Tablelands Adventure Guides Blog | Tableland Adventure Guides

SUPER WEATHER FOR ADVENTURING WITH TAG!!

Posted on 24/07/2011 by TAG

What an eventful few months the TAG team have had. With the excellent weather we have been having our schedule has been non stop.

In early June we facilitated a 4 day programme for 22 students from Saint Kevin’s College Melbourne, with great cycling and kayaking activities around Tinaroo.

Following this we ran an 8 day Rainforest, Waterfall and Outback Cycle Tour and a 3 day Outback Cycle Tour taking in some of our favourite places including the Waterfall circuit via Millaa Millaa and the Lappa Trail.

A drizzly day in early July did not deter this group of 4 Multisporters who kayaked from Tinaburra to Kauri Creek and then cycled up into the Lamb Ranges – a big day out.

We also enjoyed taking a group of cyclists along Danbulla Forest Drive and out to Stannary Hills.

At a more relaxed pace we are currently on a 6 day Walkabout Tour visiting some of the iconic sights of the Tablelands

JOIN A TAG ADVENTURE SOON AND YOU TOO CAN BECOME PART OF THIS BLOG!!

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RRR 2011

Posted on 12/06/2011 by TAG

It’s got to be the best fun to ride in a race, to stop when you want, to enjoy the views and not to feel the pain! This sums up the RRR for me and a mate who entered this iconic race in late May 2011. In its 21th year the RRR attracted about 350 entrants and ran for 40km – with a 30km add on for the super energetic, from Mt. Molloy down to Port Douglas. The scenery along the way is superb – if you have the time to enjoy it as we did, and takes in rural farmland, beautiful mountains and streams and then down the famed Bump Track which drops 325m over 2km – an exhilarating experience!. The ride ends with a superb stretch along the famous 4 Mile Beach at Port Douglas. Can’t wait to enter next year and now that we are ‘old hands’ we intend to close our eyes to the beauty and race!!

Race history and results can be found at www.cairnsmtb.com/rrr/

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Curri Curri Dreaming

Posted on 31/05/2011 by TAG

Misty Sunday morning waters viewed from an open tent fly, an Azure Kingfisher catches our attention low on the water as an Osprey pair tend a nest in a dead dry tree against a hazy blue sky – this is Curri Curri Dreaming…

This little known gem is situated on the eastern bank of Lake Tinaroo within an hour and a half’s paddling north of Tinaburra Peninsula and a half an hour east from Tinaroo Village. The 5 discreetly positioned bush camps are only accessible by water craft and offer no facilities apart from seclusion, tranquillity, a superb ambiance, birdlife….. and a fire ring for open wood fires! Visited by only those who seek out the simple pleasures of bush camping and occasional school groups, the sites are easily accessed by kayak, canoe and non powered watercraft but remember to take a hammock, good book and victuals – you will not be disappointed!!

More information including location maps, bookings etc. can be obtained off the DERM site.

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NEW XC MTB TRAIL ON TABLELANDS

Posted on 18/05/2011 by TAG

Congratulations to members of the Mareeba Mountain Goats Club for their initiative and hard work in getting the LITTLE TRANSFIELD CROSS COUNTRY RACE TRACK established.

The track is situated at Davies Creek just off the Kennedy Highway between Kuranda and Mareeba and offers a great half or full day out.

Comprehensive details including directions to the trail, maps and track description can be found at the Mareeba Mountain Goats website at http://web.me.com/mountaingoats

The Cairns MTB Club recently held its first XC event for the 2011 season at Little Transfield and race results can be found at their website: http://www.cairnsmtb.com/

Little Transfield has added another excellent cycling opportunity to the Tablelands which will benefit the local region as well as the ADVENTURE SPORTS reputation of FNQ.

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SILVER VALLEY RIDE

Posted on 17/05/2011 by TAG

Looking for a relatively relaxed 40 km ride out of the rain just 30 minutes drive from Yungaburra? Look no further than the Silver Valley Ride which starts just to the west of Herberton and ends at the Wild River west of Ravenshoe. The ride is all on good gravel, is relatively traffic free and travels through a range of open eucalypt country.

There are a few great downhills – with obligatory corresponding uphills, but the road is mostly easy rolling to undulating. There are Aboriginal rock paintings and historic mine features as well as a number of shady spots for picnics and smoko stops next to the Wild River along the way. Click on the photos for an enlargement and a sense of the ride.

Checkout our 3 day Outback Adventure ride!

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JOIN TAG’S BIKE ADVENTURE THIS WEEKEND

Posted on 19/04/2011 by TAG

WHEN: Full day Sunday or Monday (24 or 25 April) – YOU DECIDE

WHERE: 40 km circuit in sunny Irvinebank/Stannary Hills area

WE PROVIDE: Pick up in Yungaburra, transfers, quality cannondale mtb’s and helmets, vehicle backup, safety gear, smokos and lunch

YOU PROVIDE: Sunsmart cycle clothing, sturdy cycling shoes, water carrier/camelbak, A SENSE OF ADVENTURE

PRICE: $175/guest, discount for 3 or more, max. 7 guests

Checkout our recent adventure in the area.

CONTACT: Peter on 044 851 7979.

Posted in Adventure, Cycling, Exploring | Tagged adventure, biking, North Queensland adventure | Leave a comment

Be Aware – Myrtle Rust in Queensland

Posted on 18/04/2011 by TAG

Tableland Adventure Guides adheres to our Minimum Impact Policy which is predicated on the Australian and Queensland Government’s obligations ‘to protect, conserve, present and transmit the World Heritage Area to future generations’.

We are aware of and wish to publicise the presence of Myrtle Rust in Queensland and Australia.

“Bio Security threat – Myrtle Rust in Qld. National Parks

A serious new threat to our native vegetation may impact on bushwalking club activities. Myrtle Rust affects the Myrtaceae family of plants which dominates most Australian forests and woodlands, and is the second largest plant family in Queensland with 601 native species. This family includes eucalypts, bloodwoods, bottlebrushes, paperbarks, tea trees, lilly pillies and water gums.

Myrtle Rust has already been discovered in Lamington and Kondalilla National Parks.

Bushwalkers are asked to clean all their equipment, clothing and particularly hats before venturing into the bush. If a site is discovered, don’t touch it but photograph the affected plants and report the location.
Report all suspect plants immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/myrtle-rust.html

Thanking you.

John Marshall
Pres. BWQ”

Posted in Bush walking, Cycling | Tagged bushwalking, conservation, Wet Tropics, World Heritage Area | Leave a comment

STANNARY HILLS BIKE ADVENTURE

Posted on 11/04/2011 by TAG

We were looking for a 40km loop in the dry back country close to the Tablelands and having heard about Stannary Hills a group of cyclists decided to check it out last weekend; what a find!! Less than an hour west lies a multitude of back road biking opportunities in a remote outback type environment defined by Australiana mining camps and history which reveals the story of the pioneers of this country.

We started the ride at Watsonville – the settlement with the windmill in the middle of the road!!, and headed toward Irvinebank before turning off onto the well marked Stannary Hills Road. We were pleasantly surprised at the good condition of the gravel road as it had recently been graded and rolled making for a firm, level surface. The countryside has never looked better after one of the best rainfall seasons on record; creeks were running strongly and herbage and trees were a flourishing verdant green.

About 6km along Stannary Hills Road we took a right and headed north through beautiful rolling hills, perfect for cycling. The support bus was waiting for us at Stannary Hills Pioneer Cemetery and we had a walk through the small enclosure and quickly appreciated the sacrifices made by the hardy early settlers. After a welcome smoko we continued north to the site of the former Stannary Hills mining settlement which sits on top of a knoll and offers excellent views of the surrounding ranges.

After tin was discovered in the region in the 1880′s Stannary Hills developed into a sizable township expanding to 725 souls by 1906. Records show that at its peak there were 8 hotels, a number of stores, a hospital, two butchers, two bakers and a teacher.

In 1902 a two foot gauge tramway was built from Stannary Hills to the Cairns-Chillagoe railway, following the Eureka Creek valley and joining the railway at Boonmoo to the north. The tramway lowered the costs of transporting tin out of Stannary Hills and in 1907 it was extended south to Irvinebank’s tin mines, making Stannary Hills and Irvinebank a major base-metal region. Ref; Centre for the Government of Queensland, 2011.

Today most of this former infrastructure has disappeared and a few stone middens, mining overburden and artefacts are all that remain of the township.

We heard that parts of the former railway alignment are accessible and that one can get from Stannary to Dimbulah via Boonmoo but that’s another day and perhaps another story.

We backtracked to Stannary Hills Road and enjoyed the freedom of a wide, gently undulating road under a brilliant blue sky before reaching Montalbion on the Irvinebank to Petford Road. An easy 6 km had us back in Irvinebank for a snack and drink by 12.30am.

A most enjoyable day with excellent cycling, beautiful fauna and abundant opportunities to appreciate our history.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME EXPLORING THIS REGION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TAG AND WE WILL TAILOR MAKE A TRIP TO SUIT YOUR GROUP’S NEEDS AND INTERESTS.

Posted in Adventure, Cycling, Tracks | Tagged adventure, biking, cycling, North Queensland adventure | Leave a comment

Kahlpahlim Rock Hike

Posted on 08/04/2011 by TAG

What a beautiful hike this is!

We decided to get ‘out and about’ in late March and Dinden National Park in the Lamb Ranges was our destination – it always seems sunnier over that way at this time of the year. We had an early start and had time to view the impressive Davies Creek Falls which were running strongly after the heavy mid season rains. We chose the circuit route hike via the Ridge Trail which starts at about 750m on Davies Creek Road in open eucalypt forest and then rises on a former logging trail through beautiful Rose Gum forest.

We were fortunate to come across a superb 3.5metre Amethystine Python lying dead still in the middle of the track and were able to get close enough to take photographs before he moved off silently into the undergrowth – a good luck omen perhaps? We continued on through mixed forest including beautiful purple Kauri Pines before entering Casuarina and Banksia forest and a small patch of dense rainforest just before reaching Kahlpahlim Rock which lies at about 1,250m.

The rock itself is a huge feature and is visible on clear days from both the west near Mareeba and from south of Cairns. A rocky platform around and up a short distance on the eastern side normally affords excellent views, however on this day we had glimpses through the cloud to Lake Morris/Copperlode Dam as well as to Cairns and the Coral Sea.

The return trip is all downhill via a well worn snig track but be certain to turn right at the bottom of the track and cross the ‘bridge of heavy timbers’ which leads to the main car park.

It is then an easy 2km walk from the terminal point of Davies Creek Road to the put in car park. Be sure to stop for a swim in the clear and crisp Davies Creek on the way home!

Track Notes Distance – about 12.5km round trip. Allow 5 – 7 hours to do the circuit comfortably Track surface – former logging and snig tracks. Caution is required at present as the track is blocked in parts by fallen trees and debris after cyclones. Grade – moderate to quite strenuous.

Here’s a link to more info on Dinden and
Davies Creek NP.

Posted in Adventure, Atherton Tablelands, Bush walking, Exploring, Tracks | Tagged adventure, Atherton Tablelands kayaking, North Queensland adventure | Leave a comment

WELCOME TO THE WET TROPICS

Posted on 06/04/2011 by TAG

Ah the Wet Season- when is it going to end!. This is a common lament heard around FNQ anytime between January and April most years. I guess we – particularly those of us with itchy feet for outdoor adventure, get a bit frustrated about being confined indoors for part of the day.

I decided to have a look at long term records for Malanda – which sits about centre of the ‘wet’ part of the Atherton Tablelands – and see just how wet 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 were. Some interesting facts emerged which I share below.

Rainfall records have been collected from Malanda Post Office since 1916 – that’s 94 years ago, and these show that the long term average for the town is 1,693mm. By contrast, rainfall for 2010 totalled 2,887mm – the highest on record, with the closest comparable year being 1921 when 2,718mm fell! Rainfall for the 3 months January – March 2011 has been 1,300mm.

What the records don’t show is how lucky we Tablelanders really are. Apart from some minor forest damage caused by Cyclone Yasi, the rainforest is looking superb and wildlife is flourishing. Lake Tinaroo has been at full capacity since early January and Atherton Tablelands kayaking opportunities have never been better. There are waterflows off granite areas along Peterson Creek which have been running for 2 months with no sign of abating. Also the wet season has given us time to slow down, consolidate and prepare for a busy tourist season.

Finally to confirm how lucky we really are Mt. Bellenden Kerr weather station – approximately 30km north east of Malanda recorded 12,461mm in 2000. NOW THAT’S REAL RAIN! Inevitably though the monsoon system moves north in early May and we are blessed with CRISP, CLEAR DAYS AND COOL STARLIGHT NIGHTS ideal for adventuring and camping.

We look forward to welcoming you to the WET TROPICS for your for your chosen North Queensland adventure.