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| My new way to explore: by car, but it's got the wheel on the "wrong" side! |
OK.. here we go! Car travel. And it's got the wheel on the "wrong"side! I've got to learn a new set of driving rules. We decide to rent a car for a couple of weeks to get around and see the sights of Queensland, Australia.
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Glass Mountains
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| Our first glimpse of a family of kangaroos in the mango groves! |
What was amazing to us was as you go north "out of town" 30 miles...there is nothing! Open wide, flat country in every direction! We've read enough books by Bill Bryson (the travel writer) to know that Australia is a HUGH country with miles and miles of open spaces. But to really see this from a lookout vista is amazing! We're not even in the outback, yet! Most of the population lives near the coast and this you can plainly see from a high vantage point like the Glass Mountain look-out. We pass through Beerburum and Beewah State forests...23 million hectares are planted in sustainable timber for harvesting in 2020...amazing facts you learn while being a tourist!
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| Tourist in Australia overlooking the Glass Mountains at Mary Cairncross State Park look out |
Our first stop overlooking a orchard of mangoes and we see our first "roos"! A family with nursing baby hopping around! It's far away, but I still get a picture. We hope to see more up close and personal. A local says you will..they hop right out in front of the cars, on a death wish..so be careful! Just like the deer back home. The Australians have many national and state parks to preserve its nature.
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| Rainforest walk down to water fall and pools |
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| Hiking the trail down to the waterfall past eucalyptus trees and ferns |
We heard many kinds of birds calling to each other, but didn't see a one! The rain forest hums with the sounds of lorakeets and insects. We did see a Wombat scouring the leaves and a monitor lizard sliding by...that was cool!
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| Fig vines that wrap around and strangle trees are interesting |
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| Strangler Fig vines strangle host trees |
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| The pools at the bottom of trail. Fresh water eels are swimming here...not me! |
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| English Pub in Monteville |
After our hike, I reward John with a stop at an English pub for a brew. It is VERY English around here and you can see the influence of the English, who were the first peoples to settle Australia... want some pork knuckles or a meat pie with your scooner? (the size of beer glass is pot, scooner or pint)
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| Skywalk through the top of the rain forest |
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| ....there is a rain forest because it rains every day! |
The next day we drove south to Mt Tamborine National Park outside of Brisbane. This is a park known for it's rain forests and is very "touristy" because of it. There are many shops, wineries and restaurants near the park. We chose The Skywalk attraction. This is a gang plank high off the forest floor allowing you to see the top of a rain forest. Pretty cool idea, but pricey entrance fee.($20)
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| High up in the canopy of the rain forest! |
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| Catwalk- looking down to the forest floor |
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| Looking into the jungle tops |
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| Stag horn ferns have a symbiotic relationship with the trees |
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| Refreshment time at the Mt Tamborine micro-brewery! |
We stopped at the local micro-brewery and enjoyed a flight of their home brews! We are finding some really good beers! After a lunch, some live music and a brew we head back home. Boy, we REALLY are tourists!
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| Pork belly with salad |
That's all for today! We have more road trips planned. Stay tuned...
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