Tweed Heads NSW August 27, 2015

Tweed Heads NSW August 27, 2015

We spent yesterday cruising around the mountains out the back of Tweed Heads / Gold Coast. First we had to go back to Springbrook, to see if the Best-of-all lookout could live up to its name:

Best-of-all lookout 2012. Springbrook Qld

Best-of-all lookout, 2012. Springbrook Qld

Best-of-all lookout, 2015. Springbrook Qld

Best-of-all lookout, 2015. Springbrook Qld

Personally, I didn't think it that great a view, but the busloads of Asian tourists thought it was all pretty special. 'Ow' and 'argh' sound just the same in Japanese. Its a narrow track down and out onto the viewing platform. They came down in single-file led by the tour guide. They marched out onto the platform, give a quick 'ow argh' turn around, grab a selfie-on-a-stick with the view in the background, and march right off again.

We had coffee in the only coffee shop we remembered in the area for miles. It's the oddest place, full of 'art' created by the resident owner and cook. The coffee was fine, just took 20 minutes to arrive; just long enough for one to fully appreciate the intrinsic beauty of the art on display. As it was we were terrorised by the local butcher-bird family who obviously make themselves right at home with the dogs when we're not there. Needless to say, as we turned the corner to come back down the hill we found a brand new coffee shop, which definitely wasn't there last time we were visiting.

This is a steep climb and the road is only just two lanes wide at best. I had to document this part of the road. Keep in mind that we are on top of a mountain and there's nothing between the road and the valley floor, not even a big stand of trees to stop you rolling all the way down

Going...   Road to Springbrook Qld

...going... Springbrook Qld

Damn near gone. Springbrook Qld

You have to come all the way back down to the M1, drive north for a few kms and then turn off again, wending your way through Nerang before heading up to Mt Tambourine. We been here a few times already, so the little village with all its arty-crafty shops and overpriced cafes held no interest. We went straight to Skywalk, where we had an organic steak pie for lunch and the best Anzac biscuit I've had for a while. Skywalk is a series of raised gantries running through the treetops, connected by paths that also take in the creek at ground level. We had a lovely old time taking snaps of trees and ferns and stag horns and rocks and things. Mostly rubbish, but good fun and every time you learn a bit more about the bush around you.

Creepy creeper
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld 

Almost-a-creek
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

Furry fern with lighting
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

Epiphytes
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

Judy on the gantry, gives you an idea just how tall these trees are.
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

Start of a strangler fig. It will probably last longer than that &^$* post that crept in behind it!
Skywalk. Mt Tambourine Qld

On the way back down, we stopped and grabbed this snap in between the houses which line the road all the way up, most sitting precariously on slender stalks way above the valley.

The Gold Coast meets the ocean. From Mt Tambourine Qld

To top off our day, we went to the Australian Outback Experience (again..). We were keen to go because it was rumoured that the show had finally changed. It was now called the High Country Legends. As you would expect it was loosely, very very loosely, based around our heroes from Warrego Station (its one of the two 'Stations' that make up the theme park) going to the snowy alps to take part in the great muster and horse-ride, in the style of the Man From Snowy River. We were both a little disappointed with the show, it was OK mostly but a bit slow in the middle and it was hard to understand the dialogue, of which there was way too much. But, we had a really nice feed and drinks and were entertained by the skill of the cowboys and girls and the magnificence of the horses and other beasts for over 2 hours, so we enjoyed ourselves. The difference is, that we were happy to go back and see either of the previous shows, but we wouldn't bother with this one again. Maybe they'll change it real quick and we can go back again next year!