Daniel's Big Australian Holiday!

Day 102 - Saturday - 29/8/2026 Today we left South Mission Beach and drove to Murray Falls where we went on a quick board walk to the spectacular falls. The three high streams of water plummeted over a bumpy 50 metre drop into pools of water feeding the Murray River its water supply.  Murray Falls Soon we went over to the river where we went for a swim and slid down the rocks which was super fun.  The big rock we slid down with me about to hit the water Sometimes we would reach great speed and end up in the fast current and be taken downstream a little and sometimes hit the slow current and stop moving. Day 103 - Sunday - 30/8/2026 This morning it was constantly raining on and off. When it finally stopped after lunch, we went on a walk to the top of Murray Falls where we had an amazing view of it and then wondered how much bigger the falls would be in the wet season.  Murray Falls from the lookout After the walk we went back to the river where we slid down the rocks again...

 Day 100 - Thursday - 27/8/2026 This morning we got on the ferry to Dunk Island where we walked to the top of Mt Kootaloo. The 2.5km walk up weaved alongside the mountain slowly scaling through the rainforest until we made it to the top lookout. Us at the lookout We had a spectacular view of the beach and all the islands around us, some of the mainland too. After spending a while there, we walked back to the bottom of the mountain where we then went to Muggy Muggy Beach where we went for a swim to look at some coral.  The coral It wasn't as good as the coral at Normanby Island, but it was still pretty good, the only problem was that it was pretty much low tide and we had to be careful not to hit any coral. After Muggy Muggy we walked back to the cafe and boats but this time we walked through the water which turned out to be a BIG mistake, it was SUPER muddy and our crocs were getting stuck in the mud, at one point I had to pull my new  croc out of the mud with my hands an...

 Day 98 - Tuesday - 25/8/2026 This morning we drove to Mena Creek where we had lunch and then walked to Paronella Park. The park features the ruins of castle like buildings, bridges, tunnels and secret pathways surrounded by lush tropical rainforest around Mena Creek and its spectacular falls that were built by Spanish immigrant José Paronella 90 years ago.  The falls had powered the park since José installed his hydroelectric system. Nobody thought he could pull it off but somewhere between 1933 and 1934 he managed to make it work, it was the first ever privately owned hydroelectric system in Australia and funnily enough his park had power before the town even had any.  Mena Falls At the park we went on a tour where we were told about some of the park's history and were showed around the place. There was a Ballroom, Tennis Court, Flushing toilets (which the town didn't have at the time either), the lower refreshments area, picnic area, tunnel of love, kauri avenue and it...

 Day 97 - Monday - 24/8/2026 Today we woke up a six and drove to where we would catch our boat to Normanby Island.  Normanby Island After we were given wetsuits, snorkels and fins we got on the bout and sailed for about 45 minuets to the island. At the island Me, Dad, and Grandpa got ready to go on a snorkel safari where we went out on a boat and snorkelled back to the island.  Me diving  As we were swimming through the amazing coral reef, we saw an astonishing and vast variety of fish, and we even saw a green sea turtle!  A Sea Turtle Some of the fish we saw where Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Triggerfish and many more.  Slingjaw Wrasse Blue Triggerfish The various different pieces of coral surrounded us in all direction none of what looked quite the same. Coral Some marine life was quite friendly but other shy and every look in a small crevice you would see a different fish. Once we had swam all the way back to the island me and dad went snorkelling on the...

Day 95 - Saturday - 22/8/2026 Today we left Atherton and Drove to Henrietta Creek where all of us except for Seb and Grandma who were too sick to come went on around a 6km walk to Nandroya Falls. Near the start of the walk, we crossed Henrietta Creek and started walking alongside the mountain. Once we were about 15 minutes away from Nandroya falls we reached Silver Falls where we had a quick break.  Me at Sliver Falls Soon we got to Nandroya Falls which was a huge water fall tumbling over a sheer 50 metre drop.  Nandroya Falls After we had a quick rest, we continued on the walk where we saw another seven waterfalls, except these ones didn't have names.  One of the other seven falls Near the end of the walk, we saw a Victoria's Riflebird perched in a tree. Victoria's Riflebird Day 96 - Sunday - 23/8/2026 This morning we got in the car and drove to Tchupala Falls where we saw a spotted catbird and looked at the falls.  Tchupala Falls Then we drove to Crawford's Lookout...

 Day 93 - Thursday - 20/8/2026 Today we drove around to 4 different waterfalls (while it was raining) that were all pretty impressive. The first one was Milla Milla Falls which was probably the most picturesque waterfall of the four, if you were going to draw a waterfall it would probably look a lot like Milla Milla Falls.  Us Infront of Milla Milla Falls After Milla Milla we drove to Zillie Falls which was a taller waterfall then Milla Milla but a bit less impressive.  Zillie Falls Zillie Falls also took a lot more concentration to get to it because even though it was a pretty short walk on the dirt to the falls it was raining and water plus dirt means mud which means slipperiness which resulted in my shoe becoming covered in mud and Seb having a fall. Next, we drove to Ellinjaa Falls which was another waterfall looking pretty similar to the others.  Me and Seb at Ellinjaa Falls After that we drove to Malanda where we had lunch and it finally stopped raining, so we ...

Day 92 - Tuesday - 18/8/2026 This morning we drove to Lake Barrine where we went on a cruise while it was raining.  Lake Barrine is a crater lake formed by an extinct volcano thousands of years ago and has filled up with water. On the cruise we saw some grebes and other water birds and also a bunch of Eels that we got to feed.  The Great-crested Grebes The Longfin Eels At the end of the cruise, we got to have some scones to eat and then we walked in the rain to two gigantic Kauri Pines and then did a loop through the rainforest but it was very wet and muddy.  2 huge Kauri Pines Next, we drove to the Cathedral Fig Tree which used to be a big tree and was strangled by a strangler fig and it has rotted away leaving the massive fig.  The Cathedreal Fig Tree After the Cathedral Fig we drove to Lake Eacham which is another crater lake, at Lake Eacham we went on a short walk through the rainforest around small section of the lake.   Lake Eacham We also had lunch at Lak...