Tuesday 29th October 2002 We got up early again; had breakfast on the balcony of our room at the Brisbane Ibis Hotel (16th floor - What a view!) and said goodbuy to Brisbane around 08.30 AM for our first real drive (approx. 112 KM - 2 hours), due south, towards Lamington National Park. The drive down to Lamington NP was very pleasant though also an eye opener ... and quite tricky once we were on the narrow mountain roads.

Factssheet Arr 29-10-2002 Dep 30-10-2002 (1 night) O’ Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse Lamington National Park Rd., via Canungra - QLD 4275 Tel: ++ 61 7 5544 0644 Fax: ++ 61 7 5544 0638 reservations@oreillys.com.au www.oreillys.com.au

We passed desolate looking farmlands, with 'skin over bone' cattle. Australia is experiencing the worst drought for over a hundred years. In some areas it hasn't rained for over 18 months!!! The farmers are desperate ... they need rain. But, we are blessed with sunny weather today. So sorry folks ... The drought is also the main reason why the bushfire season has started some months earlier than expected. On the other hand, we also passed lush green mountains and hillside vineyards ... Truly a country of contrasts.

After our 'hair-raising' drive up the mountain, we arrived at the O'Reilly's Guesthouse around 10.30 AM. The O'Reilly's place is a well organised eco lodge resort. There is a daily activity programme, so you can make the most of your 'short' time at Lamington and the Guesthouse. Brilliant!

After checking in we did a stroll around the Botanic Gardens and the famous 'Tree Top Walk' (the receptionist had warned us it would be very busy at this time of day ... but we are a stubborn pair, so we went and did it anyway! Needless to say, he was right ;-). We made it back on time for the programmed lunch at 12.30

Before lunch we also made sure to book ourselves for a couple of the guided walks and activities for the rest of the day and the following day. Smooth, very smooth. They are so well organised here, no wonder the corridor and lobby walls are covered with awards for 'hospitality' and 'best resort' ... etc. Even one of Radica's all-time heroes, zoologist and TV-presenter Sir David Attenborough, praises the O'Reilly's ... 'Nough said!

After a good lunch we refreshed ourselves a bit in our cabin ... and 'had a moment of owe' on our balcony, overlooking the Great Dividing Range!

At 14.00 we started our guided walk towards the West Cliffs, including Pat's Bluff (4,5 Km - approx. 2hours). First a short drive in a 1940's schoolbus towards the starting point ... Then we descended through beautiful rainforest, while our guide, 'old Tim', told us all about the local flora and fauna, sharing his knowledge with much enthusiasm. Near the western escarpment, we passed, almost unnoticed, from dark, cool and humid rainforest into open, hot and dry eucalypt forest. The smell of bushfire was still in the air as we passed an area which had burned just a week ago. Then we reach the cliffs ... Wow!!! What a magnificent view! First southwards towards 'The Lost World' and 'Castle Crag' and then westwards towards The Great Dividing Range ... with the peculiar Mt Lindsey in the distance. We return via the same track, which means 'uphill' in places. We huff and we puff ... and make it back to the top where the bus is waiting to take us back to the guesthouse for afternoon tea ;-)

After tea we decide to skip 'happy hour' and go to our cabin, planning to watch the sunset ... (Oh, romantic). And what a nice surprise! Complimentary Champagne on ice! Whayhey! Ah, ... sipping Champagne while watching the sun set slowly over the Great Dividing Range ... This is magical!!! An amazing experience ... Are we dreaming?

The only ones who 'dare' to disturb 'our romantic moment' are the resident Crimson Rosellas. These beautiful, colourful parrots (purple and red; as if they were painted) have no scruples what soever! ;-) Funny little critters ... and very naughty too. They just hop onto the balcony railing, making cute, inquisitive noises but, if you're not paying attention, they'll just mozzie on into your room ... So it's also 'not safe' to eat outside here, on the balcony or at one of the picnic benches, cos these local birds are accustomed to people, and are very nifty in 'relieving' you from your food ;-) Next to the Rosellas, there are also the Regent and Satin bower birds, the forest turkey and many others around to steal your cookies. So beware!

After our 'Champagne sunset' it was time for dinner. Again, so well organised! Oh, and so delicious. A quick pitstop at the cabin for an extra sweater.

We had also booked for the 'Spotlight evening walk' at 20.15. A local stroll around the guesthouse. Our guide, 'young Tim', was trotting a powerful dimmer/spotlight to 'flash' nocturnal fauna. (We had already seen a few brushtail possems up close during the 'ritual feeding' at dinner. In the dining area there is a special window towards a feeding area. At lunchtime the birds, at dinner the possems ...) We saw brushtail and ringtail possems; many, many cute little padmelons (a small type of kangaroo, but not quite a wallaby?! Can I take one home? ;-) and also the noisy but elusive 'orange eyed' frog. No bandicoot or owl sadly. For a moment we wandered into the nearby rainforest and turned off all the torches and stayed quiet ... just listened to the rainforest sounds. Imagine, total darkness, strange noises coming from everywhere ... A sensuous and chilling experience. Fantastic!

Off to bed then for a good nights' rest, cos tomorrow we have another half-day walk planned before our roadtrip to Hervey Bay!

Tweet-dreams,
Radica & JJ