Luisa in Australia

Next stop: Townsville region– Saying hello to the waterfalls

After our exciting Magnetic sland trip we are heading towards Townsville. On our way we make a detour into the hilly and densely forested hinterland. Destination: Crystal Creek in Paluma National Park. The water is cold like ice and of course Papa jumps into it. I have decided to enjoy every single moment of my time to the fullest so I don’t hesitate, strip down to my underwear and climb straight into it, too. Freeze! This is so icy it hurts. The freshest mountain water. Pushing blood stream, thrilling the body and soul. When it gets really cold and you feel every fibre of your body, you are not freezing anymore. You just feel alive. At one with yourself and everything around. It’s a moment of true happiness.

After this exhilarating swim I snuggle into my hoodie and we drive to Cardwell where we have dinner and sleep in a less charming room at a friendly camp site.

The next day we take it easy again and make a relaxed trip to Wallaman Falls in Girringun National Park. The road runs pretty much straight and is lined by grass, fields, farms and forest. A kangaroo watches our car passing by. And oh what’s this? A little bird is sitting on the Kangaroo’s head???????!!!!!!!!!!!! :D The landscape changes and the road starts winding high up into the rain forest, including a little stop where Papa goes for a majestic pee (look at the spot with the stunning view he chose and you will understand). A bit further up we park the car and take a little stroll to Wallaman falls. We admire the gigantic mass of water dropping 268 meters where they are swallowed by the steaming pool at the ground and the settle ourselves to enjoy a delicious picnic. On our way home we share the golden shining road with no one but an impressive number of cows and calves. At home we move all our stuff from the ugly room into an amazing bungalow and cook the most delicious dinner with tasty shrimps!

We sleep tight and start the next day with breakfast on our terrace, with drinking coconut, lamingtons, tea and juice. The fun trips push our energy and so Papa and I go for a short run along the beach and jump into the ocean to refresh. Our today’s plan: Murray Falls. On our way into the mountains we happen to pass an aboriginal cemetery. Our as Mama puts it: an idyllic, escaped meadow with some cheesy decorated, randomly arranged graves. The atmosphere is magic. And Mama in the middle of it all with her colourful, happy hippie skirt. After a detailed inspection of the cemetery we keep on driving and are stunned on our arrival at the Murray Falls area: We are in paradise! Gigantic colourful butterflies in lively love dance, the strong waterfalls rushing down the hills, water tenderly flowing down the stream forming idyllic water basins and inviting us for a refreshing swim. We take the little path to the top through endlessly high trees with twiners creeping up the trunks, banana bushes in between, moss, stones… and a snake. In the middle of the path. Staring. At us. Freeze! And then it disappears into the dark rain forest. Our first and only snake incident. Creepy, exciting and luckily nothing happened. It would not have taken much for Papa to stumble right across the pretty much invisible snake. A little while later we are back down again and we indulge in the amazing water basins. It was mind-blowingly awesome!