ATHERTON WATCH VIDEO From its beginnings as a timber-getters’ camp and staging post between the outback tin mines and the coast, Atherton has blossomed like its trademark Jacaranda trees into a diverse regional centre. Well known to the locals as a highland getaway destination, Atherton is also famous for its rich soils, which grow superb produce and flowers. ATTRACTIONS The region has a wealth The spectacular private mineral of artists whose works are best seen HASTIES SWAMP collection features more than 600 at the Tablelands Regional Gallery. specimens, including rare crystals, Check out the wonderful pre-war Hasties Swamp National Park is gemstones and fossils. Barron Valley Hotel, browse through a ‘must-do’ for birdwatchers with These treasures have been brought the town’s quaint shops like Atherton a two-storey bird hide providing a together by one visionary who found Antiques & Australiana and enjoy a comfortable vantage point across love at first site more than 40 years picnic at Halloran’s Hill with a view of the seasonal wetland. ago after cracking his first geode along the Seven Sisters volcanic cones. the banks of Agate Creek in North Hasties Swamp (Nyleta Wetlands) is a More than 220 species have Queensland. Rene Boissevain and his been recorded at Hasties Swamp wife Nelleke have made it their life’s seasonal wetland with an annual wet (sometimes referred to as Nyleta and dry cycle. The two-storey bird hide Wetlands), 4km south of Atherton work to build one of the largest mineral provides wheelchair access on the collections in Australia. Don’t miss lower section. on the road to Herberton. The the Empress of Uruguay, the world’s swamp sits amid open Eucalypt largest amethyst geode. Take time to get to know the forest and it is not surprising that inhabitants at The Bat Hospital on the many of the migratory and resident CHINATOWN Gold attracted Chinese road to Herberton. Here, you can meet birds are aquatic and woodland settlers to North Queensland in the late flying foxes and microbats at the visitor species. 1800s and when the gold ran out, many centre. This internationally renowned turned to timber cutting and market facility is operated by a not-for-profit gardening. The remains of Atherton’s group dedicated to the conservation Chinatown are now an archaeological of bats and their habitat. They rescue, site featuring the community’s fully rehabilitate and release hundreds of restored place of worship, the Hou bats each year and the facility is open Wang Temple. The Temple was the seasonally to the public. social and religious heart of Atherton’s THE CRYSTAL CAVES In the main street, you Chinese community. There was also will find one of the most remarkable a community hall, kitchen and pig and novel attractions in the whole of oven. People gathered here to worship, WATCH VIDEO celebrate festivals and discuss Australia. community issues. 22 www.athertontablelands.com.au