Aug 2001 (2 yr 10 mth)   

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 Aug 01 - Undara Lava Tubes
 

From Millaa Millaa, we decided not to stay the night at Ravenshoe but shoot straight for Undara, a long and rough 4-hour drive, including over unsealed road, to Undara Volcanic National Park in the Gulf Savannah. The landscape became harsh desert-like and the climate became summer hot despite it was supposed to be winter time. It was the first feeling of the real outback since we started this trip. The campsite at Undara was simple but well maintained. We stayed in a container cabin with 4 beds.

It's amazing the massive lava tubes, which were formed around 190,000 years ago following the eruption of a single shield volcano. The lava flow drained towards the sea, and as the lava cooled it formed a surface crust. The hotlava contined to flow through the centre of the tubes, eventually leaving huge hollow basalt chambers like a cave.

We love the outback.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17 Aug 01 - Yungaburra
 

After a long drive back from Undara, we were very lucky to check into the Gumtree Gataway, a B&B farm. We had the whole house to ourselves and we thoroughly enjoyed having a fireplace. Robyn loved feeding the fire and watching the dancing flames.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18 Aug 01 - Mount Molloy

Staying the Friday night at the Mt Molloy Hotel was unforgettable. The hotel is all timber and reminds one of those buildings in a cowboy movie! Mt Molloy is a small, layback town and it happened that the entire town population seemed to congregate here on every Friday evening. Grandpa was delighted to have fried rice for dinner and we enjoyed the best mud cake ever!

From Mt molloy, we drove northward to Mossman Gorge National Park. We had Chinese takeaway fried rice for our picnic lunch by a serene river spot.

This is a sugar cane country! See, I'm just a wee bit shorter.

A stroll in the Barron Gorge National Park. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see gushing waters down the 260m mighty Barron Falls as this was the dry season.

Relaxing at Lake Placid, where it's also the end point of popular whitewater rafting trips.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 Aug 01 - Sydney Overnight

From Cairns, we flew to Sydney for an overnight stay and met up with Uncle & Auntie Yip, and Melvin, who happened to be there on business. It was a great family gathering evening.