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Cairns to Coloured Sands

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Once again, rather more unexpected, we embarked on another trip through Australia. We wanted to revisit Cape York and the Simpson Desert. This time though, only for another 10 weeks. Compared to our earlier trips to the land Down Under, rather a short trip.

During the first part of our trip, we were accompanied by Christine and Inge. Travelling with us over the next 3 weeks in their own Toyota Landcruiser equipped with a rooftent. Due to our inexpirience on our first trip up to Cape York, we didn't dare to travel some of the more difficult 4WD sections of the Overland Telegraph Line Road (OTL) at the time and were mostly travelling along the Southern and Northern bypass roads. This time we wanted also to travel the original OTL Road.

The first 2 days though were spent in Cairns, firstly to relax, but as well for purchasing needed equipment as well as provisions for the upcoming trips. Cairns built over the last 2 years a new Esplanade and park pretty similar to the one in Townsville, offering walkways, BBQ's playgrounds and park benches to enjoy sunsets and the mild evenings. New as well the Esplanade lagoon near the pier, which invites for a swim to cool of during hot days. At the same time the harbour was extended by new terminals. Tje ticket counters for all the reef trips are now located in these new terminal buildings. The pier building has now much more space available for shops and restaurants.

Sadly the weather during the first week was mostly cool and rainy. After the arrival of Christine and Inge, we started our trip via the inland route towards Cooktown. Next stop was the Mungumby Rainforest Lodge near Helenvale, where we spent the first 2 nights. Situated idyllicaly and romantically in the midst of the rainforest, it proved to be the perfect spot to relax and recharge our batteries. Chris and Nina, our Hosts, took care of us in a very pleasant and personal manner to make our stay unforgetable. Starting directly from the lodge, we ventured into the surrounding rainforest along the Hidden Falls Walk. We've been told that with a bit of luck, we'd be able to see a Bennets Tree Kangaroo.

Chris explained to us where at the Annan River by Cooktown we might be able to spot a real big crocodile. Said and done, we were on our way. With our zoom objectives and binoculars we searched the river for around half an hour without success. Then suddenly out of nowhere, it was swimming on the surface just 5 m below where we were standing on the embankment. According to a local joining us, it was 16 feet long (more the 5m). It really looked very big. Spooky to see it lying there in the water without having been able to notice its approach. Im certain it was just waiting for us to take a wrong step and providing dinner for the next few weeks. In Cooktown we replenished our rations and got the latest information from the local Rangers office about our destinations further up north.

Next stop was the aborigine community of Hopevale. Here, in the service station we needed to stop in order to purchase the necessary permits to visit Coloured Sands. We then drove on to Coloured Sands where we intended to stay the night. We pitched our camp directly at the beach, in a dreamlike setting. Eddy, an aboriginee living here, runs this little campground After spending a very quiet night in our tents, we explored Coloured Sands the next morning thoroughly.


Sunrise shortly before reaching Singapore Finally back in the land of the kangoroos The new lagoon and Esplanade in Cairns Hotel Hides The lagoon at night
Sunset by Ellis Beach Ellis Beach by day Bob's lookout on the way to Cooktown Mount Elephant Aperitif on the deck of the Mungumby Lodge
Guest Units in the romantic surroundings of Mungumby Lodge To the deck The Lodge Creek along the Hidden Falls rainforest walk A moth on the stem of a tree, masked like moss
Mushrooms Flowering bush Flowering powder puff Little waterfall Big thirsty ringtail Gecko behind the bar
Searching for a big Crocodile on Annan River Half an hour later, just 5m below of us in the water View over the Endeavour River by Cooktown Lighthouse on Grassy Knoll First indications of Coloured Sands
Plants in the sand Reattaching our second spare wheel Sunrise at the Coloured Sands campground Sunrise at the Coloured Sands campground Christine and Inge in Slumberland
View to the dunes of Coloured Sands Even crabs produce Coloured Sands An ant lion before he digs himself in again Very good protected tree seeds Bush Pea
Sand in all colours ... ... and shapes Little, by erosion formed sculptures ... ... and bigger ones View towards Three Island
Mangroves at the beach of Coloured Sands
Sunrise shortly before reaching Singapore
Finally back in the land of the kangoroos
The new lagoon and Esplanade in Cairns
Hotel Hides
The lagoon at night
Sunset by Ellis Beach
Ellis Beach by day
Bob's lookout on the way to Cooktown
Mount Elephant
Aperitif on the deck of the Mungumby Lodge
Guest Units in the romantic surroundings of Mungumby Lodge
To the deck
The Lodge
Creek along the Hidden Falls rainforest walk
A moth on the stem of a tree, masked like moss
Mushrooms
Flowering bush
Flowering powder puff
Little waterfall
Big thirsty ringtail Gecko behind the bar
Searching for a big Crocodile on Annan River
Half an hour later, just 5m below of us in the water
View over the Endeavour River by Cooktown
Lighthouse on Grassy Knoll
First indications of Coloured Sands
Plants in the sand
Reattaching our second spare wheel
Sunrise at the Coloured Sands campground
Sunrise at the Coloured Sands campground
Christine and Inge in Slumberland
View to the dunes of Coloured Sands
Even crabs produce Coloured Sands
An ant lion before he digs himself in again
Very good protected tree seeds
Bush Pea
Sand in all colours ...
... and shapes
Little, by erosion formed sculptures ...
... and bigger ones
View towards Three Island
Mangroves at the beach of Coloured Sands
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Last Updated : 30th August 2003


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