Mount Tamborine

We had driven to Tamborine over the Christmas period when we were in search of a decent cheese shop.  As it is only just over an hour's drive away from Brassall it is easy to keep popping back to see different areas.  When we were up in Longreach as previously described we did the Cobb & Co ride.  I (Karen) sat next to a couple who run an equestrian centre.  We knew it was south of Brassall but it turns out it is at the base of Mount Tamborine so David and I decided to go visit them as well as look at some more of the sights on the mountain.

Mount Tamborine had an internal cyclone go through the area on Boxing Day, Rob's family who were staying with us were concerned for their homes but fortunately all was good.  It was now 2 weeks on and you could see the devastation it had caused.  The area had been closed off to visitors for a week as they cleared roads and reinstated power.  Lots of piles of mulch are on the sides of the roads where the fallen trees had been shredded by the cleanup crews.  There was still quite a lot of work to be done.

Barb and Jim's place was 3 mins higher up the mountain from Tamborine so really easy to find.  You would never believe you were on a mountain - it was lovely.  The effects of the cyclone could be seen with missing roofs, shelters destroyed and trees with dead branches still hanging down but too high for the average person to be able to deal with.  Barb was giving a lesson to a young girl when we arrived in what I would call the dressage ring.  

We have only been on a horse 2-3 times in our lives so I was both excited and nervous at the same time.  We had lovely horses and after our hour walk about - we were offered to go for a trot but both said "no" hehe.  We are both far too unfit! David had the excitement of his horse deciding to have a wee on the way around - I was very grateful it wasn't my horse, as you have to stand in the stirrups.  Barb was excellent with us, I even let go of the saddle harness and just held the reins.  We both agreed afterwards that we were glad we hadn't gone on the Blue Mountains trail ride we were thinking about doing as we wouldn't have coped.

I did get to help clean them down afterwards which was very cool and learnt how to tie a quick release knot - thoroughly enjoyed it as again a first for me.  Sadly Jim was working so we didn't get to catch up with him but we had a wonderful visit and we were so glad we got in touch and visited.

As the weather was still behaving itself we decided to go do the Skywalk as it was just around the corner.  We normally steer clear of treetop canopies as neither of us likes heights but we had read this one wasn't too bad and if it had survived a cyclone it must be pretty stable.  It was a lovely walk through the tree tops and really busy.

By the time we had finished the skywalk we were both really hungry and so to the cafe around the corner for lunch.  No sooner had we ordered than the heavens opened.  By the time we had finished our meal, lovely sunshine again; so lucky.  We were by this time knackered - not used to so much exercise but I wanted to visit the two lookouts on the mountain which were only 7 mins away to the furthest one.  The first one turned out to be a layby -  and you could see nothing - tree much to thick.  The second one was known as Hang Gliders Lookout.  It is where people take off to go hang glider and I (Karen) could see why - the view was spectacular.