ROAD TRIP DIARIES # 19
We weren’t expecting much from our visit to Mission Beach other than possible cassowary sightings and two nights of camping on the beach. Charles and I were still contemplating whether to do white-water rafting in Tully and otherwise hadn’t really thought much about what to do here.
After doing the Cardwell Forrest Drive, we stopped by at the Tully Tourism Office on our way to Mission Beach. It must have been our lucky day because we found out that the annual Tully Show was on the next day – talk about being at the right place and at the right time. We also found out about the Big Gumboot, which was my first among Australia’s Big Things.
Some locals playing indigenous musical instruments near the Big Gumboot
Out of Curiosity we decided to drop by the town center to check out the gumboot and explore the town a bit. It was amusing to see teens and backpackers walking barefoot on the streets and some strutting in their gumboots like a fashion statement. I also found it quite odd seeing many locals a bit soiled and muddy.
We first thought there was a mining site or farmland nearby and the show had already started which included a race on the mud or something. After further reading, we learned that Tully has large plantations of sugar cane and bananas, which provide seasonal employment attracting droves of young backpackers on working holidays.
Tully takes pride in its reputation as the wettest town in Australia and the 7.9 meter gumboot represents the 9.5 meters of rain it received in 1950. Originally, a rubber boot was awarded to the town with the most rainfall in the past year, and the prize was hotly contested by Tully and the nearby towns of Innisfail and Babinda. We were indeed in the Wet Tropics now!
We had been roughing it out in the past few days so we ended up spending most of the next day just lazing on the beach, editing pictures and catching up on news around the globe. It was already 4 when we left our caravan park and excitedly drove to the Tully Show. This time I was exempted from preparing dinner and we both agreed to feast on greasy food and satisfy our sweet cravings (or perhaps it was just me).
The Biggest, Prettiest and Quirkiest!
Surprisingly , I enjoyed the agricultural show. I love the quirky chickens and roosters on display, the wide array of colorful birds, and impressive collection of huge bananas and other farm produce. I would say it’s an exhibit of the biggest, smallest, quirkiest and the most amusing things. There were also small shows in some corners including an exhibit of different reptiles and snakes.
I call them the lady boy roosters.
And I thought you only groom cats and dogs 
Look at those bananas!
Fun Rides
The cheery atmosphere reminded me of my hometown’s small carnival when I was a kid, filled with fun rides, magical shows, exciting games and lots of treats. It’s a candy mountain for children but it wasn’t short of entertainment for adults as well. The kamikaze is a must try. It is like the Anchors Away, only it goes all the way over, doing a 360 degree turn. I also enjoyed the artwork display from the local school children, the souvenirs and the free tasting of the goodies and treats.
Some Highlights of the Tully Show
The show started with the performance of the two sisters impressing the crowd with the cracking of their whips and theatrical acts. The main event was the horse riding competition and ended with firework display at 8:30.
Parade of Cattle
The Dancing Sisters with one of the members of the audience
Popping the balloon with her whip, ouch!
My Favorite Part
Pigging out on greasy food and sweets.
Trying out some games
Meeting a fellow kababayan at the fair
Tully lies in the wet tropics where cyclone and monsoon conditions develop at certain times of the year. It is also one of the areas most affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasi – the most powerful cyclone to hit Australia in a century earlier this year. Our deepest sympathy to the victims of Cyclone Yasi. May you all recover from this devastation and get back on your feet soon.
(This is part of our 6-week North Queensland Road Trip Series, which took place July- August 2010)
Australian Road Trip 101: A Vantastic Beginning
Road Trip Diaries # 1 – An Encounter with the Strangest Animal in the World
Road Trip Diaries # 2 – Of Strangler Figs, Leeches and Long Holidays
Road Trip Diaries # 3 - Exploring Finch Hatton Gorge
Road Trip Diaries # 4 – Cape Hillsborough: On Bush Walks Beach Strolls and Star Gazing
Road Trip Diaries # 5 – Cape Hillsborough: Sunrise and Wild Kangaroos
Road Trip Diaries # 6 – Airlie Beach: Beaches Babes and Backpackers
Road Trip Diaries # 7 – Ocean Rafting to the Whitsundays
Road Trip Diaries # 8 – Unexpected Encounters
Road Trip Diaries # 9 – Exploring Bowenwood
Road Trip Diaries # 10 – Townsville: Finding Nemo and the Sunken Pandora
Road Trip Diaries # 11 – A Visit at the Billabong Sanctuary and Castle Hill
Road Trip Diaries # 12 – Magnetic Island: What Captain Cook Missed
Road Trip Diaries # 13 – Paluma Range National Park: A Walk in the Clouds
Road Trip Diaries # 14 – Of Didgeridoo, Exotic Fruits and Why I love Camping in the Bush
Road Trip Diaries # 15 – Jourama Falls: A Gray Nomad Affair
Road Trip Diarues # 16 – The Bird Man of Tyto Wetlands
Road Trip Diaries # 17 – The Quest for Wallaman Falls
Road Trip Diaries # 18 – Hinchinbrook Island: Experiencing the Wilderness
I’m a sucker for a good agricultural show. I love the carnival atmosphere you get at them. They might not be a patch on a good old American fair, but they come close.
I particularly love the photo of the ferris wheel. Care to share with a novice photography how that shot was done? I assume it’s the same principle as getting the more misty shots of moving water?
Hi Chris, funny coz I was also thinking about the good old American Fair I have seen in movies when I first saw the fair ground. I would say it’s better if not at par with them.
The ferries wheel photo was just an experiment, I just used different slow shutter speeds and same principle as achieving the dreamy effect on water.
That’s a fantasrtic shot of the ferris wheel, I’m dizzy thinking about being on it. Yeah, Agricultural shows, we call them A&P shows here in NZ- agricultural and pastoral- are the greatest. As a kid we had so much fun.
The fun rides and magical shows in the carnival were the ones I look forward to when I was a kid. We didn’t really have farm produce exhibits so it was quite interesting for me
That is some pimped-up chicken! Haha! Fantastic photos, Claire! Parang karnibal nga sa Pinas, sosyal lang ng konti.
Actually madami pang kakaibang itsura ng manok akong nakita, aliw talaga
There’s nothing like a country show! I love walking through the cattle lines and the produce displays from the various farms and districts.Love the pics as always Claire.
You’re lucky Mark, country show like the one in Tully is pretty common in your area. I hope they continue this tradition for many years.
wow, gusto kong pumunta dyan.. astig nung mga musicians at ang cute ng manok, sarap i pet
Korek, parang mga hippie lang di ba, dati parang gusto ng pet dog pero nung nakita ko yung “pimped” chicken, parang mas cute at madaling alagaan
I miss wandering around the city barefoot in Gold Coast
Anyhoo, man that chicken’s a looker! Pretty interesting fair. Would love to experience such myself, hopefully someday when Luna’s a bit older.
Same here, I used to walk barefoot during our road trip especially around parks and even inside the grocery shops. You can still do it here in Sydney, just head to Bondi Beach, Manly or in most parks and no one will mind you
wow Claire now that was awesome .you took me for a trip itself .. photos are superb !!
Great photos Claire!We had a guy here at the hostel who played the Didgeridoo. It is a fascination instrument and it is very difficult to play. Great post!
Yeah, I struggled making a decent tune out of it when we visited the didgeridoo shop. I think I will just content myself listening to the pro
hehe, now i know kung ano ipapalit ko sa japanese fitz namin. =)
love this adventure. power packed!
How about doing both? I’ll wait for you here
nice! i miss going sa mga ganyang shows. pretty relaxing and laid back. wala na masyadong ganyan dito eh. oh yeah that big gumboot looks cool!
Nakakamiss di ba, kahit sa amin hindi na ganun kaganda yung carnival/perhayan. Wala na yung mga magicians at freak shows, rides na lang natira at tiangge.
What an interesting place! looks like an old school carnival
The Tully Show looks like a lot of fun. I love the pictures of the roosters. Is it just me or does one of them look like it has a mini afro?
It’s not just you Bob, you’re not imagining things
The first time I saw a bird groomed like a poodle
hahaha same here, you should have seen the other chooks, amazing what they do with their pets nowadays
That “pomeranian” chicken is a blockbuster!
hahaha, star of the show indeed!
Winner yung manok ms.claire! Nice trip! Classic peryahan
miss those early days na my peryahan sa likod bahay namin kapag may fiesta 
Yeah I miss the carnival too especially our very own classis rides like the caterpillar, ferris wheel and merry go round plus the hot cakes with lots of yellow food colouring, cotton candy and pop corn
Hello, Claire! Todo pose si koya sa parade of cattle, hehehe! Meron din palang, parang “Perya” sa kanila, hehehe! Very nice, tnx for sharing! =)
Ang alam ko sa US meron talaga, madalas kasi mafeature sa movies at classic American literature yung agricultural fair concept, pero di ko alam ginagawa din pala dito sa Oz kaya sakto yung punta namin.
saya ng fair claire! wow fair claire — rhyming *korny mode* hehe.
love the photo of the ferris wheel!
At least hindi ka senti mode now
ang cute ng groomed chicken, haha!