Queen Mary Falls

Last Saturday morning on the Gardening show on ABC radio, Brian (in the shed) and Pat (in the house) heard 'Penny', the gardening expert, exclaiming the magnificience of Queen Mary Falls after the recent rains. Pat has wanted to go there ever since our good friends of Innisfail days, Barbara and John Romano called in and while showing their photos, showed one of Queen Mary Falls. She who always say, 'Darling, do you think we could go to...." said, "Brian Darling, I am going to Queen Mary Falls on Monday, do you want to come?" Of course, he who could never refuse her anything, said, sure Pat, we can go to Queen Mary Falls. We went and are just so pleased that we did so. We headed off around 9/9.30 and called in to see Marjorie Carter (nee Gricks old friend from School days at St Joseph's in Clermont.) Marjorie had given us a couple of kilos of rosellas and Pat made up jam and dropped a couple of bottles into Marj and Jim. After a cuppa, it was probably close to 11.30 by the time we made tracks for Warwick, Yangan, Kilarney and finally Queen Mary Falls. As the day was a little misty, we opted to walk before lunch, just in case it rained. From the picnic area, we began the circuit walk to the Falls - heading in a clockwise direction. This was recommended on the brochure we read and it is a great idea, because there are lots of steps on the way down but more flat ground on the way up going that way. It is a beautiful walk with lots of mini waterfalls, hundreds of ferns, mossy rocks and a great variety of birds. The walk is reported to be an easy walk and it probably was, but Pat found it a bit hard on the knees. The falls were truly magnificient as the waters thundered over the cliff face and sprayed a film of spray over all below. Brian tells me that this is where the Condamine River begins. The walk back up the top was quite pleasant and very picturesque. We had lunch around 2.30 before heading off. A brief stop at lookout to Dags falls just down the road. These were pretty spectacular also. We called on Tim and Marl Mahony. Tim's Dad and Mum, Tom and Eileen Mahony were original settlers in the Kilcummin area with Grandad Cook. Marl was on nightshift and asleep, but we had a lovely yarn with Tim and shared family news and lots of memories.Home around 6.30pm. We recommend the trip to any of you who might have the opportunity to make it - especially after good rains.