Road Trip : Archer Creek to Cairns

This was gonna be a day of waterfalls, Lou had planned us visiting in 7 different waterfalls and 2 lookouts on our way to Cairns. We we're heading to Cairns two days earlier cause Heidi wanted to jump out of the trip a bit earlier. Waterfalls in the next pictures are in order : Millstream, Pepina, Millaa Millaa, Zillie, Ellinjaa & Malanda. We also visited Souita Falls but I just couldn't get a proper picture out of it, a bit bad angle.. In Millaa Millaa & Malanda you can also swim.

After our tour of waterfalls we stopped at Curtain Fig Tree, nice little elevated walk around this one massive tree. We did stop at Heales lookout as well but just couldn't the other one where we we're supposed to stop or maybe there just wasn't any signpost.. It was really nice crossing over to the other side of Great Dividing Range, proper small and winding mountain road, a bit like in Great Ocean Road but lot more turns both ways, up and down. Once we arrived to Cairns we dropped Heidi at Esplanade next to tourist info and then us blokes started look for a caravan park on the other side of city. Once we arrived to caravan park, reception was closed even thou it was supposed to be open.. There was a note which places would be free so we thought of just driving in taking first free spot. Luckily for us there was only one spot left free and we parked there. Second last night in camper and our last cooked dinner cause the next day we planned to have pizza for dinner. I opted for sleeping in tent and Lou & Taavi slept in the camper. On the next day we headed north towards Ellis Beach, just about 40km north of Cairns. We stopped for a brekkie slightly too early, just about 2km before our intended spot. But the view was just something amazing while we we're driving so decided to stop as soon as we'd see a nice spot. After brekkie, a 5min drive to BBQ area. Lou & Taavi went to sit on rocks on the beach but since I didn't had anymore books to read I parked car next to a table and started browsing internet while admiring the view to the ocean, nice 'office' view.. After few hours we headed a bit more north for a lookout before turning back. This view was just something amazing, both me & Lou agreed that this patch of road was even a bit more beautiful than Great Ocean Road.

After this we turned back towards south and decided to head up the mountains again, to Kuranda. What a nice patch of mountain road again going up the range, I was really enjoying driving that day. Once in Kuranda we took a small walk around the surrounding forests and after that we headed towards Barron Falls. Since it was the beginning of dry season falls itself didn't have that much of water in them but the view was still a gorgeous one. We took a small walk via elevated walkway to lower lookout and admired the view for a awhile before it was time to head back to Cairns. We tried to fit in the same caravan park as previous night but it was full so we had to go for a nearby park. We had pizza for dinner and exchanged our photos from cameras to laptops and memory sticks. On the next morning it was time to start packing up. I felt a bit strange, not really sad nor too happy, something in-between, after all it had been a full month on the road and today it would all be over. Taavi & Lou were going to a hostel a bit further from the centre and I had opted for a hostel right on The Esplanade. Quick car-wash, dropped our bags into hostels and then it was me & Lou dropping camper close to airport. We walked from there to our hostels since it was only 2km for Lou and about 4km for me. Last bit of my walk to hostel I felt a bit odd, what next..?

All in all, during 30days on the road we drove 9500km out of which I did about 5700km. As an experience the whole trip was just something that I will never forget and I'm pretty sure everyone that has done a similar kind of trip will feel the same as well. If you ever have a chance to come and visit this beautiful country & continent and do some kind of road trip my advice would be, just do it! If you are even thinking of applying a visa, think no more, just do it and hop on the plane. You'll thank yourself later on.