Summer 2018 big trip - day 3

Monday 30th July

We started off the day doing the Waterfalls Circuit. There's a large route that goes all around the Tablelands but we just did a mini one of three relatively local falls: Millaa-Millaa, Zillie, and Ellinjaa.

Millaa-Millaa Falls

The countryside of this part of rural north Queensland is beautiful, and varied. Some areas are savannah-like, dry and grassy with eucalyptus trees; other areas are rainforest, or rainforest-covered mountains; some areas are farms or plantations of sugar cane or mangoes or any number of other tropical crops; some areas are dairy country, with sweeping vistas of green rolling hills of pastureland. We made a photostop at Crawfords Lookout, overlooking the North Johnstone River in Wooroonooran National Park. The lookout is basically a lay-by at the side of the road; there's a small gap in the trees and, if someone's in the passenger seat and looking to the left, they can get a quick glimpse of a stunning view. The lay-by is after that, after the passenger has gasped "Oh wow! Pull over!" You walk back to the viewpoint and look down over the rainforested valley below with the turquoise river roaring at the bottom.

Our next proper stop was the Ma:Mu Skywalk, a canopy walkway in the rainforest. It was about one and a half kilometres long and had a couple of towers that provided wonderful views over the valleys. There were information plaques all along it, telling you about the plants, the history of the area and the indigenous tribe who once lived there.

After lunch at a cafe with yet more very pretty views, we made a quick stop at another viewpoint, which I could have stayed at all day - the view was amazing, spread out below, a wide area all the way to the mountains. I reluctantly pulled myself away from gazing out in wonder so we could get to Lake Eacham before the sun set.

Lake Eacham is one of the two crater lakes on the Tablelands, formed from the craters of extinct volcanoes, and is a popular swimming and spending-time-outdoors spot. It wasn't quite warm enough for me to want to get in, but my aunt and sister did. I went in up to my knees. It was lovely there, the circular lake lined with rainforest and the water calm and clear. Then, it was back to the house for the evening.