The Savannah Way is a collection of roads and highways that run from Cairns on the east coast to Broome on the west coast. It is a very popular northern east west route. The landscape changes from the coastal lush grasslands and rainforest of the coastal regions to the arid semi dessert of central north west QLD.
Angela had found another biodynamic dairy and 'Out of the Whey' tea rooms. We stopped for Devonshire Tea with real Jersey cream, highly rated by all. The farm chooks knew exactly that people eating outside meant dropped crumbs and would happily jump up on the table in search of a tasty morsel. On the way back to the main road there was a waterfall loop. The loop was about 15km through rainforest and dairy country to visit Ellinjaa, Zillie and Millaa Millaa Falls (and no we didn't just make those names up). The Millaa Millaa falls were a popular stop on the bus tours and when we arrived was full of our English friends swimming in a huge hole. All three falls were huge dropping some 20m or more either into a big pool or on to massive boulders.
Zillie Falls
As the time was against us we left the lush coastal lands behind and in less than 100km the country became drier and very rocky, we were back in the arid heartland again. We motored on toward Mount Surprise, and it became quite obvious that we were not going to arrive until quite late. The next town we arrived at we called ahead and booked in at Bedrock Village. We finally arrived at 6:30pm and had a quick setup before the last of the light disappeared. This park rated very highly in Angela's view because the camp kitchen included an oven. Yes, it is the simple things in life (yes Andrew C that's why Angela married Nicholas). No sooner were the children fed, showered and put to bed, and Angela was on the Internet looking for shortbread recipes that would work with the ingredients she had. As normal Angela made some yummy shortbread.
Sunday morning after pack up the girls had a game of mini golf before the drive to Croydon. No, we are not coming home; there is a Croydon in QLD also. On the way to Croydon was passed the Cumberland processing site. All that is left is a huge chimney, and no information plaque. We were only able to determine it was Cumberland because it was mentioned at Croydon.
We arrived at Croydon in time to have a late lunch and because it was Sunday none of the tourist spots were open but the caravan park had a swimming pool and it was hot enough for a swim after a setup. Croydon is a great little town and the council owned caravan park is run by a 30-something bloke on his own! Not an easy job particularly when we turn up early afternoon to check in and interrupt his afternoon ale. Poor bloke every time he started doing something another carload would turn up to check in. Sunday night was movie night for the GNs in the park. Out came the data projector, screen and DVD player and on went Quartette, at 6:30 so it would finish in time for the GNs to get a good night sleep. We put on Alvin and the Chipmunks in our trailer for the girls. It was a really nice night and I am sure that the relative royalties were surrendered.
Monday morning after a packup we went on a tour of the town. For such a small town the history was done really well by the council and all for no charge. The original Sergeant's quarters had a lot of history about the area from when gold was discovered and brought an influx of people to the area to make Croydon the forth largest town in QLD. The Chinese came in great numbers and the mines ran continually until WWI when most of the labor force left for war and adventure! The mines never recovered and eventually all were closed. The last remnant mine is at the front of the caravan park with a windmill to remove water from the shaft.
With the Sergeant's house is the original cells, courthouse, and town hall. The courthouse has the original furniture and a recording of an original trial from the 1860s (not the actual recording but a new recording from the original transcripts). We sat and listened to the defendant be sentenced to two months for use of offensive language. They even had a QR code to stream the recording from the Internet (can you find it?). The town hall still had a film projector at the back and a couple of cans of film.
The tourist information centre also had a great display and a short film where some original residents explained what life was like. Outside were some of the original houses of the 1860s. Very well done. If you are ever up this way stop in for an afternoon.
After Croydon we continued on the Savannah Way to Normanton. In contrast, Normanton didn't do their rich history very well. The biggest claim Normanton had was the World Record crocodile that was shot near here in the 1950s. They have a fibreglass model of the 8.6m long monster, it was truly a scary size, with a head large enough to fit any of the kids inside. The original Burns Phillp store building is still standing in town and is massive for the size of the town, easily the same floor area as most Coles or Woolworths supermarkets in Melbourne. Out the back was a strong room that once held gold from Croydon about 250km away. Once the town ran out of 2 & 5£ notes so Burns Phillp co printed their own currency so they could continue to trade.
The park we stayed at in Normanton had a huge 25m swimming pool which was great for a swim and some laps. Unfortunately the park was next to a building site which started pouring concrete at 6:30am.
After Normanton we left the Savannah Way for Cloncurry.
1. "The simple things in life" maybe, but maybe things were not that bad that Nicholas was the only choice.
ReplyDelete2. Chantelle in court was not in the prisoner's dock?
3. Bianca locked in the cells. I am assuming you went back for her, as she appears in later text.