After leaving our amazing Fig Tree our next stop was Atherton. As we still had the problems with our windscreen wipers it was off to Super Cheap Auto to purchase more fuses and some Rain-X water repellent for the windscreen.
The land around Atherton is used to grow a variety of crops, including sugar cane, peanuts, mangoes, maize (corn), potatoes, avocados and macadamia nuts. Dairy and beef cattle are also reared in the area. Very lush green area. There’s so much to explore!
* World Heritage listed rainforest
* Abundant bird watching & rare wildlife including tree-kangaroos (we have never heard of them before)
* Bush walking, camping and fishing
* Small town friendly events and festivals
* Swimming, boating or fishing in a profusion of lakes, rivers and waterfalls
Charming towns and heritage villages, most with monthly markets
As we said in our previous Blog, we will be coming back to this area!!
Almost at our destination. On the way in!
We arrived at the Station homestead, where we were camping in Tiki Tourer, had a bite to eat for lunch and relaxed until Jock was free from his duties to collect us and take us to the Jabiru Safari Lodge which is located within the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve. It has African style tented safari cabins, walking trails, canoes, Eco cruises, wildlife safaris, privately guided nature experiences and of course the magnificent lodge below.
A truly beautiful place! The Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve was conceived in 1994 and the Mareeba Wetland Foundation, was established in 1995, harnessing the seasonally unused irrigation water from Lake Tinaroo to originally provide additional downstream irrigation for growing sugarcane. However, environmental impact studies had revealed massive difficulties in converting the land to irrigated sugarcane, due to erosive soils and salination potential. This being the case, the opportunity to ‘transit’ water through what was to become the Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve became the Water Resource Commission’s new focus.
A series of 12 inter-connected lagoons, creeks and channels weave their way across the 5,000 acre Reserve, with lagoons ranging in size from several hundred acres to much smaller intimate habitats. The lagoons attract a rich and diverse birdlife and provide a sanctuary for almost all of Australia’s tropical waterbirds.
We were privileged to attend one of Jock’s wildlife safari’s and learn all about the wildlife and birdlife on the reserve.
One of the many points of interest is a giant lizard sculpture, by Master Japanese sculpture Tanabesan, which celebrates the importance of preserving genetic stocks of wild rice throughout the world as an important food source in future generations. It is 19 metres long and 10 tonne in weight. Freighted to Australia by its Japanese creator in pieces and painstakingly assembled before being lifted into place by crane.
The next day it was “all hands-on deck” as a tour group of 60 people were arriving for the various safaris. After a very quick lesson the day before Tui was set to drive one of the Safari vehicles while Jude was the number one “dish washer” for the day.
Sorry no photographic proof that Jude did the dishes!! We were lucky enough to join the accommodation guests for pre-dinner drinks and dinner, which was expertly cooked by Jock with his beautiful assistant Annie, who was also running the office and anything else that needed doing!! Met some fantastic people, most enjoyable evening!
The day had now come for what we had really travelled here for! The total Eclipse of the Sun! We were up at about 4.30am, getting to the Lodge just after 5am. Made coffee and tea for the guests who arrived around 5.30am. There were 16 of us, just a nice intimate number. It was then into the Safari Vehicles to travel around the Lake so that we could watch the Eclipse across the water. Weather was perfect.
It was more than we could ever have wished for, a truly magical experience! Seeing a total eclipse is perhaps one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomenon that you will ever see. It is when the moon covers the entire face of the sun. It was an eerie feeling, the temperature dropped, the sky went darker and birds went quiet when the eclipse reached totality. We were all supplied with protective glasses, trendy they were too!
Thanks, Jock, for the “ubeaut photo”. Unfortunately, our camera wasn’t up to spec for such photography. We could also see hot air balloons in the distance and every now and then we could see their burner flame ignite. Champagne & orange juice to celebrate then back to the Lodge for cooked breakfast. Beautiful!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and especially Marg & Greg for their hospitality. Many thanks also to Jock & Annie for making it happen! It is an experience we will never forget.
Next Blog, the trip back! until then “Laugh more, live longer”