Cooper Creek Waterfall walk

We set out early on Friday morning, into the rainforest bordering Cooper Creek. David and Ro's plan was to take us up the full length of the creek, through the Daintree Wilderness area - to the spectacular waterfall at the creek's source. It was indeed a brave move on their part taking a pair of septuagenarian city slickers like us with them into the wilderness!!

For a while it was relatively easy going, along the rocky banks of the creek.

But then it got tougher where we had to "rock hop" up the creek itself - not so easy for Rob and me, scared of slipping on wet unstable ground and lacking the confidence to use the momentum required for actual "rock hopping". It made for much slower progress as we crab walked our way up the creek bed!

Rainforest wilderness walking is hard going for new players too - you have to watch every step for protruding roots, unexpected dips and hollows, vine trip hazards and "wait a while" vines that like to catch your clothes and any exposed skin.....

There's no track to follow either .....

But its a uniquely beautiful space too. We were so lucky to have an experienced guide and expert rainforest botanist to point out special trees and plants and encourage us to look up at the wonder around us. Ro showed us this Cycad, an ancient plant that has changed little since the days of the dinosaurs. 

.. and she collected some seeds at the base of it (a rare find apparently) in the hope that some might strike .....

There is so much life and exotic beauty on the forest floor too. That blue "fruit" (in the pic below) is the cassowary plum - a favourite food of the cassowaries of the Daintree (they eat them whole).

But just under three hours from our start time we finally made it (with all limbs intact) to the most beautiful and stupendous Cooper Creek Waterfall!

Ro and David had pretty much nursed us along the whole way - they must have been relieved we made it without any major health emergency (created by us) - but it was a bit touch and go at times! Ro even made us freshly brewed coffee as our reward, having carried the Trangia in her backpack the whole way up the creek...

The first waterfall pool is not deep enough for swimming - but is great for a euphoric shower of pristine water.

But the second waterhole is where all the swimming action is ......

That's Rob's head under the falls in the pic below .....

We made it back to base ok too - no bones broken - and feeling like we'd achieved something pretty remarkable (and learnt a lot too) thanks to the experience and generosity of Ro and David. They lit a fire that evening and we drank wine and ate our evening meal around it while watching a sky full of stars emerge from under the day's cloud cover - a magical end to the day!