Gympie Gympie

We took a drive out to Wooroonooran National Park to do the Mamu Tropical Skywalk. Daph and Ern love a tranquil stroll through nature. But Ern had been forewarned by his brother, Hayden, of the killer plants in Far North Tropical Queensland. Great!

Can’t swim in the water because of killer crocodiles.

Can’t lay on the beach because of killer Cassowaries.

Now we can’t go for a tranquil bushwalk because of killer flora?!

Daph, ever her nonchalant self, found it hard to believe that they would have highly poisonous plant life on a purposely designed self-guided rainforest walk for the public. Nevertheless, Ern had researched the Gympie Gympie (nicknamed “the suicide plant” because the excruciating pain it causes makes you want to kill yourself) and he wasn’t taking any chances.

Ern: “Is that Gympie Gympie? It looks like Gympie Gympie. Are you sure that’s not Gympie Gympie?”

Daph follows the numbered signs and corresponding glossy brochure explanation of each plant or tree they encounter, educating Ern on the numerous ancient florae in this area:

Daph: “Ooh. Guess what number nine is?”

Ern spins around in disbelief and trepidation, “Gympie Gympie?!”

They just don’t care in Queensland. Walk, sunbathe, and swim at your own peril.

All in all, it was a lovely day, only slightly ruined by some loud-mouthed tourists who were unfamiliar with tranquillity. Oh, and “Annoying Dad” who steamed ahead with his family to get to the unnervingly high observation tower, loudly announcing that every tree was a “Strangler” tree.

Wrong! Daph knows full well it’s a “Hairy Mary”, from her glossy brochure.