Monday 27 March 2017

HEADING OUTBACK WITH BILLY TEA SAFARIS

SEE IT ALL IN ONE DAY!


When you think of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland you think of Palm trees and all things "tropical". You think of lush rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef... right? Of course snorkeling and diving the reef and taking a walk through rainforest is a major draw card for the area (especially the Daintree Rainforest & Great Barrier Reef both being World Heritage Listed) and Cairns is the gateway to both. 

Most visitors to Australia don't realise that the real "Outback" is not just exclusive to the Northern Territory where Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon are. Many don't have time to fit this into their intineraries (Australia is massive, you know!) and what I bet you didn't know is that we have beautiful Outback easily accessible from Cairns in one day! There are so many tour options to do in and around Cairns it can be overwhelming however this adventure day tour is unique and different to all the rest. It really stands out and is different to any day tour I have written about thus far.

Let me enlighten you!

Billy Tea Safaris are a tour company running since 1981 and the tour to the Outback is one of it's kind and only available with Billy Tea. We were to be collected at our accomodations in Cairns before heading up over the Great Dividing Range away from the Tropical Coast to a real red earth experience!

As luck would have it, we were a small group on this day. Usually you are on the 4WD small buses.


Our friendly guide told us all about the different landscapes we passed through and the vegetation and history of the area. We left the Tropical Coast behind as we ascended up the Mcallistar Ranges to an area outside the country town of Mareeba. Our first stop of the day was Jabiru Safari Lodge. The Lodge is situated by wetlands where we were going to join a bird watching wetlands nature cruise . The Lodge is closed in the wet season and only opens for Billy Tea. Otherwise it is open to the public most of the year offering the cruise and more extensive bird watching and nature tours/experiences with accomodation.

We were greeted by a mob of Emus on arrival which made for some great photos and then moved inside to grab some morning tea. 

Emus, morning tea at the Lodge.

After pouring ourselves a local tea or coffee (this part of the world is known for growing good tea and coffee as it is the perfect environment for those crops) and scooping up a hand made biscuit we boarded the small vessel for our half hour tour on the water. It was a warm still morning with clear blue skies. Our guide told us all about how and why the wetlands are there and about various bird species. We spotted some native Black Swans taking flight on the other side of the lake. So peaceful and tranquil.
The beautiful tranquil wetlands at Jabiru Lodge.

The next part of the tour was pretty exciting! It was time for a real off road bush experience. We were to take the Douglas Track off the property which can only be done in a 4WD (and generally not in Wet Season so we were very lucky) however I will not lie and say I wasn't gritting my teeth at times and laughing nervously when we drove through mushy wet areas of the track. I know from my tour guiding days what it's like to get bogged (stuck) and I wasn't up for that! The scenery was stunning. Scattered throughout the drive were large termite mounds and for what is usually very dry and earthy there was a lot of tall grass from recent rains. You'll have to check out my movie on my Youtube channel to check out the drive on the track (the link is at the end of this blog).
Giant Termite mounds along the Douglas track.

Phew! We got through in one piece! What a super exciting real Outback experience. The scenery continued as we travelled through small country towns on route to our destination, the small town of Chillagoe. There was never a dull moment out the window with ever changing landscapes. The roads were also a mix of highway and small country bitumen roads to gravel compacted roads to complete read earth tracks. Always changing, always different. The 90 minutes of driving flew past, especially with all the commentary our guide gave about the areas we were passing through.

As we neared Chillagoe (our main stop for the day, a small country town around 200kms from Cairns) we came across quarries of large white rocks, well, these 'aint any normal rocks, they were marble. Magnifico! Chillagoe was once a large thriving mining town. In our census in 2011, there was 197 people residing there (yup... now a tiny town). Nowadays there is only the Marble quarries and a small Zinc Mine. 
Chillagoe Marble.

The main buildings of interest in the centre of town is the Information Centre (The Hub), Old Post Office (now a guest house) Town hall, General Store and historical Post office Pub. We stopped here to have a look around and check out some large marble up close while our guide organised our tickets for our afternoon's entertainment. 

We didn't come all this way just to see a quaint 'ole Aussie Country town..noooooo. The highlight of this tour was what we were to see just outside the town in the Chillagoe-Mungana National Park. We were going to visit the famous Chillagoe Caves. Yeeessssss!

But first, time to visit the ghost town that once was one of those busy mineral mines back in the  day, the old Copper Smelter. It was in operation in the early 1900's. In 1901 the railway to Chillagoe was completed which bought industry and wealth to the area and at times the mines, railway and smelter offered employment to around 1000 workers. The conditions for them at the smelter were horrific and slavery was rife. There is information panels at the site and your guide will give you loads of information about it's hey days. The Smelter closed in 1943 and equipment actioned off in 1950. The buildings  over time slowly weathered away and crumbled (making great pics for budding photographers). Billy Tea is the only tour that come here (unless you drive yourself). The place has a certain eerie feel to it, you can feel the history oozing from the smelter's walls and tall chimney stacks. You can hardly fathom the loss of life from such squalid working conditions today as it lays so peaceful. The landscape surrounding the smelter (which was built into a hill) is that very deep red rich mineral earth which is a stunning contrast to the bright blue sky in your photo's. It's a very pretty place. You have time to have a look around and check out the look outs. Unfortunately you cannot go into the buildings as it was not so long ago discovered to have some asbestos there.
Chillagoe Smelter. 

Time to visit a classic country pub for lunch! We had already pre-ordered our meals (on this day a choice of Barramundi & chips or beef burger) and could buy a wine/beer from the bar. Like most country pubs they are usually a little quirky and a tourist attraction within themselves. The Post Office Pub was no exception... my crumbed Barramundi was  delicious tucker as well.
A classic delicious Outback pub lunch. 
Heading out on dirt road slightly further west we gear up for our cave adventure. There are 3 main caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National park and 3 smaller ones. You must pay for your ticket and book a tour for the 3 main caves back at the visitors centre (The Hub) in Chillagoe. The smaller ones you can explore on your own. The 3 caves are lit differently so you can visit all 3 in one day and experience something unique in each one. One cave is lit with coloured lights, another cave is viewed by hand held torches and the cave we were to visit, Donna Cave had LED white lighting to guide us. Donna Cave has an awesome steep staircase straight down into the main cavern. The cave has 440 all up including some ladder-style stairs so you have to be comfortable and have enough mobility to be able to do this. There are also areas you need to crouch down and mind your head. They classify this tour a moderate fitness level. We visited Donna on this day because a re-firbishment was being done on another cave Billy Tea visits, so expect any of the caves to be included in your day.


Images from the National Park & Donna Cave.

So there is one area of the caves I got a pic of myself that is... well... it will either make you laugh or scratch your head. I let you decide!!!

After and hour it was time to unfortunately move on. The cave was beautiful and the stories and information from the guides intriguing and informative. If you don't come with Billy Tea Safaris and drive yourself, these guys will run a cave tour even for 1 person (run by National Parks).

After the cave experience we made a quick stop at an ancient indigenous classroom to look at some rock paintings. This is where the elders taught their children through art. The wall adjoins a rock shelter where there is evidence of a camp with a fire as there is soot stains on the roof. You don't always have time to visit the art so we were very fortunate.
Paintings, The camp & National Park.

The rest of the day was spent driving back to Cairns. We were supposed to have an afternoon stop at Mount Uncle Distillery and sample some local spirits however they were closed on this day so we missed out on the booze (boooooooo!). We stopped at a park in Mareeba to have some afternoon tea before descending back down the Range back to the coastal tropics to Cairns.

I highly recommend Billy Tea Safaris to Chillagoe. Dedicated passionate informative guides, interesting scenery, wonderful stories and a darn good 4WD in the Outback. We were a very small group (even their bigger vehicles are classified a "small group") so you get a very personal service and a lot of one-on-one time with your guide if you have any questions. This is a nature lovers paradise! Throughout the day we spotted many different bird species (Kites, Kookaburra's, Emus, Swans, Jabirus, 2 Black Necked Storks... that was rare to see, a Spoonbill and more). We spotted a couple of Frilled-Neck Lizards (and tried very hard to not run them over) and checked out the Termites. You're almost guaranteed to spot something cool nature wise and your guide will be able to tell you all about it. Billy Tea Safaris is a must do... I absolutely loved it!


Want to see more? Check out my movie on my Youtube channel! It's awesome!!!>>>


Want to book this tour??? Head to the Reef Information Centre in Cairns (part of the Hilton building) or jump online our website to book>>>http://www.reefinfo.com.au



HARD FACTS…

Visit time:
Whole day trip

Times:
07:00am  to around 6:00pm (varies depending on your hotel location)

Suitable for: 
  • Nature lovers & bird watchers.
  • Those who hold an interest in learning about our history & geography of the region
  • Not suitable for those clostophobic (because of the caves).
  • If you bring children, it's best they are already good travellers and won't talk aver the commentary. Not suitable for young children.
Fitness level (out of 5):
  •  ðŸ’ª   
Time of year:
  • All year round (subject to possible disruptions in wet season, December until April).
Price:

  • $230/Adult 
  • $220/Pensioner
  • $175/Child 
  • $675/Family 
*Prices my change as of the 1st of April 2017

Friday 17 March 2017

JUST MAGIC WITH REEF MAGIC!



I was getting cold sweats and itchy flipper feet. It had been too long between visits, I yearned, I pined to immerse myself in the deep blue. My stinger suit hung up in my closet for far too long. It was time to dust it off and head out to the Great Barrier Reef!

It is Wet Season here in the tropics of North Queensland, Australia. It rains on most days, the ocean is the temperature of a warm bath which is filled with venomous jellyfish and there can be a potential cyclone on our doorstep. Great conditions for a snorkel out on the reef (said no one ever).


via GIPHY

Thankfully we had stunning conditions forecast, calm seas and blinding sun. Last year was a fairly dry wet season and this season was shaping up to be the same. Not great news for the reef (as it is going through yet another bleaching phase) but good for me to scratch that itch and yearning for a reef day. Time to dust off that stinger suit!

After checking in with the lovely staff at the Reef Magic desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal (Cairns CBD) we boarded the fast cat for the 90 minute journey out to Moore Reef. The usual things take place on the trip out there. Safety briefings, snorkel briefings, dive briefings and Seabob briefings. Seabob?!? What's that I hear you say? All shall be revealed down the track.

After the final brief on arrival to the activity platform at Moore Reef we were greeted by pristine calm waters and were ready to rumble. 
A collage of Reef Magic's platform.

We disembarked the vessel and staked a claim on a table and got ready for our guided adventure snorkel straight away. We were to head out of the usual swimming area with our Marine Biologist Eric for the hour Snorkel Safari to the outer reef wall. Finally... after a few months my separation anxiety from the reef was over and we were once again frolicking in the sea. This was an epic guided snorkel, one of the best I had been on. 

We started off with not the best visibility but this is because of the current. There were so many fish in that section! Eric says it's just at that time every morning and in another half hour the fish will be gone. We were shown a diverse range of fish species included a Grey Whaler shark.

Moving along the coral colours only intensified. This made for some amazing photos however it was with great sadness as this means the corals are bleaching due to our Northern waters being too warm. This event is not only at this particular reef site but all over the reef accessible from Cairns and Port Douglas. There was still an abundance of sea life however and Eric was so informative, he really knew all his fishy stuff! I highly recommend this great value option for those who love a good swim and snorkel away from the crowds.

After an hour in the water (and some tired little legs) we made our way back to the platform for the buffet lunch. Hot & cold dishes, fresh prawns and salad. There was even sushi. Yummo!

With our bellies full we disregarded the "wait half an hour before swimming" rule... (who ever made that up... really!) and jumped in the water to explore the site inside the swimming area. Word of warning, the entry point  for snorkelling get's a little congested after lunch time, it seems everyone else had the same idea as us. Eventually we were in the water again. Peering through loads of legs and feeling like your in a game of dodge ball I did manage to  successfully watch and photograph the fish feeding and capture Wally, the Maori Wrasse who was out to play.

Exploring, the fish feeding and Wally the superstar. All taken on my hired camera from Calypso.


Next up was something I wish I had a Go Pro for. Those who know me know I am always cash poor... so hopefully one day my dream comes true. I had hired an Olympus TG-4 from>>>>>> http://calypsoproductions.com.au/cairns-underwater-camera-hire/ which took fabulous underwater photo's with fast shutter speed to catch all those darting fish. It wasn't suitable for our next adventure however. It was time for.....

THE SEABOB!


Broom broom! A Seabob is a lightweight luxury sea toy that runs on water propulsion. It was simple to use with 2 speeds and a toggle in the right handle you gently squeezed to GO. If on the higher speed, you can do tricks, back flips and barrel rolls under water. I did attempt a back flip but failed. I ended up too deep with my ears popping and had to let go of my vehicle. Thankfully no one saw this. Always keeping it classy.

So grab your Go Pro (or hire one from Calypso) and get amongst the reef in a whole new way. So much fun! Great for those adrenalin junkies out there.
How graceful you should look using your Seabob. Unlike me! Photo from Seabob-Ibiza website.

So it was nearing that time of day and our departure was imminent. Time flies when you're having fun as they say. But it wasn't all over yet...oh no. Not by a long shot. It was... 


time to.....
via GIPHY



We were truely blessed on this day and had the opportunity to fly back to Cairns via helicopter. For a little extra you can include a scenic flight in your day or fly to or from the activity platform skipping the 90minute boat cruise. Fly with GBR Helicopters in style!
Some of the beauty from the air. Photos from my iPhone.


What an action packed fun-filled day! There is something for everyone on Reef Magic's activity platform, whether you swim or not. Aside from the activities we did, there is also an underwater observatory and semi-submersible boat tour. You can also take a certified or introductory scuba dive or even a helmet walk. If you want to give snorkelling a go but are a little nervous and not so confident, you can join a Coral Gardens guided snorkel. One thing is for sure, never a dull moment and loads to do.

Want to know more? How about checking out my little fun movie on my youtube channel???


Thanks again to Calypso Camera hire (located at the Reef Fleet Terminal) and GBR helicopters. Of course, the BIG thanks goes to Reef Magic who looked after us so well from start to finish. 


WANT TO BOOK THIS TOUR??? HEAD TO REEF INFO HERE>>> http://www.reefinfo.com.au


HARD FACTS…

Visit time:
Whole day trip

Times:
09:00am  to 5:00pm-5:15pm (Check in from 8am Reef Fleet Terminal)

Suitable for: 
  • Not so good swimmers to good swimmers
  • Non-swimmers & elderly
  • Those who don't speak much English (announcements in multiple languages)
  • Those members in a family group seeking adventure when others don't
Fitness level (out of 5):
  •  ðŸ’ª 💪  
Time of year:
  • All year round (Stinger season is from October through to April)
  • Lycra suits provided  
Price:

  • $210/Adult levy SNORKEL
  • $105/Child SNORKEL
  • $525/Family SNORKEL
  • $125/Adult for first Introductory Scuba Dive or Helmet Dive on top of snorkel price
  • $45/Adult Adventure Snorkel Safari