Travel. Australia. Queensland.
A Day in the Atherton Tablelands
English cream tea and volcanic lakes in tropical north Queensland.
The A1 road took me south from Cairns, my destination the Atherton Tablelands. The weather was hot and humid, and the English style road signs looked strangely out of place alongside fields of sugarcane and other tropical crops.
It was October 2018 and my academic career had brought me to Queensland, Australia, to attend the Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia annual conference.
After a wonderful week in Brisbane, I decided to take a couple of weeks off, hiring an elderly budget campervan to explore the far north of Queensland, from Cairns to the Cape York Peninsula.
My first destination was the Atherton Tablelands, known for its volcanic geology, spectacular landscapes, rich soils and delicious locally grown vegetables and tropical fruit. They also happen to be just a short scenic drive from the beautiful and relaxing tropical city of Cairns.
The Tablelands are also a paradise for nature lovers, with ancient rainforest, amazing birding aplenty and an extraordinary array of fascinating plants and wildlife. There is much to see, and it was hard to choose where to start with just a couple of…
