Q is for Quality

Today I had a trip postponed from last Saturday (due to low numbers). Today is also Anzac day, when Australia remembers their armed forces. So I had to walk past the parade set up to the hotel that the tour could actually pick us up from. At points they were using wheeled armoured vehicles to block the streets.

The tour was by 13 seater mini-van but there were 10 of us, so had a bit of space. Funnily enough three people from the conference were on the tour too, all from Colorado.

We had an hour drive south-west of Brisbane to the Tambourine Mountains. The tour was a hop-on-hop-off but this really meant the driver suggested a few places and left us for 1-2hrs with a pick-up time. This worked well with a relatively small group. Although we definitely had some limits because of Anzac day, a lot of places were closed till mid-day.

Our first proper stop was a waterfall walk, it started raining part way along the ~20min trail. We were told that we might see glow worms behind the falls and platypuses in the creek. We didn’t see them but it was a beautiful waterfall, Curtis Creek. The walk back was a bit treacherous because we hit a tour bus group heading to the creek, all with umbrellas.

  

 

Next stop was the Gallery Walk, this was in Eagle Heights. Unfortunately the actual Art galleries were closed for Anzac day, but I had a nice tea and fried chicken lunch with the group from Colorado. We had a wonder around the little craft and homeware shops. Got some fudge 😊

 

Once the afternoon rolled around we headed to our glow worm booking. We were at Cedar Creek Winery. This was an avocado farm but ~20-30 years ago it was bought and rewilded. They built an artificial cave and got permission to take 300 glow worms from local sites. They now have 5-10,000 (depending on the season). Apparently glow worms are quite regional so these are found in South East Queensland, they act as a glow worm Noah’s ark in case damage to the wild population, and to provide a safe and organised way for tourists to see them without damaging them. In the cave you are not allowed to take photos or have any white light. They have red torches because white light makes the glow worms think it’s day-time. There were handrails with glow in the dark strips on and we had to where a glow in the dark necklace so you don’t bump into each other. It was a bit surreal like someone had poked holes in the ceiling with green LEDs behind it.  

See more: Glow Worm Caves Tamborine Mountain, Gold Coast

The glow worms let down sticky threads, a bit like a spider’s web, insects think the light is holes to the outside world and get caught in the threads. The older, hungry, females are the brightest, with the younger, fuller, males being the least bright. The guide shone a light on one glow worm so we could see how they look. Anyway, it was fascinating!

Our final stop for the day was the Skywalk a metal platform walk above the rain forest. It was a bit wobbly and as soon as I stepped onto the platform. The rainforest definitely felt a bit different to up in Cairns, with more palms. The platform took you to a creek, and then you walked back the different way on the ground.

  

I saw my second Kookaburra of the holiday on the opposite side of the creek. Isn't he lovely! 

On the way back we were lower under the trees. Next to the very spiky creeping vines. Our guide in Daintree said this is what usually stopped people within 5m going into the Rainforest. 

 

We got back to Brisbane about 4:30pm and I had a little wonder around the shops, found myself some takeaway pizza to take my way back to the apartment.