Tag: malanda

Riding from Malanda to Paradise

Riding from Malanda to Paradise

Whilst any time on a Ducati is a pleasure, it can be good to know just how far this is from that. On North Queensland’s Tablelands, this might mean the distance between one beautiful view and the next, or one great coffee and the next. Starting from our base in Malanda, you can expect the following distances of riding pleasure.

Firstly, Cairns to Malanda – this 77 km stretch takes in the amazing Gillies Range with its hairpin turns and million dollar views. From Malanda, you’ll pass Lake Eacham (swimming, bushwalking), Lake Barrine (teahouse, bushwalking, boat trips), the Gillies Range (163 corners, and 800m elevation change in only 19km of road) and Gordonvale (historic sugar town).

Malanda to Yungaburra is a 12km stretch via Peeramon (home of the iconic Peeramon Pub), or a few kilometres further if you want to visit the the Curtain Fig Tree. Yungaburra is a jewel of the Tablelands – set on the banks of Tinaroo, it’s easy to kill time wandering through the quaint village centre or grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many eateries.

Malanda to Atherton is a beaut 19km stretch taking you straight past Gallo’s Dairy Land for fresh and local cheese, chocolate and great coffees. Acre after acre of cropping where often brolgas and cranes eat alongside cockatoos, white and black, and there’s always egrets to be seen – they love to ‘hang out’ with the cows.

Malanda to Millaa Millaa is 22km stretch of largely upgraded road with the best views around. From Millaa Millaa you can do the waterfalls circuit – the sealed road’s narrow but the views are amazing. Mungalli’s ‘Out of the Whey’ cafe (on Watson’s Bio-dynamic farm) is just one of the many pitstops you can make if you need to recharge the batteries. Or head back towards Millaa Millaa to the “Falls Teahouse” for great food with a view.

What better way to see the sights than on one of our hire Ducatis. Once you’ve woken up refreshed after a night in our bed and breakfast accommodation, you can enjoy the cool mountain air of the Tablelands and the rolling green hills and dramatic mountain backdrops of the Tablelands. Riding on the Tablelands is a dream – long sweeping curves and stretches, challenging ranges through rainforest, and great secondary roads leading you through the southern hemisphere’s most northern dairy farming region . Your rental bike is going to be in top notch condition thanks to our repairs and maintenance expertise. We know and love Ducatis so you can be assured your bike is going to go the distance, and it’s probably done all the roads before 😉

 

Malanda – a scenic town in Far North Queensland worth visiting!

Malanda – a scenic town in Far North Queensland worth visiting!

Malanda is a town on the Atherton Tableland in the Tablelands Region, Far North Queensland.   The town has a population of 2,000 people and was first developed in the 1900s.  After the discovery of tin and copper at Herberton the town saw a steady stream of miners and engineers moving over the mountains from the coast.  The town is surrounded by pockets of rainforest and rolling hills covered with lush green grass. Freshwater creeks snake their way through this region, culminating in waterfalls that cascade into refreshing swimming holes.

The Malanda Hotel

This is the most obvious landmark of the location, characteristically built from the timber of local trees. As you enter the restaurant section of the hotel, you will notice the prominence of these timbers, seen in the floorboards and the magnificent staircase (made from local Silky Oak) leading to the hotel rooms and second floor. The hotel serves a range of very tasty counter meals, reasonably priced, to be eaten with a selection of beers, wine, spirits or soft drink.

Dairy Centre

The name Malanda is synonymous throughout Far North Queensland with milk and cheese.  The production of milk is now part of the Dairy Farmers label and the Malanda Dairy Centre café and restaurant in town is a popular spot with the locals to have lunch or dinner.

Falls

Malanda Falls Visitor Centre is located on the edge of the Malanda Falls Conservation Park featuring the scenic falls and tropical rainforest.  You can spot birds, freshwater turtles and other wildlife. Right on our doorstep is one of the best places in the world to see a tree-kangaroo, and though they can be difficult to spot, many visitors are rewarded with a sighting.

Malanda is a great place to stop on your travels and discover more about this unique region of Tropical North Queensland, the wildlife, and the people who live here.