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!

Up another mountain

The wind has abated a tad so Brian went for a walk along the beach. I stayed in bed! The sun was out so we decided to check out the mountains, lookouts, waterfalls and walks in Springbrook. It is only 30kms from the turnoff at Mudgereeba but the road is very narrow and winding through the mountains. It just keeps going higher and higher with a sheer drop and hardly any guard rails. I was keeping my eyes fixed to that road and got a little sweaty the higher and steeper we got. There were even a few sections that were only one lane over little wooden bridges with a drop that went forever. We drove through Springbrook and another few kms to Purling Falls. It was a lovely picnic area where a few walks originated. Some were affected by landslips due to the amount of rain they have been having up here, so we chose to stroll the 100 metres to the falls from the car park along a moss covered path through the rainforest. We arrived at a lookout that ends in a massive drop with a waterfall plunging over a sheer rock face. There was also another walk to the other side of the falls that crossed a beautiful creek that burbled over smooth rocks before starting its journey towards the edge of the waterfall. It looked like a perfect habitat for platypus although we didn’t actually see any.

Next stop was a lookout that claimed to be and called “The Best-Of-All lookout”. It was about another 4 kms up the mountain and about 2kms further on, the temperature dropped to 8 degrees and the clouds enshrouded the mountain. It was only a 350 metre walk from the car park but it took a little bit of time because the rainforest was just so spectacular we were stopping constantly to take photos. The highlight had to be a group of 1000 year old Antarctic beech trees whose roots and trunks were gnarled and totally covered in thick green moss. Just amazing. We eventually arrived at the lookout and the best view will have to be seen at another time. The cloud was so thick, it was a total whiteout. Back to the car in a light drizzle that could have been rain or just the cloud and decided lunch at the Springbrook General Store was the go as it was nearly 2pm and we were hungry. We weren’t certain we could get anything as it was a Monday and not a lot of people about but they ‘could make some toasties and a coffee for us’ which was just fine. We ended up spending an hour chatting to the two ladies serving there and they had lots of photos of the local fauna they wanted to share as well as some stories. One lady was from Texas in the good old US of A and the other originally from Victoria but were now definitely locals. It was good fun. Why is it that it always seems much quicker returning from these trips? Anyway, were back at the van by 4.30, Brian walked to the shops and I snuggled up in my blankie and read my book for a while.

All the snaps => click here

A snap of the day

 

 

Judy admiring the view from the Best-Of-All Lookout, Springbrook, Qld