Advertisement
Published: November 26th 2006
Edit Blog Post
Today we started our first Aussie trip - On the Wallaby.
We booked this last night at the last minute - our loony hostel front desk woman encouraged us to go on it. Not sure how much she is making out of all this.
It was funny - we had thought about doing a simple day trip to Kuranda - but in Gloria's words - "well you could if you want to, but it's a bit shit, your going on this instead."
So we therefore find ourselves chugging out of Cairns at 8a.m (hardship getting up this early these days) out into the Atherton Tablelands.
The idea of the tour is less a tourist excursion, more a trip into the life's of real Australians living in the area, and the wildlife. The journey from Cairns only took an hour or so, and involved another wonderful session of going up hills round bends - 243 in total apparently over a 17km stretch. En route we passed the worlds largest natural pyramid - a mountain just West of Cairns near Edmonton that hosts a race to the top each year - the top runners do it in under 3
hours apparently - the wise go to the nearby pub, get pissed, and then rejoin the race just before the finish.
Our first stop was at the Cathedral Fig Tree - a huge Tree in the rainforest which is roughly 1800 years or more old. It is covered in proper Tarzan and Jane vines - and looks amazing. We only spent 20 mins in the forest at this stop - mainly hunting for a 3.5m Carpet Python that lives in the Fig Tree!
We then went on a wander through the rain forest - and our local guide Scott showed us plenty of mad stuff - including Australia's Stinging plant. The stinging plant is a really nasty bush - with large heart shaped leaves that can leave you in agony for about 2 years if you touch it! It has thousands of minute toxic needles all over each leaf, which stick in your skin, break and release their poison. The sensation is apparently that of having your hand in boiling water. It literally can last for about 2 years, even if the needles have all been removed. It looks like such an inocuous plant as well!
After
the fear factory trip through the rainforest we headed to Lake Eacham for our bush tucker picnic. It's amazing how fresh sarnies can taste so good in the right atmosphere - we trogged more than most of the fellow travellers.
The Lake is a giant Volcanic Fresh Water Crater Lake - mainly fed with rain water and is entirely self contained. As the Croc's were all on holiday this week, we all went for a swim in the lake. It was beautiful and refreshing after a hot morning.
After a wander at the lake to see the Turtles and Archer Fish we went to Millaa Millaa Falls. If you say it out loud it is the most Australian sounding thing you will be able to pronounce this week I am sure. Just say Millaaa Millaaaaa and raise your intonation at the end! The Millaa Millaa falls are where the world pays tribute to the mighty force of popular culture that is........... Peter Andre! Yes this is the site of the infamous Mysterious Girl Video and several hair shampoo commercials. It is an amazing little spot - where water cascades down 20 metres or so from a creek into a tropical plunge pool. We swam through the plunge pool, through the water fall and sat behind it on the rocks. It was a really cool spot.
Later in the afternoon we stopped off at Zillie Falls and a Volcanic Blow hole which is now a 60 metre drop into the abyss. We snacked on the Water Melons and Pineapples - which taste like nothing you've ever eaten in the UK and are absolutely huge.
More stops at waterfalls and scenic view points accross the valleys on our way to Yungaburra - for our overnight stop at the Backpackers Lodge. Before Dinner we spent an hour down by the Yungaburra rivers Platypus spotting - we were lucky enough to see a couple before we headed back. Dinner was a quality Aussie BBQ Steak and Mash combo - proper comfort food!
We were well and truly knackered - and after a beer crashed - albeit the sounds of animals, birds and insects was pretty loud all night long!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.17s; Tpl: 0.026s; cc: 15; qc: 61; dbt: 0.0881s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Amanda
non-member comment
gooday
Hey guys, sounds as if you’re having a great time! Am keeping in mind all ur recommendations for nice hostel accom! Well finished my big project I have been working on all year and was very well behaved this time in Amsterdam! It went really well so I am pleased, my first big project under my belt!! Just getting in heaps of sleep at the moment, as I had not been sleeping properly for ages! Anyway loving the updates! Miss you, Mands