Millaa Millaa and other waterfalls.

Today I had booked a waterfalls circuit tour and was really excited. Unfortunately it started raining about 8pm last night and hasn't stopped since.
The tour group consisted of me and a backpacker called Paul. Luckily our guide was great and we all got on so instead of the tour guide spiel, we just chatted. Though the conversation did go some odd places. Like people with unhealthy attractions to donkeys, porn stars, and lots of political conversations.
Most of the stops were in the Wooroonoorn National Park. The first stop was at Babinda Boulders which is a lovely place to swim. When the weather is nice.

The swimming hole at Babinda Boulders

Just down from the swimming hole is Devil's Pool. The Aboriginal story is there were 2 lovers, Oolana and Dyga from different tribes who were not allowed to be together but feel in love. She was promised to someone else and his tribe were just visiting. When the elders figured out what was going on, his tribe decided to leave so they would not cause their hosts an insult. However the lovers found out and ran away. The elders caught them at the creek. They killed Dyga, the male. Oolana cried out and her tears increased the creek to a flood. She died there and her spirit now guards the boulders. Aborigines won't allow young men to swim near the pool as it is said she calls to them and they go to their deaths. At one point there was a camp near here for a year and 17 people drowned. All young men.

Waterfall at Devil's pool 

Devil's pool

 The second waterfall was Josephine Falls which is a lot bigger and even more dangerous so we didn't swim here either. This area is prone to flash floods (especially after all the rain we have had in the last 2 days) and people who do swim there frequently have to be rescued by the guides or sometimes helicopter. There are nice rocks you can slide down (like a natural water slide) and you see a lot of pictures of people doing that. But it just isn't worth the risk. Though we did see a group headed up to try it. No idea whether they all came back or not.

Top part of Josephine falls

At the lower viewing area (and very wet!)

The exclamation marks proves it is dangerous!

After a soggy walk to the falls, our guide prepared tea, coffee, banana bread and a large bowl of crisps (which we easily managed to get through) before a quick stop at Zillie falls (which is where I pretty much gave up on shoes - too wet and muddy!) and then heading to Millaa Millaa falls. This is supposed to be the waterfall from the Herbal Essences advert. And it was very pretty, even in the rain.

Zillie Falls

At Millaa Millaa 

 Millaa apparently means plenty. And saying it twice is an emphasis. So plenty plenty. Though no one has really said plenty of what? And of course despite the weather, I had to swim. Though it was touch and go as to whether I would actually get in. It was freezing! (This is the coldest of all the waterfalls we visit, it never really gets much warmer, and not many people actually so get in.) But I was only going to be here once!

In the falls

Looking up at the falls from the pool

Behind the falls.

The falls from underneath/behind

 It was worth it. Once you were in, it wasn't too bad. We swam behind the falls; the drops were really painful. But it was very cool. And we had the place to ourselves, which is rare. It is a really popular spot but we had the whole place as no one else wanted to go out in the rain.
After warming up and drying off, we went to a billabong and saw a wild platypus, which was really exciting. They are very shy and a lot smaller than I expected. Unfortunately I only had my small camera with me so none of my photos worked out, so you'll have to take my word for it!
We sat in the van for lunch (being just the 2 of us and the guide, we had plenty of space!) at Malanda falls before taking a walk through the rainforest. (The falls weren't very good there though I imagine a nice place to swim.)  There was also a really good information center which had lots on the geology, aboriginal history and wildlife. (And was a great place to warm up!)

Climbing fig tree on its host.

Tree fungi

Not sure what "acting the goat" means but I can guess.

 We spent most of the 2.5km walk looking for tree kangaroos but didn't see any. Back at the van, our guide had found one and showed us. There was no way I would have spotted it without being shown. They are pretty big and really not adapted to living in trees. Basically they used to live in trees and then the kangaroos and wallabies came down from the trees and lost all the adaptions which make living in a tree easier (opposable thumbs, jointed tail etc). And then for some reason some decided to go back up the trees. They now spend 90% of their time in the tops of the tree. I wish I had a photo but none of them came out. I am hoping in the Daintree to get a better one.
After the center we went to the curtain fig tree I was at the other day. It was only this point that the guide told us he was supposed to warn us about the stinger trees before we took the walk around the rainforest. As these trees give you at least 6 months of serious pain if you just brush up against it, we were luckily we didn't come across any. We did get attacked by "wait a whiles" as they are called, which are the vines with the spikes which grab you and you just have to wait and slowly extract yourself. But they mainly got the umbrellas. (Seriously it didn't stop raining all day and Monday looks the same.)
The final stop was Lake Eachum. This is the best place for swimming and warmer than Millaa Millaa. And as it was the last stop, we had to swim. Once Paul decided he was going to, I sort of had to! Though again it was hit and miss for a moment or two. It was still really cold getting in.
Lake Eachum is a volcanic crater which filled up with water so the sides are really steep. Once you get down the steps, you have to get it.

The lake (from surface level)

Proof I went swimming in the rain!

Paul carried on while I ran back to the van.
We headed back after the lake and I was really glad to be home, a hot shower, hot food and a glass of wine. It was a very interesting day and we were really luckily we all got on otherwise the whole day with 3 strangers could have be painful. It would have been a lot nicer if the weather had been better. But then we probably wouldn't have had the places to ourselves. So I guess you can't have everything.