A weekend at Lamington National Park

Hello everyone! There has been kind of a lack of pictures in the last number of posts. So I will make up for it in this one. If a picture says a thousand words than have fun sifting through these 26000 odd words :P

We all decided to spend the weekend in Lamington National Park, as it may the last weekend that we will all be together. Steve and Cari leave for Melbourne in two weeks (for Steve's new job... congrats to Steve) and next week we go to the Whitsundays for a week so this was the weekend to do it. Lamington is set in a small range of mountains about 2.5 hours south of Brisbane. The drive to the park was absolutely beautiful. The last forty five minutes of which was an accent up a narrow mountain road with a constant set of switchbacks and blind curves. About half of this road was just a single lane so you really had to take your time and keep and eye out for on-coming traffic. The view from this road was extraordinary with breathtaking vistas of the valley below. As we climbed, the vegetation changed from rural farm land to eucalyptus forest to subtropical rain forest. Lamington is definitely a highlight of Australia. 

The family getting ready for a hike.

This is the first thing we saw when we arrived at our campsite.  A group of Pademelons (small type of wallaby). 

These Crimson Rosellas loved to be fed.  Technically we weren't supposed to but we couldn't resist.  Breagha loved sharing her biscuit with them.

Tycho, Shamus and B taking in the evening sun.

I love the expression on B and Shamus.

My beautiful wife enjoying a hike.

"Uncle" Steve with the kids in a little tree cave created by a type of strangler fig.  What happens is the strangler fig completely covers the 'victim' tree and kills it off.  When the dead tree decomposes it leaves the interior of the new tree hollow.  It is pretty cool to climb inside and look up.

We saw these type of trees in Bunya Park as well.  They are so cool.  One of my favorites.

It amazes me just how much vegetation there is in a rain forest.  It is just layers upon layers upon layers.

A beautiful sunset the first night.

All tucked in and ready for bed.  

Nothing like a good cup o' joe to start the morning.  

We don't go anywhere without CARS!

Shamus is really starting to become a little boy.... and with that comes little boy humor.

The hike on the second day was amazing.  We hiked a series of three waterfalls.  Here are the jungle boys in action.

Mom and B soaking up some jungle rays as well.

Breagha loves the cam.

It doesn't get much cuter than this!

Breaking for a bit of lunch.

There were a ton of these Crayfish in the pools at the first waterfall.  This is the closest thing I have seen to an atlantic lobster since we have been here.

Boldering up to the second waterfall.

We made it!

Well worth the climb.

And number three didn't disappoint us either.