Moana Kuewa

|Home Page |Back to stories |

		2010/06/12 2010.06.14 - 2010.06.12 AUSTRALIA Black Mountain Mungumby Lodge, Hidden Waterfall, & Lion's Den Pub Location: AUSTRALIA Cooktown HISTORY TIN. As the gold attracted the prospectors in the late 1800s, some became attracted to tin. Tin fields were established south of Cooktown at Helenvale, Rossville and Shiptons Flat. With the removal of forest to get to the tin the timber industry boomed alongside the tin. 18 or so tin mines flourished on an area called the Big Tableland a highland rainforest area accessible from Helenvale and Rossville. The most famous was the Lions Den tin mine, 2 50yard shafts from which drew clean payable tin which can also be found lying on the ground in the surrounding forest. Shafts, water cannon and water races were used to extract the tin which one could smelter at low temperatures. TIMBER. Rich in exotic dry country and rainforest timbers this region was frequented by timber getters from the onset of European arrival. Large rainforest giants were felled to provide exotic timbers to the growing country and world. The timber industry thrived until the establishment of World Heritage areas and Wet tropics by the Queensland and Federal governments. Today there are vast tracts of intact virgin rainforest and even larger areas which contain 130 years of re-growth rainforest. MUNGUMBY LODGE. Mungumby Lodge is on Cape York just south of Cooktown. It offered a genuine Australian experience where the simple things counted. The boutique resort style lodge was at the apex of three unique and very distinct tropical landscapes. (1) Primitive tropical rainforest listed by the World Heritage Commission as one of the earths most unique and valued assets, (2) Outback equivalent to the best Australia has to offer, and (3) pristine wilderness tropical coastline on the inner edge of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Together these areas host animals, birds, insects, fish and mangroves, which quite possibly excel that anywhere else on the continent. Within walking distance from Mungumby Lodge were opportunities to swim in croc free jungle waterfalls and observe wildlife. Owners, Hamish & Isabella; and staff, David, were wonderful hosts who personally make each guest feel special and held a wealth of knowledge regarding the ecology & history of the area. In addition, they cooked the meals to serve guests. Delicious. Also, we followed a very friendly terrific guide “Mädi” (yes she is a dog) to the Hidden Waterfalls. She was great fun to watch running up the hill sides and sniffing her way through the rainforest. However, it took our breath away when she was sniffing a large deadly poisonous Tiapan snake that was in our pathway. Jeff and Chris enjoyed her company while following the well-marked trail to Hidden Waterfalls. LION’S DEN PUB. Close to the Mungumby Lodge, is the Lions Den Pub/Hotel that was built in 1875 on the lush banks of the Little Annan River to provide rest and relaxation for the tin miners. During the days when tin & gold mining was flourishing, it was a pub, hotel, but also a brothel. It is surrounded by 100 year old mango trees and tropical landscapes. It is a landmark hotel made of timber and iron, famous for its quirky decorations and walls adorned with visitor’s signatures and offers camping facilities. Jeff & Chris enjoyed a pizza there before returning to Cairns. Traveling Individuals Names: Jeffrey Cheske & Christine Bauman * Some of the descriptions & picture are taken from http://www.mungumby.com/ /C]