Yungaburra, in Queensland, has long been
known as a nature and wildlife lover’s total paradise. This quaint and lovely
heritage-protected area has untouched rainforests, gentle flowing streams, and
many crater lakes that bring to mind Yungaburra’s volcanic past.
Getting
There
You can reach Yungaburra by car in about an
hour or so from Cairns, along the picturesque Gillies Highway. There are plenty
of wonderful vistas along the route that offer breathtaking views of the
Atherton Tablelands.
Places
To See
Crater
Lakes National Park
This park has two volcanic lakes, viz., Lake
Eacham and Lake Barrine. They are surrounded by lush, thick temperate rainforests.
This park is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The volcanic craters
that are now huge lakes were formed millions of years ago, when huge volcanic
explosions superheated the groundwater.
Wildlife: Take a wildlife cruise on the lakes and look for eastern water
dragons, pelicans, cormorants and huge eels. You can also spot Boyd’s forest
dragon, musky rat-kangaroo,the scrub python, many butterfly species (including
the blue Ulysses), and more than 180 species of birds. You can find saw-shelled
turtles and eastern water dragons on the lakes.
Plantlife:
Near Lake Barrine, there’s an abundance of large
strangler figs, plus intriguing Kauri trees that look exactly like the
fossilized kauris discovered in 300-million-year-old rocks! There’s also an
abundance of buttressed trees. Near Lake Eacham, you’ll find woody epiphytes,
strong vines and only a few buttressed trees.
Malanda
Falls Conservation Park
The magnificent Malanda Falls is to be seen
to be believed. There are several sign-posted rainforest walks, freshwater
pools and amazing plant and wildlife here. You can find Yungaburra’s own
variety of the Australian Platypus here.
Bonadio's
Mabi Wildlife Reserve
You can view rare and endangered Australian
wildlife such as tree kangaroos, platypus, possums and wallabies at this
reserve. After dark, sit quietly by the glow-worm colony and watch the amazing natural
light phenomenon of bio luminescence. Explore the rainforest and marvel over
its amazing range of flowering trees and plants.
Curtain
Fig National Park
The Curtain Fig National Park is owned and
managed by its traditional aboriginal owners. This park has special spiritual
significance to the aboriginal community. There’s a large100+ foot tall fig
tree that began as the branches of another tree. This tree strangled its host
tree, grew large, and dropped long aerial roots drop 15 meters to the floor of
the lush forest, forming an enchanting natural curtain.
Lake
Tinaroo
Bird lovers will delight in the amazing
variety of bird species found at Lake Tinaroo. You can get up close to ducks,
kookaburras, swamphens and eastern water dragons. It’s a great place for
watersports too.
The
Cathedral Fig
The Cathedral Fig tree a strangler tree, almost
800 years old. It’s is 50 meters tall and has a circumference of 43 meters
around the base. This parasitic strangler fig has covered the original tree,
slowly rotting it. Now there’s a huge hollow inside the original tree that you
can actually explore. The canopy of this huge tree covers 2 hectares. A number
of birds, mammals and reptiles flourish in the shade of this mammoth tree.
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About the author:
Teena Celis is a well-traveled backpacker,
who contributes freelance articles to travel sites such as Adrenalin. She’s been around the world
and back several times.
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Travel And Vacations