On our way up to Cairns, we had noticed a small section in our ancient guidebook about a Spanish Castle just off the main highway, and we were so intruiged that we stopped by for a little look around.

As soon as we got out of the car a woman came over and told us there was a free campsite to stay at, and we were impressed already. Once we actually saw the area though it was the most amazing thing. There was a huge waterfall flowing into a large swimming hole, beside which a Spanish immigrant in the 1930's had built this amazing castle inspired pleasure park. it originally contained a ballroom, cinema, cafe, diving board and boat area, picnic park, 'tunnel of love', tennis courts and all powered by a hydroelectric generator. However, over the last century the buildings were hit by two cyclones, a flood and an electrical fire, which destroyed most of the origional building.

However, all of this made it look even more spectacular with the jungle like gardens creeping into the moss covered ruins. The gardens too were just so cool, with everything sort of overgrown but at the same time very specific. All of the thought which went into it was just amazing, and it really did have a sort of magical quality about the area. We ended up staying the whole day and night, and saw the lights switched on in the evening with fireflies dancing around the trees. Very romantic.

Totally my favourite place so far!!