RAVENSHOE

This was the first substantial town we encountered after so much outback travel.

The surprisingly generous visitor centre had a rainforest theme and great textile works on display. The fabric leaves were the inspiration of local textile artist Tess Daughtry who died in 1988.

There was also an excellent gallery with information and artifacts relating to local Aboriginal people.

Just out of the town were the Millstream Falls, reputedly the widest, single drop waterfall in Australia. It is so refreshing to have left the dusty, arid areas behind, and to travel now in lush tropical parts of Queensland.

Near the falls was an WW11 historic site where soldiers were trained for and rested from SE Asian battlefields.

From there we drove through picturesque countryside past Windy Hill where the giant wind turbines whirred and the black and white Fresian cows grazed on the hillsides. The weather was sunny, with a gentle, fresh breeze blowing as we headed down the long, winding descent towards Atherton.

At Atherton we bought fresh fruit and veggies and asked about camping in the Danbulla NP/state forest.