Granite Gorge

When we’re in Papua New Guinea, the kids and I don’t get out of Ukarumpa very often.  (Imagine never leaving the square mile around your house for months on end.)  So one of the things I look forward to most about going to Australia is just the freedom to roam.  When Jon asked me what I wanted to do while we were in Cairns I said, “After I have my big brekkie and a flat white, I just want to get in the car and drive.”

So we did.  A local friend mentioned that Granite Gorge Nature Park might be a good bet for our little nippers*, so we packed our swim suits, drinking water and a snack and headed west into the Tablelands of Far North Queensland.  It’s amazing how quickly the lush, tropical climate of the coast turns to dry, scraggily bush—although still beautiful in its own wild way.  An hour and a half later, we found ourselves here:

The kids were initially disappointed since they were mainly interested in swimming and finding kangaroos.  But shortly into our hike these rock wallabies came out to see who was intruding on their domain.

After we paid the toll in food pellets, we were allowed to pass and follow the short trail to Granite Creek.

We spent some time enjoying the slippy moss-covered rocks and cold water.  And it’s a good thing too, because afterwards our ankle-biters* got addicted to following the white spray-painted trail dots and we walked…

…and climbed,

 

and hiked some more.

(Can you see “dino” and his footprints?)

It might have been a very hot and miserable hike had we not been wet when we started.  When we reached the end, we all agreed it was a grand little adventure, but the best way to finish it off…was with ice cream of course!

*Australian for “children”