Don't you just love all these unusual placenames in Australia and wonder how they are pronounced. The Australian lady who tries to pronounce them on Android Auto often has no idea. She obviously does not live in South East Queensland and 'Currumbin' (kə-RUM-bən) is suitably mangled. 'Mudgeeraba' (MUH-jə-rə-bah) is a real challenge.
However, this blog is mostly for Robin who loves this area and definitely needs a fix. Sadly, the lockdown continues in Sydney.
We drove to the Natural Bridge in the Numinbah Valley and discovered that the old toilet block has been demolished and a new version is being built. We were last here in late 2019 and the toilets were fine but the government is pumping all sorts of money into building and road works to keep people employed.
The new toilets.
This park is in a valley just to the west of where we saw the Antarctic Beeches.
There is a 2 km circular trail that descends to a creek at the bottom.
Tarzan clings to his vine.
The bridge at the bottom crosses the creek.
There was virtually no water since it hasn't rained much in the past month.
The waterfall in the cave that forms the Natural Arch.
When it has rained, it's an absolute torrent.
We climbed the hill to the top of the waterfall. My last infusions had been a week ago and lately I have felt that my muscles protest more in the first week after the infusion and then improve after that first week. This day I found walking uphill much easier than when we visited the Antarctic Beeches a couple of days before.
Another bridge crossing the creek above the falls.
Next time we come back it will be different.
You might remember that back in September 2019 there was a major bushfire that burned a huge swathe of subtropical rain forest. If you look directly above the telephone pole in the middle of the photo you will see a section that was burned. For Robin, it was that section we see just before we would get to the lookout point at Daves Creek.
We drove up to the Beechmont Plateau and stopped at the viewpoint where hang gliders leap off a cliff. Mount Warning in the distance.
Most of Binna Burra Lodge was destroyed in the fire but the cafe was spared. We ate lunch there to support the rebuilding of the lodge.
The entrance to the National Parks walk also survived. If you click here, you can see the Daves Creek walk that Robin and I would enjoy. It was this walk that made me realize that something was really wrong with my ability to walk back in 2018 and that I really needed to talk to a doctor.
I don't know how much damage was done to the rainforest but I suspect much of it has grown back.
Inside the cafe. Some new cabins have been built to accommodate visitors and this is now also the reception area.
Commemorating the 'firies' and those who helped the injured wildlife. Nobody ever thought the forest would burn but after a severe drought, most people now believe in global warming.
Google Maps still shows the old Lodge from pre-fire days. See the red arrow.
This is all that remains of the original Lodge that was built in the 1930's. There was tremendous sorrow for those who knew it.
Marianne and I stayed in one of the cabins back in 1980 as a 5 year wedding anniversary surprise present. I had arranged with my mother that Marianne would think she was going to her house for dinner that night after work and when I came home I told Marianne that we were off to Binna Burra for the weekend and she needed to pack fast. She does not turn corners on two wheels so she was a bit flustered but we had a wonderful time. Although we did not stay in the Lodge itself, we ate our meals there and it was quite an experience.
New cabins have been built.
Egg Rock in the valley.
The fire raced up this hillside. The tree stump to the left showed fire damage.
Where the lodge used to stand.
The fire travelled about 10 miles and was almost impossible to stop because of the terrain and jungle. It was started by kids playing with matches.
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