Having heard about this FNQ attraction from many it was always on the travel itinerary. We are staying very close by in a beautiful, peaceful “paddock” (extension to the attraction’s caravan park). It was an extraordinary experience, particularly the night tour.
A brief history… José Paronella arrived in Australia from Catalonia in Spain, in 1913. For the next 11 years he worked, cutting sugar cane initially, then purchasing, improving, and reselling cane farms. In 1924 he returned to Spain and married Margarita in 1925. The trip back to Australia was their honeymoon. José first saw this 13 acres of virgin scrub along Mena Creek in 1914. He eventually purchased it in 1929 for £120 and started construction. José Paronella’s dream was to build a castle. He chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park. On 5ha beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, a tunnel, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees (now a lush rainforest!).
