Rummaging All Alone Around the Rainforest

So, this all started when I had some time to spare in Airlie Beach. With the Whitsunday Islands being so lush, hilly and plentiful, I decided to spend my day “off”, trying to get to higher grounds, to get some nice shots of the archipelago.

With this is mind I asked the hostel where I could go to accomplish this. The Beak, I was told, would be perfect. Not being too comfortable with going into a foreign, tropical (rain)forest all alone, I had a couple of reservations, namely snakes and crocs. What do I do if I happen to meet one? Bea, if you meet a croc, you’re gonna make the news tonight 😀 If you happen to meet a snake, stomp your foot a couple of times. If it doesn’t move, backtrack. Ok…

With the decision made, my hostess offered to give me lift to the entrance of the Coral Beach trail of Conway Conservation Park, close to Shute Harbor. When she dropped me off she could see the scepticism on my face. Trying to put on a brave face, I said goodbye and headed into the opening among the trees. Doing my best to keep the creepy crawlies out of my mind, the 1.1 km long hike was actually very enjoyable. No-one around, neither man nor dangerous creatures – hmmm, I guess that in some cases include man… Anyway. When I emerged from the forest, I saw the most secluded beach lay right in front of me, Coral Beach. So peaceful. A couple left as I arrived. Besides that I had the whole thing to myself.

After a short stop, I figured it was time to get going, to The Beak. Another 620 m. Pointing up. Directions was, walk east along the beach and look for the lookout sign. There it was! The next trail to follow. Very happy with my newfound courage I trundled on, into the rainforest again. Suddenly I came to a semi halt. See, the trail turned out to be very overgrown, like no-one had been there in a while. Strange, as the hostel staff didn’t mention anything about that. Complete halt. As I was standing there among the trees, with the sunshine piercing a little bit through the leaves, my biggest fear came to life – in front of me, on me, all around me, it felt like, were small spiders hanging down by their threads… Needless to say, I freaked the f*** out!!!!! Like I never have before. I don’t think I have ever gotten out of a place that fast. It still gives me the chills just thinking about it.

After panicking and rushing out of the forest, I decided to settle down on the lovely beach for a while, to at least get something nice out of the hike. After composing myself, and re-finding my courage, I was ready to head back to civilisation, if I could just find the opening I came out of… When I arrived at the beach I looked around to make sure that I would find my way back, and had agreed with myself that it was pretty easy to find which way to go. Boy was I wrong! At that point I could feel the panic resurface. It is not a small beach we are talking about… After walking up and down trying to find a familiar feature among the trees, I finally took a chance and headed in where I thought it might be. After a few meters I luckily came upon a signpost telling me I was on the right path. Thank you, whoever is up there! Halfway back I also met some people, so at least I wouldn’t have been stranded for long. I must admit after my spider scare, the hike back to the car park where I had been dropped off, was a very uncomfortable one. And it went fast 😀 I just wanted to get out of there! I was very happy when I finally could step out onto the asphalt.

Relieved that I was out of danger, I headed down the road leading to Shute Harbour, where I would get on the bus back to my hostel. Happy with being out of the woods, I suddenly heard a noise to my left, coming from the trees. Like someone, or something, was coming through. Being very jumpy at this point, I stopped for a bit. And before I knew it, something came flying out, crossing the road in front of me, continuing up the pretty steep hill on the right side of the road. It all happened so fast, that it was over before it started and I didn’t register what is was. The only thought I was left with was – Was that a turkey…???? When I recounted the story to the girl at the hostel reception desk, she confirmed, with no surprise – Yes, it is a brush-turkey!

Conclusion: I’d say it was an eventful hike. Parts I liked. Parts I did not like 😀 Did I get what I came for? Nope! This is the only shot I got of the Whitsunday Islands from a higher vantage point, from the plane as I was flying out and leaving it all behind.