Sliding into the Long Weekend - Emerald Creek Falls

The Dry was reaching its end, so we took advantage of a long weekend to go to Emerald Creek Falls, close to Mareeba in the Tablelands above Cairns.

A missed turn led us up a delightful bush dirtroad where we drove past a horrendously eroded creekbed. 

We had lunch next to the sign that said the Tinaroo Lake Road onwards was closed. Not to worry, we backtracked, found the turnoff and arrived at the lovely lower rapids of the Emerald Creek Falls through eucalyptus woodland and termite mounds. 

Scrambling uphill over some rocky ledges brought us to the main plunge pool under the Falls.

A bunch of young Japanese were jumping from the rocks above and playing with some hilarious rubber crab and dolphin inflatable toys. 

Robert had a passionate moment with the dolphin. 

The pool edges were really slippery, so Robert attempted to leave the dolphin behind and inch up the rocks. However he soon slipped back and was rescued by a couple of lovely ladies holding his hand to help him up. Did I say Robert now has his pension? 

The road to the Falls is prohibited for caravans, but our motorhome did fine until on the way back we stalled on a really steep hill: the lack of engine power failed the brakes; and for a few nasty seconds we were hurtling backwards. We inched our way back down to the flat, then Gen revved the engine in first gear and off we roared over the hill.