Day 29 – In search of coffee with a view we headed up Mt. Coot-tha in the car. It definitely delivered on those fronts. The view was very nice – we could see all the spots we’d explored in the previous days and see the ferry boats heading up and down.
Post-coffee we topped up on gas at Costco before leaving Brisbane (Brent can find them everywhere – and they are all laid out EXACTLY the same). 94 Octane for AUD$1.339/l – just about 40 cents cheaper than elsewhere in the city!
It was then a couple hours drive to Lamington National Park, including an exciting section up the ridge with many curves and one lane sections (including 7km of one lane just before the park!).
After checking in and being welcomed by the many brightly coloured parrots we headed off on a walk.
Bron was super impressed with the free trails. The first one we did was an elevated forest walk 16m off the ground made of 9 suspension bridges. In the middle there was a ladder and platform system to 30m up a fig tree. It felt like we were totally immersed in the canopy.
Then we went to check out the various pools of the lodge. The first set were just below a lookout platform near our room and the infinity pool was a half km hike away. It was quite a steep route down and we remarked that the pool would be better situated at the TOP of the hill for cooling off. It was, however, gorgeous.
As we were already down there, we continued on to Moran Falls (a reported 500m which felt like 2km). We were pushing sunset and it was getting quite dusky in the rainforest so after a quick view of the falls we beat a hasty retreat.
After dinner and a drink (special of the day was a cross between mojito and long island ice tea) Bron made a snap decision to go on the nighttime glow worm tour. Brent chose to have another drink instead. Unlike Mon Repos we were allowed to use flashlights to get to the glow worms which made it much easier. The guide kept looking for animals in certain places saying ‘usually we see a sugar glider, eel, pademelon, python, etc here….’ but our wildlife was limited to an emerging cicada. The glow worms live above the creek in certain locations. There were benches to sit on in front of them and everyone turned their lights off and just enjoyed for 20 minutes. It was pretty magical.
Day 31 – Bron (being more ok with early, quick mornings) joined the morning bird walk while Brent got an extra hour or 2 of sleep. It began with the guide feeding all kinds of birds by the lodge entrance and then up the board walk trail (Satin Bowerbirds, Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Green Catbirds, Yellow breasted robins, and many more which I forget). Luckily I wore Brent’s hat, hahahahaha.
The culmination was seeing the bowerbird in his bower which I remembered from a David Attenborough show. And guess what – the documentary piece was filmed at THIS bower. The guide was part of the month long shoot and told us about the challenges of getting the shots. So I’ve met someone who’s met Sir Attenborough! I tried to look up the show on Netflix to show Brent, but it’s not available on the Aussie version. I’m sure I saw it on the Canadian Netflix about a year ago – if you want to give it a try it was called ‘Life Story’ and the Bowerbird is in episode 2.
After all this the day was only just beginning. Brent was now up and going so we both did the short hike out to the Wishing Tree and Mick’s lookout tower. It was another impressively build track with bridges and tree walkthroughs.
At one point several dingos started baying in the distance. When we made it back to the top (everything STARTS downhill as the whole place is a big ridge, so everything ends uphill…) we then drove down to the infinity pool for a cool off. The visit had gone very well with no snake sightings for Brent, until……
a carpet python right across the road on our way out. Bron thought it was cool to see but Brent was NOT HAPPY. Luckily, we were in the car departing so there was nothing to worry about.
A couple hours drive brought us to Byron Bay. It was really busy (as we’d been warned) but the views from the lighthouse area were fantastic.
We didn’t stay all that long as accommodation was significantly cheaper just down the road in Ballina – although it looked like there were lots of walks worth doing. Having had a late night and early morning, Bron fell asleep at 7pm so we didn’t see any more of the area.
Day 32 – Aim for the day was drive to Port MacQuaire. We were watching the traffic and fire info apps as this section of Pacific Highway was being intermittently closed. It was open in the morning so we gave it a try. The drive was fine, but did go through fire stricken areas including some with active flames and much smoldering and smoke.
Our hearts are with all of the people, farmers, and animals who are now displaced. Just south of the most active fire area we stopped at Yamba. There were gorgeous beaches – endless, wild waves, dunes, and only a handful of other people.
At the recommendation of a friend from Brisbane we had lunch with ginger beer at the Pacific hotel overlooking the water. It did not disappoint! I think any food would taste good with such a view though.
A bit travel weary from so many short stays, we were excited to be in a town house style accommodation with full kitchen and laundry for a few days (clean clothes – great excitement!). Groceries included some tasty domestic produce.
Reception told us there is a wild koala living above the hotel tennis courts, but we failed to spot it (we will try again tomorrow). We ended the day with a short walk on Shelly beach with many wild noises coming out of rainforest (cicadas, cat birds, koalas in heat, what else? It was loud!)
Brent And Bron Abroad 
Looks awesome you two! Love the pics and dialogue..,,,,not sure about the snake though lol 🙁
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Good morning Carrie,
I was NOT HAPPY!! 😦 That snake was easily more than one lane width long. (ten feet??) Ugh! This is the third one we’ve seen – happily all at a distance and nothing that was aggressive. Loving this choice we made to go away and see the world. We are having a blast. Say Hi to Tony for us.
Brent
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