, where I prefer avoid camping. So I continue till Greenvale, (alt 480m) a village with a road house, but no store, so no food. After the caravan park, behind the school, there is the sport field, where I camp.
Greenvale – Mount Garnet – Ravenshoes – Millaa Millaa
Then there are 52 km of long and gentle hills till The Lyndt, and here the creeks have water sometime. It is yet the open forest. At the cross I turn left for 2 km, to go till the road house. I take a shower and a lunch. Then I go back to the main road, and I continue till 8 miles creek, full of water, with a nice place to camp, so I stay there. The road continues hilly, and slowly climbing. During the night a possum makes a hole in my back pannier to eat some food, well nothing dramatic.
The same road and the same country side continue, slowly climbing, till the cross with the Kennedy hgw 1, for 70km. there no creek and no farm along the way, so no water. km 20 and then about each 10 km there are stopbays without facilities, but it is possible to camp there, better behind the fence of the neighbour field to avoid to be killed by a truck during the night. 5km after the cross with the hgw 1, on left there is a national park, with a nice picnic area, toilet but no water, where I camp. I ask water at the caravan drivers who stop there. Here is small rainforest, but with dry weather trees. (800m alt)
Then till Mount Garnet the road goes through the open forest, but it is more dense with a lot of acacias, some with yellow flowers, and high weeds. I see some grass trees too. I didn’t see any place to camp, apart 3 stop bay if really needed. The road goes down gently for 30 km, and then come gentle hills for 15km, and steep long hills for the last 15 km. the rodeo ground is 5 km before Mount Garnet. Well I really need food so I continue till the small city,which has a basic supermarket and a post office and petrol station.
I decide to continue, better than coming back to the rodeo ground. The road follows by long and steep hills till Ravenshoes, through the open forest. I cross Hot Spring village, not really a place to stop. Well it seems there is a rodeo ground, taking the road on right just before the river. The view of the river is beautiful. I continue 10 km more and there is a free campsite near the river, with toilet and water. I camp there, and I should take 1 day rest. But I don’t.
10 km more, and I turn right to see a waterfall. It is a beautiful picnic area too, in the forest. Then 7km ahead I arrive in Ravenshoes, all services but no place to camp.
I take the way to Atherton for 3 km and I turn right to Millaa Millaa by the back road. It is a narrow one, winding, hilly, no traffic, nearly always through the rain forest, and some fields too with large views on the hills covered by forest,it is beautiful. I see a lot of pine trees, araucarias, fern trees, fig trees, lianas, etc… along the way. I visit a small waterfall, but the second is 5 km away from the road, too far. Then I join the main road and the village, supermarket, but no place to camp. Well I decide to go to the waterfall circuit, way to Inisfield by the main road, and turn left 3 or 5 km ahead. I choose to turn at the second cross, bad choice. But a quick down hill drive me to the first waterfall, where I find a small picnic area where I camp. In fact I should turn at the first cross, where is the bed and breakfast. And in front the Milla Milla waterfall, there is first the rodeo ground, and then a clean large area before the cemetery, 2 beautiful places to camp.
I do the waterfall circuit, 15 km. near the water falls there is not really place to camp. But it is beautiful, through large fields, but only the waterfalls are in the rain forest.
Milla Milla – Malanda – Atherton – Lake Tinaroo – Mareeba – Cairns
Then I go back to Mella Mella, and I decide to go straight to Malanda, there is too much trucks on the main roads, and they drive very badly. On Malanda, a village, I turn right to Yungaburra, but by the way I discover later I miss Malanda waterfall. 10 km more and I turn right 3 km to Echam lake, inside a crater, and rounded by forest. The picnic area is marvellous, but very too touristic to think to camp there. So I go back to the main road, and I join Yungaburra, which is a touristic village.
I cross it way to Atherton, but I turn left 4 km ahead to see the fig tree. No place to camp. So I continue and join the other road to Atherton, and then the road 1. Here there is a picnic area, possible to camp, but a bit noisy. No water. It is 4 km before Atherton. I go to Atherton, the major city around, and I go till Steen and Trish home, warmshowers. I take 2 days rest here, with the busy family and 4 young boys. I was very tired so I mostly spend time downtown. I visit the neighbour swamp too, where there are some groups of ducks, and fanatic birds lookers, who stay hours with binoculars and the bird guide book.
Then I decide to continue to rest, but going to the Tinaroo lake. Well I take the road 1 till Tolga, a village, and I turn right till other village through fields, where it seems it is possible to camp. There I turn left to Tinaroo village, which has a caravan park and a picnic area. All that is flat. 5 km hilly more and I join Platipuss camping, along the lake, full of araucarias, beautiful and very quiet, 5 $ fee. I camp there.
Day after I come back to Tolga. Just after Tolga there is a free campsite. I follow the road 1 till Mareeba, flat through orchards and fields. I see groups of black cokatoes. I arrive at midday, and I go to a warmshowers home. I stay only 1 night.
I continue by the road 1 till Cairns. Till Kuranda it is hilly, inside the forest. Kuranda is a very touristic village, where I stay 2 mn.
Just after, the road crosses the large river, and climbs for 8 km, it is rather a dangerous part. Then the 12 km down are steep and too dangerous, very winding. Then it joins the Bruce hgw, very busy, and 10 km later enters in Cairns. The airport road is on left, and 1 km ahead are 2 backpakers, on left too. I go in Calypso, near the hospital.
Next day I go to the airport to fly to Darwin.
Herveys table range – star river – burkedin river 85
Burkedin river+10 – A& -greenvale 117
Greenvale – the lyndt – 8 miles creek 89
8 miles creek – cross savannah way 70
Cross savannah way – mt garnet – ravenshoes-17 93
Ravenshoes-17 – ravenshoes – milla milla+5 50
Milla milla +5 – waterfall circuit – malanda – atherton 78
Atherton – tolga – lake tinaroo 41
Lake tinaroo – tolga – mareeba 50
Mareeba – cairns 70
Total complet 3900 kmTownsville – Herveys Range – Star River – Burkelin River – A7 – Greenvale
I decide to take the Hervey range, till the end, to join the A7. The gravel road proposed by the National Trail looks too much isolated, no shops, and a farm each 50 km.
From downtown, there are 10 km by suburbs till the shopping center. Then the road enters in the forest, and I go slow with strong headwind. On Alice river, 15 km ahead, there is a village with petrol station and convenience store, where I do some shopping. It is just before the cross to join the Bruce hgw. It continues to be flat a while, and then comes 4 km steep climbing, I do it pushing the bicycle. At the top there is a awesome view of the flat valley beneath, covered with forest, and rounded by peaks. There is a campsite (fee) a little ahead on right. I go a little ahead and I see on left at a crossroad a community house, where I decide to camp. It is a Short day but I am tired.
The place looks perfect, water and shade and seats and table. But at 8 pm a group of young people comes for 2 hours, it a school crew who rents the place. No problem I just move the tent and all the stuff in the neibourg field, jumping the fence. Fortunately it was clean too. And I do have a very good sleep.
Then the road follows through the military camp, so no way to rest for 45 km. the yellow grass and open forest comes back. At the end of the military camp there is a farm. 15km ahead there is the cross with the road Laoona Paluma near Star river bridge. On km 75 I cross the Burkedin river and battery farm. On km 85 there is a picnic area, with an historic point about the road, and a creek with clear water. There is water because it is stopped by the old causeway, from the old road. I camp there, and drink the creek water.
5 km ahead the road joins the road A7, and I turn right. There are some big trucks, my first road trains, that means trucks with 3 or 4 wagons. But they drive very well, really overtaking, and the road is large enough for the few traffic. The wind comes now from the south. It is very hot and dry, through open forest, and the trees give poor shadow, there are long and gentle hills.
From the cross with the A7, on km 16 there is a road house, camping 5 $, restaurant and petrol, but no shop, just milk and ships. Well I drink a café. Then km 67 there is a picnic area, with toilet and water, where I take a lunch. But I miss food so I continue. Then comes 50 km of easy climbing, through a very wild and dry forest, where I prefer avoid camping. So I continue till Greenvale, (alt 480m) a village with a road house, but no store, so no food. After the caravan park, behind the school, there is the sport field, where I camp.
Greenvale – Mount Garnet – Ravenshoes – Millaa Millaa
Then there are 52 km of long and gentle hills till The Lyndt, and here the creeks have water sometime. It is yet the open forest. At the cross I turn left for 2 km, to go till the road house. I take a shower and a lunch. Then I go back to the main road, and I continue till 8 miles creek, full of water, with a nice place to camp, so I stay there. The road continues hilly, and slowly climbing. During the night a possum makes a hole in my back pannier to eat some food, well nothing dramatic.
The same road and the same country side continue, slowly climbing, till the cross with the Kennedy hgw 1, for 70km. there no creek and no farm along the way, so no water. km 20 and then about each 10 km there are stopbays without facilities, but it is possible to camp there, better behind the fence of the neighbour field to avoid to be killed by a truck during the night. 5km after the cross with the hgw 1, on left there is a national park, with a nice picnic area, toilet but no water, where I camp. I ask water at the caravan drivers who stop there. Here is small rainforest, but with dry weather trees. (800m alt)
Then till Mount Garnet the road goes through the open forest, but it is more dense with a lot of acacias, some with yellow flowers, and high weeds. I see some grass trees too. I didn’t see any place to camp, apart 3 stop bay if really needed. The road goes down gently for 30 km, and then come gentle hills for 15km, and steep long hills for the last 15 km. the rodeo ground is 5 km before Mount Garnet. Well I really need food so I continue till the small city,which has a basic supermarket and a post office and petrol station.
I decide to continue, better than coming back to the rodeo ground. The road follows by long and steep hills till Ravenshoes, through the open forest. I cross Hot Spring village, not really a place to stop. Well it seems there is a rodeo ground, taking the road on right just before the river. The view of the river is beautiful. I continue 10 km more and there is a free campsite near the river, with toilet and water. I camp there, and I should take 1 day rest. But I don’t.
10 km more, and I turn right to see a waterfall. It is a beautiful picnic area too, in the forest. Then 7km ahead I arrive in Ravenshoes, all services but no place to camp.
I take the way to Atherton for 3 km and I turn right to Millaa Millaa by the back road. It is a narrow one, winding, hilly, no traffic, nearly always through the rain forest, and some fields too with large views on the hills covered by forest,it is beautiful. I see a lot of pine trees, araucarias, fern trees, fig trees, lianas, etc… along the way. I visit a small waterfall, but the second is 5 km away from the road, too far. Then I join the main road and the village, supermarket, but no place to camp. Well I decide to go to the waterfall circuit, way to Inisfield by the main road, and turn left 3 or 5 km ahead. I choose to turn at the second cross, bad choice. But a quick down hill drive me to the first waterfall, where I find a small picnic area where I camp. In fact I should turn at the first cross, where is the bed and breakfast. And in front the Milla Milla waterfall, there is first the rodeo ground, and then a clean large area before the cemetery, 2 beautiful places to camp.
I do the waterfall circuit, 15 km. near the water falls there is not really place to camp. But it is beautiful, through large fields, but only the waterfalls are in the rain forest.
Milla Milla – Malanda – Atherton – Lake Tinaroo – Mareeba – Cairns
Then I go back to Mella Mella, and I decide to go straight to Malanda, there is too much trucks on the main roads, and they drive very badly. On Malanda, a village, I turn right to Yungaburra, but by the way I discover later I miss Malanda waterfall. 10 km more and I turn right 3 km to Echam lake, inside a crater, and rounded by forest. The picnic area is marvellous, but very too touristic to think to camp there. So I go back to the main road, and I join Yungaburra, which is a touristic village.
I cross it way to Atherton, but I turn left 4 km ahead to see the fig tree. No place to camp. So I continue and join the other road to Atherton, and then the road 1. Here there is a picnic area, possible to camp, but a bit noisy. No water. It is 4 km before Atherton. I go to Atherton, the major city around, and I go till Steen and Trish home, warmshowers. I take 2 days rest here, with the busy family and 4 young boys. I was very tired so I mostly spend time downtown. I visit the neighbour swamp too, where there are some groups of ducks, and fanatic birds lookers, who stay hours with binoculars and the bird guide book.
Then I decide to continue to rest, but going to the Tinaroo lake. Well I take the road 1 till Tolga, a village, and I turn right till other village through fields, where it seems it is possible to camp. There I turn left to Tinaroo village, which has a caravan park and a picnic area. All that is flat. 5 km hilly more and I join Platipuss camping, along the lake, full of araucarias, beautiful and very quiet, 5 $ fee. I camp there.
Day after I come back to Tolga. Just after Tolga there is a free campsite. I follow the road 1 till Mareeba, flat through orchards and fields. I see groups of black cokatoes. I arrive at midday, and I go to a warmshowers home. I stay only 1 night.
I continue by the road 1 till Cairns. Till Kuranda it is hilly, inside the forest. Kuranda is a very touristic village, where I stay 2 mn.
Just after, the road crosses the large river, and climbs for 8 km, it is rather a dangerous part. Then the 12 km down are steep and too dangerous, very winding. Then it joins the Bruce hgw, very busy, and 10 km later enters in Cairns. The airport road is on left, and 1 km ahead are 2 backpakers, on left too. I go in Calypso, near the hospital.
Next day I go to the airport to fly to Darwin.
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