Exploring History, Nature, and Gourmet Delights

Elderslie House

Day One: History
Oh the joys of staying on the Tablelands -- still hot but very little humidity. Yesterday we left the coast at 34 degrees with 98% humidity arriving on the Tablelands to a wonderful cool 24 degrees with about 8% humidity. Much better for exploring we think!

This is such a beautiful region with so many contrasting elements of nature -- green rolling hills with fat dairy cattle wandering around, compete with sugar cane fields, banana, tea and coffee plantations, and pockets of rainforest with tropical palms and thick vegetation. In deep contrast are the great rocky outcrops almost barren in some places, where in the 1880s men traversed the countryside in search of copper, gold, and work.

Lookout near Millaa Millaa

Rolling hills

The road to Herberton

In the 1880s tin mining was the mainstay of this area of the Tablelands. Tin ore was discovered in Herberton by a group of miners led by John Newell. In September 1880 there were over 300 men living and working in this area but at the first Christmas gathering that same year there were only 27 women in attendance!!!

Herberton is the oldest town on the Tablelands, and its entire precinct is listed on the National Heritage Register, so this is where we spent our first day exploring the history of this region.

Newspaper office

The historic village of Herberton is a complex of over 60 buildings filled with memorabilia, antiques, and historical information. Some of the buildings have working displays, such as the blacksmith, printer, and tractor shed. There are magnificent displays in the chemist, camera shop, general store, watchmakers, and radio shop, and an exceptional collection of police memorabilia from around the world. There is a genuine pioneer slab hut built in 1870, and a fully restored rail ambulance. Some of the original buildings from the area have also been relocated to the Village precinct including the Herberton State School built in 1883; the Bakerville pub, which is now used as a tearooms and has a number of displays throughout the building, including a pipe collection; and Elderslie House, the magnificent 130 year old pioneer homestead originally owned by John Newell, and now fully restored to its former glory.

Bakerville pub, now Tearooms

Dispensary shelves

Dispensary

Dining in style

Sitting room at Elderslie House

Newspaper office - read the poster! Printed just for us!

We spent four hours exploring this beautiful Village and didn't cover it all. It would really need two days to fully explore and the good thing is that the operators realise that fact and your ticket price allows you the opportunity to return again within two days. The ticket also gives you entry to the Mining Museum which occupies the site of the first great tin discovery and where you can learn more about the  tin mining history in this region.

More rain and fog!!

Leaving Herberton we elected to travel back to Millaa Millaa via Atherton. Before leaving Atherton we were once again driving through fog and rain, but even the wet conditions couldn't dampen our enjoyment of this day of exploring.

Foggy Hills at Millaa Millaa

A rather damp campsite

Day Two: Nature
After so much history yesterday, today was back to nature -- waterfall day. It had rained again overnight and was still very misty when we set out along the waterfall circuit, just minutes from our campground. The circuit takes in three beautiful waterfalls. The first was my favourite -- Millaa Millaa Falls. Just a beautiful peaceful setting with a short nature walk near the falls. Here there were turtles and wildflowers.

Millaa Millaa Falls

Zillie Falls (taken by OWO)

The second, Zillie Falls, was almost impossible for me to trek into with fallen logs and a very slippery and difficult track to tackle. So the OWO left me beside a tree whilst he took my camera and photographed the falls further down the track -- don't you just love him!!! By the way, despite all the damp conditions we went through, this is the only place I was attacked by a leech!!!!

Ellinja Falls (taken by OWO)

The third stop on the circuit was Ellinjaa Falls. Very peaceful walk to the bottom of these Falls. It was here that we met an American couple that had sold up home and were travelling the country.

Leaving the Circuit we travelled along the Old Palmerston Highway to Ravenshoe - another tin mining area boasting the highest railway station and pub in Queensland. This area is also home to Windy Hill wind farm built in 2000 on an extinct volcano. There are 20 turbines generating enough electricity for about 3500 homes in the region.

Queensland's highest pub

Queensland's highest railway station

Wind turbines

Wood carving Ravenshoe

Close to Ravenshoe is the Millstream Falls and memorial park. These falls have the widest single drop fall in Australia. At the picnic area there is a memorial and history walk acknowledging the great military presence in this area during WWII.

Millstream park memorial

Millstream Falls (photo taken by OWO)

Another wonderful day exploring this beautiful region completed with a good meal at the local pub and chatting with the locals. Once again the fog and rain has set in. Tomorrow will be a less active day for all.

Day Three: Gourmet Delights
Looks like the rains are upon us again, as it rained all night and everything is water logged again -- thank goodness for my red wellies!! As predicted, today was a great day to be less active and maybe sample a few of the gourmet delights in this region.

First stop -- the Gallo Dairyland to sample local cheese and hand made chocolates. Mmmmmm!  We watched the girls having a fun messy time making chocolates but missed the processing of the Camembert cheese.

Chocolate making fun

Yummy cheeses and chocolates

Daisy the resident milker

After a delicious tasting and lunch we stopped by the Malanda Falls in the pouring rain and witnessed some old guy plunge into the freezing waterhole below the falls.

A brave old swimmer???

Malanda Falls in the rain

Malanda is a dairy and timber region and there are several excellent sculptures around the town depicting the regional history. There is also a cinema here that lays claim to being the longest continuously running cinema in Australia --- and it is still screening current movies!!!!

Majestic Theatre - still screening movies

A memorial to our service personnel

And so our time exploring this beautiful region comes to an end, but not before another lovely discovery at the Van park by Mrs OWO --  two Lumholtz tree kangaroos. The OWO was delighted - a rare photograph opportunity.

Lumholtz tree kangaroo - a rare photo (taken by the OWO)

Beautiful fungi at Millaa Millaa Falls

Mine workings at Herberton Village

Wild ginger flower at Millaa Millaa Falls

Camped before the rain

A wonderful way to end our time exploring this beautiful part of the Tablelands, and tomorrow we travel to Palm Cove for another stage of our adventures.