Nancy Costin, Half Way to Cannabullen Falls (PLACES WILDERNESS 2022)

This amazing yet difficult hike to Cannabullen Falls tucked in the remote wilderness area between Millaa Millaa and Ravenshoe, Far North Queensland is an absolute sight to behold. The hike itself crosses several fast flowing creeks some up above waist height. (Completed in dangerous flood conditions on the day and thankfully I'm here to tell the tale!) but that's all part of the adventure. The trail is difficult to follow in places and is not well marked. There are steep scree slidings, narrow escarpments barely wide enough to fit through the spindly rainforest trees that hold the upper most of the ridgeline together. Clinging desperately to the top layers of slippery soil, just like I was. Either side of the ridge was a unfathomable drop of 700 metres or so and the hues of green as the sun peeked from behind the clouds was dazzling. Traversing through the fast flowing lower tract of the creek line, encountering tree snakes and wait-a-while vines but just avoiding juvenile stinging trees made this 7 hour plus hike one to remember. Approaching the falls from below and scrambling over giant basalt boulders and through rotting tree trunks that were blocking the path, I was amazed at the sheer drop as the whispy water plummeted deafeningly over the 70 metre drop to the dark ominous pool below. Heavy spray needled into my face, however, I was surprised by how warm it was. I had a lunch break and sat wet in the spray huddled behind a massive boulder and enjoyed a cuppa and sanga while soaking literally in the front of this amazing waterfall. The 3.5 hour trek back was a breeze, only because this was my first time to Cannabulla Falls and thought it such an achievement in itself and thankful for my hiking buddy Andy. I doubt many hikers get to see its wild beauty due to it's remoteness, difficulty to navigate and time to return. I highly recommend it though. Happy hiking:)

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.