Australia, Road Trips, Travel

Have you been to Yungaburra?

Suzanne

Queensland Roadtrip Pt4

After leaving The Daintree Rainforest area, we headed south and inland. It was a long scenic drive down to the Atherton Tablelands. After making camp in Atherton itself, we were in the centre of most places we wanted to explore.

This is the first of many moments we enjoyed in this area. The Yungaburra area is approximately 20kms from Atherton township and was a real delight to explore.

The following are just a few of the places we visited.

Yungaburra Township

Yungaburra Pub

‘Yungaburra’ is a local Yidindji Aboriginal word either meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘place of questioning’. Before becoming Yungaburra, the settlement was known as Allumbah Pocket.

The first place we set our eyes on arrival was a quirky looking second-hand bookshop. Even though we were at the stage of absolute hunger, we held off the desires of food and caffeine. To have a long browse through the aisles, and there were a few, Quite pricey books and I left with only one in my hand.

The Bookshop.jpg

“If minutes were kept of a family gathering, they would show that “Members Not Present” and “Subjects Discussed” were one and the same. Robert Brault

Tree art .jpg

Mad Hatterz Cafe
The Mad Hatterz Cafe, where the ladies were in full bloom with flowering hats, with a bubble machine greeting you on arrival.

Time to sort out that food and drink deprivation, ponder for a moment the above quote written on the bookshop wall, the tree in bikinis. Then enjoy a walk.

Peterson Creek

Signpost

The river

We started off reading the usual well-signed boards letting us know what was in store.

Dowling Corridor.jpg

The Peterson Creek Wildlife Corridor Project provides an example of government, community and landholders working together to achieve benefits for biodiversity conservation.

Les walking along the path

From our perspective, they have achieved a fantastic shady oasis to enjoy a walk and hopefully be rewarded with a view of a native species. Just one we wanted to see, the Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. Also known as Duck-billed Platypus.

We were delighted to find that this egg-laying, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, venomous mammal actually does exist. The sole living representative of the family Ornithorhynchus, the male has a spur on its hind leg that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. Astonishingly, we were told it is estimated that over 95% of Australians have probably never seen one in the wild.

Having spotted a few as we moved along the river and met other locals who knew the platypus’s habits more than us, and eagerly pointed them out to us.

Platyplus

Weren’t we the lucky ones.

If you happen to be walking the circuit at the Peterson Creek on Friday mornings may come across a small band of volunteers in blue shirts working. They are “the old guys in blue” and members of the Yungaburra Landcare Group, a community-based, not-for-profit organisation working on Federal Government-funded revegetation projects.

Ther is a lot to be said for people who give their time very generously to keep these places thriving for visitors to enjoy.

There ends a shortish walk with it warming us up for our next just down the road.

A 500-year-old Curtain Figtree

Les walking toward Fig Tree

Definitely has that wow effect on first sight, leaving us both standing still and looking up for what seemed like ages. Even with previous knowledge that it was going to be humungous, we were impressed.

How did it form?

Firstly, the seed was deposited in the host’s tree’s crown. Germination began, and the first root reached the ground underneath. Eventually, more roots descended and strangled the host tree.

In the case of this Curtain Fig tree, its differentiating feature is in its early stage. Meaning that the host tree fell, not to the ground, but onto a neighbouring tree. Leaving the host propped at about forty-five degrees.

The Curtain Figtree 2

The fig tree roots continued to descend vertically to the ground from this forty-five-degree angle which in turn created the curtain-like appearance.

Eventually, when the host tree aged and rotted away, the fig tree was left standing on its own.

The Curtain Figtree

As so much in the surrounding area was cleared for farming, we thought this tree was extremely fortunate to still be here. It’s saving grace was perhaps the basalt boulders covering the forest floor around it’s base resulting in unsuitable for European agricultural endeavours.

A magnificent evolving creation of time, nature and circumstance.

Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

41 thoughts on “Have you been to Yungaburra?”

  1. Pingback: Custodians of Regional Stories – Life at No. 22

  3. Okay, firstly, thanks for taking us there. I’ve never been further north of Agnes Waters but we are planning a massive road trip, so who knows? Secondly, fab photos, but thirdly, and most importantly, I LOVE that family quote – and will be using it. #MLSTL

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  8. That sounds like a town that I’d love to visit…and any shop with a bubble machine is tops in my book. I continue to love to visit different places and seeing them through your eyes. That tree is so unique and beautiful.

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    1. Thanks very much Jennifer. I must admit the bubbles were a bit quirky and luckily didn’t land into our coffee. The over elborate hats had me smiling and the Squire thought they were a bit of the top just to serve coffee 😊

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  14. Another great little Aussie town – I love all the names we have for places and for each quaint and unique little spot with the shops and the tourist walks etc. I’ve never seen a playpus in the wild so it was great seeing your pic.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂

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  16. Isn’t that strange. Living up in Cairns for a few years and visiting the Daintree i don’t think I have ever been there. isn’t it a stunning place. your photos are awesome. thank you so much for sharing. #MLSTL

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    1. Hi Julz, at least you were out and about enjoying the wonderful countryside. They are very shy creatures and we were lucky to chat with a local who pointed out various places to view them. The tree was amazing to view. Nature is certainly incredible when left to her own devices and not destroyed.

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