“Festivals in Tropical North Queensland: Great Wheelbarrow Race, Port Douglas Carnivale, and Cooktown Discovery Festival”

25. April 2023

Australien: Festivals in Tropical North Queensland

In the coming weeks, special events will take place in Queensland’s tropical north with the Great Wheelbarrow Race, the Port Douglas Carnivale and the Cooktown Discovery Festival.

140 kilometers long: wheelbarrow race for a good cause

A wheelbarrow race through the outback. In the grueling and wacky Great Wheelbarrow Race, residents of Mareeba and Chillagoe in the Cairns hinterland compete each May to raise funds for charity and support smaller communities.

From May 12th to 14th, participants in the race will push a wheelbarrow over a distance of 140 kilometers from Mareeba to Chillagoe. The circuit is divided into three sections: 42 kilometers from Mareeba to Dimbulah, 65 kilometers from Dimbulah to Almaden and 33 kilometers from Almaden to Chillagoe. Except for the last 20 kilometers before Chillagoe, the path is paved throughout. Most teams consist of two to ten participants (men, women, mixed relays). In the pre-Corona years, more than 70 teams took part in the Great Wheelbarrow Race. As a result, up to 280,000 euros in donations could be collected every year.

At the end of the 19th century, there was little work and transport in northern Queensland, so miners often used wheelbarrows to transport their belongings when looking for work. The road between Mareeba and Chillagoe was named the Wheelbarrow Way in 2004 to commemorate those early pioneers. The small town of Mareeba in the Atherton Tablelands is around an hour’s drive inland from Cairns. This is where the dry outback of Tropical North Queensland begins with the “Gulf Savannah” region. The red earth, many termite mounds and impressive gorges, caves and rocky landscapes are striking.

More information on the Great Wheelbarrow Race at www.greatwheelbarrowrace.com. You can find a video here.

Carnival between reef and rainforest

The Port Douglas Carnivale takes place from May 19th to 21st. For three days, locals and visitors from all over the world celebrate the culture and life in the tropical latitudes between reef and rainforest. The carnival begins with a grand parade through the streets of Port Douglas. Strikingly decorated floats, costumed dancers, stilt walkers, fire-eaters and musicians transform the city into a lively carnival stronghold. Here the motto becomes the programme: “Watch. dancing play”.

Other highlights of the celebrations are daily performances by DJs and live bands, cabaret and comedy events, impressive circus acrobatics, art and photo exhibitions and a colorful family program. Gourmets and wine lovers will also get their money’s worth. You can let the best chefs in the region spoil you with culinary delights at “The Longest Lunch” and “Seafood Extravaganza”. A gin festival is also offered.

Port Douglas is just over an hour’s drive north of Cairns. Located in the Port Douglas Daintree region, it is Australia’s first eco-certified destination and an ideal gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, one of the oldest tropical rainforests on the planet.

More details on the Port Douglas Carnivale below www.carnivale.com.au. You can find a video here.

Cooktown celebrates the landing of the famous navigator James Cook

The northernmost “town” on Australia’s east coast is the venue for the Cooktown Discovery Festival. From June 16th to 18th, the residents organize a big folk festival in honor of the landing of the British explorer James Cook. In June 1770, Cook and his crew ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. With great difficulty they landed at the mouth of the river in Cooktown, later named after the ship – the Endeavor.

Amateur actors in their elaborate costumes recreate the historic landing and stay of James Cook in a realistic staging. The program also includes a big street parade, concerts, evening shows and the final fireworks display. The Guugu Yimithirr people are also part of the three-day spectacle with dance and didgeridoo performances and provide insights into the indigenous culture of the Cape York Peninsula.

The Cooktown Discovery Festival attracts thousands of visitors each year. Cooktown is on the Cape York Peninsula, about a four-hour drive from Cairns.

More details on the individual events below https://cooktownexpo.com.au/. You can find a video here.

Featured image: Cooktown Discover Festival. Photo: Lovegreen Photography