Tiptoe through the treetops

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This was published 14 years ago

Tiptoe through the treetops

Natural high . . . narrow metal bridges take visitors through hectares of rainforest canopy.

Natural high . . . narrow metal bridges take visitors through hectares of rainforest canopy.

To my eldest daughter's brief disappointment, there wasn't a single sleeping sloth to be found on our rainforest canopy walk. “They live in the jungle you know,” she said matter-of-factly as we meandered along a marked track through some of Mount Tamborine's lush interior.

“You have to be very quiet,” she shushed us as we began to admire the scenery out loud.

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I didn't have the heart to tell her that sloths only hide among Central and South America's dense foliage but was impressed nonetheless that she knew what a sloth was. Muchas gracias Dora and Diego.

Our two little explorers couldn't contain their excitement as they found the first trail marker that pointed the way – just like on their favourite television shows.

“Vamonos”, I thought they yelled in Spanish, signalling us to follow their lead. “Crikey!” I said, mimicking Australia's own beloved khaki-clad adventurer – now passed on to that crocodile-infested lake in the sky.

Butterflies flitted in a merry dance around us. In the treetops, birds couldn't be seen but could be heard – twittering, squawking and cooing loudly.

The air was cool and the smell of rotting damp earth below helped clear our heads as we took baby steps onto the elevated Skywalk – the Gold Coast hinterland's newest attraction.

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Between the narrow ribs of metal beneath our feet, we could just see the ground far below. Although there was only a slight breeze, I caught myself starting to sway. A brave little hand grasped mine and, together, we crossed bridge after bridge of sturdy steel, scouring the branches for signs of lazy, hairy, leaf-eaters.

No luck there, but there was plenty of greenery to capture our interest and imaginations – from the giant strangler figs that swallowed up their hosts in a tangle of spaghetti-like vines, to the mossy undergrowth with giant fungi (a perfect home for fairies and pixies) and the unusual finger lime tree, or jambreen, as the local Aborigines knew it – a clue perhaps to where Mount Tamborine, which evolved from ancient lava flows, got its name.

The rainforest walk takes about 45 minutes to complete. Not long enough to count every type of tree and shrub on the mountain – there are 210 species of trees, 70 different species of vine, 55 species of ferns and numerous varieties of orchids, lilies and gingers to name a few – or spot the well-hidden wildlife that the nature displays at the Eco-Info Gallery (where our walk began) suggested we might see. But it is a pleasant way for young and old to stretch their legs after the 50-minute drive up from the Gold Coast.

At one point we wandered away from the elevated steel bridges, climbing uphill and down to stop for a closer look at Cedar Creek and its rock pools. This proved a little challenging with a stroller, especially in shoes that were more suited to the beach. But, as Dora would triumphantly shout, "We did it!"

We then retraced part of the walk back to the gallery (which also houses a souvenir shop and cafe overlooking the forest), pausing to detour along the Skywalk's piece de resistance – a free-standing rainforest cantilever that soars 30 metres above the creek offering more expansive views across the valley and rainforest.

“Plane, plane,” my one-year-old said, looking hopeful up into the blue void. We could hear the drone but couldn't see any sign of the big metal bird flying above. Could it have been snoring?

WHERE

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is set in 12 hectares of rainforest off Geissmann Drive, North Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland, just under an hour's drive from Surfers Paradise or Brisbane.

HOW MUCH

Admission $18.50 adults (17 years and over), $9.50 children (6-16 years), $47 families (2 adults and 2 children), (extra children $5 per child) and $15.50 Seniors Card holders.

WHEN

The walk is open every day except Christmas Day, from 9.30am to 4pm. Phone: (07) 5545 2222/2333, see rainforestskywalk.com.au.

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