Lions Den Hotel, Helenvale.

Many of the places we are visiting this time around we visited some sixteen years ago, The Lions Den Hotel at Helenvale is one of those places. We can faithfully report that not a lot has changed with 'The Pub' but there is a 'New Deck' for outside dining and drinking. There is also a large camping area out the back, don't think that was there previously, either. We hear through the "Traveller Chat Line" that the Lions Den Hotel is for sale if you can anti up the required 2.5 million they are asking. The Bloomfield Track passes out front, so we went for a drive down to Bloomfield to see the waterfalls there. We were expecting an adventurous driving experience but were non-plussed to drive on newly sealed road for most of the way. We could have towed the van down for the day! Somebody in a Mazda 2 could have made the drive quite easily! I believe the section of The Track from Bloomfield to Cape Tribulation is marginally more difficult with several creek crossings. The drive down to Bloomfield was quite interesting, travelling through The Wet Tropics all the way.

The same Entrance to The Lions Den Hotel, the Lion's Mane is getting a tad mangey now.

Cleaning-Up out front from the night before, it was a 'Big One'.

The Side Bar from inside. Check out the floor, you can see through it in several places and it all moves as you walk through.

From the Bar across to The Pool Table.

There are several large Goanna that roam the camp area. They are not at all concerned with the human presence.

The Little Annan River runs through at the bottom of the camp area, Jude was considering a swim.

The swimming hole in The Little Annan River.

When we booked in for two nights Management warned us that The Endeavour Rally was calling in on the second night, we weren't concerned, but we were the only other campers in sight. 

We were led to believe that there was going to be about 150 vehicles arrive.

There was even a "Roller" in the Rally. There was also a big Merc but I didn't get a photograph of that.

Preparing to leave Saturday Morning for the final leg of the rally to Port Douglas.

Final checks at the entrance to The Pub.

As well as being quite colourful, it was very noisy as well, with sirens and blaring speakers.

It was fun watching them all prepare to leave for the day especially considering the 'Night' they put in. The last reveller quietened about 4AM and the early risers were apparent soon after Sun-Up.

Bloomfield Falls on The Bloomfield River.

If you can enlarge the photograph (click on it), you will see a Crocodile sunning itself on a log near the far river bank just downstream from the falls..

Black Mountain, a very unusual formation beside The Mulligan Highway near Helenvale.

This is what it looks like close up.

Tully Gorge National Park

The day dawned perfect and we decided to back track a little way and visit Tully Gorge. Most days the range is cloaked in a cloud of mist but today looked clear. The enjoyable drive was under 80 km through sugar cane and banana plantations of immense size. At the base of the range is a wide strip of forest that is still recovering from Cyclone Yasi of 2011. All the tall trees are either stripped of foliage or broken off at mid height. The scene looks like a giant brush cutter went through the forest.

The Tully River runs through the gorge and is renowned internationally for White Water Rafting. Championship Events are held here as the river flow can be modified by the release of water as required through the Hydro Power Station.

There are many entry points to the river for the Rafters along the gorge but they all exit the river at The Tully Gorge National Park Picnic and Camp Ground. The Camp Ground is quite open and capable of taking moderate sized caravans or motorhomes.

The Power Sub Station below the Hydro Generator.

First sight of the Tully River below the Power Sub Station.

This is the upper most rafting entry to the river.

Rafts are lowered from the road above via a Flying Fox apparatus to this receival table. As we were following the walking track back to the road Jude was leading the way until a large Python fell from a tree onto the path immediately in front of her. I don't know who was startled the most, Jude or the Python.

Ulysses Butterflies abound in the Wet Tropics of this area. This was the best photo I could get as they were constantly on the wing and you only see the blue as they are flying. This one was nearly 100 mm across. We also saw a Bird Wing Butterfly that was about 200 mm across.

The very quiet exit point from the Tully River at the Gorge Camp Ground.

A couple of rafts almost at the end of their experience. The exit point is about 100 m from this point.