{"id":558,"date":"2018-11-12T09:33:20","date_gmt":"2018-11-11T23:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/?post_type=destination&#038;p=558"},"modified":"2019-12-16T12:34:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T02:34:44","slug":"chillagoe","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/destination\/chillagoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Chillagoe"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"558\" class=\"elementor elementor-558 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"destination\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-593d9bdc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"593d9bdc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ff4e1a4\" data-id=\"2ff4e1a4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b106b19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b106b19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It looks like the land of the hobbits, was once a thriving mining town and is home to magnificent limestone caves and ancient Aboriginal rock art. This is Chillagoe &#8211; claimed by scientists to have the most diverse geology in the world.<\/p><h3>Striking Limestone Geology<\/h3><p>Situated 140km west of Mareeba, Chillagoe was named after William Atherton\u2019s (of Tablelands fame) pastoral property and comes from an old sea shanty: \u2018ikey, crikey, psyke, mikey, chillagoe, wallabadorie\u2019. It\u2019s fitting that this playful line inspired the name of a town in the midst of this savannah landscape, dotted with massive limestone towers and striking limestone karsts. With the discovery of copper in the late nineteenth century, a large smelting plant was opened in Chillagoe in 1901, remaining in production for 40 or so years. The chimneys still stand, adding to the mystique of this surreal landscape.<\/p><h3>Natural History and Landscapes<\/h3><p>Chillagoe is a real outback town with a variety of historic and geological attractions and abundant wildlife. It\u2019s easily accessed via the Wheelbarrow Way from Mareeba, so called to honour the gold mining pioneers who trudged out this way with all their worldly goods packed into a wheelbarrow. An <b>annual foot race with wheelbarrows<\/b> on this road between Chillagoe and Mareeba commemorates the \u2018wheelbarrow pioneers\u2019 each May. A metal sculpture of a man with a wheelbarrow is an eye-catching and fitting town tribute to these hardy souls.<\/p><p>There is much to see in and around Chillagoe, so it\u2019s worth planning to stay for more than one night. Visit the <b>Chilllagoe Visitor Information and Interpretive Centre<\/b>, known as \u2018The Hub\u2019 to find out what to see and where to stay.<\/p><p>Don\u2019t leave town without exploring the <b>Chillagoe Smelters<\/b>, a fascinating, well-preserved ruin with a drive-around museum complete with interpretive storyboards. Follow the walking tracks and take advantage of the viewing areas with informative plaques to appreciate this unique heritage site.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc50262 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fc50262\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-755\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-ruins-of-old-smelter.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db0e328 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db0e328\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Getting to Chillagoe<\/h3><p>Chillagoe is 215km from Cairns, via Mareeba. along the Burke Developmental Road. There are some unsealed sections on the last 32km, but it is suitable for 2WDs. It\u2019s a 130km trip from Herberton via the Herberton-Petford Road and Burke Developmental Road. While there are some unsealed sections, it is suitable for 2WDs. The 200km from Undara via a mostly unsealed road is recommended for 4WDs only.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-febb27c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"febb27c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1-638x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-752\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1-638x1024.jpg 638w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1-768x1232.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1-600x963.jpg 600w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-caves-1.jpg 1121w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae4f64f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae4f64f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Chillagoe-Mungana Cave Tours<\/h3><p>Or why not sit back and let someone else do the driving? The Savannahlander from Cairns will get you to Chillagoe for cave tours and an overnight stay. This iconic train departs Cairns early on Wednesday mornings.<\/p><p>Those taking the cave tours leave the train on Wednesday after lunch to be bussed to the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves and then to Chillagoe for the night before rejoining the train for more sight-seeing on Thursday morning. Travel in style while enjoying the scenery and the many attractions visited each day at a leisurely (and indulgent!) pace in this classic 1960 rail motor.<\/p><p>Go to www.savannahlander.com.au for tour information and prices.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bada7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"93bada7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-756\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/chillagoe-unusual-rock-formation.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":771,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination\/558"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/destination"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination\/558\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}