Cardwell QLD (Cassowary Coast)

Wednesday 21st July 2021
Well we had a lovely rest day yesterday (Tuesday 20th) after our big 4 day hike. We just walked to the shops for some groceries, to the seafood shop for some fish and then drove 50km to Ingham for my 2nd Covid jab as there was a misunderstanding and the practice at Cardwell was closed. So that was the extent of activity for yesterday. Mostly rest, rest, rest. Yay!

Today we went on the Cardwell forest drive. We visited Cardwell Lookout, Hinchinbrook Channel Lookout, Cardwell-Rockingham Bay Lookout which all just had minor differences of views out towards Hinchinbrook Island. Next stop was the Waterfalls at Upper and Lower Attie Creek, then Dead horse creek and the Spa Pool. It was a lovely drive along a dirt road through the forest.

Then on to Girramay National Park. It was very low tide and the mud flats to Hinchinbrook Island were very very soft, like quick sand you just sunk in them. We did the return Wreck Creek Walk (about 5km) through coastal scrub, crossing tidal mangrove creeks via bridges, and then onto the beach 300m south of Wreck Creek. From the beach you can see the scenic backdrop of Hinchinbrook Island’s craggy skyline. We saw a beautiful red butterfly and also the elusive Ulyssees butterfly which was its usual vibrant blue. We also saw some kangaroos on the drive our but unfortunately again their were no crocs, cassowaries or snakes.

Well today is our last day in Cardwell, we will check out the Covid situation in Cairns before deciding where to head next tomorrow.

: Hinchinbrook Island from Cardwell Lookout

: Hinchinbrook Island Lookout

: Upper Attie Creek

: Attie Creek Falls

: Lower Attie Creek

: Dead Horse Creek

: Spa Pool was a milk blue colour and very busy..

: ..these were the cars that didn’t fit in the carpark. It is madness everywhere..

: ..except in Girramay National Park. No-one else around as we drive through the national park..

: ..to the beach overlooking Hinchinbrook Island..

: These mudflats were like a sinking pit and quicksand.

: Our lonlely little car, it isn’t used to being on its own.

: A little information about the animals of the Girramay National Park.

: Looking for a croc in the creek..

: ..as we walk to Wreck Creek. The low-lying area has a wonderful variety of vegetation including lowland rainforest, open eucalypt forest, paperbark woodland, sedge swamps and extensive mangrove forests..