Saturday 27 July 2013

Paronella Park

 This was an amazing place really. Tucked in a little out of the way town south of Cairns, it is the remnants of a modern day castle. Built by a Spanish man in the 1930's whose life dream was to build a castle and so he did! He first made his money from buying, improving and selling sugar cane firms which then funded his project. He also built North Queensland first hydro electric plant which still runs it today. In its hey day it had tennis courts, ball room, refreshment rooms and changing cubicles for swimmers. Its endured floods and fire and cyclones. A family bought it some years back now and are slowly restoring it, even a plan to bring the ballroom back to its former glory. It has a caravan park next door and fees to take the tour through the park include camping fees and a night tour. Very very busy place however and we ended up camping in the car park out front! (photos below)

 Jewel spider, quite unusual and beautiful


 our camp site -thats our car in the right hand corner
 ..and more rain!

there's a croc in there somewhere!
The army got the camoflauge pattern from these pines.. and they're not full grown yet!

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