EDMONTON
Twenty minutes south of Cairns, the Bruce Highway town of Edmonton lies in cane country between the Davies Creek and Grey Peaks National Parks. Although a traditional north Queensland sugar town, the character of Edmonton is changing as developers encroach deeper into the canefields to carve out new housing estates. Edmonton is already taking on the shape of a dormitory suburb of Cairns and some believe it will only be a matter of time before it will be absorbed by the northern tourist capital’s increasing suburban sprawl. Edmonton lies just east of vast tracts of protected rainforest in the Davis Creek and Barron Gorge national parks. The town's prime attraction is Sugarworld Waterslides, a family-oriented park which offers giant slides, a wading pool for toddlers and picnic facilities laid out beneath magnificent shade trees. You can also dine in the park's licensed restaurant.
GORDONVALE
Gordonvale was named after a local pioneer John Gordon, but was originally called Nelson. Only 24km south of Cairns the small rural community place became a sugar milling town in 1896 and has its own unique charm and character.
This is the town where the cane toads were first introduced in June of 1935, with the unfortunate belief that they would wipe out pests which were damaging the local crops.
Population: 6000 approx
Famous for its landmark "Walsh's Pyramid" which is a steep 922m. Local folklore has it that the pyramid shaped hill is a volcanic core. A competition race is held each year in August or September with runners racing, walking, trudging their to the top and back.
