Snakes, Stink Bugs, and Swimming Holes

First working week done, and what better way to enjoy our first days off than for a Daph-organised day trip to Finch Hatton Gorge in the Eungella National Park for a day of platypus spotting?

Ern wasn’t impressed with the drive, as usual. Daph had done it again and found the bumpiest dirt tracks. This time she had also added a few rivers that we could only cross by driving through, which heightened Ern’s anxieties. As Daph suspected, the Kombi coped just fine. We’re lucky it’s dry season, so the river was only six inches deep.

Just when we thought this country couldn’t get any more beautiful, we found another stunning venue for an adventurous bushwalk peppered with waterfalls and swimming holes.

We were a little out of shape, having missed out on walking to work this week because we live within throwing distance of the hospital. As we struggled up the slow gradient climb to the top of the cascades, we were passed by several groups of Fluro Euros. They bounded along in their athleisurewear and cheerfully greeted us with an “Allo” as we struggled for breath to return the greeting.

Every time we go for a bushwalk, Daph exits the Kombi wearing her prescription sunglasses, and then realises, once we are deep in the rainforest canopy, that it’s too dark for sunglasses. So, she must decide whether to fumble around in focused darkness or fumble around in unfocused daylight. She let Ern go first and call out instructions...

Ern: “Rocky terrain ahead.” ...

Ern: “Big step.” ...

Ern: “Ooh. Look at that cute baby snake.” ...!!

Daph spotted a hidden waterfall and swimming hole that she wanted to explore. Ern was tentatively checking out the route across the river when Daph’s excitement got the better of her. She decided to just play froggy, leaping downwards across the stepping stones to see it. After revelling in the glory of nature, she realised it wasn’t as easy to leap back upwards!

We reached the end of the five-kilometre walk (a walk in the park for Daph and Ern since their training at Hideaway Bay) and were rewarded with yet another delicious waterfall and swimming hole.

Ern: “Smell my fingers. I think it’s from a stink bug.”

Daph sniffs Ern’s fingers. Then sniffs her own: “Smell mine.”

Ern sniffs Daph’s fingers.

Ern: “Nah. Yours just smell of body odour.”

It was a sweaty climb.

We spotted snakes, frogs, a camel, and a bull with the largest testicles on Earth... but no platypus.

We will return another day for more platypus spotting. And next time we will remember to take our swimsuits! Doh!!