Crystal Creek Adventures

Aussie terms of the day….

“Togs” – also called “swimmers,” is what they say instead of “swimsuit.”

“Tea” – can mean anything from simply just tea or coffee to an actual full blown meal. 99% of the time when someone says “Let’s go have tea” assume it’s much more than just a cup of tea.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve even so much as seen a cup of tea here yet…

        Today was the first “travel outside Townsville” day! The Christian Union group on campus had planned a trip to Crystal Creek, a fun place to swim about an hour out of Townsville. We all met on campus earlier in the morning and split into designated cars to begin the trek.  Guess who was also there coming on the trip? All the gals from my team at the O-mazing Race! That was a super cool “You’re here too?!?” moment. I cannot tell you how the drive was, either there or back, because I fell asleep for the better part of both. But hey, we made it back so it must have been great!

            Crystal Creek was gorgeous. Set in a beautiful forested nook not very far changed from its natural state but apparently well visited. The water was a little colder than I was expecting but who am I to complain? At least you can breathe when you jump in unlike the waters in Alaska and most of the time in Oregon! We hung out on the rocks, swam over to the small island,  floated down the "rapids", jumped off a small rock outcropping… Good fun was had by all I think.

Floating down the river

            We headed up to the barbecue pit for a short while to gain some afternoon sustenance before heading down the road to the rock slides. 

Aussie version of a hot dog.  Sausage on a slice of bread with onions, cheese
and choice of ketchup and BBQ sauce. Or both.

            We were stopped a bit short by a flooded road along the way but we didn't let that get in our way as we parked the long row of cars and waded through the waters.

Mostly it was just that the current was super strong as well!

            It was probably a twenty to thirty minute walk to our destination and all I can say was that I am super glad I had put on a good amount of bug spray.  Unfortunately though it is rather difficult to put said repellent up your nose and on your eyes… But I would say it was completely worth it.  The scenery was gorgeous! 

            We decided it was too dangerous to get in the rapids due to the unusually high water levels but it was still loads of fun sitting on the rocks, watching the water cascade down the falls, and getting to know some of the people a little better.  

            The way back home we took a short detour to the “Frosty Mango” for some ice cream and fruit before we continued back to the Uni.  Back at home a bunch of us gals at the lodge ended the night with a little movie night of our own where we huddled together with a computer and watched the Life of Pi. Good times :) . 

They also sold a bunch of different types of fruit there; Jackfruit, Breadfruit, Soursop, Carambola...
I got a couple mangoes which were completely unparalleled in taste! Nothing tastes quite like and Aussie mango and once you have one, you will never really want to settle for the ones in the States again.