We started our day with the helicopter ride. We were able to get a “ bargain price” due to the fact that there were 5 of us that wanted to go.
We had 18 minutes of joy as we zipped over the famous falls and the surrounding areas. I loved the ride despite the fact that I was facing backwards and missing the locations that the pilot was describing until way after, and then seeing them from a very different angle. Trev was lucky that he got the front seat with a great view.
When we were dropped off at the falls our first move was to walk to the spot where we could best see the falls from the land. This virtually took us in line with the bottom fall so that we could see all of the 4 falls that make up the Mitchell falls.
Trev and I found a lovely round pool with beautiful warm, clear water in it. If Sophia had been with us this would have been an ideal place for her to experience the area. We christened this “ Sophia’s pool”.
Next we needed to cross the river. We were able to follow white marker poles to do this, but the water was at least up to mid calf ( if you were able to pick the very best route and stay upright) so all shoes were off unless happy to get them wet.
We followed the walking path alongside the river for a while
before veering off of the path again to see the top of the Mitchell Falls
Then we continued on to the path past the beautiful lily pond
Then we had a swim at the top of Big Merton falls rather than using the stepping stones.
Looking to the right we found a huge wall of art on the other side of the river.
It was difficult to get to, but we clambered over the black rocks anyway. Slight injury to my arm in a bit of a fall. ( attacking fig tree). The good thing was that,as I recovered from this I noticed two of the red dragonflies stationary on a rock nearby and was finally able to photograph them.
Then we hit the bit of rainforest along the walk, and stopped for a lunch break, having another chat with David and Jane from Hamilton ( for the second time).
We diverted down below little Merten Falls to see more rock art
and then have another swim in the cool pool below the falls.
As we started climbing out of that area we met the others walking down. We climbed on to the top of the falls and spent a while waiting for them to show in the pool below, but eventually gave up on waiting and continued our walk.
As we headed home we kept a keen lookout for the black grasswren which frequents this area. We may have seen them, but we’re unable to get a good enough look to prove it. It was the same with the green backed Gerygone.
We were pleased to sit down, make a cuppa, do a bit of washing and rest for a while. we enjoyed the local birds including a partridge pigeon pecking around our campsite, red winged parrots and bowerbirds around their bower.
Al and Zita headed off for their night at the Wilderness Lodge while the rest of us had a quiet night with a lovely fire.
There were lots of dingo noises in the night
- Black cockatoos
- Red ringed parrot
- Possibly green backed gerygone and black grasswren
- Bowerbirds
- Partridge pigeon
- Rosella (much paler than in SA)
- 0 km mileage!! No fuel used.
Luvapuzzle 