So another reason to love, love, love Australia: they give you a week long study period for exams versus the two days I am used to! The benefit, lots of time to get your life together and write papers, the bad news, once you get distracted for a few hours it is easier to get distracted for all day… This was today…
Luckily I was still productive enough and got enough done before the Kris Kringle Dinner (yes… Christmas in October while it is warm out because, why not?!) that I can write a very long post reliving part of my mid-semester break (AKA: continuing my procrastination).
So I left off in my travel journal at the Great Barrier Reef. The next day was just as awesome!
I awoke Tuesday morning of my week in Cairns and got prepared for a full day trip out to the Tablelands. I was picked up in a tour van by a wonderful man named Wiley. I was the last person so I got the best seat in the house: the front seat!
I wasn’t completely sure what I would see on this tour but I knew it included some waterfalls and the beautiful Queensland countryside.
Little did I know I would see so much more!!
Beginning the journey out of Cairns we passed sugar cane fields and beautiful fields full of banana trees til we arrived at our first stop: The Boulders, a beautiful stream with beautiful, can you guess it? Boulders! There we had a morning coffee and got to know our fellow tourists, most of the trip was fellow Americans who were abroad! This was going to be a fun day!
Wiley pointed out mountains, valleys, plants, animals, and cute towns as we passed keeping us entertained and engaged throughout the journey. He reminded me so much of my dad’s best mate (yes, Aussie lingo cause I’m here!) Chris. So Chris: if you are reading this, it’s time for a career move!
Our next stop entailed a stunning 3 tiered waterfall with the last tier being used as a waterslide! It was FREEZING water but so worth the fun slippery slide!
Back into the van we went, once we were warm and dry from a walk through the jungle we arrived at the most stunning waterfall! It has been featured in many films and advertisements and for the life of me I can’t remember the name.
However I remember the way it made me feel after I got used to the freezing water and as I laid under its rough spray; just at utter peace. It was so beautiful laughing, smiling, and joking with my new friends and Wiley as we swum about and shared life together.
Our next lookout wasn’t originally on the tour, yet since we had a few extra minutes we took our old van up the mountain and looked out over the stunning countryside!
A free for all lunch stop was next! We were told we had three options, to take a hike through the rainforest, to go into a sit down meal, or to swim and enjoy another waterfall. Since I had packed my lunch (cause I’m a broke college kid) I went for the rainforest walk first. By this point in the day I was feeling a little overwhelmed with conversation and getting to know new people.
This is one thing I really love about travelling, especially alone, is getting to know new people, however, at times it gets to be a little intimidating. Because all of us travelers really wanted to engage with each other we were getting to know each other really well and having very deep conversations and I just needed some time to process. It was a beautiful 20 minute hike full of fun birds, turtles, and tree kangaroos!
After my alone time and meal I was ready to join my fellow travelers! We laid out by the waterfall in the sun until it was time to move along.
Next we went to walk around a really cool old Fig Tree! Some people weren’t impressed but I thought it was just a beautiful and stunning creation!
Afterwards was platypus spotting where we saw our friend Polly (that is what me and the German named her…)!
Our last stop for the day was a lake that filled in an inactive volcanic crater! This was definitely one of the most beautiful stops of the day. A marvelous way to end the day! I befriended a family who let me kayak a little, I swam with my new friends and Wiley, and just laughed and enjoyed life!
The Tablelands tour is definitely worth time when you head to Cairns!!
After my day out and about I came back, cooked a yummy meal and went for my fastest 6 mile run in ages! It was the perfect way to end a wonderful day!
Okay, now that it is 8pm I reckon (another popular Aussie word) I should get back to writing my African Studies paper! Happy Wanderlust Wednesday!
Through the Eyes of a Runner 
Wow! What an amazing place to go for a run. Look at that waterfall!
Thank you so much for reading Robin!
What a beautiful trip! I didn’t realize there would be waterfalls in Australia.
There are so many more than I expected! Definitely beautiful!
That looked amazing! I have the travel bug myself and really want to do it while I am young, haha.
I am heading over to check out your blog! Now is the time of our lives right? 🙂
Wow! I wish I could see waterfalls when I went running! Just looking at your photos puts me in that state of mind of that after body buzz and sunshine. Well, I did just workout, but too early for a run here at the moment ^_^
I’m so glad it has done that! Thank you so much for reading and keep up the good workouts!!
Just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your photos for those of us who aren’t going to make it there anytime soon! 🙂
Thank you! It was so stunning!
That waterfall is gorgeous, and I love your bathing suit, too! One day, I’ll make it to Australia–it looks so pretty! 🙂 And fun fact o’ the day, “reckon” is a popular word down in the U.S. South, too! (Linguistics are so much fun, aren’t they!?!)
I knew I had heard that there too! Where are you from Natalie? 🙂 Thank you for reading!
What an experience!! I’ll have to add Australia to my bucket list! I can’t imagine the feeling of seeing this all in person.
Thank you! It is truly all so stunning!
Gorgeous views! For a while I thought you were in my home country, the Philippines. (“,)
I definitely need to get up to the Philippines!!
Thanks for sharing . One of my bucket list travel places is Australia. The waterfall was so pretty.
Thank you! It was so stunning!
That looks sooo beautiful. I’m also digging that teal/blue bathing suit you are wearing!
Thank you so much Heather! I found it at a thrift store with the tags on! It’s a Tommy Bahamas!
I’m sitting here in awe over the stunning beauty of where you were. You are so, so lucky to have been able to enjoy that in person.
Thank you so much for reading and the kind words Liz! It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to!
Wow!!! What a beautiful beautiful place!!
What an adventurous life you are blessed to be living right now! How exciting!! To be able to see all of God’s creation like that. How fun!!
It truly is such a blessing to be here and it has brought me so much closer to God! Thank you for the encouragement Mikki!
Reblogged this on pennabroad and commented:
Melanie takes some time to procrastinate and we benefit! Check out her beautiful pictures of Cairns.
Those are some spectacular views. I wish we had falls like that near us..
Thank you!
Wow!! This looks like a fabulous place!!! Its like Antarctica outside my door here in NY so let’s trade places 😉 I would love to take a run in that beautiful weather 😉
How about we both just meet up over here therefore we both can enjoy the warmth?? NY sounds way too cold right now!!
“Forget the plans, trust my instincts” That’s my motto for life.
Wonderful photos!
I love love love that quote Nina!! I will have to use it sometime!!
It’s so beautiful! I would definitely get distracted to if I was in Australia studying!
It’s oh so easy to do!!
What super pictures! I love the “natural slides” 🙂 Looks like so much fun
Thank you so much!
I could use that escape now. How I envy you! Recreation with nature is like healing.
I agree 100 percent Pauline!! Thanks for reading, and hopefully you can get an escape soon!
What a beautiful place! It would be amazing to spend the day there and enjoy the serenity and relaxation.
Definitely one you could sit out all day at!
that waterfall looks totally unreal!! love this
Thank you Austen!
I love the view of the falls. I would love to do a walk in the rainforest as it’s just scenic. We have a lot of great forest view in the Philippines but you’ll just have to bear with the heat.
One of the marvelous things here the warmest time I was there was 35 degrees! Not too warm at all!
Man, I wish I could go! It’s only 5000$ to get to Australia….
Only… haha that is the one downside, with the cost you need months and months over here to make it worth it!
Great Photos. I’ve enjoyed those. I love it. And you’re gorgeous as well
Thank you very much!!
Such a beautiful trip, I’m loving that waterfall!
I’m ready to go back!!
You take amazing photos. They make me feel like I’m there.
Thanks Erica!
Looked like a wonderful beautiful adventure indeed. Your pictures are amazing along with the quote above and love your bathing suit. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Rebecca! I love that I can count on being uplifted by your comments!
Gorgeous photos! Looks like a blast!
Thanks for reading Kendall!
What a stunning place. Thanks for sharing your photos. Loved your bathing suit too!
Thank you fellow Melanie! 🙂 It is definitely a fun, modest bathing suit!
Love your photos! Looks like a fantastic place to go visit.
Thanks for reading Ann! It is marvelous!
I’d love to explore this area. Nice sneakers!
Thanks Krystal! I love my Brooks!
I think it’s pretty cool they give you a week break. And you definitely deserve getting a day off to have some fun – so don’t feel guilty! 🙂
It is definitely a plus of the Australian academic system! Thanks for reading and encouraging Carly!
What a beautiful place to go for a run! That waterfall is just gorgeous!
I already want to go back! Thanks for reading!
What stunning photos you have taken, and what a grand fig tree. This is truly a memorable run.
Thank you so much for reading Vanessa!
Wow, that looks absolutely gorgeous!! What a great day for a break and such an awesome setting for pictures. These one’s turned out beautifully!
Good luck on your exams 😛
Thank you for the luck!! It was so stunning pictures don’t do it justice!
Wow, what a beautiful location! That looks like an amazing adventure!
Thank you! It was so stunning!
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