We had never heard of Jarravale and had only recently taken up farmstays rather than the traditional caravan park. Jarravale is a working farm near Marian, providing access to Cape Hillsbourough. We were delightedly surprised at the farm and would love to come back and have another look at the platypus, and all the farm animals. 10 out of 10 for us!
We arrived at Jarravale from Bowen on 23 Jun 2024 and left on 25 June, heading south and then home.
Getting There
From Bowen, it is a shortish drive down the Bruce Highway to Marian – 173kms. Marian is near Mackay. The Highway is generally ok.
Kerry’s snippets in fuchsia
History
To read a general history of Bowen, including the conflict between First Nations people and the British settlers. Horrific deeds were carried out. Click here.
First Nations
In Mackay and its surrounding areas, seven peoples have been identified: the Yuwibara, Wiri, Biria, Jangga, Barna and Barada, with each group estimated to have consisted of 500 members. The Yuwibara people are said to have been the most dominant group, occupying what is now Mackay City, the coast from St. Helens to Cape Palmerston and further inland to the Connor’s Range.
Boundaries were marked by natural features and punishment for encroaching on other groups’ territories was severe.
The way of life of the First Nations people generally can be read at this site – Click here – in the first 5 or so pages after page 3. This is a generic assessment, not one specific to an area.
The spiritual connection of the Yuwibara people with Cape Hillsborough continues to the present, and men’s ceremonies are still performed along the mangrove boardwalk. Mount Jukes, too, was home to a men’s ceremonial site, which is still visited each year by Yuwibara elders, who speak of a large spirit walking around the camping grounds.
While Yuwibara women specialised in hunting freshwater turtles in the wetlands and swamps, the men would hunt sea turtles and dugong in the sea grass of the shore of Cape Hillsborough. The fat of dugong was even mixed with wax to form glue for spears. Moreover, fish, mud crabs, snakes, wallabies and brush turkeys formed an important part of their diet. Many different fruits were also eaten, including those from the Randia fitzalanii (native gardenia) and Mimusops elengi (Tanjong tree).
There was terrible conflict between the First Nations people and the British settlers in relation to access to land across the country. There were terribly tragic events that were commonplace as the British commandeered the land, and used the Native Mounted Police to clear the lands of the traditional owners. This is very well documented in the booklet Aboriginal people in Queensland: a brief human rights history issued by the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Click here.
Colonial Times
Mackay is about midway between Rockhampton and Townsville, and 820 km north of Brisbane. It grew into a grand city in the 1870s and 1880s with a booming sugar industry. In the 1930s it became Queensland’s first regional city to have a town plan when the outer harbour was constructed.
Mackay was named after the explorer John Mackay who led an expedition from Armidale, NSW, in search of northern grazing lands. In May 1860, after exploring inland regions, Mackay reached the Pioneer River, upon which the town of Mackay was later established.
A very detailed history of the settlement of the Mackay area can be read here.
Today Mackay is known as the sugar capital of Australia as its region produces more than a third of Australia’s cane sugar. Mackay is now one of Queensland’s fastest growing coastal cities with new suburbs spreading rapidly. It is a city uniquely placed to serve tourism (the beaches and the marina are excellent, despite the stingers in summer). It serve as a large and prosperous rural centre with a modern and sophisticated central business; and a hub for both the agricultural and mining interests which lie to the west.
Mackay itself has important port facilities, a huge range of motels and hotels, good restaurants, excellent boating facilities and a genuinely fascinating hinterland.
Mackay is a gracious tropical city. It basks under the tropical sun and its wide streets are characterised by beautifully kept median strips with Royal palm trees and flowering tropical plants.
It is a nice drive south to Jarravale which is very close to Marian, which is close to Mackay. It is a lovely landscape with mountains as a backdrop – farming, sugar cane (it’s everywhere), and broad rivers. We say goodbye to the mangoes of Bowen and not far into the drive we spy a mountain that looks very much like a volcano.
We quickly found the farm. Jarravale Alpacas was established in 2005, when the owners first began with only 10 white Alpacas. At that stage their main goal was to grow in numbers and get a market for these beautiful animals around the Pioneer valley. As the owners live on a Cane farm it was quite easy for them to find the perfect spot for their Alpacas. Today their goal is to breed Alpacas with good conformation with the finest fleece possible.
For the farmstay there is glamping accomodation room that sleeps 6 (minimum 2 nights stay), 8 motorhome sites with toilet and water and some powered sites. Because this is a working farm, including tours, no checkins before 2pm and after 6pm.
It is a perfect place and to read more about Jarravale click here.
We had an excellent van site with power, water and toilets/shower just a few metres away.
As we were staying over we were able, to a degree, to explore the farm. They have some amazing animals and birds. I loved this place… was so cathartic to be able to pat the animals. There are a pair of Macaws too – which the owner releases for a walk each day… they are very well behaved and follow her around.
We also found out later that there is a billabong nearby which has a platypus, which makes an appearance in the mornings and afternoons. It was amazing to sit and watch it frolic in the water. Such a delight to see a platypus in the wild. Difficult to see them in the photos as they camouflage well and keep moving searching for food.
We drove into Marian for some shopping. We were surprised it was such a big town.
Our aim had been to go into Mackay as well as to see Cape Hillsborough NP. But with Kerry really starting to feel her sore lower back we decided to cut some items and get home quicker than planned while catching a few places on the way. So we did not get to Mackay, nor some other destinations on our agenda. These are not too far from home and we will head back north to see those places on another trip.
It was a nice drive to Cape Hillsborough – only 45km or so away. We headed north and turned onto the Seaforth Rd.
We arrived at the camping area which was very busy. We knew there was also a resort further along. One of the Parks staff told us we would have to walk along the beach as we were not camping nor in the resort. We were not to use the paved tracks. Fine by us.
Walking onto the beach was just amazing – it is so beautiful. Its low tide and the beach is substantial and very flat.
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Then we walked along Beachcomber Cove to the north before turning back to explore the southern headland and across to Wedge Island – simply stunning.
I wanted to do the Andrew Point track on the southern past of the headland. This is a 5.2km return trail. Kerry had no hope taking this steep rocky track. From the eastern end of the resort beach, I should start the climb. But I was aware that at low tide, I could return to the start of the track along the beach when the tide is low.
So Kerry headed back to the day use area to find some shade and comfort, while I found the track and started the climb. There are great views along the trail.
At Andrews Point lookout there was a sign pointing back from where we had come to the two lookouts, or to walk down to Casuarina Beach. I had not seen any signage for that beach but talking to a man and woman, we decided that it would take us to the beach near the causeway to Wedge Island. We decided to take that track and hope that the tide was low enough to get back by waking along the edge of the rocks. Otherwise we would have to walk back up to the lookouts and then all the way back to the beach near the day use area.
When we got down to sea level we saw the water lapping over some of the rocks. We shared what we were carrying and walked through the water – it came up to half way up our thighs. We made it and I walked up the beach to find Kerry.
After that we drove back to do the Biodiversity Boardwalk. This a 1.2km circuit through a diverse range of plant communities – mangroves, melaleuca woodland, open eucalypt forest and vine thicket. Some of the trees are beautiful colours. We stopped to look at a Yuwi midden – the remnants of long past shellfish – but could not see much.
From there we drove out to Smalleys Beach. Beautiful beach.
From there we went to Seaforth to look at that beach. Another beauty.
Seaforth itself is a quaint beachfront town that is also one of the most popular recreational fishing destinations in The Mackay Region. Today sugar and tourism are thriving industries for Seaforth. An impressive jellyfish enclosure protects the swimming area.
Have a nice day!
To see photos from this post click here.
To see video of this post click here.