More from the rainforest, then heading for the Gold Coast.......................

During the evening at this beautiful place Paula and I were treated to many lovely things................a delicious Asian inspired dinner with grilled prawns prepared by Michelle and Mark, enjoyed outside on the deck, several (yes one too many for me I think - but it was so luscious!) glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, and the night sounds of the rainforest, late-calling birds, croaking frogs, flitting fireflies, whooshing lizards, slithering snakes, and the hopping pademelons. 

Prior to dinner, dusk fell quietly and were taken on a walk down through the sloping rainforest, picking our way along pathways, down rocks and wooden steps, along a trail well-worn by those who embrace nature and the wonder of being outside in the wild places.  The lizards crossed in front of us, the air became damp and cool, but down we went, through the ancient trees, homes to huge staghorn/elkhorn ferns............

.............until we reached Cave Creek a tributary of the Nerang River, and the Natural Bridge which was formed by a waterfall pouring through a pothole in the rock and eventually creating caves. 

Difficult to get pictures at night, but here is the cave which is home to a colony of glow worms, a truly wonderful sight to see. There were also a lot of bats living here!

Leaving the lodge was really heart wrenching.....so lovely was the scenery, such delightful hospitable hosts to chat with, splendid and unusual territory to explore. I was really sad to leave so quickly.

Michelle and Mark took us on a scenic route to the coast enabling us to see more of Queensland's stunning Springbrook Plateau...................

Love these place names

..............the highest mountain with the pointed summit is Mt.Warning, part of an ancient volcano and the first place on Australia's mainland to receive the sun's rays each day. 

We stopped here at the general store for morning coffee..............

....pretty gardens in back of the store....

.....mama swallow and babes nesting above our heads.....

.............and the most delicious mini-bananas for healthy snacks, very different in flavor from the monster ones we often see here in the USA.

Before too long we could smell the sea air and we arrived at the famous beaches of Australia.........

............beautiful, sometimes dangerous, with sharks and strong currents often found along this coast. In the above image, taken from the the dining deck of the famous Currumbin Surf Club on Elephant Rock where we had lunch, our final destination is just visible beyond the shore, the towers of the beachfront high rise buildings of Broad Beach.

Elephant Rock, Currumbin, Queensland

Next time........meeting more friends, enjoying the coast, and returning to the country one more time before flying home.


Postscript:  Almost forgot - what was the creepiest of the creepy crawlies?  How about a leech!!!!!!  Yes, my first ever encounter.........attached itself to my foot whilst in the rainforest and scared the heck out of me when I was sitting at breakfast and wondered what was itching. Not nice at all - glad Mark was there to help me remove it!