08-AUG-2016
Gondwanan Evolution
The Gondwana Rainforests provide an interesting living link with the evolution of Australia.
Rainforest once covered most of the ancient southern supercontinent
Gondwana and remains the most ancient type of vegetation in Australia.
Few places on earth contain so many plants and animals which remain relatively unchanged from their ancestors
in the fossil record! The garden is divided into zones, representing the different stages of plant evolution.
Some of the oldest elements of the world’s ferns and conifers are found here.
[notes via web].
I intend continuing with this gallery during our summer when our temperature climbs and
its cooler to work indoors [on Photoshop 6]. I have plenty of the plant life and tropical gardens still to come.
08-AUG-2016
Reflections...
A coffee in a cafe in the Visitors Centre was an interesting experience as you can see
from this photo... can you find me in the photo?
08-AUG-2016
A path in the Fitzalan Gardens
We discovered across the road from the main gardens there were some lovely pathways
through some very exotic plantings, and we had them almost to ourselves on the
last day of our holidays in Cairns for 2016.
We have had an unpleasant week, firstly me being very off colour, then our little dog
Flossie suddenly got very sick last night and we were very worried she could have
had a bite from a snake - but she is still with us and I think I've worked out
the cause - a bite from a jumping ant. I am very allergic to these and I think
an ant has bitten her several times, she went into an anaphylactic shock - causing
an emergency visit to an after hours vet. Sorry that I haven't kept up with comments
but I'll do my best asap.
07-AUG-2016
Pelicans
The tide being well out added some interest to the scene.
07-AUG-2016
Helicopter
It caught my eye as we wandered along the foreshore.
06-AUG-2016
Palms in the tropics
Fascinating to look upwards and view the fronds intermingling, they took my eye
when walking daily on the pathway
05-AUG-2016
Curtain Fig Tree
We circled the tree on a raised walkway, a worthwhile stopover!
The Curtain Fig Tree is one of the largest trees in Tropical North Queensland, Australia,
and one of the best known attractions on the Atherton Tableland. It is located
just out of Yungaburra.
The Curtain Fig Tree is of the strangler fig species Ficus virens.
Normally these figs germinate on top of another tree and try to grow roots into the ground.
Once this important step is accomplished,
the fig will grow vigorously, finally kill the hosting tree and then grow on independently.
In this case, the hosting tree tilted towards the next one; the fig also grows
around that one. Its curtain of aerial roots drops 15 metres (49 feet) to the ground.
Although these figs kill their hosts, they are an epiphyte which basically feeds
from the ground, unlike a parasitic plant which feeds from the sap of the
host plant/tree. [Wikipedia]
05-AUG-2016
Innovative shops
We managed having a look in both of these cute little shops!
Yungaburra's economy today revolves around tourism, and the town contains a primary school, post office,
library/telecentre and a range of businesses and services for the use of residents and visitors. Other facilities include a tennis court
and a bowling club.The town has 18 Heritage Listed buildings, and is the largest National Trust village in Queensland. The Yungaburra Markets,
held on the fourth Saturday of each month, are one of the largest in Far North Queensland, and each year around the end of October,
Yungaburra holds the two-day Yungaburra Folk Festival, featuring concerts from Australian (and sometimes international) folk musicians.
[Wikipedia]
05-AUG-2016
Decorations in the park
The baskets of flowers took my eye as we walked around this pretty little town
on the Atherton Tablelands, here is some history courtesy of Wikipedia.
Prior to European settlement the area around Yungaburra was inhabited by about sixteen different indigenous groups,
with the custodians being Yidinji people and neighbouring Ngadjoni people. In the early 1880s the area around Allumbah Pocket
was used as an overnight stop for miners travelling west from the coast.
In 1886 the land was surveyed, and in 1891 settlers moved in.
In 1910 the railway arrived, and the town was renamed Yungaburra,
to avoid confusion with another town called Allumbah.
The name Yungaburra comes from Janggaburra, after janggaburru,
the Yindiny word for the Queensland silver ash (Flindersia bourjotiana).
By 1911 indigenous numbers had fallen to 20% of the pre-settlement population
due to disease, conflict with settlers and loss of habitat.
05-AUG-2016
The Crystal Caves
I didn't get to have a look inside this shop, the menfolk were keen on visiting a
bakery further along the street.
05-AUG-2016
"The Stump"
The hotel has been a landmark of the Tablelands since the early 1900s. In 1944 a fire ravaged the formerly timber building
leaving only a charred light pole which was dubbed the “black stump”. Due to WW2 the new building was not finished until 1954
so a temporary bar to satisfy the pubs loyal clientele was quickly set up on adjacent land.
Times have changed, but to patrons the Aussie pub is still affectionately known as “The Stump”.
[Notes from the web]
03-AUG-2016
Walking the avenue
A lovely safe way back to the car park after promenading the esplanade
03-AUG-2016
The long wait
Maybe waiting for a boat to come back to the marina... the girl caught my eye, it was quite
late into the afternoon.
03-AUG-2016
Marina (2)
A second photo taken at the Marina - see yesterday's image for details.
03-AUG-2016
Marina (1)
Australia's premier marina, Cairns Marlin Marina provides first-class facilities
and customer service for a diverse fleet including some of the world's most advanced super yachts.
On the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Marlin Marina is the gateway to spectacular cruising grounds.
The state-of-the-art floating marina, in the heart of Cairns city, features 261 berths accommodating a variety of cruising vessels,
including super yachts up to 140 metres. Cairns Marlin Marina is a short walk to the tropical swimming Lagoon, 5 star hotels, shopping, dining,
casino and the city's vibrant nightlife. The Cairns Marlin Marina is just 10 minutes
from the Cairns International Airport and 5 minutes from the Cairns marine and super yacht refit precinct.
[Notes from website]
02-AUG-2016
The lecture
The Park's current owners rediscovered the almost lost park and
envisaged reviving Jose's Dream with his appreciation for beauty and warm hospitality.
To access images of the park (day and night) the bats in the tunnel
and much more, go to www.paronellapark.com.au/highres
Last photo by me of the Paronella Park 2016.
02-AUG-2016
A close up of detail
This area was quite shaded so the little Lumix came in handy.
I'm near the end of
the photos taken in this park.
We have been working in the garden doing some repairs after the horrible weather we've been having.
A weeping rose dragged down the support and Dick is busy cementing in a much
stronger post. A couple of other shrubs were ripped right out of the ground. Most will
have to wait until the next bout of bad weather passes through.
02-AUG-2016
Jose's Dream
Not everyone's dreams are fulfilled. Jose Paronella's dream was to build a castle. He
chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park.
On 13 acres beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic areas at the lakeside,
tennis courts, tunnels and bridges, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of
7000 tropical plants and trees.
He passed away in 1948 leaving a wife, daughter and son. They continued to
look after the park until 1977 when it was sold. In 1979 a fire swept
through the Castle leaving only the walls and the Turret as a reminder of what had been.
02-AUG-2016
Seats & stairs in the greenery
Anything that stands still seems to have something growing on it.
Posting my photo early in case we lose power again.
02-AUG-2016
Water feature
North Queensland's first hydro electric plant was built in 1933 to power the 5 ha (13 acre)
park, and the castle grounds were ready to welcome the public in 1935.
In 1979 a fire swept through the Castle leaving only the walls and the Turret as a
reminder of what had been, and in 1986 Cyclone Winifred tested the Park's endurance once again.
With help of the Paronella family Jose's story was written; paths were uncovered, buildings repaired,
trees identified and a Museum created in the original home built by Jose
for his family. Cyclone Larry in 2006 added another chapter of endurance to the
story, and the dream continued once again.
2009 saw the refurbishment of the original hydro turbine which once
again provides power for the entire park.
A safety warning not to swim because of crocodiles
02-AUG-2016
Hearing the story
The tour stopped and everyone (except me) crowded into an indoor relic of the past
to hear more of the story.
02-AUG-2016
Taking the guided tour
Today visitors are taken on a range of guided tours, the story is told and the highlights of the Park shown through the day and into the night.
Paronella Park is eco-certified and heritage listed. Efforts today focus on maintaining the property while staying true to its historic and eco values.
Here you see one of the many pathways through the tropical trees and undergrowth.
02-AUG-2016
A Spaniard's Dream
Quoting from a leaflet given out to those doing the tour, it reads as follows.
"Why do I do it, people ask, it is because I wish to do something.
I make my money in sugar industry and in selling my farms. I have
travelled the world twice and never have I seen
anything as beautiful as places you have in Queensland.
People smile and say Paronella, he is mad - stupid - to
work so hard and to spend so much money this way!
Why does he not sit down and rest? That is not my way.."
02-AUG-2016
The Catalonian connection
José Paronella arrived in nearby Innisfail, Queensland, Australia in 1913, having sailed from his homeland, Catalonia,
in northern Spain to plan a splendid life for himself and his fiancée Matilda.
He applied for Commonwealth naturalization in 1921, identifying his place of origin as La Vall in the province of Jarona.
In fact his full name was José Pedro Enrique Paronella, and he was born on 26 February 1887, in La Vall de Santa Creu,
a hamlet in the province of Gerona, north-eastern Catalonia. José worked hard for 11 years, creating his wealth by buying, improving and selling cane farms.
While travelling through the beautiful countryside he discovered a virgin forest alongside spectacular Mena Creek Falls - perfect for his dream.
Upon returning to Spain, José discovered that Matilda had married another! Determined to sail back with a bride José proposed to Margarita,
Matilda's younger sister. One year later the happy newlyweds were ship-bound for Australia and by 1929 had purchased the land of José's dreams.
He first built the grand 47-step staircase
to shift building materials between the lower and upper level. Here the fun-loving couple had their cottage hand built of stone,
and moved in on Christmas Eve.
Inspired by childhood memories of Catalan castles José and his workers set to work designing an entertainment area.
Their fingerprints in the cement foundations remain as testament to their extraordinary effort that guaranteed joyous times.
A movie theatre transformed on weekends into a huge ballroom with live bands who entertained while a massive ball of mirrors spun from the ceiling to reflect
a dazzle of pink and blue lights.
Surrounding their home and castle, more than 7000 trees were planted including an
avenue of Kauris that tower now like cathedral spires in a sacred forest.
North Queensland's first hydro electric plant was built in 1933 to power the 5 ha (13 acre) park,
and the castle grounds were ready to welcome the public in 1935.
Since his death, a fire, a cyclone and several floods have badly damaged the park and the buildings. [Wikipedia]
04-AUG-2016
To watch over you
The swimming area is patrolled for 6 months of the year by Surf Lifesaving Queensland,
and has a stinger net to protect swimmers from box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri).
Trust the lifesavers and swim between the flags; there have been drownings around the rocks a short distance away.
There are barbecue and picnic facilities, plus public toilets and showers.
The beach is lined with she-oak casuarinas, beach almonds, ballnuts and coconut palms.
The beach is a popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing. [Wikipedia]
This will be the last photo taken at Yorkey's Knob, I hope you have enjoyed the views!
01-AUG-2016
On the rocks
Same beach as yesterday from a slightly different angle.
Definitely best in original format if you have the time.
01-AUG-2016
Going it alone...
Well not quite I suppose..
01-AUG-2016
A rocky haven
A flock of something used this rock as a dry spot for a sleep or rest, could be
birds or maybe something else..
01-AUG-2016
A quiet spot
The young girl appeared to be in a world of her own sitting quietly by herself
and it was a lonely beach that day
01-AUG-2016
A sheltered beach.
There was a delightful walkway that took you out into the shallows of the beach
and it passed this quiet little sheltered spot that took my eye.
Best viewed in original format if you have time.
30-JUL-2016
Deadman's Gully (2)
Following on from the first photo taken here in Deadman's Gully. The crocodile that
attacked the victim and her dog was over 3 metres long, and there was another even
larger crocodile laying in the water looking like a fallen log. It was the one
looking like a log that took her attention and she didn't see the other one about
to strike. Luckily for her she got away; but apparently quite a few dogs go missing
in the area and one wonders whether the crocs got them.
30-JUL-2016
Deadman's Gully (1)
Notes from a local news item featured November 2014.
A WOMAN who came within 1-cm of a crocodile's jaws after the reptile lunged at her and her dog at
a Northern Beaches creek has called for the immediate removal of the dangerous creature.
The Clifton Beach resident, was walking her German shepherd at Deadman’s Gully on Sunday night.
Two saltwater crocodiles have been spotted several times by locals in the waterway in recent weeks,
the last sighting reported on Thursday prior to this event.
This photo of an often used bridge is over the creek and is very close to a
children's playground area and a walking trail that spans 30 Ks.
29-JUL-2016
Stained glass window (2)
A close shot of a small section of the stained glass windows in the St. Monicas Memorial Cathedral..
We heard about these via word of mouth and made the effort to go and see
them and found them well worth while. See yesterday's photo for more details.
29-JUL-2016
St Monica's Memorial Cathedral's stained glass windows (1)
We loved visiting St Monica's Cathedral during our recent holiday in Cairns.
This church has amazing stained glass windows illustrating the story of the creation,
very fitting for the church's beautiful setting surrounded by tropical rainforest and coral sea.
The windows on one side tell the story of creation of the land and animals,
while the other is focused on the sea, fish and underwater creatures.
28-JUL-2016
Yellow caterpillar sign for Christine.
Dysphania numana - Peacock Jewel or 4 O'Clock Moth
The Caterpillars are yellow with pairs of black spots along the back. The caterpillars have been reported to feed on a variety of plants.
including Lychee & Freshwater Mangrove. Pupation occurs in a folded leaf with no cocoon.
{Googled and found these facts as I can't quite read the notes in my photo.]
28-JUL-2016
Strolling through
Lovely to see so many people enjoying a stroll around the gardens
on a beautiful tropical winter's day.
28-JUL-2016
Along the narrow pathway
The Cairns Botanic Gardens are renowned for having one of the best exhibitions in Australia of tropical plants.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia,
is a tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants,
relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture.
The Gardens is divided into:
The Flecker Gardens
Gondwana Heritage Garden
Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory
Freshwater and Saltwater Lakes; and
Zhanjiang Friendship Gardens
The Gardens are open from 7.30am to 5.30pm every day of the year and entry is free.
[Notes from the Cairns Regional Council.]
28-JUL-2016
Garden view
A favourite place for me - in the Tropical Botanic Gardens, the plants are so different
to the ones we grow back home. You can see ferns, lichen, mosses growing on the
branches on the trees in the tropics, and not so many of the exotic annuals and perennials
like we grow in the temperate climate of the southern states of Australia.
27-JUL-2016
Trees along the foreshore
There seemed to be 4 types that dominated this area of foreshore, melaleuca, palm, casuarina & 1 other;
all were lovely to see and enjoy, particularly the shade offered for the beach goer or those
seeking a brisk or ambling walk along the beach or pathway.
27-JUL-2016
Tree cluster on the beach
These were magnificent trees and lined the shores along with palms and other tropical species.
[See yesterday's tree (next) to read the discussion re the botanic names these trees could be listed as]
Best in original format for detail.
27-JUL-2016
The magic of trees
I have a real fondness for trees, and this particular tree fascinated me,
it has such interesting bark, often called "paperbark".. they were everywhere
in the area we were staying in, and I loved seeing them on my walks each
day of our holiday in FNQ. I believe this one is called Melaleuca dealbata, is
this right Don?
26-JUL-2016
Picnic reserve for a snack
We discovered this lovely little bakery called "the Baker's Dozen" on the main road
to this beach-side reserve and had afternoon tea on the table and seats supplied, we
were sitting here 5 minutes before I took this lasting shot of a nice memory.
26-JUL-2016
Marina
Yorkeys Knob got its name from George Lawson, a Yorkshire-born, Cairns-based beche-de-mer fisherman.
On 10 June 1886 Yorkey Lawson reported the loss of a man and his wife from Green Island. They had left to visit the wreck of the Upolu,
intending to return the same day. Lawson made a search for them, but was unable to find any trace of them,
not even an accident. The pilot cutter was sent to search for the couple.
Lawson built a homestead adjoining the Mount Buchan estate near what is now Yorkeys Knob.
During the off-fishing season he and his sons farmed pumpkins,
sweet potatoes and paddy melons, but not successfully. Whatever the bandicots and pigs didn't eat, the crocodiles did.
Lawson used the mangroves near his
homestead for the firewood and water needed for his beche-de-mer smoking station on Green Island.
Locals are attached to the name, despite the reaction it sometimes gets
("knob" being a slang term for penis), and successfully prevented a developer from
advertising a development as being at "Yorkeys Beach".
[Wiki]
We loved the Sailing Club which had a magnificent view of the marina, part of it seen here.
25-JUL-2016
A quiet moment
I noticed the woman on the beach enjoying the solitude.
25-JUL-2016
History lesson on the path
Dick always likes to read anything like this about a place he is visiting... here are
some notes about these signs.
Six panels tell of the amphibious training that occurred on the beachfront during World War II.
Cairns was one of the Australia's largest military embarkation ports during the Pacific War.
Trinity Beach was set up as a training hub and hosted thousands of troops between May 1943 and December 1944.
Troops learned the skills associated with amphibious warfare, such as loading and unloading landing craft.
25-JUL-2016
The pale creatures beyond...
Soaking up the sunshine on a lovely warm winter's day - I assume these were "southerners"
on holiday in the tropics, just like we were.
25-JUL-2016
Sun and the surf
We explored other beaches north of Cairns, and this one was delightful
25-JUL-2016
Tropical gardens
I took a lot of notice of the plants used in the gardens when we went walking
daily during our holiday in the tropics. Here is one that took my eye.
24-JUL-2016
The Ocean View
Looking through the treeline that runs along the edge of the esplanade
24-JUL-2016
One of many
This beach had so many eating places on offer, it was a difficult task choosing where
to eat or have a coffee.
24-JUL-2016
A day at the beach
A beach a few Ks north of where we were staying... after a coffee break I wandered
off with my Lumix and took a few photos, and here is one of them.
24-JUL-2016
Fallen Tree (2)
There are always someone walking or cycling the pathway that curves around this
wonderful fallen tree, which incidentally is a melaleuca not a eucalyptus tree. The
trees grow everywhere in this part of Oz, and have quite unique bark, often called
"paperbark" because of the way it peels back revealing the bark layers below the outside
skin. Quoting from a book I bought, "the aboriginal people used the bark for roofing,
cooking and even to construct coffins for funerals".
24-JUL-2016
Fallen tree (1)
This tree took my eye, and I took quite a few photos of it from different angles, this
is the first shot, but I won't bore you with dozens of them, just 2, one today and
another one tomorrow. The walking trail curved to miss the tree, a great move.
24-JUL-2016
In the Swim
A few brave swimmers taking a chance on a warm winter's day, temperature around 28 degrees Celsius.
24-JUL-2016
Sea view on the beach
A photo of the jetty from the beach.
24-JUL-2016
Looking back to the shore
We visited other beaches, this one being only 3-Ks north of where we were staying,
but we didn't see Brian there...the place was crawling with people and we found
it very difficult to find a park on a Sunday; perhaps we should have walked!
24-JUL-2016
Winding pathway
I loved how the trail curved around established trees and palms, though if no bikes or people
were around I took a short cut. :)
24-JUL-2016
Family fun
Always something to watch or look at happening on the beach, especially when I took
advantage of the seating that dotted the walking pathway. With such magic weather
day after day, one was drawn to the coast for a walk.
24-JUL-2016
Beach walker
A popular beach to walk on as well as the trail. We are missing the lovely
warm sunshine - now we are home again there is plenty of gardening to keep us
busy!
24-JUL-2016
Walking trail
Suitable for walkers, cyclists etc; just over the road from where we were staying
so we made sure we walked twice a day, and that gave me the opportunity of taking
so many photos - mainly with the Lumix, though this one was taken with the Canon.
You can see a warning sign for crocodiles clearly displayed here. We heard the
news that a croc had invaded a backyard in a beach suburb north of where we were
staying! As many have private swimming pools, I can imagine they could also find
their way into one of these pools if they could negotiate the safety fence around
each pool!
I have this image as my screen saver replacing one taken on our previous time away.
24-JUL-2016
On the beach in winter
Even though there are signs everywhere to watch out for crocodiles, there were
a few brave souls in the water or just sun bathing in temperatures 28 degrees Celsius.
As far as I know no crocs were seen, though I believe one lives in Dead Mans Gully
which runs parallel to one of the beaches. A few dogs go missing, all the dogs we saw were
on leashes for good reason. :)
24-JUL-2016
Coastal view
We walked a paved path along the coastal stretch twice a day, but only once did I carry my heavy camera with me, the
rest of the time I opted for the Lumix, a much lighter weight hanging from my neck! Here's a
sample taken with the Canon on our first full day of leisure.
06-AUG-2016
A walk along the beach
We had wonderful weather the whole time spent here, 28dC most days and warm nights.
Have arrived home to 10dC, couldn't get the heating on fast enough!
Tropical plants and gardens 2016
Photos taken of plants and gardens during our Cairns holiday, winter of 2016
