It offers plenty of reasons to Mena Creek’s history is flavoured leave the Bruce Highway to catch with the romantic story of Jose CASSOWARY COAST a glimpse of the sweet life in the Paronella, a Spanish immigrant TO THE ATHERTON tropics. Named for the men who with a dream and a passion for cut the sugar cane by hand with castles and hard work. In the 1930s TABLELANDS cane knives in the days before he opened his pleasure gardens mechanised harvesters, the and reception centre, Paronella Canecutter Way meanders from Park, powering the venture with the Coral Sea-lapped shores of hydroelectric generators. Today the laid-back Kurrimine Beach, past dream continues at this restored, cane land and papaya and banana intriguing venue. During the day, WATCH VIDEO plantations, through picturesque visitors are charmed by guided towns with old country pubs and tours, including the Tunnel of World Heritage-listed rainforest to The southern access to the Atherton Innisfail and the southern access Love. By night, the park presents a Tablelands provides a scenic drive to the Atherton Tablelands via the dramatic evening tour. along the 55km Palmerston Highway Palmerston Highway. Paronella Park was voted the from the coast, through Wooroonooran number one thing to do in the National Park, to the township of Millaa ATTRACTIO NS Kurrimine Beach is 2009 RACQ poll and has since Millaa at the top of the range. After famous for King Reef, which is so been recognised as the best major turning off the Bruce Highway 5km close to shore that walking tours are north of Innisfail, the vista opens out offered on the lowest of low tides. It tourism attraction in the region. Camping and cabin accommodation on to cattle and cane farm land with is also popular with fisher folk. breathtaking views of mountain fringed is available. A leading attraction nearby is the valleys and the southern aspect of Mt Berryman family’s Murdering Point Visitors can also stay locally at the Bartle Frere. Winery, where visitors can enjoy free caravan park and camping grounds guided tropical fruit wine tasting and with its six boutique cabins or at the At 1622m, this is Queensland’s discussion of the bush tucker and Mena Creek Hotel, which offers air- highest mountain. Continue past the locally sourced fruits used to make conditioned rooms (including family Nucifora tea plantation and into the the medal-winning wine. Quality room options). World Heritage rainforest, stopping en dry, sweet and fortified wines are route to experience the Mamu Tropical produced from fruits such as mango, Mena Creek is home to a number of Skywalk, a 350m elevated walkway passionfruit and lychee and bush walks, including the Gorrell Track, an in the traditional country of the Mamu tucker like Lemon Aspen. easy 3.7km to MacNamee Creek’s Aboriginal people. It offers close-up lush rainforest and picnic spot. The views of rainforest plants, insects and Follow the road to Silkwood, which cane train track runs through the birds high up in the rainforest canopy, maintains religious and cultural centre of South Johnstone so it is along with spectacular panoramic immigrant links with Italy. The a good place to grab a coffee or a views of the World Heritage Area, tradition of the Feast of the Three beer and experience the sight of the including North Johnstone River gorge Saints is celebrated on the first colourful little locomotives hauling and surrounding rainforest-clad peaks. Sunday of May, with a parade, feast cane bins to the local mill during the and fireworks. The town is home There are numerous camping areas sugar cane crushing season. and places to swim in the cool, fresh to Aussie Pepper and the smallest National Australia Bank building (no Next stop is Wangan where award- water of the North Johstone River longer a bank). winning pies are on offer. as you drive through Wooroonooran National Park. Sections of the Palmerston Highway are quite steep so observe the speed limits. Keep an eye WATCH VIDEO out for the overhead “possum ladders”, which allow native animals to cross from rainforest on one side of the wide road to the other without having to come to the ground and risk being hit by vehicles. The endangered Southern Cassowary and even feral pigs (definitely ground-dwellers) have been spotted along this section of highway. From Millaa Millaa continue on the Millaa-Malanda road or take the Old Palmerston Highway tourist drive (not suitable for caravans) to the Kennedy Highway north of Ravenshoe. 46 www.athertontablelands.com.au