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Published: April 12th 2009
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Palm Tree forest
Not a leech to be seen! Wednesday 8th April - Left site and drove down to start of Palm Tree forest walk. Stunning - huge palm trees and very dense forestation. Sprayed ourselves well against mossies and leaches although Tony managed to pick up a couple of leaches climbing up his boots! Walked the last bit up the road and saw a huge snake curled up on the bank. Drove back down the valley and spotted a bedraggled Wedge Tailed Eagle perched on top of a dead tree - managed to get a photo before a Magpie mobbed him and sent him on his way. Stayed at Palm Springs rest area again tonight ready for our trip to WhitSunday islands tomorrow.
Thursday 9th April - Poured with rain all night and still raining this morning so wet drive to Airlie Beach. Arrived at about 10.15 and decided to book up for Daydream Island. Driving to marina for 11.45 ferry when Lyn suddenly closed her window - we had a huge spider lodging in the wipers/wing mirror! Caught the ferry and weather now clearing. Daydream is about 2km x 1km largely based on luxury resort plus some remaining rainforest with white coral beaches. Strolled around, had lunch
Whitsundays
Like a second honeymoon! (included in ferry cost) before climbing into swimming things and cooling off in the pool. Then it was a case of lying on a sunbed on the beach looking over to other islands. Lovely blue skies all the time whilst on the island - still humid but nice cool breeze helps - together with drinks from the poolside bar. We chose “mocktails” (non alcholic!). Caught ferry back at 5.00pm and back in the van and guess what - it started to rain! As it was dark and wet pulled in at first campsite.
Friday 10th April (Good Friday) - Heading for a camp at Francis Creek rest area. Had our biggest disaster so far ~ ran out of beer and wine and no “bottle shops” open as it’s good Friday!!!! Stopped at Bowen in the hopes of getting some supplies. Everywhere shut - town deserted - huge wide streets just like a ghost town. Went down to see beach - lovely long sandy beach. Saw a strange tree - like a Moreton Bay Fig but with roots growing down from branches to the ground to act as supports. Also saw some Black Cockatoos with brilliant red feathers under their
wings. Had a detour to Paluma as had read that it was a village high in the mountains. Saw the sign 22km to Paluma - not suitable for caravans! Off we went it was an incredibly steep, narrow, winding road. Came to Little Crystal Waterfalls - thought we were nearly there but no - onwards increasingly steep and narrow road with sheer drops - Lyn was clinging to her seat. Eventually made it but now in thick cloud cover so couldn’t see the view - but the journey was worth it! Had to then come all the way down - stopping to take photos of the Crystal Falls. The journey up and down took over an hour. Getting dark so made our way to Francis Creek for the night.
Saturday 11th April - We were heading towards Ingham which has a strong Italian influence. Nice town, very wide streets again. Managed to get some shopping and decided to have an Italian coffee at a street café. Rain starting to fall heavily so back in the van and heading towards Wallamar Falls (has the longest drop of any falls in Australia). Saw the sign for the falls and the road
took us through lots of sugar cane fields - the rain was now torrential with flood signs everywhere. Bit worrying to see the water rising! As we approached the base of the gorge the rain eased and we saw a group of Kangaroos on the roadside and got some good photos. Saw another sign for the Falls 33km(!) not suitable for caravans - so off we went. Again very steep, narrow road climbing up to the Falls - at least it was sealed for the first 20km. Just on the gravel road when we saw a huge bird ahead - sure enough it was a Cassowary (a large flightless bird which is now endangered) He wasn’t phased by the van and we got some fantastic photos of him. The gravel road was a bit tricky, deep gullies and tight twisty bends - at least it was now dry.
Arrived at the Falls and as you opened the door you could hear the thunder of water. Walked up to the viewing platform for a fantastic view of Australia’s highest single drop waterfall (260metres) - so much spray it looked like misty clouds with a rainbow. Bright electric blue Ulysses butterflies were
flitting about the top of the trees. Decided to walk the 1.6Km track down to the base of the waterfall. Finally reached the bottom - everything drenched with spray. Took our photos, stood and marvelled and then started the long climb out of the gorge. Felt another sense of achievement as we had done the whole trip in 1.5 hrs - not bad for 2 retired folk!! Made our way back down the gorge and as we crossed one creek there was a sign warning of crocodiles! Back on the road and making our way to Mission Beach where we were booked in at the Hideaway Campsite for 2 nights. Arrived just before 6.00pm and parked beneath palm trees only 150 yards from the beach - had dinner and early night after a fabulous day.
Sunday 12th April - Lyn got up early and went for a quick walk on beach - came back and said it’s a fantastic 14Km sandy beach fringed with Palm trees - only a handful of people there plus a couple of fishermen. So after breakfast we put on swimming togs and went for a walk along the beach. Lots of fairly big waves.
Came to an area which had anti stinger netting (marine stingers still a real problem at the moment). Surf was really quite high now - so decided to go in. Wonderful, really warm and swimming in the surf was brilliant. No towels but sun soon dried us. Whilst we were in the water some sky divers came down and landed on the beach. Back to van for lunch under the palm trees and watching loads of butterflies including more Ulysses. Bit sunburnt - but great relaxing day.
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