Yesterday I woke at 5.15am, as the sun was coming up, and realised it would be very easy to have another ‘do nothing’ day, but thought we really ought to get out and about and see some of the other sights we’d planned while we were here. So, I woke Sid early so that he could drop Carole at work (7.15am) while I got the kids ready for school (Dan, a baker/patisserie chef was working from 4am till about 1pm) and we then had use of her car for the day.
We set off early to Springbrook National Park – about a 20 minute drive away, but it feels like another world, as it is the Rainforest which runs up the hills/mountains from the hinterland behind Mudgeeraba.
The tourist leaflet says Springbrook – Gold Coast City Hinterland’s only mountain destination – World Heritage Rainforest, Waterfalls and Lookouts.
On the way up, we stopped at Pulingbrook falls and had planned to do the two hour walk through the track to the bottom of the falls. That was when we realised that we’d left our bag back at the house, with the cash, water, binoculars, walking shoes and everything else we needed. So we went to the top of the falls, which was beautiful and then moved on.
Carole and Dan had told us to go the the ‘Best Lookout of All’ – not just their name for it, but the name on the signposts as you climb the mountain. The weather on the way up had been good, mostly sunny and we’d caught some spectacular views right across to the coast, to Surfers’ Paradise and beyond, from some roadside lookouts. We were pleasantly surprised as it seems that here, like most places cloud can hang over the mountains all day, while the nearby coast enjoys unbroken sunshine.
We parked the car, next to a minibus carrying a group of Japanese tourists who were just returning to the bus, looking very unimpressed, as we set off on the track through the rainforest.
The track through the rainforest was as I’d imagined rainforest would be – really thick forest with the most amazing plants and trees, all dripping water. And after about 1km we came to the lookout. And this was the view, from 'the best lookout of all.
The whole forest and everything beyond was covered in mist. Obviously, we’d chosen the wrong day to come to the ‘best lookout of all’ although some people we passed along the way, said it was their fifth attempt and they’d never seen more than a few yards either.
So, unperturbed we set off back down the mountain to Mudgie to collect our bag from the house before setting off to Mount Tamborine, our second stop of the day. This is in a different direction and so nothing was lost by forgetting the bag (except maybe a cup of coffee on the Springbrook run).
Mount Tamborine is a well-know tourist spot around here. First stop near the peak of the mountain is Eagle Heights – big houses with stunning views, but a very touristy centre with craft shops (tat – including most bizarrely a German cuckoo clock shop), and antique shops selling ‘old and new antiques’. Make of that what you will. Sid described the whole village/town as just another ‘retail outlet’ and we weren’t very impressed. From there to North Tamborine and Mount Tamborine village itself, with some nice views but not much else. But all in all, a pleasant morning’s drive seeing something more of the area.
Today, we went back to our favourite spot – Talebudgera Creek. Great spot for swimming, sunning and snorkelling and Sid has now cracked the mask and snorkel, which is good news before he tackles the Great Barrier Reef next week. Many years ago, his swimming teacher told him there were ‘sinkers or floaters’ and he had always believed that and classed himself a ‘sinker.’ As you would expect, I’d phoo-phooed this theory and have been making him practice in Dan’s pool and in every bit of flat water we’ve had for the past six weeks. Well, he’s got it now, so as long he’s not out of his depth, he’s happy.
Tonight we went for a really good Malaysian meal in Mudgeeraba village. We had a lot to drink (as you can probably tell from this post which I’m writing on our return!) and so walked back leaving the car in the car park for Sid and Dan to jog to in the morning.
3 comments:
Sid, if you are worried at all, a wet suit will turn the heaviest of sinkers into a floater. I've never been a strong swimmer, only managed to learn, heavily drugged, in the balmy waters in Goa many years ago. Go swimming, snorkeling and body boarding in Wales now with impunity, encased in foam rubber.
So Grouser,
I think you mean rubber rather than foam?
And does that mean you are a rubber fetishist?
I think you meant "Best Of All Lookout" which is the actual name. You should have dropped in as you drove past :o)
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