Australia, Day 18

Day 18, Sunday, February 21 2010
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Cape Trib Connection Tablelands

While we were on the Cape Tribulation tour and were driven back by Matty, he had told us about the another tour he did, which goes to the Tablelands. Iris and I had decided to do this tour too, and so on this Sunday, which was the next day when Matty would be doing the tour, we got on the bus.

The tour to the Atherton Tablelands is a round trip, which starts off with a breakfast in the Wooroonooran National Park, where while Matty cooked breakfast, the people from the tour walked around a trail in the rain forest. The walk in the forest was wonderful, and we saw some beautiful waterfalls. Sadly Matty could not cope with a vegan on his trip, so there was nothing for me to it, thanfully I always carry an apple with me, which did the jop. Shame on you Matty!!

From there our trip took us further down the Bruce Highway and we came to a place called Babinda Boulders which lies just a bit west of the town Babinda. Babinda Boulders has a beautiful creek with many big rocks in it and a nice water holes, where one could swim. After enjoying the view, we then got into the lower water hole, where one could climb up the small inclimb of the rocks face and then slide down in the flowing water. This was a beautiful place to be, and since the weather was being nice to us, we could even do a bit of sun bathing.

The next stop on the same highway was Josephine Falls which is west of a town called Mirriwinni. Josephine Falls is the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. Crystal clear water, falling about 20m down into a beautiful little water hole. There we also went for a swim, where we swam behind the waterfall and enjoyed the beauty of the water falling down. We swam through the water and were pounded by the shear mass of the water on our shoulders and backs but it was worth it.

Josephine Falls was the last stop going south, now we headed off to the west where we came into the town Milla Milla. Milla Milla is up in the Tablelands and is a real outback and pretty rough place. We had lunch there in a little restaurant/bar. I didn’t find it spectacular as there was nothing for me to it. The people from the australian outback are just meat eaters. In the end I settled for a bowl of wedges. As always they serve to much, and after fighting with the food I won and I was really full.

Just outside of the town of Milla Milla there is the Milla Milla waterfall. This waterfall was like all we had seen really beautiful, but the weather was starting to get worse so it was not as enjoyable this time. After this waterfall we then drove to the local cheese and chocolate factory. Since this was on a dairy farm I didn’t even bother asking if they had any vegan chocolate.

Our last stop before heading back to Cairns was at Lake Eacham. We arrived shortly before sunset and the sun set just behind the lake, so this was for me the nicest place so far on the trip. The lake had no ripples and was practically a sheet of glass mirroring everything. It was magnificent. Everyone was mesmerized by the place.

The way home was down the Atherton Tablelands coming from the south-east back into Cairns and the road wound through beautiful hills and one had a really nice view of the surrounding hills in the distance. After a long day most fell asleep and a wonderful day had come to an end.