At this morning's 'daily briefing', we all agreed that it was high time for a day out and a good, challenging hike. We eagerly seized on the suggestion that the Murray Falls would fit the bill. So with the picnic lunch packed, we were off out of Wongaling and south along The Bruce.
Situated in the Girraway National Park through which the Murray River runs, the Murray falls, officially classified as a 'cascade falls' (now that was something I had not know before!) lie about 40 kms south-west of Tully. The entry road into the park is mostly bitumen, with only a last few kilometres being reasonably well maintained gravel.
What I hadn't realised on departure is that the track to the falls begins in a beautiful camp ground. This was relatively sparsely populated on the day our our visit, but apparently during school and public holidays and at weekends, this can become crawling room only. I was more than pleased with our choice of visiting day!
We did stop for a brief chat to a lovely WA couple who had set up quite close to the entrance to the trail. With their portable solar panels well positioned to capture every bit of the benefit of the rays from our solar orb, it was clear that they were seasoned 'off-roaders'. No doubt about it....this was their third visit to this charming camp ground. It is places such as this which have prompted us to seriously consider an off-road capable van when we downsize from our current mobile palace.
Enough chatter....it's time to do some work. We do love tropical rain forests, and initially the trail which was to take us to the falls through this particular tangle of varied vegetation was more than user friendly.
Consistent with what we have found in most QLD National parks, our passage along this forest track was one on which we were kept well informed. The pleasure these interpretive plaques add to such a ramble by providing explanations of what we are seeing is something we value highly.
Within no time we were wandering along through very dense forest indeed, where the various species of trees are engaged in a constant competition for the light. There is only one way to go in this struggle for survival....straight up and as quickly and far as possible.
Of course, this race to present a green leafy upper storey to the life giving sunlight atop thin straight trunks does demand a survival mechanism.....a very strong and well spread anchoring system.
As we have seen before in places such as this, you can't top Mother Nature.
As we continued our ascent, small bridges took us across a series of rivulets which were coursing their way down the hills.
By now life on this trail was becoming a little more challenging. A series of steps, both stone
and wooden, took us higher and higher (which after all is what one would expect if going to the top of a waterfall!)
The comparatively refined pathways of the lower sections of the trail had disappeared.
The erstwhile comfortable stroll had now become a genuine uphill scramble
over some pretty confronting sections
To my surprise, the track soon took a downward turn
and from this point the views across the river valley were our reward for our efforts thus far.
A steel mesh stairway ushered us down
to the viewing platform below at the head of the falls.
This really is a very pretty spot. It was not difficult to understand why these falls are classified as 'cascade'. Here the river sluices down over the smooth face of the granite rock
to empty into the small, clear, blue rock pool below before moving on to fill the river gully beyond. This is far from what I would describe as a spectacular waterfall, but the utter charm and picturesque serenity of this vista had made the trek well worth the effort.
On days such as this the return tramp is always something of an anti-climax, but on this occasion I did spot something on the descent which had escaped my roving eye on the way up. There is nothing like the environment of a rain forest to encourage the growth of fungi.
Here we found a great example. These impossibly delicate, marvellously coloured, scalloped shaped examples were sprouting out of this fallen trunk by the side of the trail.
And they were not alone. Fungus spotting is, for us, always a real highlight of any rain forest ramble.
There is no doubt that a goodly hour and a half of exercise has one inevitable outcome. It was time for lunch. Our chosen venue was the lower picnic ground where rustic tables and benches await those about to dine.
Here a short rock pathway leads down
to the gurgling, clear (and chilly!) waters of the river
in the designated bathing area. Ah, the hardiness of youth!
A plunge in the mountain brook was not on our agenda, but lunch certainly was. With the truck under the shade of the tall eucalypts and us under the shade of the shelter shed, the hamper opened and the luncheon goodies spread, we were happy to agree this had been a day to remember.
This was about to change. Not immediately, but very soon. To date the weather here in FNQ had been what we have come to expect over the past four years. Not this year!
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