The day was bright and sunny and the sky was blue and very inviting! So...their aim was to go to Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain which is about 50km's South of the city! They had the sat nav and the directions from the sky walk website. ( http://rainforestskywalk.com.au ) and they seemed to match!
Once off the M1 the road started to climb and the scenery was stunning.....the rainforest ad woods and the road winding its way up higher and higher! There were constant hairpins and steep inclines and it was great fun to drive...not that I got a go!
Tamborine and the area round it seems to have a lot of tourist attractions and it is obviously quite a tourist trap! They were glad it was winter and it was quiet! The little towns looked very attractive and seemd set up for tourists stopping and shopping or looking around! They didn't have time for this and kept on!
At around 10am they saw the sign....Skywalk....and the road dropped down into a very dense wooded area! This is a small tourist attraction and isn't privately owned and is not part of a national park. The attraction takes you round an area of rainforest with tracks meandering through the Forrst and some parts being on walkways going through the canopy!
It was just opened so was quiet which was great. Entry was on $19 each but it did say that the walk only took around 45-60 minutes. They set off.....and straight away they were on the skywalk .....which took you right into the canopy of the trees. You could feel it 'wobble' as you walked and the metal footpath was a lattice of metal which :
A: you could SEE through it to the forest floor below! Most disconcerting especially at the beginning!
B: if you dropped your phone or camera....there would be a good chance that it would slip through the gaps and disappear for ever in the thick Forrest below! I tell you.....even I was worried! If he tries to get me to 'sit' on a fence post for a photo as we go then I will suggest that he does it first to let me see how it is done!
The Forrest climbed the mountain before us and looking up into the sky you saw the tree tops silhouetted against the blue sky! Looking down....if you dared.....you saw the tree trunks and smaller trees below and the thick undergrowth at ground level! It was spectacular!
The walkway is a genuine example of great engineering and the complexity of constructing it in such a location makes the mind boggle! The walkway stretched for quite a distance and as you went further you got more confident! It came to an end and then you followed a path through the Forrest floor to a creek at the end of the route! This creek was spectacular and the stream flowing through the huge trees banks of trees made it another great photo op.
The path doubled back and the highlight was still to come! You followed the path for a couple of hundred meters until you came to the 'skywalk'.....another walkway that stretched out before you to a dead end .....a viewing point out over the top of the Forrest below! It is like walking out on a pier at the beach.....but which wobbles and leaves you standing on nothing...but with an amazing view in every direction....up, down, round and .....if you wanted to.....right under your feet!
They were there when there was no one else there and they took photos and yes....I got perched for some photos too...but I did get a helping hand to make sure I was safe! But...it was both scary and exhilarating.
As a group of people came out towards us on the perch you could feel the skywalk sway from. Side to side.....and it was good to get back on terrafirma!
From here the path would its way back to the Eco Centre where we started! Although a shortish experience at around an hour....it was well worth the visit....both for the drive there and for the actual experience! They had their breakfast in the cafe and obviously looked round....yes.....the shop! But I did get something for my suitcase again!
Fro here they were heading south again to the Gold Coqst and then Byron Bay! And they hoped to visit where one of A's teachers was on holiday and she was staying with her sister and husband in Belinga Beach!
They set the sat nav....but made sure they chose the scenic option and headed off! The drive down from Mount Tamborine was even more stunning than the drive up! You seemed to be driving down the very edge of the mountain and there were stunning views on both sides of the valleys below and the mountains in the distance. The road was falling very steeply in some places....sometimes 1 in 10 or 1 in 11feet. The road wound round the slopes and it was a great drive! Again some villages looked very interesting but there was no time to stop!
After about an hour or so they made it to the Gold Coast and they ignored Sheila ( the sat nav lady) and took the coast road instead of the M1! They drove to Southport and in to Surfer's Paradise! They had stayed here in 2003 and were keen to see how it had changed. They are sure they saw the tower where they stayed last time...The Golden Gate...but there really has been a huge amount of construction taken place since then! Where their skyscraper was one of the last on the strip it had now been surrounded by many , many new ones....and was now dwarfed by most!
They stopped in the main boulevard and went for a walk along the beach to see if the y could see it from the beach! It was great....and I got some good photo ops!
Soon they were off again and they hoped to arrive in Bilinga before Miss Clark and her Mum went out for the afternoon! The strip down the coast is non stop hotels, Appartments and tourist attractions. It was quite a drive from there and eventually by about 1pm they made it......and they wandered round the block trying to see if they could see them! But alas they were out and eventually A spoke to a guy who lived there....who was really quite wary at first! But once he described who they were looking for the guy did lighten up and said he had seen them but they were not about!
It was a pity they missed out...but they might meet Miss Clark in Sydney later on! The. House was right on the beach and had great views out to see and with the beach stretching into the distance...and it had great views right down to Surfers Paradise.
So...they went on a bit and stopped at a little shopping centre and had a picnic lunch in the car. From here they set the sat nav for for Byron Bay but again selected the scenic route which went down the coast and avoided the highway!
The road wound its way down the coast and by luck they stopped, much to Sheila's disgust, at a place called Cabriata Beach! It looked like a great point and people were surfing there and there seemed to be a trail leading up to a headland! So....they parked up and got out! At this point I should say that old age is a terrible thing! A did his back in today....putting his socks on! Yes.....never mind all the walking and exercise.....bending over to put on socks...is a killer! But he has soldiered on but might need pain killers tomorrow!
But....they set off up the path to the headland. The views were stunning and there were two amazing beaches stretching away on either side of the headland. Eventually a boardwalk took them up to the headland and just by chance as they got their a family said to them to look out as a pod of whales was approaching! They could not believe it.....there .....down in the ocean.....and amongst the surfers....were four or five whales gently swimming up the coast towards Surfers Paradise and beyond! They whales were both serene and huge......and you could clearly see the fountains of water being blown out of their blow holes and then the vast back and fin as the creatures rosê out of the water as they ventured on. Whata sight! They were out in the headland before us and they followed them as they came closer and closer to the headland before swimming round and in to the next bay! They were so close to the shore and everyone there could not belive their luck! It was awesome watching these animals swim past oblivious to the fact they were causing such excitement! They stood and watched as they swam I to the distance....the fountains giving away their location and the sight of their arching backs as they pushed through the water!
This was a pure chance sighting.....it was spur of the moment to stop.....and to walk up to the headland just at that time...it just. Topped off a great day!
So it was back to the car.....and off again on the final leg to Byron Bay! It was about 60km and some of this was down the highway and so they made good time! They hit Byron Bay and drove around before looking for a motel! The first one...looked ok.....but when they asked about wifi the woman had said.....it's free for an hour then it's $5 an hour after that! Well.....they politely declined and went on! They drove into one,....which again looks quite country style.....and it felt like one they had stayed before on their previous drive down the coast in 2003!
It had free wifi...and they asked if they could inspect the room....which is good for them.....and on inspection it was quite alright.....quite a big roo. With good facilities and was very clean!
So....after a chance to unwind they set off I to town for tea! A was hobbling along......looking like he was an old guy......or even older than he is....and the sun had set for the day!
Byron Bay is a really hippy, new age town and is a Mecca for people of a certain age and who are laid back and Into the more 'looser' way of life! It is also a town where young people congregate to surf and generally hang out! It is also home to a famous lighthouse.....which happens to be the MOST easterly point of the Australian continent! They will head ther tomorrow for some great views...and for a moment or two to be the last person standing on the edge of the continent!
They went to The Hogs Breath Cafe and had a really nice tea.....and they got tradional veg as well which was a real boost!
So...all in all a GREAT day...a great drive in the mountains on great roads......with an. Amazing walk through the rainforest followed by whale watching off a beautiful coast! What're could you ask for!
Tomorrow has a lot to live up to!
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