Tablelands Dec. 18 - 19, 2011

Tablelands Dec. 18-19, 2011 - One last time
Sunday
First stop once we were up the range was the Peanut Place for some of our favorite flavours of peanuts.  Brody discovered the warm peanuts this time.  Next stop was Malanda Dairy to get information for our adventures.  We made our way to Mt. Hypipamee National Park to see the Dinner Falls and the crater.  Brody had researched and picked this next stop.

Holy cow that's a big booger!

Follow my lead

Dinner Falls

Crater - long way down!

Stopped in Millaa Millaa for a yummy lunch of sandwiches and ham & pea soup before doing the waterfall circuit.   We checked out Millaa Millaa falls again as we had seen them back in January, still just as amazing.  Then it was Zillie Falls and finally Ellinjaa Falls.

Chai latte sitting outside!!

Cheers MATE!

one big log!

Zillie Falls

Ellinjaa Falls

Family photo opportunity

We followed the signs to the Cathedral Fig Tree.  This was similar to the Curtain Fig tree we showed guests, but yet very different.  There was a small section you could actually go into part of the tree.

reading about the fig tree

in the tree

Cathedral Fig Tree

We were in Crater National Park so we made a quick stop at Lake Barrine.  We made a longer stop at Lake Eacham to swim and relax at one of my favorite places that we have discovered while being in Oz.  We swam to the middle of the crater lake, then came back.  So peaceful and refreshing.

Lake Barrine

Middle of Lake Eacham

the water is so clear

Cindy in Heaven!

Floating competitions

After a stop at the platypus viewing station we made it to Atherton Big 4 Caravan park cabin #6.  Kids went for a swim before tea at the Barron Valley Hotel.  Another delicious meal and then back to our cabin for an early night.

Canadian Club in a can!

Cheers!

Atherton cabin #6

Barron Valley Hotel restaurant

Monday
3:30 AM came VERY early, gone by 4:00 and waiting at 4:30 in Mareeba for our pick up to go Hot Air Ballooning.  We drove out of town just a bit and watched them unload the 2 massive baskets & inflate the balloons.  Others arrived on a bus as we watched the sun rise.  We had 10 people in our balloon, we were up in the air by 5:45 am.  Very peaceful floating over the tablelands, except for the occasional blast of the warm burner.

waiting in the dark

starting to take shape

Almost ready

wait for us!

Almost ready to go for our early Christmas present.  Then we were up and away.

we're so tall!

ready for lift off

great views of the tablelands

Priceless Christmas gift

spotting kangaroos

Mango trees

It was a great way to see the Tablelands.  We actually had 2 flights, we landed after 30 minutes and the 5 other people got out and 3 more women got in.  I moved to the other side to balance out the basket.  Our second flight was a little longer as the winds changed just as we were coming in for a landing.  So up again to find a new landing spot.  We actually landed in a field that was full of kangaroos and as we got closer to landing they all hopped away.

Helping to pack up

ready to put the balloon back into the bag

getting all the air out

Another great adventure and a fantastic early Christmas present.  Back to our cabin for breakfast and a swim in the pool.

Where's Hailey?

skyping outdoors

Say hi to Cary

While the kids were swimming I skyped back home from the poolside.  Skype has been a great connection to family & friends back home during the past year.  Another great adventure comes to a close on the tablelands.