One of the highlights of our trip up to the Cape was a last minute decision to detour out to Chilli Beach and Portland Roads .In the Iron Range National Park,The road in is about 110km,but it can take up to five hrs to cover it.
The park is world significance as it has the largest area of remnant lowland rainforest in OZ. The rainforest supports eclectus parrots,palm ****atoos,cassowaries green pythins and spotted cuscus.Other plant communities with in the park include open forest mangroves and extensive heath lands.
Camping is allowed near Claudia river and Gordon Creek Crossings,but we camped at the eastern end of Chilli Beach fees apply.
All the sites are like mini-sanctuaries hidden behind swaying palms right beside the beach.
Our entertainment for most of the late arvo was watching Brush Turkey's often mistakenly called Bush Turkey's.
They played in the scrub and were making a feast from the newly fallen coconuts,picking away until they broke into it.( this went on for hrs )
Camping here is one of the best places I have ever had the privilege of ever been to, truly one word MAGNIFICENT.
It is prohibited now to drive along the beach
Fantastic fishing from the beach it is long and wide and fringed with palms.
If you have a small boat the islands off shore are really accessible.
The reef extends right to the shore.The waters are crystal clear and the fishing around the off shore islands is spectacular.
Most of the people we met on our trip up to the Cape where from O/S.They fly to Cairns rent an off road camper and then find them self in all kinds of bother,once they leave the bitumen at Musgrove Station Road house....
A bit of trivia to add to this little piece of our trip is that the first two men to drive to the tip of the Cape,came from NZ and drove; would you believe a 7hp little baby Austin . They floated it across the croc infested rivers by tying logs together ,this was in the very early 1928.
What wimps we all felt like when we learnt of this.....
The biggest surprise of this little detour was heading into Portland Roads and out of the blue this blue and white newish sign said ..
OUT OF THE BLUE CAFE...we looked at each other and said someone must be playing a joke...was this some kind of joke!!! in such a remote area,A café in the middle of know where,,, it turned out to be a beautiful little village last count population 9 .It was like finding an Oasis in the middle of the bloody red dirt. We jumped out of the Troopy and was almost running to this café ,as if it was going to disappear and we had to stop it before it did. Turns out the youngish couple who own this fantastic café are doing a roaring trade via the tourist trade in the dry season,the husband used to be a pro fisherman but sold his licence and brought or stated this venture up. The menu mainly consists of fresh sea food, but it is the best one would ever want to eat and the cheese cake is to die for and the brewed fresh coffee,..sitting on the deck looking out to the ocean is better than anyone could imagine. ..million dollar views all for less than what a feed at Mac's would cost.
Portland Roads is another adventure I will fill you in on next time.
Regards Herbie.
-- Edited by herbie on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 01:03:34 AM
bill12 said
05:50 AM Jul 9, 2013
Great place ! One of my mates was the caretacker on Restoration Is, where Capt. Bligh took shelter after the mutiny, and except for the wind, its a good version of paradise.Is the post office stillopen at Portland roads. More friends from Cairns used to run it.There is a lot of history and ww2 remnants in the area if you look.Not a greatroad for cvans. Last time I was there, a Kedron and 100 ser.was rolled,and destroyed nearby.But, I for one, will be back, some day. Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:35:45 AM
-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:35:45 AM
No Post Office as such, there in the mid-80's Bill. The mail was collected by Ross Pope, [Portland Roads resident mailman,] from Lockhart River and brought back. As you said, lots of history and interesting stories up there.
Last year, there were at least 3 properties in Portland Roads for sale. Sure Wish I could win Lotto.
Did you ever know Gregor Hardy ? His place was one of them. Always loved that place. [Ex. Gun emplacement during the war.]
3rd Pic. is of the Deck, looking North, with the Fuel Barge [for the Trawlers] in View. [Red ship]. You can pick Coconuts right off the deck.
Portland Roads is to the left, at bottom of above Pic.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 09:30:21 PM
Aust Post services Portland Roads mail through the Cairns Mail Centre
Telecom has built a telephone exchange which provides phn and a fax service now.
You can fax ypur food order through to Woolworths/Coles in Cairns mid week and it can be collected on sunday morning.
They even have their own weather channel on computer it is called WILLY WEATHER.
We counted about 10 houses /shakes perched on the side of Aylens Hills ( think that is what it is called )
Now what more could one want living in a paradise like this.
Palebushman said
04:42 PM Jul 12, 2013
bill12 wrote:
Great place ! One of my mates was the caretacker on Restoration Is, where Capt. Bligh took shelter after the mutiny, and except for the wind, its a good version of paradise.Is the post office stillopen at Portland roads. More friends from Cairns used to run it.There is a lot of history and ww2 remnants in the area if you look.Not a greatroad for cvans. Last time I was there, a Kedron and 100 ser.was rolled,and destroyed nearby.But, I for one, will be back, some day. Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:35:45 AM
Yep, your right about Restoration Island Bill. Not sure if your mate is the current caretaker, but my brother-in-law owns the island (the part that isn't National Park) and he is always looking for willing helpers. If you need more info, do please PM me.
One of the highlights of our trip up to the Cape was a last minute decision to detour out to Chilli Beach and Portland Roads .In the Iron Range National Park,The road in is about 110km,but it can take up to five hrs to cover it.
The park is world significance as it has the largest area of remnant lowland rainforest in OZ. The rainforest supports eclectus parrots,palm ****atoos,cassowaries green pythins and spotted cuscus.Other plant communities with in the park include open forest mangroves and extensive heath lands.
Camping is allowed near Claudia river and Gordon Creek Crossings,but we camped at the eastern end of Chilli Beach fees apply.
All the sites are like mini-sanctuaries hidden behind swaying palms right beside the beach.
Our entertainment for most of the late arvo was watching Brush Turkey's often mistakenly called Bush Turkey's.
They played in the scrub and were making a feast from the newly fallen coconuts,picking away until they broke into it.( this went on for hrs )
Camping here is one of the best places I have ever had the privilege of ever been to, truly one word MAGNIFICENT.
It is prohibited now to drive along the beach
Fantastic fishing from the beach it is long and wide and fringed with palms.
If you have a small boat the islands off shore are really accessible.
The reef extends right to the shore.The waters are crystal clear and the fishing around the off shore islands is spectacular.
Most of the people we met on our trip up to the Cape where from O/S.They fly to Cairns rent an off road camper and then find them self in all kinds of bother,once they leave the bitumen at Musgrove Station Road house....
A bit of trivia to add to this little piece of our trip is that the first two men to drive to the tip of the Cape,came from NZ and drove; would you believe a 7hp little baby Austin . They floated it across the croc infested rivers by tying logs together ,this was in the very early 1928.
What wimps we all felt like when we learnt of this.....
The biggest surprise of this little detour was heading into Portland Roads and out of the blue this blue and white newish sign said ..
OUT OF THE BLUE CAFE...we looked at each other and said someone must be playing a joke...was this some kind of joke!!! in such a remote area,A café in the middle of know where,,, it turned out to be a beautiful little village last count population 9 .It was like finding an Oasis in the middle of the bloody red dirt. We jumped out of the Troopy and was almost running to this café ,as if it was going to disappear and we had to stop it before it did. Turns out the youngish couple who own this fantastic café are doing a roaring trade via the tourist trade in the dry season,the husband used to be a pro fisherman but sold his licence and brought or stated this venture up. The menu mainly consists of fresh sea food, but it is the best one would ever want to eat and the cheese cake is to die for and the brewed fresh coffee,..sitting on the deck looking out to the ocean is better than anyone could imagine. ..million dollar views all for less than what a feed at Mac's would cost.
Portland Roads is another adventure I will fill you in on next time.
Regards Herbie.
-- Edited by herbie on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 01:03:34 AM
Great place ! One of my mates was the caretacker on Restoration Is, where Capt. Bligh took shelter after the mutiny, and except for the wind, its a good version of paradise.Is the post office stillopen at Portland roads. More friends from Cairns used to run it.There is a lot of history and ww2 remnants in the area if you look.Not a greatroad for cvans. Last time I was there, a Kedron and 100 ser.was rolled,and destroyed nearby.But, I for one, will be back, some day. Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:35:45 AM
Bob
No Post Office as such, there in the mid-80's Bill. The mail was collected by Ross Pope, [Portland Roads resident mailman,] from Lockhart River and brought back. As you said, lots of history and interesting stories up there.
Last year, there were at least 3 properties in Portland Roads for sale. Sure Wish I could win Lotto.
Did you ever know Gregor Hardy ? His place was one of them. Always loved that place. [Ex. Gun emplacement during the war.]
3rd Pic. is of the Deck, looking North, with the Fuel Barge [for the Trawlers] in View. [Red ship]. You can pick Coconuts right off the deck.
Portland Roads is to the left, at bottom of above Pic.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 09:30:21 PM
Aust Post services Portland Roads mail through the Cairns Mail Centre
Telecom has built a telephone exchange which provides phn and a fax service now.
You can fax ypur food order through to Woolworths/Coles in Cairns mid week and it can be collected on sunday morning.
They even have their own weather channel on computer it is called WILLY WEATHER.
We counted about 10 houses /shakes perched on the side of Aylens Hills ( think that is what it is called )
Now what more could one want living in a paradise like this.