Allison Wallace 6/10/24 Allison Wallace 6/10/24

Wild swimming at Emerald Creek Falls

In an area known for its waterfalls, Emerald Creek Falls really stands out as a wild gem.

You won’t find this adventure on far north Queensland’s Waterfall Way but, it’s worth the drive out from Mareeba along a gravel road.

Emerald Creek Falls is actually very different to a lot of the falls you will find around the Atherton Tablelands. Instead of lush rainforest, you will find a series of cascades over rock slabs, surrounded by Aussie bushland.

Unexpected landscapes in tropical north Queensland

The walking track is around 3km long if you visit all the spots, but the scenery starts at the carpark with the creek running right behind it – so if you can’t wait for a swim, start here!

We walked all the way to the lookout at the top and it was warm at the end of March. As mentioned, the area here is a bit different so you don’t have the sun protection from any rainforest and there is no shade the whole way up.

The landscape on the walk up is quite nice, the large boulders, green bushes and the sound of the waterfall and streams are welcoming signs of nature. Most of the area is quite dry and dusty which makes for an interesting contrast to the creek and water flowing from the cascades.

The lookout itself is a fenced platform and we could feel the power and spray from main waterfall drop.

After reaching the top, we headed down about 350m, turning at the sign marked ‘Bottom of Falls,’ to the best bit of a visit to Emerald Creek Falls – the swimming holes!

Once you veer off the dirt path, blue arrows will guide you across the giant boulders (that can get a bit slippery with wet feet) and a couple of foot bridges to the main swimming hole. As we were visiting after some seriously heavy rains, we decided that the large pool was not safe for a swim – the water was flowing pretty hard here, and we couldn’t see into the pool.

The good news was that around the upper falls here, there were plenty of small crevices that made the perfect cooling off spot – not to mention a pretty spectacular photo opportunity.

After cooling off here in our private spas, we headed down further to the lower falls where there were plenty of people enjoying a proper swim in the deeper pool, so we jumped in and appreciated that cool, refreshing water.

Relaxing on the rocks surrounding the pools and listening to the rush of water from the falls above is amazing way to spend time in nature.

A nice finish to our day out was when we stopped for an ice cream on the way back at Emerald Creek Ice Creamery. They even make dairy-free sorbet using local and seasonal fruit which is always a nice treat on a summer day.

How to get there:

A very easy day trip from Cairns, it will take you about 1hr 15mins to make it to the Emerald Creek trail – noting that the last 8km or so is dirt road. In the dry conditions we had, it was no drama in a regular car, but I can imagine that in the wet, you might want the added safety of a 4WD.

Don’t forget those snacks. There are plenty of flat and shaded areas around the swimming holes to relax and spend the day in this special part of nature.

Locals with furry pets should also know that this beautiful spot is in a State Forest and therefore dog-friendly so your pooches can come and enjoy it too.

Hire a car here to visit these falls yourself on your next Cairns holiday!

Allison Wallace 2/4/24 Allison Wallace 2/4/24

Walking to Montezuma Falls - Tassies tallest waterfall

Western Tasmania isn’t short of hikes but it is also home to Tassie’s tallest waterfall. Even better, the hike to get there is a relatively easy one!

Montezuma Falls is actually one of Tasmania’s ‘60 Great Short Walks’ and can be completed in about three hours return. However, the falls are so spectacular, you might lose some time just staring in amazement and soaking it all in.

We stopped here on a drive from Strahan to Cradle Mountain, using the 11.5km return walk to stretch our legs (or warm up for Cradle Mountain!)

You lose light pretty quickly in this old mining entrance

The walk follows a former tramway through wet, steep, thickly forested country and you can see signs of the mining history of the area as you wander through. Keep an eye out for a small entrance to an old mining tunnel. We walked in about five metres and lost light straight away so this is not for those with a bout of claustrophobia…

The track is really well-maintained and – this will appeal to many non-hikers – mostly flat! If I lived on the Apple Isle, I can promise I would be here a lot as you can even take your dog on lead which seems a rare experience for good waterfalls hikes as they are mostly in National Parks. We passed a few very happy, and slightly muddy, pooches on our visit.

Despite seeing a couple of dogs and their owners, we pretty much had the trail to ourselves which is a rare treat!

The track follows the Ring River and offered up some great views down into the river valley as we walked along – my mate Catherine and her long legs setting the pace.

As with many tall waterfalls, you hear the roar before you see them. This is especially true of Montezuma as the 104m drop is tucked away around a corner.

We headed straight for the base of the falls and admired the power of Mother Nature for a while. The view from the bottom is incredible and there is plenty of space to put down your stuff and take some photos. Looking up, Montezuma Falls spills down the steep cliff in several stepped tiers.

After soaking in the view and getting a little spray we made our way to a suspension bridge over the gorge that is just before the falls.

Walking across the narrow bridge (just wide enough for one person) offers up both a different perspective of the falls, and incredible views through the valley. It really shows you how immense Montezuma Falls is.

Once over the bridge, we thought to explore a little further and found a picnic table and what looked like a fire trail. However, with no reception and no idea where it led, we had a snack and headed back to the car.

If you want to visit and stay nearby, your best options are Strahan (65km away) or tie it in with a stay near Cradle Mountain (97km away).

There is so much to do in this part of Tasmania, we barely scratched the surface of the Wild West!

Allison Wallace 11/6/23 Allison Wallace 11/6/23

Adrenalin-filled canyoning in Cradle Mountain

A place of jaw-dropping natural beauty, iconic Cradle Mountain is where is on display at every turn.

Cradle Mountain in Tasmania is known for offering up some incredible and challenging hiking trails (you may have heard of the Overland Track…) but there is another way to experience this incredibly scenic part of the world – you just have to be prepared to get a little wet.

A day trip to Dove Canyon with Cradle Mountain Canyons covers all bases. A short hike through the forest, abseiling into icy water, flipping off waterfalls and floating down the canyons.

Your day starts meeting just near the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre – so there is heaps of parking and somewhere to grab a coffee before you plunge into the icy alpine waters.

After gearing up with about 4 layers of wetsuit, including booties and a hood, the team transport you to the start of a trail. From there it is about a half hour walk along boardwalks to reach what the guys affectionately referred to as the ‘change room.’

The change room is actually just a large rocky area where we spent at least 10 minutes pulling on all our layers of gear including a life jacket and helmet! Your regular clothes will be left here with the drybag backpacks until we hike back out of the canyon later in the day.

Feeling very much like the Michelin man in the bulky getup, we make our way down to the (literal) jumping off point into Dove Canyon. It is hot and uncomfortable now but I will be definitely grateful for the layers later on…

If you have a fear of heights the first step into the canyon – abseiling over the edge – will challenge you – and once down, the only way out is to keep going forward. I definitely got another shock as I make contact with the frigid water below too.

Over the next few hours, we make our way through the canyon by abseiling down cliffs, jumping into chilly pools, shooting down waterfalls along naturally formed slides, and swimming through narrow sections of the gorge.

There is some time waiting below falls until everyone in the group has made their way through each adventure. During this time, I am sure I look amazing standing there or treading water with my hands out of the water trying to get some sun on them to keep feeling. Yes, the water was THAT cold!

You wouldn’t know it from the amazing photo the Cradle Mountain Canyons team took of me, but an undeniable highlight for me is racing through the narrow Laundry Chute and launching into a deep pool of water below.

Lunch was a welcome break from the icy water and the surprising amount of exertion on a sunny sandy bank. We enjoyed a make-your-own wrap station that catered for all our dietaries.

And so, we continued down the canyon. My elegant forward jumps off heights of up the 7m were no match for the guides’ flips and turns but it was a thrill none the less. At times we were just floating with the flow of the water and enjoying the incredible scenery.

The team are with you all the way to make sure everyone is safe and sound – if not entirely comfortable.

All up we navigated six waterfalls over the course of the day, but the hardest part of the day was still ahead.

Layers of soaking wetsuits and booties weighing us down, helmets still on to keep our hands free, we climbed and crawled 20mins uphill back to the ‘change room.’ It was exhausting and strangely hot. After changing, we loaded all that wet gear into our backpacks – which had now doubled in weight – and lugged those back to the transport. It was taxing on the shoulders more than anything as the dry bags are hardly fitted hiking packs!

All smiles at the end of the canyon before hiking out.

The team from Cradle Mountain Canyons make sure that moments throughout the day are captured on camera and emailed to you while you are warm, dry and enjoying a Tassie pinot at the end of an exhilarating day.

All up, the day was amazing. We had great weather, great guides and great fun! If thrill-seeking is something you do, and you have some basic fitness and can swim, I highly recommend this adventure into Lake St Clair National Park.

Looking for more adventures near Cradle Mountain? Why not try your hand at feeding some cheeky Tassie devils, or head out after dark to spot local wildlife?

Allison Wallace 8/15/23 Allison Wallace 8/15/23

Making it to the Cradle Mountain Summit... almost

Sometimes you look at a mountain or hike and think it won’t be that hard. At other times, it is harder than it looks. Summiting Cradle Mountain in Lake St Clair National Park is definitely the latter.

The thing is, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Everyone says this isn’t an easy summit, and even the woman who sold us our registration passes reinforced the ‘this is a tough summit’ message.

The good news is, you don’t have to complete a full summit to appreciate the hike in and around Cradle Mountain as the changing landscapes in this part of Tasmania and incredible vistas enroute mean you don’t have to go all the way to the top.

There is one than one route to the top and with the added benefit of shuttle buses that move around every 15 minutes, you don’t need to start and finish at the same point. In my opinion, any hike that has minimal backtracking is a win!

The day we set out was a little cloudy, but as we ascended, we had bits of sunshine, but a lot of wind…

We started out early but just parked in the main car park and used the shuttle bus to get to the starting point of our choice. We decided to head off from Ronny Creek and finish at Dove Lake in the afternoon. This is a slightly longer route but provides more different landscapes along the way and considering I am definitely looking for the journey AND the destination, this seemed the way to go.

This route took us up to Crater Lake, Marion’s Lookout and Kitchen Hut before Summit, then down via Wombat Pool, Lake Lilla and finishing with some epic views from Dove Lake before grabbing a shuttle back to the main carpark (and a well-deserved wine at Cradle Mountain Lodge).

The hike started out easily enough after signing in at Ronny Creek (safety first of course) with gentle boardwalks surrounded by small creeks and native bushland. If you come back here at dusk, you will find this area lousy with wombats!

The scenery then changes as the elevation increases. There are a couple of small waterfalls and dense forest – the temperature is noticeably cooler in this section.

Soon after this section, you get to Crater Lake, marked by a cute little boat shed. The lake is immense and you get a reprieve from climbing until you reach the other side – then you start the UP to Marion’s Lookout.

This section of the trail is steep and you will have to do some rock scrambling. There is a chain in sections to help you get up the bigger steps – very handy for those of us with shorter legs and not to mention those we met attempting The Overland Trail with giant packs as this is where the trails intersect.

Working up that sweat is all worth is for one of the best views of the day – panoramic vistas over Dove Lake on one side and Cradle Mountain peak on the other.

From here, we headed towards Kitchen Hut. This was a relatively cruisy walk with flatter sections and boardwalks but it was exposed to the elements and the cold wind was seeping through my layers. As we walked on, Cradle Mountain was at times completely enclosed in cloud – and simultaneously seemed very far away…

Kitchen Hut is a spot for emergencies and not somewhere you can stay, but we sought a break from the chilly wind and ate our packed lunches inside. This is also the only bathroom on the trail so make the most of it (I would recommend BYO toilet paper in busy seasons).

This is where the summit to Cradle Mountain proper really starts and just looking at it from here, you can see how steep the section is going to be.

After about 20mins of rocky incline you reach the point where it is all-rock scrambling. I am talking big, sometimes wobbly, sometimes jagged rocks with limited trail markers on white poles as you make your way up. You need hands and feet to scramble up here.

It was a little over half-way through this rock-scrambling – close to what is referred to as the false peak - and with shaking legs that I decided to take a break and decide if I had it in me to make it to the top. Thankfully my wonderful hiking partner didn’t hate me for deciding I didn’t.

In good weather conditions, I would say that the Cradle Mountain summit walk is definitely worth it. I have heard the 360-degree views are incredible, but we were in the clouds, with high winds and low visibility. We probably turned around not far from the top, but I had to choose safety over ticking a summit off the list.

We headed back down to Marion’s Lookout (the only backtracking we did all day) and then turned off at Crater Lake to go down towards the Wombat Pool and Lake Lilla. This section of the trail was busier than any others and I have seen that a lot of people do the hike both from and returning to Dove Lake.

Walking along here, past Wombat Lookout, it is easy to see why it is referred to as the scenic route down some steep steps from the Wombat Pool to Lake Lilla.

From Lake Lilla, there are a few steps down but it is mostly flat and about 20mins before you reach Dove Lake. Time for the legs to begin rejoicing.

One of the last stops before you get to rest your legs is Dove Lake Boatshed – arguably the most famous photographed location in all of Cradle Mountain.

All up it took us a bit over eight hours to get to Dove Lake – not including our paddling time at the lake to refresh our feet in the icy waters. What an epic day and maybe one day I will go back and try the Summit again… but if I don’t, i still have incredible memories of this stunning part of Australia.

Freezing but refreshing for tired feet at Dove Lake.

Not feeling up to going it alone? Find a tour to get your bearings here!

Allison Wallace 6/25/23 Allison Wallace 6/25/23

Is Morans Falls Lamington National Park’s prettiest waterfall?

Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland is full of waterfalls, but Morans Falls may reign supreme above the others.

From the pictures you find online, it may seem like this waterfall is incredibly remote and hard to get to, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Just a 2.4km easy walk through sub-tropical rainforest that starts not far from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat will reward you with this incredible feat of nature.

The entire trail is on a formed track and not very challenging, although there are some uphill sections. There aren’t any large stairs and the trail zig zags when going up/down hill, making it even easier on the legs

The trail itself is scenic despite being short. Plenty of twisted vines, ferns and strangler figs to admire as you make your way to the main event.

Because the trail is so accessible, it can get pretty busy. We decided to pack some head torches and see if we would be lucky enough to have a nice sunset from the top of the falls given that they face west.

We were lucky there were only a handful of others doing the same thing the Friday afternoon we were there. If you really want to avoid too many people, I suggest a mid-week visit if at all possible.

We heard rumours of a short-cut track from O’Reillys but were told it can be muddy and isn’t as well marked, so we made our way to the main track. The added benefit of this, is that you walk by the official lookout point where you can view the epic falls from a distance. There is something really special about seeing all that water tumble down a cliff face.

Not far beyond the lookout, you’ll find yourself at the creek that turns into Moran Falls. There is a small concrete block pathway across the creek so you can cross over and continue walking to the second official Moran Falls lookout on the other side of the falls (although the second lookout is of the surrounding rainforest and valley rather than the falls). But, for those gram-worthy views from the top of the falls, you need to change direction and follow the creek towards the cliff – it goes without saying to watch your step and be careful around here.

Plummeting 80 metres to the valley floor, Morans Falls fluctuates between a thunderous roar after rain, to a gentle trickle in the drier months. There was a decent flow on our visit, and we even ducked under for a dip – a very fresh dip!

The sound of the rushing water was so loud at points that you need to be pretty close to have a conversation.

The uninterrupted views across the Albert River valley towards Mount Lindsey and Mount Barney are 100 per cent worth it and so was our sunset. Mother Nature really put on a show for us and it was so nice just soaking it all up.

To make it back, we headed back the way we came – definitely not attempting some sort of unknown short cut in the dark!

Allison Wallace 5/29/23 Allison Wallace 5/29/23

Explore a waterfall wonderland in Lamington National Park

If there is one thing you need to know about the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, it’s that it is full of waterfalls!

We spent a full day exploring this section and were lucky enough to have the best weather and not too much water that the many creek crossings weren’t too dramatic. I can imagine after heavy rains that your feet would be wet the whole time.

Staying at O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat meant that we could start whenever we wanted and still make it back for a sunset drink, but you could easily drive out here from anywhere on the Gold Coast for a day trip as well if you started early – just be aware that the windy road to the top will slow you down.

We combined a few trails to make the most of a full day hiking in the park – starting on the West Canungra Creek circuit down to Yerralahla (Blue Pool). You ease into the day, following the Border Track for about 600m before branching in to the West Canungra Creek Circuit.

The first part dives into lush rainforest and leads you to Yerralahla Pool - there is a 400m drop in elevation from O’Reilly’s to the Blue Pool.

Though we hadn’t yet really worked up a sweat, we stripped off to have a quick swim before continuing.

From here, we followed the creek up stream, crisscrossing about 10 times, sometimes rock hopping and only once took our shoes off to wade across. Sometimes the track at crossings isn’t clear, so you (unlike me) you need to keep an eye out for those elusive trail markers!

Sitting by one such crossing for a lunch break, we spotted the local Spiny Blue Crayfish in one of the many deeper pools – a protected species - which looks like a cross between a yabby and a lobster but with vibrant blue markings.

At the junction of the Box Forest Track, there’s a decision to be made: continue along the creek, or head up the valley away from the creek. – we took the Box Forest circuit up to the Border Track that takes you back to O’Reillys .

Waterfalls aren’t the only scenery on this walk

It’s now almost the end of the waterfalls… but the last two falls (reached by short side-tracks) are the most of the day stunning in my opinion. The first signposted side-track leads to Tulleriguam Falls (Box Log Falls). These falls are tucked away and you can feel the temperature drop as you get closer. We stood here for a bit just soaking up nature’s show.

The next (short) side-trip is to Elabana Falls which is by far the busiest spot of the day with a lot of people just walking here from O’Reillys and back.

Elabana Falls is actually not one, but two falls and despite the crowds, it is still spectacular. The falls feature a tall upper section that looks like a curtain and a lower cascade that consists of multiple streams of water flowing into a natural swimming hole.

You will need to scramble over a few rocks to get the best views but the view from the track isn’t too shabby.

We stopped here for a VERY refreshing swim. The chill in the water will take your breath away. We saw plenty of small blue spiny crayfish on our swim too.

Like with any natural pool, there are submerged rocks and varying water depths so sliding and not jumping is recommended – plus, it is super slippery around here.

After spending most of the day descending or being on (relatively) flat ground, it is time to ascend back out of the valley. Be prepared for some exertion at this point but the gradient is pretty gradual.

You might find some obstacles on the trail

By the time we made it back to the retreat, we had logged about 19km and it was worth every step!

Allison Wallace 2/23/23 Allison Wallace 2/23/23

Tips for Hiking the Somerset Trail

Maybe the 2nd of January wasn’t a great day to do a hike in dry bush, but we did it anyway and the views were totally worth it.

The Somerset Trail in D'Aguilar National Park is about an hour from the Sunshine Coast and also an hour from Brisbane so it is a perfect day trip from either starting point.

It is a perfect hiking destination for those who want to explore the natural beauty of Queensland. The trail will take around 3-4 hours to complete, depending on your pace. The best time to visit the Somerset Trail is during the cooler months of the year, from March to November, when the temperatures are more comfortable for hiking – unlike our visit in the peak of summer!

Getting there:

To get to the Somerset Trail, you need to drive to the southern entrance of D'Aguilar National Park. The park is easily accessible by car, and there is ample parking available at the trailhead – called The Gantry. Once you reach the trailhead, you can start your hike, following the well-marked trail.

The trail itself:

Around a 13km loop (the best kind of hike because there is no back-tracking!), the trail moves you through various terrains.

The rainforest of palms and ferns changes to timberland, scribbly gum and pine forest as you make your way to the lookout.

All the recommendations are the do the loop anti-clockwise. This means the hike back from the summit is a bit shorter and most of the uphill bits are early on in the walk.

The trail is clearly signposted so there is very little chance of going off-track.

Make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen as there are limited facilities on the trail.

There’s not real view before or after you reach the lookout so make sure you leave enough time to really appreciate it at the top, but also enjoy the sounds and smells of the bush as you walk.

I have read that in spring, there are plenty of wildflowers to see on the trail, but we visited during a very dry summer and everything was just a bit dusty.

The summit of the Somerset Trail offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, you can even see Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam in the distance. The scenery is truly awe-inspiring and makes the long hike worth every step.

NOTE: It's important to be aware that parts of the Somerset Trail are shared with 4WD, dirt bikes and horse riders. Keep an eye out for these vehicles and always give them right of way. It's also important to be mindful of your impact on the environment and stick to the designated trail.

Allison Wallace 2/8/23 Allison Wallace 2/8/23

Exploring the rocky wonders of Girraween National Park

For years I had seen images of giant granite boulders perched precariously on top of one another showing panoramic views of the Australian bushland beyond. It was a place I absolutely HAD to visit one day and see for myself.

So when planning a getaway close to home, Stanethorpe’s wine region was an easy choice as it butts up against Girraween National Park where you will find this otherworldly landscape. Find your stay here!

There are plenty of different hiking tracks in the park – around 12 in total – so you could be exploring for days.

Given we were travelling with the dog, we didn’t want to be gone for a whole day as he wouldn’t be joining us on this exploration, so we chose to combine the Pyramid and Arch hikes which can be done in about half a day.

In the middle of August, we were blessed with a bright sunny day which is good because I would not want to attempt this hike with any rain.

Most of the trail up to the Arch is easy going but you will need a decent amount of fitness and some grit (and decent shoes with plenty of grip) to make it to the top of the Pyramid.

The walk starts from the visitor centre near Bald Rock Creek, following a well-formed track across the creek and through the trees. You can head straight up to the Pyramid after about a kilometre, but we detoured via the Arch on our way up.

Here the rocks balance on each other in a way that seems like a kid came along and was building a granite city – but this is all nature’s work!

Hiking in winter I was surprised to see so much vibrant yellow wattle and little white flowers that Aiden couldn’t get enough of. It was an amazing contrast with all the hulking granite.

From the Arch, we started to ascend a little more steeply with a series of steps. Don’t get complacent here, this is just the warm-up to the final climb so take your time and enjoy the scenery.

As we finished the last set of stairs, a massive, bare granite rock emerged in front of us. It is huge and a little intimidating when you consider the plan is to climb this exposed, steep surface.

There are little white marks on the granite showing the path to follow but honestly, any way you can get up is the way forward. There are some smaller rocks off to the left we hugged so there was something to hold on to – at least some of the time…

We stopped every now and then to catch our breath and take in the views (and stretch the calves).

Eventually we made our way to the top and the granite levels out. We were rewarded with not only incredible 360-degree views but some insane balancing rocks that defy gravity.

Having some fun with the balancing rocks

It is truly a breathtaking display of nature and we had the summit pretty much to ourselves on a random Thursday. I imagine it gets pretty busy on weekends but we were lucky to take our time at the top.

One of the most impressive sights is Second Pyramid which is the largest single slab of granite in the National Park. It is accessible to proper climbers only so we were more than happy to admire the views from afar.

The climb back down the slab of rock was slow going for fear of slipping – Aiden and I both did a little crab walking at points along the way - but we made it down eventually and headed off for some lunch before collecting the pup for an afternoon of dog-friendly exploring.

Honestly, there really isn’t anything like Girraween National Park that I have seen before in Australia. It is such an impressive display and one I wouldn’t mind visiting again one day.

Looking for your next escape? Book a stay here.