The Green behind the Gold
Tour: Tamborine Day Tripper
Tourists: Kairi, Ann, Grant
Time: Tuesday arvo
Transport: SuBaRu WRX
Price: Priceless
Busy with the last sightseeing as we are about to leave, we spent another day exploring the Gold Coast hinterland. Just 45 km northwest of the GC on a northern spur of the McPherson Range lies a 552m-high plateau - Mt Tamborine. It has gorges, cascades (Witches Falls, Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek Falls) and walking tracks to various lookouts with great views. It looks down on the surrounding lowlands, across the Nerang and Coomera River valleys to the Gold Coast and Pacific Ocean to the east, and over the beautiful Albert River valley and right out to the Great Dividing Range to the west.
The original vegetation was predominantly sub-tropical rainforest. Although much of this
dense forest has been cleared to make way for farming, many remnant stands of the original forest still exist. Nine National Parks encircle the mountain and contain examples of the various types of rainforest that once covered the area. The most amazing of these are the belts of Piccabean Palm forest that cling around creeks and waterfalls. We picked one of the nine parks - Joalah section, and walked on a 1.5km return track to Curtis Falls. It goes through rainforest and descends steep stairs to a large pool at
the base of the falls. The parks are rich in animal and bird life. You'll hear many bird songs as you walk down the path. The most colourful are the parrots, especially the Rainbow Lorikeets. You should also watch your step as you walk, unless you wanna hurt the lizards and who knows what else crawling across your way. We met this little fellow in the picture here above. And a few bush turkeys wandering around. Bandicoots, dainty wallabies, koalas and various other small Aussie natives that call the area home didn't come out this time though.
So we headed on to the town centre on Gallery Walk and stopped in the Mt Tamborine Winery for some wine tasting. Chocolate Port was pretty good hey. Just imagine it on the Choc Fudge Sundae ice-cream we sometimes get from the service station down the road. Yummie. A beautiful day. Sweet wine. Great nature. One little incident shocked us though. Recycled water in the public restrooms right on Gallery Walk, the town centre's main street with craft shops, galleries and cafés. The 'beautiful' yellow colour of the water.. and the sign on the WC wall. Hmm. Aussie water saving, you know.
The original vegetation was predominantly sub-tropical rainforest. Although much of this
dense forest has been cleared to make way for farming, many remnant stands of the original forest still exist. Nine National Parks encircle the mountain and contain examples of the various types of rainforest that once covered the area. The most amazing of these are the belts of Piccabean Palm forest that cling around creeks and waterfalls. We picked one of the nine parks - Joalah section, and walked on a 1.5km return track to Curtis Falls. It goes through rainforest and descends steep stairs to a large pool at
the base of the falls. The parks are rich in animal and bird life. You'll hear many bird songs as you walk down the path. The most colourful are the parrots, especially the Rainbow Lorikeets. You should also watch your step as you walk, unless you wanna hurt the lizards and who knows what else crawling across your way. We met this little fellow in the picture here above. And a few bush turkeys wandering around. Bandicoots, dainty wallabies, koalas and various other small Aussie natives that call the area home didn't come out this time though.
So we headed on to the town centre on Gallery Walk and stopped in the Mt Tamborine Winery for some wine tasting. Chocolate Port was pretty good hey. Just imagine it on the Choc Fudge Sundae ice-cream we sometimes get from the service station down the road. Yummie. A beautiful day. Sweet wine. Great nature. One little incident shocked us though. Recycled water in the public restrooms right on Gallery Walk, the town centre's main street with craft shops, galleries and cafés. The 'beautiful' yellow colour of the water.. and the sign on the WC wall. Hmm. Aussie water saving, you know.
posted by kairike at 4:38 PM
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