Wanderlust Waterfall Way
skywalk to miles of scenery
first waterfall, tristania falls with Carly
vines everywhere, unfortunately not equipped for swinging
Cedar falls
off-track stream, a wanderluster’s dream
crystal falls bridge
under a cliff, behind Crystal falls
heaps of large trees, possibly in Eucalyptus family?
As I look through my rather large Australia travel guide on the plane ride to Australia, I circle highlight star waterfall way. Why? Because it looks beautiful, scenic, magical, and cheap. Surprisingly, it was quite difficult to make plans to visit this magical land where the water sparkles like twinkles in Frodo Baggins eyes, and the birds squawk as if you were in Jurassic park.
It started with me making plans with one friend, then with a different friend, then with 10 friends, dwindling down to 3, dwindling down to 2 of us (both being international students without cars). After plans falling through for 4 weekends straight, 4 people promising rides, and 2 people letting us borrow cars, Carly and I found a ride!!! Only to not be able to start the car because there was not a drop of petrol left. Are we destined for failure? Is this a very irritating warning that evil spirits will pop out of the coves during our travels?
We finally got the car working and were on our way. I tell you this because when you take 20 more steps to make something happen and it happens, it’s such a great feeling. We made it!!!!
Carly and I trail through Coffs Harbour, and munch on the best veggie burger I’ve had yet. Vegetarian meal = veggie burger in every Australian restaurant. Car takes around 6 to 10 tries to start every time the first 4 times we needed to start the car up, but after a long pep talk with the vehicle it started to work great. True story.
We ended up hiking only in Dorrigo, one of the 7 or so national parks along the Waterfall Way. Waterfall Way is a road that takes you along several national parks and nature preserves. A scenic drop off on one side where you can see for miles of jungle and farmland, and cliffs with waterfalls and rainforest on the other side. The drive itself was jaw dropping. We started saying holy s***, omg, every 30 seconds on this windy trail. Carly and I ended up only hiking in Dorrigo, which took up plenty of time. Visiting Cedar Falls, Tristania falls, Crystal Falls, a sky walk, and following a beautiful stream off the track for around 3 hours. This magical stream went on for ages, with pool after pool, a few hundred adorable tadpoles and babbling brooks. We couldn’t stop exploring, and had the worst wanderlust of my life. It wasn’t until I felt me stomach eating itself from hunger did I think about heading back. Only one slip on the rocks and two slips into the water. It just started to rain when we finished our off-track excursion, who would have thought it rains in the rainforest?
Carly and I were meant to visit this magical place, regardless of the troubling times it may have caused us pre-trip.
I got to drive as well! Not too difficult, but very strange to drive on the other side of the car and the other side of the road. I may need to learn the ropes again back in the states.
