I spose you could call this a 'Claytons' Update....the update you get when its not an update.
It all started by calling into the golden arches to have breaky, a couple of muffins and jam with a nice skinny hot chocolate. The skinny bit makes it healthy.
That done I headed north from Townsville along the Bruce hwy to Ingham, north QLD. Caravans and similar everywhere. Hung a left as I hit Ingham along the Wallaman Falls road to, yep you guessed, Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park. The journey would take me another 51km with cane farms all around then all of a sudden, cows everywhere, even laying down in the middle of the road enjoying the warmth on the black stuff. Slow right down time and be careful not to hit any.
Moving right along, I then came across young Kangaroos also enjoying the sunshine on the side of the road and a couple in the middle of the road, slow down again time. No way were those two budging, they were staying put next to there little buddy that unfortunately didnt see the end of the day, so I was the one that had to move across to get past them. No problems, done happily. As I got to the other side and no other vehicles around I grabbed the camera to get pic of them but as soon as I did that they shot through quicker than quick. Gee, I would have even given them a free copy. I did get out and move their little buddy to the side of the road though.
Next, I started the climb up the mountain along a very windy and steep surfaced road for about 13km. Now I had already been among the 'wild' animals then came across a sign warning of crocodiles in the area and not to swim in the creeks or river. What had I got myself into here?
I finally reached the free car park at "Wallaman Falls". Found a spot to park then started walking the path leading to the viewing area. Now the viewing area is literally right next to the car park and is wheelchair friendly. There is an information board that tells you all about the falls that are the highest in Australia. From Stony Creek it tumbles 70mt off the Seaview Range then plunging 268mts in a single clear fall to the 20mt deep pool below. SPECTACULAR.
I had planned to return to Ingham by lunch time to visit The original pub with no beer that Slim Dusty sang the song about but this area and the 3 other smaller falls were just too great not to enjoy for longer so all pics done and dusted I just enjoyed for about an hour. There is a 4km medium classed return walk down to the bottom of the falls but after speaking with a person just returned I decided due to a large tree down across the path and blocking it for a further descend I would not attempt it. He also mentioned it was a very hard walk back up so the medium classification must have been the descend.
I made my way back slowly down the just wide enough for two cars road heading back to Ingham for a bite to eat when, what was that just ahead? Wow! My first encounter with a Cassowary in the wild, crossing the road. With no one else in sight I came to a stop as far left as I could get, grabbed the phone camera as the beast was in the back. So from inside the car snapped away grabbing few reasonable pics. I had until this encounter only ever seen one other Cassowary and that was in the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville QLD. How exciting! Yeh I know, a big kid.
After that excitement it was time to get something to eat so I decided even though it was 2pm by this I would still visit the pub mentioned above. Still time to get a good meal so had one of the best Rib Fillet Steaks ever. The chef there knows how to cook a steak and I tell you that for free. I even had a beer in the Pub with no beer Mmmmm.
Lunch done it was time to get back to my aluminium tent after a great day out.
Some pics below.
Edit....Ooops, forgot the water fall pic :))
-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 22nd of June 2016 10:52:32 AM
Juggenaut said
10:35 AM Jun 22, 2016
good post Doug. i went there 6 mths ago and got completely lost. took 3 hrs to get back
rockylizard said
01:28 PM Jun 22, 2016
Gday...
Good story young Doug and good pics (under duress it seems)
Been there - done that - and good to read about those falls again. I too spent the day up there - although I had parked the van in Ingham.
Cheers - John
Happywanderer said
02:58 PM Jun 22, 2016
Great update Doug. Love it when there's lots of wildlife on the road. Pity about the deceased one though.
Keep up the stories, can't go far at the moment so enjoy reading of others escapades.
Gaylehere said
04:38 PM Jun 22, 2016
Thanks Doug for the story and pictures. Glad you saw the Cassowary. Read somewhere recently about a number of cassowary being killed on the road. Glad yours was alive and kicking. Hope to get up that way either later this year or next so am very interested in what you say and see.
Felicia said
06:39 PM Jun 22, 2016
Doug, what a great day out. Enjoyed it so much read it twice.
Lynda
rayaroundoz said
08:18 PM Jun 22, 2016
Great read Doug. I have just added Wallaman Falls to my bucket list.
Dougwe said
08:28 PM Jun 22, 2016
Well worth the trip and I tell you that for free Ray.
Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated and I also tell you that for free.
Dougwe said
08:30 PM Jun 22, 2016
Felicia wrote:
Doug, what a great day out. Enjoyed it so much read it twice.
Lynda
I hope you bought two copies Lynda. I'm only a poor pensioner you know.
rainy1850 said
10:15 PM Jun 22, 2016
Loved reading as usual. Look forward to eventually travelling out there. Anywhere is better than Melbournem weather
Desert Dweller said
05:42 AM Jun 23, 2016
Congratulations on the bird photography, getting less & less of them these days. We did the falls back in the mid 70's, a spectacular spot indeed.
Shut the front gate! What a day!
I spose you could call this a 'Claytons' Update....the update you get when its not an update.
It all started by calling into the golden arches to have breaky, a couple of muffins and jam with a nice skinny hot chocolate. The skinny bit makes it healthy.
That done I headed north from Townsville along the Bruce hwy to Ingham, north QLD. Caravans and similar everywhere. Hung a left as I hit Ingham along the Wallaman Falls road to, yep you guessed, Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park. The journey would take me another 51km with cane farms all around then all of a sudden, cows everywhere, even laying down in the middle of the road enjoying the warmth on the black stuff. Slow right down time and be careful not to hit any.
Moving right along, I then came across young Kangaroos also enjoying the sunshine on the side of the road and a couple in the middle of the road, slow down again time. No way were those two budging, they were staying put next to there little buddy that unfortunately didnt see the end of the day, so I was the one that had to move across to get past them. No problems, done happily. As I got to the other side and no other vehicles around I grabbed the camera to get pic of them but as soon as I did that they shot through quicker than quick. Gee, I would have even given them a free copy. I did get out and move their little buddy to the side of the road though.
Next, I started the climb up the mountain along a very windy and steep surfaced road for about 13km. Now I had already been among the 'wild' animals then came across a sign warning of crocodiles in the area and not to swim in the creeks or river. What had I got myself into here?
I finally reached the free car park at "Wallaman Falls". Found a spot to park then started walking the path leading to the viewing area. Now the viewing area is literally right next to the car park and is wheelchair friendly. There is an information board that tells you all about the falls that are the highest in Australia. From Stony Creek it tumbles 70mt off the Seaview Range then plunging 268mts in a single clear fall to the 20mt deep pool below. SPECTACULAR.
I had planned to return to Ingham by lunch time to visit The original pub with no beer that Slim Dusty sang the song about but this area and the 3 other smaller falls were just too great not to enjoy for longer so all pics done and dusted I just enjoyed for about an hour. There is a 4km medium classed return walk down to the bottom of the falls but after speaking with a person just returned I decided due to a large tree down across the path and blocking it for a further descend I would not attempt it. He also mentioned it was a very hard walk back up so the medium classification must have been the descend.
I made my way back slowly down the just wide enough for two cars road heading back to Ingham for a bite to eat when, what was that just ahead? Wow! My first encounter with a Cassowary in the wild, crossing the road. With no one else in sight I came to a stop as far left as I could get, grabbed the phone camera as the beast was in the back. So from inside the car snapped away grabbing few reasonable pics. I had until this encounter only ever seen one other Cassowary and that was in the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville QLD. How exciting! Yeh I know, a big kid.
After that excitement it was time to get something to eat so I decided even though it was 2pm by this I would still visit the pub mentioned above. Still time to get a good meal so had one of the best Rib Fillet Steaks ever. The chef there knows how to cook a steak and I tell you that for free. I even had a beer in the Pub with no beer Mmmmm.
Lunch done it was time to get back to my aluminium tent after a great day out.
Some pics below.
Edit....Ooops, forgot the water fall pic :))
-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 22nd of June 2016 10:52:32 AM
good post Doug. i went there 6 mths ago and got completely lost. took 3 hrs to get back
Gday...
Good story young Doug and good pics (under duress it seems)
Been there - done that - and good to read about those falls again. I too spent the day up there - although I had parked the van in Ingham.
Cheers - John
Keep up the stories, can't go far at the moment so enjoy reading of others escapades.
Lynda
Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated and I also tell you that for free.
I hope you bought two copies Lynda. I'm only a poor pensioner you know.
Loved reading as usual. Look forward to eventually travelling out there. Anywhere is better than Melbournem weather
Thanks Doug. Great post and pics.
Lynda