Wake up with some toasted hot cross buns and Nespresso coffees ????

Check out and head to the Crocodile Viewpoint again – none to be seen sadly

Onto the next stop: Crystal Cascades

As the name suggests it’s a long cascade of waterfalls; we aim for Fairy Falls

It’s a bit of a scrambled trek but we make it

Dave even ventures to the top swimming hole!

After a little paddle, we make the precarious way back and then have some sandwiches

We set off and are driving amongst the mountains!

Next, we’re off driving for about 1.5 hours South to reach Yungaburra

The route takes us through Gillies Range which is about 19km of winding road – quite fun hearing everything sliding around in the back

However, we do see a car on the side of the road that’s had a bad day and has a “Police Aware” sticker – we remember to be cautious

Into the Atherton Tablelands we go and arrive at Lake Barrine in the Crater Lake National Park

We walk down to the waters edge,where some people are swimming, and spot a little walk off to the side – this leads us to two Bull Kauris

These trees are 50m tall, 6m wide and the largest of Australia’s 38 conifer (pine) trees being over 1,000 years old!

They can only grow and survive in certain conditions – between 600 and 1,000m above sea level as well as in areas of high rainfall

Lake Eacham is our next stop – also another crater lake in the national park – which is pretty busy with people

We have a swim ourselves, even with the sign telling us about the minimum of one Freshy living here ????

Onto the less paddling part of our day, we continue on to Yungaburra

Here, even the town’s signage has the elusive Platypus on it!

We get to the Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform – no luck for us and we have to keep moving unfortunately

Another opportunity to try at Allumbah Pocket surrounding Peterson Creek

No luck again, even venturing over the suspension bridge here, and most of it was shut due to storm damage

Not far is another national park and we’re off to see it’s namesake

Curtain Fig National Park has a little circular rainforest walkway to get a glimpse of the extreme Curtain Fig

Tree Kangaroos are a common inhabitant of this tree and the type of terrain here but we don’t spot one

To attempt another shot at seeing a Platypus, we head to Atherton for their Platypus Park

None for us to see but we are treated to a couple ducks, several Jungle Fowl (wild chickens), a few Terrapins and even a large lazing lizard

We do a loop before realising we have a long way yet to get to our final destination today so have to get on

About 2 hours of driving south to Mission Beach area

We check in at Mission Reef Resort, actually in Wongaling Beach, and speed out to sort some food

First two attempts are lost as one is very closed and the other doesn’t exist!

We cave for The Garage Bar & Brewhouse which is buzzing for a couple of pizzas: a “prawn to be wild” and “squealing pig”

We relax here a little bit before heading back for a shower, some Con Air on the telly and bed!