9/5 - Lamington & O'Reilly's, Birds and Rain Forest

09/05/2012 - Iain and Di suggested a mountain drive up to visit the Lamington National Park to see the rain forest plants, trees, and birds.

Mountains, forests, birds - right up our alley - we were ready!

We started out of the city and found a fruit stand that Iain & Di hadn't seen before - lovely veggies and fruit!  And reasonable prices!




There was a nice garden statue that would look swell on our patio... wonder if I can shove that hummer in the overhead bin?  Probably not, dang!

Start 1 Lane... not much difference

Iain loves driving the mountain roads and it is almost a thrill a minute on this road as there are numerous spots where the road is down to one lane and very curvy... by the way, did I mention that there are tour buses that "share" the road!  We lucked out and only met a few cars and trucks.

End 1 Lane - whew!

We got to O'Reilly's at Lamington National Park and Iain got us a bowl of seed for feeding the birds...
WOW, what a colorful group.  The Australian King Parrot is interesting.  Juveniles and females don't have the bright orange (bird book says scarlet) head.

Iain was made "Pirate for a Day" by this vibrant bird!










My bird hat is a Crimson Rosella.

 You can get a "Bowl of Birds", but most of the time it seems to be one variety... these guys had a stare down, but decided that food won out.









We checked out the airplane on the property... in 1937 people could tell the time of day by the plane flying over. 

One day, the plane didn't come and there had been storm.  People went looking, but Mr. O'Reilly believed the search party went the wrong way. 

He found the survivors of the crash (one didn't make it) and he organized the rescue.  He became famous for his efforts.

The plane is, according to the sign, the only replica and there are no actual Stinson's left. 

Oooh, I wonder if Boeing's Museum of Flight has heard of this story and seen this plane.


 The we went for a walk in the rain forest.  The trees are so interesting. 

Booyong Tree

This is the Booyong tree for which the walk is named.









Below is an example of a strangler fig... it kills the tree it surrounds.

Strangler Vine

This one has completely eliminated the tree inside... I felt like I was in the Trilogy of the Rings where Frodo is taken by a tree.

Wonga Vine

The Wonga Vine is another plant that has the potential to destroy a tree on its' way to the canopy far above.




 
 


Within the Booyong walk is an aerial path that also has caged ladders that you can ascend even further above the forest floor.


Wobbly walkways gave Di a bit of  pause, but she got through it with flying colors.


 
You have to like heights on this part and you make a choice to 'rise above'!  

 

Then there was garden in the center, sadly untended anymore, but this tree knew winter is over.

We left the Park and made our way out of the park to check out the cheeses at 'Witches Chase' and then have a toddy while looking toward thee Gold Coast from Mt. Tamborine.  However, we stopped at the O'Reilly winery, did a tasting, and Di explained the Queensland building strategy to Lee.

This old house has cooling porches all round and it is built up off the ground to provide additional cooling AND to keep the snakes on the ground and out of the house.

There is another tree that was different, the Grass Tree.  They were in the park, but I found a better tree at Mt Tamborine.

Grass Tree

The view is spectacular!

Another great day is complete - Thank you Iain and Di!