After last nights rain we decided that today would be a good day to go and explore some waterfalls, despite being on the coast you don’t have to go far from here to be in rainforest so after a quick trip to the Visitor Centre to pick up a map and a stop at the bakery to pick up lunch we set off for our first stop which was Beauchamp Falls. On the way we saw a rock wallaby but unfortunately by the time I got the camera out it had hopped off! Beauchamp falls is at the bottom of a walk through softwood plantation forests and along a river to finally arrive at the falls, unfortunately there were a few trees between the walkway and the waterfalls so although they were impressive it was quite hard to see them front on without walking through the water which obviously we didn’t do! On the walk back we saw a black snail which can only be found in Victoria which is a surprise as we saw quite a few on our various walks. The next waterfall was Hopetoun Falls where we actually only went to the viewing platform as the walk down didn’t look like it was going to get us close to the falls and if you walk down you have to walk back up. Our final stop actually had two waterfalls at it, we decided to do the shorter walk first which was to Triplet Falls, which are exactly what they say three waterfalls that cascade in a line over the rocks. On the walk back we went past one of the original sawmill sites – Sawmill number 1 where they used to bring the logs and mill then before taking them out of the valley on a bullock train which was a railway line but instead of an engine the carriages were pulled by bullocks. We got back to the car park and decided we still had time to do the final one to Little Aire Falls which is a walk through mountain ash forest which are massive and grow so straight. This walk wasn’t actually very far but it was posted as taking 2.5 hours return which is quite accurate when you look at the terrain as it goes up and down a lot and on the very steep bits they have even put in stairs which I am sure help but they were really tough! But when we arrived it was all worth it as you emerge on a platform that is directly in line with the waterfall, it was great as we were the only people there and we had only seen two other people walking back as we headed down so we had the place all to ourselves, the only downside is that we then had to walk back, on the way down you have the anticipation of the waterfall but unfortunately on the way back it is just a long way and on this one worse still you actually have to walk back the same way as you came so you know what is still to come! But we made it and it was well worth it although quite tiring. On the drive back to the apartment we decided to stop for something to eat then went back to the room to relax and replan tomorrow as we decided we would go and see a living history museum based on the gold town which we think is the same one as the Chinese walked to when their ships landed in Robe.
