Monday August 10
Off to Mt Mulligan today. After another 10 out of 10 breakfast we left Cairns around 9:30am. We were officially on the road at 10:15 after changing our hire car to a Prado 4WD. It was an easy drive via Mareeba then Dimbulah where the road became gravel and phone reception faded. The next 45 K’s to Mt Mulligan was a dirt road but amazingly good. We arrived as predicted at 1pm on the dot. We went to our room / villa - everything looked brand new and that’s because the resort only opened last year. We could have arrived by chopper but at $750 pp we decided a 2-3 hour 4WD trips was a better option.
We dropped our bags and headed to the restaurant for a really excellent lunch - lots of choices - we both opted for the barramundi. The resort is all inclusive including an open bar and complimentary mini-bar. There are a number of activities included + there is a lovely infinity pool, kayaks and paddle boards. the resort which is part of huge station is situated on a weir.
After lunch we had a bit of a walk but it was really too hot for walking so after an hour we returned for a rest - then it was time to drive our private golf buggy to the sunset bar (up a steep hill) for sundowners with the other guests (14 in total) - finally back to our room for showers then off to dinner - again excellent except the main (duo of pork for both of us) was a bit cool - however the free flow of excellent wine (a chardy and a pino) made up for it. Finally off to bed with a rough idea of going kayaking at sunrise to spot birds.
Tuesday August 11
We didn’t quite make our sunrise birdwatching kayak - slept in. After coffee on our terrace we had breakfast around 8:15 - excellent - poached egg on avocado toast. We set out at 10am for our 4x4 tour to the old mining town - every couple got to drive their own electric 4x4 - much more powerful than our golf buggy. So it over hill, over dale - to the old mining town and site of the mine. The history is very tragic - 87 men lost their lives in 1922 in Queensland's worst mining accident - the mine was reopened and continued to operate until the mid-50’s. tThe own had several hundred residents - 3 cricket pitches and 4 tennis courts. When the mine was closed the town died and residents packed up everything including their houses and transported them away on the train line. The government eventually tore up the train line for the raw material. There are still a few remnants of the mine and the town. Our last stop of the morning was the cemetery when many of those who died in accident were buried.
After another excellent lunch and a rest we took a couple of kayaks out on the weir - it was still pretty hot but the weir was calm and some idle paddling was most relaxing. On exiting my kayak I managed to tip over into the water - yuck - all wet with muddy reef shoes - fortunately no one, except Dieter, was watching - he was reluctant to laugh too hard as he had done the same thing when we were kayaking at Saffire Lodge in Tasmania.
We started our pre-dinner drink with a bottle of French Champagne (purchased via our resort credit) - we wisely saved half for the next night. Then dinner and off to bed.
Wednesday August 12
Up at 7am for a Nespresso on our terrace watching the birds and kangaroos around the weir. It was then avocado on toast with a poached egg for brekkie - again ! This morning’s tour was a 4x4 around the property checking out the cattle and watering holes - with morning tea under a coolabah tree (was really a Melaleuca) - then a race home.
Lunch was the usual yummy fare followed by siesta time and a dip in the pool. There were 5pm sundowners at the sundowner shed - chatting to a couple of new arrivals. One couple currently from Brisbane - met in Cooktown where the wife grew up - she remembered Hans Loser the Austrian tour guide we had 20+ years ago on a day trip to Cooktown from Cairns.
We finished off our French Champagne for dinner and both had salmon - diet starts Monday.
During the mornings and late afternoon we saw many birds - various rosellas, lorikeets and kingfishers and the odd blue winked kookaburra.
Thursday August 13
So farewell to Mt Mulligan. We drove straight through to Cairns just in time for a late lunch at Hemmingway’s - mushroom tacos (again). After a lazy afternoon we had dinner at the Waterbar & Grill - very good evening.
Friday August 14
It was back to Sydney today - QF to Brisbane then Jetstar to Sydney. Walked in the door around 5:30pm - we were tired and hungry after not having any lunch so we just went to Ventuno’s for a pizza.