A local find

Recently we explored Robbins Creek, which crosses the Bump Track in the Mowbray National Park near Port Douglas. Robbins Creek flows into the Mowbray River and we have seen its waterfall from below as we walked along the watercourse of the Mowbray River. Our aim was to discover if Robbins Creek had any swimming holes and if it was possible to reach its waterfall from above by following the watercourse.

After leaving the Bump Track the first 100 metres of the creek tried to thwart us with the profusion of Wait-a-While (also known as Lawyer Vine) trying to hook us at almost every step. It nearly worked and we were about to turn back, thinking there wasn't much to see and it was too hard. Then the watercourse opened up and rock-hopping and scrambling were possible. What we discovered was a delightful little gorge with pretty swimming holes scattered along its course, until after about a km we reached the waterfall and the dramatic cliffs either side as it dropped off into the Mowbray Valley. Perseverance paid!

The prettiest swimming hole

The top of the falls

Mowbray Valley from the top of Robbins Creek Falls

From the top of Robbins Creek Falls, the top of the Mowbray Falls is just visible in the distance

Pets and parrots

Lately we’ve been house- and pet-sitting and canine and feline antics have inspired much mirth and merriment. Matey is rediscovering puppy love …

We spent the end of March in Mossman, and were glad not to be on the boat for the rain ‘event’, which limited our exploring of the area somewhat. Now we are in Cooktown, where we were informed recently by an old seaman that the wet season is over. It’s looking like he’s right.

From Cooktown we have been able to explore some more of an extraordinary region. One of the highlights has been getting to a waterfall we heard about when we first visited the Bloomfield River. We were told Parrot Creek Falls was accessed from a rough track and private property. This fabled falls had eluded us for several years, as we heard conflicting stories of its alleged location. But fortunately, our housesitting hosts know the owners of the surrounding property and gave us the details, so finally we were able to get to this elusive place.

The falls itself is not unlike the Annan Falls in appearance (also not the easiest to find or access). It has a pretty area at the top with vegetation in the gorge as well as a pleasant and refreshing pool. Part of the experience of finding this falls was meeting the owners of the surrounding land. They were the third generation to live where a town had been in the mining days of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Their forebears had turned to farming cattle when the mines dried up. They were warm and welcoming to us intruders and invited us to tea after our walk to the falls. The track to the falls was probably clearer and more frequently used in the mining days, and we almost lost our way, though we saw much evidence of previous as well as more recent habitation in the surrounding area. We also heard plenty of parrots so were happy to find the species that inspired the waterfall’s name is still abundant there.

Matey with her new love at Mt Amos 

Parrot Creek Falls

Perched at the top of the falls

Parrot Creek Falls