12 December 2018
The previous week we were enjoying a glass of wine in the city, after attending the Lord Mayor's High Tea and Christmas Concert. Someone asked 'what are we going to do next week?' I, tongue in cheek, suggested we should return to the rainforest for a long hike. Given the heat and humidity, I thought I would be howled down but it was the opposite, and what a magnificent hike we had!
We arrived at Binna Burra at 7am and after yet another delicious morning tea with Christmas delicacies, we were soon on trail - the Lower Bellbird Circuit with the off shoot to the Lower Ballanjui Falls. The Hungry Hikers had hiked to the falls but their memories were only of getting wet on the hike out. I had enjoyed the full hike with the Gaiter Girls earlier in the year, but on this occasion, it seemed the hike exceded the beauty I recalled. 15 kms on my garmin watch and 17 km on their fitbits. How does that happen?
This pic was taken towards the end of the hike but our motto is so true.
Energising for the hike.
Binna Burra Lodge was near bye with its magnificent 180 degree views and New South Wales floral emblem in full bloom - Waratah! [Joc Pic]
Initially we had to walk a couple of k's down the road to the actual trail head. Much better than hiking up it at the end of the day.
Laurel is always on the alert for fun shots.
Laurel is always on the alert for fun shots.
The trail begins with a shoe clean to help prevent the spread of micro organisms.
Soon after we came across our first wild strawberry plant. As a child living in the country, we often found them. Today was a rare event and enjoyed to the max by me. So many and so delicious.
Our initial descent was over and we looked up to where we had come from. Then entered the forest canopy single file, for most of the remainder of the hike.
Occasionally we would get a glimpse of distant ridges.
We constantly hiked below the cliff face but the trail offered so much to enjoy..
Caves
A lovely ferny track.
Narrow paths
Trees to hide in.
Magnificent, towering giants.
Lianas and rich green foliage.
Amazing palms.
A giant at rest.
Strangling fig trees, making the heart break for these helpless giants.
There was time to rest and rehydrate.
Times when we felt dwarfed more than ever by nature.
There was climbing.
And time for posing and selfies.
Waterfalls impressed ..................
even when there was only a glimpse.
Ballanjui drops 150m.
Dry, boulder strewn creek beds.
Progress is slow when you have to watch your feet but want to soak up the beauty.
Steep drops and open vistas.
Brown Cuckoo Doves
A variety of flowering flora, in snatches.
A tick or two or three, came home with us.
Our final treat for the day - fruit mince pies with local raspberries.
I saved this lovely image taken by Joc to the last. Beneath this cliff is the trail we hiked from left to right. The Gold Coast is on the horizon to the right. It was just the best day with the Hungry Hikers!
I would love to read your comment.
What a beautiful hike with good company. I loved your poses for photos!
ReplyDeleteIts been added to the list, if you happen to get down under.
DeleteHi there - what a great looking walk, and in very different habitats to the ones we get in Victoria.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Hi there Stewart. Thanks for your comment. I follow the the Hiking in Australia and New Zealand Facebook group and I would so love to live closer to your Victorian trails.
DeleteI am reminded of some of our rain forests-- even though the plants are different. Good company indeed!
ReplyDeleteAlways great company and I agree about the familarity of the rain forests.
DeleteWhat a fabulous hike and food - but yuk to those ticks!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree on all three accounts.
DeleteI had to laugh at the Wildlife shot! And some of those backdrops were stunning. (Not that you ladies aren't stunning, too!)
ReplyDeleteLaurel has a very clever eye for humorous shots.
DeleteIt looks like a fabulous place to walk and I can only imagine the fun you all had. Sheer glee is your characteristic expression on so many of the pictures. As for wildlife, I am sure even the snakes retreated when you ladies hit the trail! Ticks are becoming more of a problem here too. I am not sure what kind of a threat they represent in Australia but here certain species can transmit Lyme disease, not something you want to get.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. Alas the snakes don't always retreat when we are out and about. We don't as yet have any problems with Lyme disease. Our tick is the paralysis tick. Awful name but but not as worriesome as it sounds. They are more of a problem for our pet dogs. We do have to keep a close check on our bodies when we exit the forest.
DeleteHello dear Helen and thank you for the gorgeous post, again!
ReplyDeleteThe views are stunning and for example the third photo is something I would frame and hang on a wall.
The shoe clean is very interesting. Is it effective?
As I may have written, ticks are a problem here as well (Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis). They are our "most dangerous animals".
Thank you for your kind comments. I'm visiting other blogs very slowly because I often use my son's old laptop that has some Internet connection issues. By the way, I'm going to disable (or delete) my Instagram account and hope to have then more time for blogs.
Have a lovely day! xx
Thanks Sara. A great idea about No 3. Re the shoe clean, we have our doubts. The spray wasn't working and I thinka lot of people sadly wouldn't bother. I've heard of your lyme disease but it isn't in Oz. See my comment to David. Any visit is a lovely visit from you and to yours. Please don't stress yourself.
DeleteI am in awe of how fit you are to be able to do that much walking, I very much enjoyed your report. The waratah looks strange, not like we see down here. Wild strawberries run rampant in my mountain garden. I must go check if they have fruit on them yet.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tree waratah and possible Dorrigo Waratah. We have what I thought was a tropical waratah in our garden but on googling just now, it looks very much the same as the Dorrigo images.
DeleteWonderful forest walk with wild fruit added into the mix. Seems a long way from our winter weather in the UK
ReplyDeleteSteamy on the lowlands but so much cooler up in the mountain forest.
ReplyDeleteI loved all your hiking photos (except maybe the one of ticks...). You gals seem to have so much fun. I love your sense of humor. Hope to see some more great hikes in 2019!
ReplyDeleteThank you Barb. I am delighting in your 'Small Stone' posts each day.
DeleteThe year has already got off to a fabulous start on our 1st hike. Post coming soon.
What. A beautiful country you have and so nice that you explore so much of it .....thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Eleanor.
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