We drove back through South Johnstone and down the cane train tracks again - still freaky!!
Turning onto the Palmerston Highway and heading up toward the Atherton Tableland , we came across a car & caravan that wasn't sure we he was going and didn't know what speed to go , except for slow at the bottom of the hill and fast as you start to get to the top - no wonder truck drivers get frustrated with caravaners !! He went to the same destination as we did - Mamu Tropical Skywalk .
It is similar to the Illawarra Fly and the others in Tasmania , Victoria & WA , but this one is definitely better - I know what your thinking - that's a big statement !! but it's true . You get a set of earphones and a audio player preloaded with 11 tracks , you choose the tracks at the appropriate points on the walk , and it will give you background information , music and other info as you walk around - its also very relaxing . After wandering down the gravel walkway for a while , the first thing you come across is a cantilever walk , similar to Robertsons , that goes out into the head of the rainforest about 30 m . With views to the North Johnstone River ( we can't seem to get away from it at the moment ) down below through the forest , and the mountains on the other side - we were well above the river but could hear the water crashing through rocks or a waterfall . The wet tropical rainforest is definitely thing of beauty , all the different plants & trees and their methods of survival . The cyclones have battered this rainforest on many occasions , but the rainforest sees it as an opportunity to regenerate . Once one tree goes , there is a queue waiting to reach for the sky .
Continuing on , the next part was 350m of elevated walkway .
Occasionally there was a flicker of electric blue in & out of all that greenery - Ulysses Butterflies were the culprits !
The trees were all reaching for the sky , reaching for the sunlight , some have been here for a long time and are huge - long , tall & straight , yet others are younger & skinnier , but with the same goal in life .
After the walkway , we enter the forest again for another walk to the tower - 100 steps up to the top viewing platform . The view from here would be great on a clear day , it wasn't bad today , but there was cloud hanging over Bartle Frere ( one of Queenslands highest mountains ) .
That was our walk half way done , we had gone to the furthest point , now we had to wander back along the track through the forest . Some of the trees have name plates , so you can tell what they are - there is also a booklet with flora and fauna you are likely to find . There was one that we noticed , that had its flowers protruding from the trunk , not from its branches or leaves - it is a Bumpy Satinash .
The other photo is a Stinging Tree with its fruit .
We continued up to the entry and handed back the audio player , before getting back into the ute for a bit more driving . Further up the road was Crawfords lookout with views down to North Johnstone River again . Off again , this time going to Malanda for lunch - the falls seemed to be the best place .
Malinda Falls are right beside the road and are easily accessible , flowing into a big pool , they used to have school swimming carnivals there . It was a lot cooler up here than down at the hotel , it was down to 20 degrees - yes I know , at the moment you would kill for 20 degrees .
Lunch done we drove on to Mareeba , passing through Atherton, Tolga & Walkamin on the way .
Todays drive took us up the mountains , through tea & coffee plantations , bananas & more sugarcane . It was a bit strange near Atherton - there were several fields of sugarcane that were dead - they would have been 1.5m tall at least - we still haven't found out why ??? The closer we got to Mareeba , the higher the temperature got - back up to 27 degrees .
We found the rodeo ground and checked in for the next 5 nights , - we won't be on our own , as there are about 100 other vans here already !!
Thats your lot for today , if you do get up this way , definitely go to the Mamu Tropical Skywalk , you won't be disappointed !!!
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