Then we decided to add a stop at the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway.  This was a great way to explore the canopy of the rainforest and get a new perspective.  It was a beautiful walk with up close look at various basket ferns and birds in the canopy but the highlight came towards the end of the walk.

[caption id="attachment_856" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ma-mu Rainforest Canopy Walkway"][/caption]

We were still on the look out for the elusive Cassowary and just as our guide Martin said, “It is not beyond the realm of possibility that we may see a Cassowary here,” we heard a crashing on the forest floor below. After a few moments, a Cassowary briefly showed himself. Yvette saw him and I would have claimed to this day that I did as well if it wasn’t for the viewing I actually had a few minutes later as he walked into a bit of clearing.

[caption id="attachment_857" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Cassowary in the wild"][/caption]

This large bird — with an inner talon that could rip a man’s throat, a majestic crown on his head, and vivid blue and red coloring on his face and neck — was an awesome sight to see in the wild. With this unexpected find by Martin, I almost forgave him for never finding a tree kangaroo in the wild for me.

From Mamu, we drove across the dairy lands to Mangelli Creek Dairy for a wonderful lunch and ice cream (they make excellent Greek yogurt as well, according to Yvette and Marylin).

Next was a visit to Millaa Millaa (Water Water) and the waterfall circuit. Our first stop was at the cascading Ellinjaa Falls and then on to the plunging Zillie Falls, before ending up at Millaa Millaa Falls.

[caption id="attachment_858" align="aligncenter" width="295" caption="Zillie Falls"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_861" align="aligncenter" width="295" caption="Cathedral Fig"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_862" align="aligncenter" width="295" caption="Laurie, Marylin, & Yvette w Cathedral fig"][/caption]

Our next stop was the over 500-year-old Cathedral Fig. The fig vine attaches itself to a tree and uses its growth to reach the canopy. It is not a parasite as it does not take nutrients from the tree, but it does literally strangle the life from the host tree. Roots from these 'strangler figs' can be over 40 meters in length.

We then took a brief break for a Devonshire Tea (tea and scones with jam and cream) at Lake Barine. This is one of the three volcanic crater lakes in the area. One is really more of a swamp now as the forest surrounding the lake has been cleared and the lake itself did not survive.

After tea, we continued on to our lodging for the night; the Rose Gum Wilderness Retreat. This is a lovely, eco-friendly accommodation with well-appointed bungalows and a breakfast hamper for a self-catering "brekky."

This evening we did a bit of night spotting in the cool air of Mt. Hypipamee National Park.  We spotted three of the four types of opossums in the area: the Green ringtail, the Herbert River ringtail, and the common Brushtail.

[caption id="attachment_864" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Herbert-river opposum"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_865" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Common brushtail opposum"][/caption]

We also had the opportunity to enjoy a clear crisp evening and the magnificent sky – the Milky Way and the Southern Cross were vividly evident.