LUSH LAKE BARRINE

After we completed our 4 day Savannahlander Train trip we had to wait 2 days in Cairns before our 12 day tour of Cape York departed so we decided to fill one of the days with a tour of Cairns' surrounds. We joined 4 others for the "Waterfalls and Paronella Park Tour". Paronella Park was on my bucket list but that will be in a future post.

Unfortunately it was an overcast day and threatening rain but we left Cairns in a small bus and climbed up the steep Lamb Range to the Atherton Tablelands where rolling countryside is dotted with pockets of rainforest.

First stop was at Lake Barrine, a fresh water crater lake formed by ancient volcanic explosions.

 We went for a short walk through the lush rainforest to marvel at the 1,000 year old towering Kauri Trees. They are over 45m/135ft tall and more than 6m/9ft in girth. The largest of Australia's conifers.

Then we were provided with a delicious Devonshire Morning Tea of scones, jam and cream in this lovely old guest house nestling on the banks of the lake.

 After morning tea we were taken on a cruise of the lake with an informative guide. 

 The lake is surrounded by rainforest and....

 wildlife including water dragons, snakes, birds and eels.

 Huge epiphytes were growing on the trees in their hundreds. Staghorns, elkhorns and

massive ferns hanging like baskets from the trees. There are more species of plants in the rainforest than  all the plants of North America so we were told. Even though we had grey skies it was warm and beautiful.