Exploring Queensland: Tamborine Mountain
With 210 types of trees, 75 species of vine and 26 different orchids growing in the rainforest, you could play I Spy all day at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.
A 300 metre steel bridge beginning at the Eco Gallery winds through the forest canopy; the tops of the tall piccabeen palms are almost within reach.
Staghorns and elkhorns competing for sunlight cling to the trunks of the tallest trees. King orchids also use the trees as hosts. They are the largest orchids in the forest with each long spike covered in masses of tiny flowers.
Dense vine thickets monopolise the understorey, creating a tangled mess of stems and a green overcoat on the trees above.
On the forest floor the buttress roots of giant strangler figs dwarf the small walking stick palms. With their host trees long ago rotted away, the figs are the strongest and tallest plants in the forest.
An abundance of tiny creatures live in and around Cedar Creek but they’re shy and not always easy to spot. Freshwater turtles, shrimps and eels hide under the rocks while water striders, water beetles and fishing spiders hunt their prey in the water.
It’s much easier to spot the forest animals on this beautiful hand carved bench.
The green hues of the forest are complemented by splashes of bright colour. Bottlebrush trees are loaded with crimson blossoms.
And if you’re lucky a pale yellow robin will join in your game of I Spy.
Joining Jo for Monday Walks
On my list now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Allow a couple of days to visit Tamborine Mountain Glenys. There’s a lot to see and some great walks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we finally get to visit these places we fully intend taking days or weeks to explore 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s our kind of travel too. Check before you go because I’m not sure the road up the mountain is caravan friendly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah we are quite happy to park first then go exploring in the Landcruiser alone!
LikeLike
Lovely! I could do with a walk like that right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s quite beautiful and I really enjoy being up high in the treetops. I hope you are able to do some walking at home Susi, although it might be a bit chilly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just looked outside to check that the snow had melted – and see there’s more snow! Not enough to stop walking though. And it does make for a change of scenery while we can’t travel!
LikeLike
What a spectacular place, Carol, and you’ve written this so beautifully. Love the tangled stems and green overcoats. And isn’t that bench wonderfully tactile? 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for the link! I’ve lost track but I think I’ll be posting on Monday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jo. I really appreciate your kind words because it took me all week to get this post just how I wanted it. And yes, isn’t that bench gorgeous.
LikeLike
It was worth the effort, hon. 🙂 🙂 It’s taking me ages to do photo galleries with the new Editor but I keep chipping away at it.
LikeLike
Spectacular. My grandsons would love this place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They could do a day trip Jude, but better to stay for a couple of days.
LikeLike
Amazing walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not a long walk but even so we spent a couple of hours wandering and enjoying the surroundings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic place to go walking, Carol. What a magnificent bench this is. 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t the bench wonderful. Someone very clever spent some time on the carving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very intriguing place! More tropical than I would have expected. Thanks for the nice tour.
be well … mae at maefood.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mae. This is subtropical rainforest, but still very lush and green. I’m glad you enjoyed walking along with me.
LikeLike
That bench is supurb. You ought to turn it into a B & W and post it on Cee’s B & W Challenge this week – any kind of seating. It’s perfect. I’m ready for more baby spam. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a beautiful bench. Wouldn’t it be wonderful in your garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Send it on over! 🙂
LikeLike
Fabulous 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Becky. We really enjoyed our morning at the Skywalk. It’s only 1.5 km in total but we took a couple of hours to make our way right round.
LikeLike
My kind of walking speed when in countryside, get to see so much more 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Porto Carvalhoso | restlessjo
Love Mt Tambourine but haven’t visited in an age…time to explore more of QLD and Oz. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, now is the time to explore close to home and spend some money in the towns. We had a delicious lunch in a cafe in town.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Over from Jo’s, and an excellent walk in the tropical rainforest. Especially for me because my weather is very cool and dreary … and moving toward winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Frank and welcome. Thanks for dropping by. I’m glad you enjoyed a nice walk with me on a warm spring day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the warm welcome. I’ve been blogging for 12 years, and it has helped me understand that the weather in the northern and southern hemispheres are actually different – just like we learned in school.
LikeLike
Beautiful. This is Australia? Amazing how things are different than what is seen in “typical” pictures…kangaroos, dry lands…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Australia is much more than desert and kangaroos. There is so much to see. There will be more of Tamborine Mountain in the next post too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to seeing more. Funny how someone from one part of the world just has these “ideas” of what it must be like.
LikeLike
This looks like a lovely peaceful place for a walk – and I never knew there were such things as fishing spiders 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was very peaceful, even though there were plenty of people visiting. Fishing spiders run across the top of the water to catch insects and small fish. Don’t they sound charming! 🙂
LikeLike
What a gorgeous place. I wanna go…..
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is beautiful and you would enjoy it very much.
LikeLike
I can imagine you would love it, Chris. Then you can come and visit me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. Looks similar to the Otways.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t been to the Otways, but I suspect the geography and vegetation would be similar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, I am speechless – yes still speechless! Big thank you.
Have a nice day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t usually have that effect on people, Matti. 🙂 You would enjoy seeing this beautiful rainforest I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh we’ve done this. I really loved it and it was great for me since I am not really good with walking on dirt paths (phobias).
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would have enjoyed the steel bridges then Lorraine. Isn’t the view wonderful from up there. Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.
LikeLike
From our white and chilly landscape I must say your photos seem especially full of vibrancy and oh so lush. Fascinating to see the plants using the trees as hosts. i especially liked the photos of looking down from the bridge. Great perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The strangler figs really live up to their name but completely taking over the host tree. Eventually the host tree dies and the fig continues to grow and grow.
LikeLike
Absolutely magnificent. I am wondering how high that walkway bridge is? It’s such a great idea for protecting the forest floor but also for putting humans at an unusually high place to observe all the beauty and probably see a lot more than just by walking on the ground. Wonderful photos of natures splendor.
Peta
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s about 30 metres above the ground. There are also some beautiful walking tracks through the forest too and no one goes off the track so the forest is safe.
LikeLike
I knew this was done at Tambourine but your post makes me want to go there asap. It might be a nice refuge on a stinking hot Queensland day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It might be a little cooler but I suspect with the current weather it would probably be very humid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Going by today – absolutely. I have a hot weather headache already
LikeLike
We have so many wonderful places to explore in our country. I loved the Tamborine Mountains.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we’re so fortunate. Happy New Year to you too.
LikeLike