HALLELUYAH, SHAKE THAT TAMBORINE

After such a bad start to my Queensland travels all I wanted to do was find a place to hole up and lick my wounds. And if I couldn’t find a free place, then I needed to find a cheap one. Just for this first night, until I could get my bearings again. I had automatically headed, on leaving Robina, for a place I had previously visited and fallen in love with. The stunning Tamborine Mountains. But I knew this was tourist territory and, as such, here in Queensland, would command premium prices for accommodation. I wasn’t about to visit any Information Centre, ever again, so, instead, I pulled over at a lovely scenic view of the valley and reverted to my trusty Wikicamps. And it came up trumps once more! I found a little camping ground that only charged $10 per night for an unpowered site. Here in the Tamborine Mountains! I couldn’t believe my luck. My foot hit the accelerator as if I was entering Le Mans.

As I wound around the twists and turns of the verdant mountainside, I was once again struck by the tranquility and abundant life of the rainforest. The campgrounds were actually tucked away at the side of Thunderbird Park, in a truly beautiful spot with a stream running through over large smooth boulders, surrounded by tall, lush woodland.  In fact there were two parts of the camp with two separate owners. I wanted the part that had sites for $10. The girl at the café at Thunderbird Park restored my faith in friendly Queenslanders and cheerfully pointed me, to the right side. Even the owner turned out to be lovely and helpful, showing me where everything was on a map- the toilets and showers, the walks and places to visit, and making sure my site was level as motorhomes were not like caravans, that could be leveled. It had been such an emotional day I felt a little choked. And very much in need of that hot shower!

I didn’t get to do much that night as it was already turning to evening by the time I had showered. But I got to sit and watch the bush turkeys scrounging the grounds for food, bobbing swiftly here and there as tidbits came available. However, disgusted at my lack of provisions for them, they stayed near better benefactors. So instead, I sipped on my mug of sweet, hot chocolate and turned my gaze upwards to watch the sky turn from soft pink to dark blue as a myriad of stars began to stud the sky. The next morning, after making the most of the showers while I could, I decided to take a little walk along the paths the owner had pointed out to me. The one to the old disused mine was first. Interesting enough, going over the bridge across

the stream and along a short wooded path. But the mine was sealed off and dangerous and the area had flooded recently making the path muddy and strewn with forest debris. So I returned, passing the hanging rope walkways high in the trees of the ‘Tree Top Challenge’- the next door tourist venue. A type of ‘commando’, ‘team bonding’ place to test your trust and your skills. I have neither. Honestly, expecting me to run along a rope path, or swing off a tree, to prove I’m a good mate ……. Ain’t gonna happen.

The next walk was to the Ponds area, which was really beautiful. Here, a wide stream of cold, mountain water meanders over smooth rocks and boulders. So clear and pure is the water, you can see every pebble beneath, every little stick that is swept on the fast flowing tide. In places the stream becomes a white torrent as it is falls down a level, then clears again rushing on a straighter path. And all around towering trees with slim white bark stretch to the sky,  Ferns splaying out between them and over rocks, lime green, catching the sun.  This is my heaven. But, conscious that I need to travel to my next destination which I had planned the night before, I reluctantly started to go back to my Chihuahua. On my way, however, I met another couple  Anyway I could always come back and stay another time.

of fellow campers who were feeding the birds. Shaz and Gaz. I love the way Aussies shorten their names, don’t you? It’s never Sharon or Diane or Betty. It’s Shaz and Di and Bett. So much simpler. Friendlier. Anyway the birds. There were wood pidgeons, exquisitely colored corollas and small little black and white ones. As friendly as anything, all pecking away together at the breadcrumbs thrown about. I was in two minds whether to stay another night. But Shaz had already asked to and the owner said it would be really busy at the weekend, and fully booked, though if they moved to a more remote site she would let them.

There was just one last place to visit. But I needed the Chihuahua for this. Cedar Falls was, literally, just down a short road at the entrance of the Park.  It’s a great place to visit with picnic and BBQ areas on wide grass verges. There’s plenty of Parking and clean toilets too. It’s also an easy walking path to the first section of the falls which can even be managed by wheelchair users, where the views of the falls are stunning. I didn’t go any further that day, though there are much longer paths ahead. It was almost like sensory overload! There’s only so much beauty you can take. It was time to move on.

 No beauty transcends that of Nature.... all else is mimickry.

The  Grey Chihuahua