The highlands separate the western and northern flowing rivers to the rivers that feed the Pacific Ocean. We took the steep Djinda Walk down to the swimming hole, and slid over the moss covered rocks into the cool fresh water, feeling the intense spray from the falls. We then ventured over to the camp ground and went on the Banggurru (Turtle) Walk along the Stony Creek which is a tributary of the Herbert River and flows over Seaview Range to create Wallaman Falls. The walk and swim were nothing short of sensational.
 Just outside of El Arish is a lovely exposed recycled red brick shed on a farm 💚💚💚 with hidden surprises including a fruit stall, raw vegan snacks and delicious coffee ☕️☕️☕️ The verandah has a great view of chickens in a cute little coop 🐓🐓🐓 and there's a very playful dog 🐕🐕🐕 ⚽⚽⚽
 This track located near Cardwell, takes you on a journey up and down the range through bush land and rainforest to the oldest surviving example of civil engineering work in North Queensland, a stone rubble and brick bridge constructed in 1864. The bridge was constructed as part of a bullock road and is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. Whilst we were there we spoke to the ranger and a builder conducting minor repairs to the bridge. It was fascinating to have a yarn and listen to the strict conditions of the heritage department. The track continues on an earlier Aboriginal trail, which spans from the coast through the Cardwell Range arriving at Upper Burdekin River, a total distance of 160kms. We noticed a large strangler fig, a hollowed interior is all that remains of the original host tree. Shovel spotted a local black and blue tree snake and Gumby spotted a small water python. Really enjoyable sweaty walk on an uneven rocky and over grown track🐍🍃☀️💦💚
  In the Kirrama Range, near Cardwell, is the culturally significant Murray Falls rainforest area for the Jumbun, Girramay and Jirrbal Aboriginal people. It is believed the falls were created when a brown pigeon cut into the rock using a Tomahawk and used the water, which cascaded over the edge to keep his feed of witchetty grubs cool and fresh. Shovel and I did the rocky, uneven walk to the top of the falls and back three times covering about 5.5 kilometres. Highly polished granite boulders frame a spectacular view of the falls from both above and below. The surrounding mountain range is stunning. Grateful to have the opportunity to marvel at such amazing natural beauty 🌿💦💚✌
 We ventured along two walking tracks, first the Nandroya Falls circuit track, about 6 kilometres return, which winds along the Douglas Creek to the Nandroya Falls. The other about the same distance was called, the Wallicher Falls and Gooligans picnic area track that took us past other spectacular falls and incredible rainforest scenery.  
Situated about 35 kilometres out of Innisfail on the Palmerston highway, these falls located in the Wooroonooran National Park, the traditional land of the Ma:Mu Indigenous people, were discovered in the late 1800’s whilst making a path from Innisfail to the Atherton Tablelands to facilitate the gold rush. The falls pass through crystal clear water with spectacular sightings of different species of moths and butterflies. We even came across a 1.5 metre water python, slithering past us on the track, our first snake sighting since we have lived up here 🐛🐍
  Off to the right of the Tully - Mission Beach Road, is a walking track that take you over to the El Arish - Mission Beach Road. The track passes through the Tam O'Shanter and Licuala forests, which finishes up at Lacey Creek. The track, approximately 18 kilometres round trip, is surrounded by lovely creeks, and overtly lush flora and native fauna. On our walk we ran into a very large cassowary who was on a journey looking for some fruit, seeing one of these prehistoric birds eye to eye was amazing, thankfully it made it’s way back into the forest off the track and let us go on our way. We also played a good practical joke on ourselves, we thought we had discovered some cassowary eggs, after doing some further investigation days later however, realised they were fake ones on display for the kid’s walking track 😂
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November 2023
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