Paronella Park

We set off from Cape Hillsborough at a reasonable hour, considering we had to reach Coral Coast CP in Townsville for the stop-over that night, a distance of about 375 km. Once we were cruising north on the Bruce Highway a tail breeze settled in behind us and reduced our fuel consumption by an astounding amount. Our fuel consumption was reduced by about 3 litres per 100 k, this amounts to about $4.20 every 100 k. Every time we stay or pass through Townsville we have a "must do" and that is visit Jude's "Uncle" Jack, age 88, and "Auntie" Val, age 86, to see how they are fairing. The next morning saw us on the road again with our destination being Paronella Park. We have wanted to visit Paronella Park for some time and now we have finally achieved this goal. We were able to camp at the park and tour the grounds almost at will. We were amazed at the vision, perseverance and ability of Jose in creating this wonder of a place. Fortunately the current owners have a similar love and vision in the restoration of Paronella Park. We would urge everyone to visit Paronella Park just to witness what one person can achieve with a single minded vision.

Always thinking of our stomachs, we had to call into 'Frosty Mango' for a delicious mango icecream in a sugar cone, yum.

Further up the road and now it is lunch time beside Liverpool Creek, Japoonvale.

Another shot of Liverpool Creek and the single lane bridge. Three caravans are pulled in for lunch at the very wet and slushy park.

Our camp spot at Paronella Park.

The following shots are not in any orderly sequence. This is what is left of the 'Grand Ballroom'. Cyclones and fire have ravaged the structure.

Mena Creek flowing over the water fall. The waterfall is the prominent feature throughout the park. They've had plenty of rain up here, as you can see the creek level is very high.

The grand staircase takes you from the creek level up to the ballroom level. If you look closely on three of the stair risers you will see markers indicating flood levels, the uppermost marker were the floods of 1946, on that occasion a log jam downstream caused the huge flood.

The suspension bridge over the top of the waterfall.

The front of the 'Grand Ballroom'.

Still another view.

This is the actual cottage that Jose and his family lived in while construction of 'The Castle' was in progress.

The entrance to 'The Castle'.

A walkway outside 'The Grand Ballroom'.

The stage at the end of the 'Grand Ballroom'.

A pavilion and a fountain at the tennis courts. The fountain is fed by gravity from Mena Creek. The courts are located to the right of this shot.

The toilet block and viewing deck at the tennis courts. All the grounds were devastated by Cyclone Larry in 2006 but look at this regrowth.

Turtles in Mena Creek.

Another victim of Cyclone Larry.

The Kauri Avenue, the waterfall can be viewed at the end of this avenue.

There is a mass of green bamboo along the Mena Creek.

This is a bridge over another smaller creek.

At the end of 'Lovers Walk' is this entrance to 'The Tunnel of Love'. The tunnel is now inhabited by micro bats.

From the far side of Mena Creek looking back over the waterfall and under the suspension bridge towards 'The Castle' and it's position at the top of the cliff.