Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

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Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby ben.h » Mon 11 May, 2015 11:24 am

Hi all,
I'd love some tips for our upcoming road trip starting in Townsville and camping our way up to Cairns via Mission Beach, back through Atherton Tablelands to Innisfail and back to Townsville (only 8 days).
We travel on a tight budget so we're camping where possible and using backpackers hostels otherwise. We're the sight seeing, nature, bush walking, camping type rather than hotel and organised activity types (if that makes sense).

Magnetic Island: (discounting Mt Cook and the west coast) can we comfortably walk the entire east coast of the island starting with the Nelly Bay to Arcadia track in a day return?
Any other tips based on our rough route below?

Night 1: Townsville
Night 2: Big Crystal Creek
Night 3: Mission Beach (via Paluma Falls)
Night 4: Cairns
Night 5: Cairns
Night 6: Tully Gorge NP
Night 7: Wallerman Falls
Night 8: Wallerman Falls
Night 9: Townsville

All advice appreciated!

Cheers,
Ben.
Last edited by ben.h on Mon 11 May, 2015 2:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby Pteropus » Mon 11 May, 2015 12:14 pm

Hi Ben,

South of Cairns and north of Innisfail is Wooroonooran National Park, where highlights are the lovely Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulders/Devil's Pool. The Babinda Boulders feature in Aboriginal legend due to deaths that occur in the creek, but there are more than enough warning signs to discourage swimming. It is a really beautiful area. Also, of course there is Qld's highest peak, Mt Bartle Frere (1622 m) in Wooroonooran NP.
On the Tablelands is Mount Hypipamee NP, with the interesting feature of The Crater. I have seen tree kangaroos in this area too. Of course there is the Curtin Fig between Yungaburra and Malanda, and the lesser known Cathedral Fig out the back of Lake Tinaroo. Another interesting place of interest on the Tablelands is the Tolga Bat Hospital, which is actually not located at Tolga, but just south of Atherton.

Cheers
Andrew
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby Skid » Mon 11 May, 2015 12:35 pm

Ben,

On Magnetic Island you can comfortably walk Nelly to Arcadia. The walk from Nelly through to Horseshoe Bay (via various bays along the way) is also easily done. The bus service is quite good so consider walking one way and catching the bus back.

There is a good swimming hole just south of Cardwell "Five Mile Swimming Hole" if you want to break up the Townsville/Cairns drive. (No camping there though)

Depending on dates and group numbers, I might be able to help out with a place to stay in Townsville.

Cheers,
David
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby ben.h » Mon 11 May, 2015 2:25 pm

Thanks Andrew and David.

@Andrew
Mount Hypipamee NP sounds good (we'd already flagged the crater!). We'll be staying at Tully Gorge NP that night. It looks like we could fit some shorter walks in (in Wooroonooran NP) on our way North on the Bruce Hwy. Is there anything you'd recommend in Wooroonooran that's accessible from the Palmerston Hwy?

@David
Thanks for the info. The swimming hole might make a good break. Re: Magnetic Island, getting the bus back to Nelly Bay sounds like a great plan!
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby Pteropus » Mon 11 May, 2015 3:16 pm

While I have been up the Palmerston Highway, I (unfortunately) never stopped. However, there is the Henrietta Creek Camp Ground and beautiful Nandroya Falls along that way.
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby nq111 » Mon 11 May, 2015 7:45 pm

Definitely can't to the coast of all of Magnetic Island in a day.

Probably the best day walk close to Townsville would be the Pinnacles, but you will need a softroader or 4x4 for access. There is also a little bit of scrambling towards the peak. The rockclimbers have marked a pretty good trail in these days but would still be best to have a GPS track for the latter parts and also if you get off track without an idea of the route it can be pretty hard to get back due to thick grass etc.

I should have a GPS track somewhere - let me know if you want it.
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby ben.h » Mon 11 May, 2015 7:56 pm

Thanks nq111,
Unfortunately we've rented the smallest (read cheapest!) little hatchback we could find.
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby ben.h » Mon 11 May, 2015 7:57 pm

Is Castle Hill (Townsville) worth scrambling up if we have a spare hour or two? If so, which track would be the track of choice (goat track looks nice and direct)?
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby nq111 » Mon 11 May, 2015 8:12 pm

ben.h wrote:Is Castle Hill (Townsville) worth scrambling up if we have a spare hour or two? If so, which track would be the track of choice (goat track looks nice and direct)?

Absolutely, the tracks are really good and thousands go up them every morning and afternoon.

Maybe also the Many Peaks Range walk at Pallarenda is worth a look - maybe a half day walk. Mt Marlow gives a nice panoramic view over the water and town common.

Just note Townsville has just had its driest wet season on record, so things are a bit brown and awful already (normally is still pretty green this time of year).
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby nq111 » Mon 11 May, 2015 8:16 pm

You could also maybe look at Alligator Creek falls, however the majority of the track is fairly ho hum OMO (last bit is ok). Unfortunately the better walking in this part of the world is off-track and not very accessible to visitors.
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Re: Magnetic Island, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands loop

Postby ben.h » Mon 11 May, 2015 8:23 pm

Thanks nq111.
Town Common. Excellent!
We're pretty short on time so we probably wont be able to travel south of Townsville on this trip therefore probably wont be able to get to Alligator Creek falls.
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