Day 56 – Monday 13 September 2021 – 380 Km

Off to Wallaman Falls this morning via Ingham, the highway was not too busy, but we were stopped at roadworks twice. As we got close to Ingham the sugar cane fields became plentiful then the drive out to the foot of the ranges had a lot more cane fields before the country changed to beef cattle grazing. The roads from Ingham to the foot of the ranges were all very flat & mainly straight. The road on the drive up the ranges is another story very narrow & very windy, enclosed by gum trees to start with then as we got higher we were enclosed by wet tropical forest with entangled vines hanging from trees. The Wet Tropics Rainforest is on the World Heritage List as they are the longest continually surviving rainforests on earth.  Many plants & animals of the wet tropics are found nowhere else in the world.  Lots of Cassowary signs out but the elusive bird did not appear anywhere, we so wanted to see at least one. After we reached the top of the range & headed west the landscape changed to a dry scattered gum forest, such a huge change in a very short distance. The turnoff to Wallaman Falls had a very good road into it with a small parking area & a nice picnic area. The drive on the very windy road was worth just for the sheer pleasure of the rainforest before we got to the water fall.

Wallaman Falls are spectacular, wow, it was well worth the long drive. The lookout gave an impressive view of the 269 metre drop into the pool far below. These falls are the longest single drop falls in Australia.  The vast plume of spray at the base of the falls were lit up by a beautiful rainbow in the sunshine. We spoke to a young couple who were there yesterday & it was all clouded in, they could not see any of the falls, we picked a great day.  We then walked the 300 metres to the Gorge Lookout, not as spectacular but still a good view. The walk back out was steep & made us work a bit harder. We decided not to walk the 2km to the base of the falls, a sign warned of the steepness of the track & the difficulty of climbing the 2km back out. There have been deaths, serious injuries & heart attacks.  We had a nice picnic lunch at the tables then a last look at the falls before watching a mass of butterflies on the bottlebrush trees in flower nearby.

The drive back was just as beautiful, the scenery is stunning.

Our next stop, on the way back to Townsville, was Big Crystal Creek & the Sapphire Pools. It is a pretty spot with a nice big pool with crystal clear water with big fish swimming around. Around 20 people were enjoying the water. The temperature was 31C, the water was very inviting but we had more to see & it was after 3pm.  We drove further on along a very narrow road until we got to the closed gates looking for the Rock Slides part of the creek. There were no signs & no obvious track, so we turned around & headed for Little Crystal Creek.

Little Crystal Creek is around 15km away up a steep mountain range along another very narrow & windy road. Again beautiful scenery & trees enclosing the road as we drove up slowly, very wary of oncoming traffic because of the sharp bends. Little Crystal Creek is stunningly beautiful, we walk down the stone steps next to the stone arch bridge (the only one that still remains in Queensland). to the creek & gasp in awe at the beauty of it all. There are a few brush turkeys wandering around. We walk under the bridge & look at the rock pools & falls on the other side, again, stunningly beautiful.

Back down the winding road for the 66km drive to Bushland Beach (Willy & Marlene’s place), not too much traffic & we are back in time for a shower & change before heading out to dinner. This time we go to a Chinese restaurant on the western end of The Strand for dinner with Willy & Marlene, Rob & Sandra & are lucky enough to get a park right in front. The food is a fixed menu chef special with entrees & mains for a fixed price. We have a few drinks & a good chat, the food is very tasty & just enough. No wonder it is so popular.  Outside we are greeted by a pair of curlews wandering on The Strand of a night looking for food. These birds are fairly large with long legs & move in short darting steps, we are very taken by them & their cuteness.

Back to Bushland Beach for a coffee & chocolate before a late bedtime, around midnight. Another great day.