Paluma National Park

Slightly sad at saying goodbye, we packed up, selected a few veg from the seconds box and headed south, stopping at Ingham for a stock up of groceries.  While sitting under the shady tree having lunch and watching the sugar trains go by, we booked a night in Paluma national Park.  

On arrival, it turned out we had plenty of camp sites to choose from, and we set up and headed down to the “paradise waterhole” to explore.  So inviting, the exploration quickly turned into a spontaneous swim for the kids.  Larina was of course already wearing swimmers, and the boys improvised….  I do have to say that Sam has definitely relaxed a LOT this year!  We spotted fish and turtles seeking us out from the rocks, and fed them some crumbs left by other spectators.  

Wow – it is so quiet here.  We must stay an extra day.  So we do.  Met a lovely family – Hanneke, Bart, Jim, Luke and Amy and we joined them on the natural waterslides.  The four boys joined forces and became some kind of warriors, and the girls wrapped themselves in long towels and pretended to build themselves ice castles fit for ice queens.  (Clearly the movie “Frozen” has captured Larina and many other girls!)  Was interesting to watch the two genders collide in their play later on.  I lay like a lizard on the rocks, socking in all the warmth after the chilly water, while watching Ben with a net try to outsmart some fish hiding in a cave… could have stayed there all day, just like the clever fish in the cave!  (I was just practicing my breath hold for the reef Mandy!!)