I’ve never been a camping girl. Not because I’m opposed to camping, just that I’ve never really had much of an opportunity to go camping and therefore have little to no camping experience, so this adventure was probably one of the more challenging ones for me to tackle. One place that I’ve wanted to go to, for some years now, is Wallaman Falls. Located 51km south-west of Ingham, Wallaman Falls is the highest, permanent, single-drop waterfall in Australia and home to some of the oldest rainforests on earth and many endangered plants and animals. Prior to 2017, I had never even heard of Wallaman Falls and only came across it on Facebook one day. In fact, I pitched the idea to go camping there to Jill and Dannii back in 2017, as per messages below. However, it was one of those plans that lay forgotten and never came to fruition.
So, when camping was on this list, Wallaman Falls seemed liked the perfect place to go. Even before Jill had passed, I had mentioned it to my Dad and Brother-in-Law Marc, and both were quick to say they would join me if I wanted to go. So, when I mentioned it to them again, probably just over a month ago, we started making a plan. Having to schedule the trip around Marc & Dad’s work schedules, meant it would only be a quick overnight trip, but that did not stop Marc and Dad activating their camping mode. We hit the camping shop where I bought myself a cute pink Kings Swag (Marc and Dad already swags - not pink 🤣) and Marc and Dad insisted on buying a Firepit Grill, Campfire Oven, Campfire Jaffle Iron, Billy Tea & Cups.
With a trailer in tow, that looked like we were camping for a week rather than a night, we hit the road from Mackay at about 4am on Saturday 13th May and started our 6.5hr drive up North. We got to the start of Wallaman Falls Rd just before lunch, where many cattle are casually sitting alongside and, on the road, and then started the approx 20km ascend to the top on the mountain, along a very winding and narrow road. Once up the top we headed to the lookout. The view of the falls was breathtaking and was immediately worth the trip. I’m not sure I have ever seen a more beautiful display of nature.
We then went on to find our camping ground and set up camp. I’m not too sure if I was of much assistance, but I at least set up my swag all by myself.
Once camp was set up, Dad & I decided to do the 4km return trail down to the bottom of the Falls. Dad looked like a hiker with his first aid kits (plural) and backpack, with Marc jokingly referring to him as Dora the Explorer 🤣
Marc decided to not to do the trail (he knows his limits 🤣) and decided to instead chill out at the campsite and cook the damper I had made for when we returned.
The trail was amazing, it was definitely challenging, as it was quite steep and rough as the sign suggests, but definitely worth it to get so close to the falls.
We did go further than the lookout at the bottom to get some closer pictures but opted not to go as far to the water as the climb over the rocks looked quite challenging. After taking in the views, which which we had to ourselves for the most part, we made the sweaty climb back up.
Back at the campsite, we came back to find that Marc had burnt the Damper, as he had accidentally fallen asleep whilst relaxing in his camper chair 🤣 We tried to salvage it and Dad & Marc even ate some telling me it wasn’t too bad. They lied - I tried it and spat it out. I think a combo of a bad recipe and a bad cook (the photo is actually not even showing the burnt side). After ‘nice’ cold showers, we cooked our sausages and steak for dinner.
It then came time for the S’mores. I had to explain to Dad what S’mores were 🤦🏼♀️ Although I look a bit awkward trying to get the marshmallow off the skewer without burning myself or dropping it, the S’mores were a success and very delicious, even Dad & Marc enjoyed theirs.
After getting Dad to bring his telescope and setting it up, I did try to do some stargazing as another adventure to cross off the list, but it was not to be as there were too many clouds about, so I will have to cross this one off the list another time.
We wrapped up the night with Dad’s Billy Tea (something he was most insistent and excited to do) and played a game of ‘F*cked Up Trivia’ which Marc won, which was no surprise to either Dad or I, given the trivia content 🤣
It was an early start in the morning to pack up the campsite, again I was not much help 🤭 and we had some ham & cheese jaffles for breakfast. Dad & I went and checked out the Rockpools about 500m from over campsite which was another pretty little view.
The three of us then went back to the fall's lookout once more. Marc was able to fly his drone a little and get a couple of shots before we started our journey home, we even saw some wild pigs by the side of the road on the way down the mountain.
We had a great trip and have decided we are going to try to do a camping trip each year somewhere. A massive thank you to my Dad and Marc for helping plan this trip, keeping me company and giving up one of their weekends. Particularly want to thank Marc for driving us there and back safely and for even paying for the fuel. He’s a good egg.
And just for some Jill memories…I can’t say I’ve done much camping with her, but I will always remember our Grade 5 school trip to Camp Fairbairn Dam. Jill, Shona & I stayed in a Teepee. If she looks unhappy in the picture below, it’s because I remember her vomiting when she woke up as she quite often got home sick.
As part of this trip, we had to bike ride out to a site with these big backpacks that were provided to us with some supplies to make a camp. Essentially it was two tarps for a makeshift tent. There was also a makeshift toilet set up for everyone, essentially a big hole in the ground next to a pile of soil with a shovel and a roll of toilet paper on standby. Pretty rough conditions for Grade 5’ers in my opinion. I remember we decided to use our backpacks as pillows to sleep on and I remember waking up in the middle of the night not being able to sleep and making my way over to my Dad in another part of the camp to cuddle in with him on his much more comfortable swag (a little anecdote that Dad loves to bring up and embarrass me with when he can!).
But one of the biggest memories of this camp was how well my Dad and Jill’s Dad Vic got on. Both had volunteered as supervising parents; I think Vic specifically had volunteered because, as previously mentioned, Jill got homesick back then. But our two Dad’s together were just larrikins. Two big kids having fun out in nature. I will never forget the night there was a ‘talent’ show (for lack of a better term) and Vic performed a 'magic' trick. He had three food cans out on a table and asked someone from the audience to touch one of the three cans whilst his back was turned and then he would, somehow, identify the correct can. Everyone was stumped on how he was doing this until someone cottoned on that Vic had tee'd up my Dad to signal to him which can by touching his ears or nose. It was hilarious when we all found out. I don't have a picture of Dad & Vic from this trip, but here is one of Dad & I out at the campsite with Jill passing by in the background.
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