Friday, December 02, 2005

Brisbane / O'Reilly's Rainforest

About a half hour inland from the Gold Coast you enter rainforested mountains. There were a number of sights we did not see along the road that I would love to go back and explore. One was a natural bridge. Another was a winery with a platypus observation area. Our destination, though, was O'Reilly's. O'Reilly's is knows for it's rainforest walk, the tame birds and a well known plane crash and rescue from the 1920's.

The day was foggy and we needed to be back in Brisbane for dinner so we focused on the Rain Forest walk. The walk meanders through a rain forest that is home to Strangling Fig trees, exotic birds and other varied wild life.

Here is a huge old Strangling Fig tree. These trees grow around other trees and strangle them. Eventually the host tree dies leaving only the hollow fig behind.

Further on you come to a walkway suspended above the forest floor. I managed to white knuckle my way across fear of heights and all. There is a series of ladders at one point that can be used to ascend to the canopy of the forest. We did not try this because of the weather but if I return I will do it. (I just won't look down on the climb!)

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