FNQ Part I: Chillagoe

We started our FNQ trip with a three hour drive up the mountains and over the tablelands west of Cairns to a small town called Chillagoe. It is on the edge of the outback. The roads turn to dirt about thirty kilometers out and you start to have to pull over to avoid three trailer road-trains and associated debris. You can still manage in a two wheel drive without problem and the town itself is actually surprisingly developed.

We had all been sick with rolling colds for months preceeding the holiday and we were hoping for an end to it. Unfortunately, it continued for all of us. Elliot was a little unsettled at times in Chillagoe. He was complaining of weird pains and asking to go home. Despite this he did have a good time running around the caves and splashing in the pool at the cabin where we were staying.

On the road

Old smelters: A huge industrial site in its time

Smelters again: Camera processing gone berserk.

Paper barks by the local water hole

It was warm but did rain

A carry reward after a bushwalk

On The Ramparts: The area is full of interesting geology.

Hanging out in the cave: possibly discussing the art on the walls

Mungana Township: Ghost Town near Chillagoe

An old boiler: There is lots of this stuff lying around out there.

Presumably there were houses here.

Now the termites rule.

Entering the Arches cave at Mungana

An interesting self guided cave: Elliot loved it.

We did a guided cave tour under this interesting rocky feature. More outback weirdness.

Attempt to photograph in the beautiful Chillagoe sunset: he refused to smile or look at the camera.

Smiling while climbing a tree at the Mungalli Creek Dairy: The milk from this place is unbelievably good. We made sure we went past on the way to Mission Beach, our next stop...