We are heading off to???

[Noggins]

there's an overflow park behind the Hotel, which serves good dinners,
You book at Paronella and they allocate a site,
We were in the overflow when we were there .
The sites are very long and drive thru


Ron

[Dot]

We are currently at Bowen having a bit of a browse about. I think I could live in this place. Not sure that the navigator agrees.
Lesley, thanks for that offer. Not sure when we are heading south yet. Or even from which direction.

David, that is where Greg and Dee work and have a place in Collinsville but right now Dee is in hosp suffering with Pneumonia and a couple of other things. In Bowen try the fish and chips down by the water sorry can't remember the name but a very well known place. How long are you in the area? Bet you can't guess where we are tonight, hint.. you know the pub x

[supersparky]

there's an overflow park behind the Hotel, which serves good dinners,
You book at Paronella and they allocate a site,
We were in the overflow when we were there .
The sites are very long and drive thru


Ron

Spot on Ron, and the beer is cold too.
If anyone hasn't been to Paronella Park, we can thoroughly recommend this place, and there is a fascinating story behind it as well.
I reckon it's a 'must do' and we will be going back for another look.

Dot, I have just found your post. Unfortunately we are now in Rocky, but we both reckon that we will be back in Bowen again.
I hope that Dee gets better soon.

[BruceS]

Bowen used to have a bit of a reputation problem in the veg picking season with the itinerant islander population.
I know some years ago I saw a 'group' of them in the caravan park swimming pool & not one tourist was game to join in the water. (including myself!)
Loud & raucous with not much consideration .....

[Shirley]

David we first visited Paronella Park 52 years ago & then when we lived in Cairns we went there a few times in the early seventies, we think it has been turned into just another commercial enterprise nothing like it use to be & considerable more expensive to visit, having said that everyone that visits it now days do seem to enjoy the experience, the history behind its construction is certainly interesting.

[supersparky]

Bruce, The same could be said of anywhere around BrisVegas or the Goldcoast now. Yes, they do get a bit loud but generally are OK, except for the ones with the dogs that want to fight everything.

Shirley, I wish that I had been lucky enough to see it in the 70's as there was a fire in '79 and most of the ballroom and kitchen burnt down. It is now only a shell of what it used to be. It is mainly the story of Jose Paronella and his dream to create something that I find fascinating.

[pet-els]

I too was lucky enough to see it in 1966, yes it was more impressive.

PeterH

[Shirley]

Peter, we saw it the first time in 1966, we were on our honeymoon travelled all the way up to Cooktown, it was all so different, glad we saw it all when we were young, guess that was the reason we moved to Cairns to live in 1969.

[Greynomad]

Shirley, I wish that I had been lucky enough to see it in the 70's as there was a fire in '79 and most of the ballroom and kitchen burnt down. It is now only a shell of what it used to be. It is mainly the story of Jose Paronella and his dream to create something that I find fascinating.

Maybe that's why I found Paronella Park very underwhelming two years ago.

[pet-els]

Back in 2013 I went on a Safari to Cape York, on the way we stayed at The National Club at Atherton. We went on a bus tour of the area, the bus driver was Joe Paronella yes he was the grandson of the original.

PeterH