Benz World Blog » Waterfall

Basket Swamp

Jason Benz — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 03:46:11 +0000

This is Basket Swamp Falls in New South Wales. The La Niña climate pattern has made Australia cooler and wetter than normal. This has enabled much of the native eucalyptus forest to bounce back after the fires. I was reminded by the tradition owners “it is just part of their life cycle”. This waterfall is in National Park but the campsite is in Boonoo State Forest a few miles upstream. After arriving, the first big downpour flooded the lower corner of the campsite. A noisy frog moved into the newly created pond until this red-bellied black snake decided to go for a swim.

Wallaman Falls

Jason Benz — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 23:29:13 +0000

This is Wallaman Falls in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. It is Australia’s highest permanent single drop waterfall. This photo was taken from a viewing platform a short walk from the national park campsite. From here you have the option of walking down a track to the base of the falls. Once you start the decent helpful signs remind you of the various dangers you will face and how previous walkers have died. Along with the standard crop of deadly snakes and spiders, there is a native stinging tree which releases a neurotoxin and a bird capable of delivering a fatal blow.

After surviving the solitary trek down the hill I was somewhat relieved to find the base of the falls occupied by about a dozen people scattered about in small groups. On closer inspection, everyone looked about half my age. Evidently only the fit or foolhardy attempt this path. Being the old man on the hill for a change was an unusual reversal. Generally, my fellow travellers are grey nomads(A breed of Aussie who on reaching retirement sell their house, buy a caravan and start doing laps of the continent) I think these coffin dodgers are discouraged from visiting this spot by declaring the access road is not suitable for caravans despite it being tarmacked the whole way. My classic van had no trouble climbing the mountain in 3rd gear. I did, however, find myself employing the Jamaican taxi drivers technique of using the horn before blind corners.

While the weather and road conditions stay good I will continue North. It is probably too late in the season for my old van can make it all the way to the Northern tip of Australia this year as the dirt road will be quite rough by now. I am planning to get as far as Cape Tribulation by the September equinox before turning inland towards Mount Isa and then down through Queensland’s outback before “The Wet” arrives.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Tooloom Falls

Jason Benz — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:59:44 +0000

Tooloom Falls is a site of special cultural significance to the local Githabul People who know this place as Dooloomi. They graciously invited me to stay here as long as I wanted. As this land was never ceded it makes this the only place in Australia where I am not trespassing on aboriginal land. I have been photographing wildlife and living off-grid and offline in this beautiful location for the last two weeks.

The river which feeds the waterfall is as still as a mill pond. Only the roar of the falls reminds you all the water is inching towards the edge. The far side of the river is state pine forest, on the aboriginal side, there is a variety of vegetation spilling over the banks. Lizards, Birds and Turtles visibly inhabit the area but platypus remain elusive. A Githabul elder told me when platypus move you can hear a double splash. This is useful to know as water dragons and turtles frequently plunk into the water at any perceived danger and kingfishers take random stabs at the river too. These azure kingfishers are a good sign as they follow platypus to feed off prey which is disturbed during their rummaging. A wild platypus photograph may still be possible.

This morning I had a lovely drive from the New England region of New South Wales to the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Both are aptly named as the green rolling hills are reminiscent of the UK. Only the occasional white bark of gum trees reminds you it is Australia.

I am resupplying in Warick for three days in preparation for two more weeks in another patch of Gondwana forest at the Main Range National Park.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Protesters Falls

Jason Benz — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 22:54:35 +0000

This is Protesters Falls in New South Wales. It is an enchanting pocket of ancient Gondwanan rainforest. Through a fluke of tectonics, these world heritage sites preserve species which existed when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The waterfalls were named after the first successful anti-logging action in 1979. The area is still the centre of counter-culture in Australia and is home to some of the most colourful people, places and festivals.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Brushbox Falls

Jason Benz — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:42:23 +0000

This is Brushbox Falls hidden away in a remote corner of the Border Ranges National Park. The Gondwana Rainforests between Queensland and New South Wales are World Heritage Listed. Although it is only a few hours drive from the Gold Coast it is like stepping back in time. Few places in the world contain so much flora and fauna that remain relatively unchanged from their ancestors in the fossil record. The Brush Box Tree, after which the waterfall was named, is native to Australia and is used as a street tree in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth because it is rugged and creates lots of shade.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Springbrook Waterfalls

Jason Benz — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:35:56 +0000

This weekend we visited the Springbrook National Park close to the state boundary. It is a fascinating place. It lies on the edge of an ancient volcanic ridge which causes all Queenslands creeks to turn into New South Wales waterfalls.

Ellenborough Falls

Jason Benz — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:57:48 +0000

This is the foot of Ellenborough Falls which is a horsetail waterfall on the headwaters of the Ellenborough River in the mid north Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. We camped in the Ellenborough Reserve last night then drove into Wauchope Library to do some job searches this morning. We were glad to discover we have been offered some work at the Woolshed Backpackers in Hervey Bay. Jason will take some Photography for their website and Karen will generally help out. We will need to put our foot down to cover the 854km (530 miles) by Friday. Until now we have taken a fairly slow route opting for tourist drives and some dirt roads. We will need to stick to the Pacific Highway to get there in time. Our address will be The Woolshed Backpackers, 181 Torquay Road, Hervey Bay, Queensland 4655 until July 3rd.