Windin Falls

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is one of many stunning waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland. I decided to visit with my partner after seeing several beautiful photos on Instagram, showing an idyllic natural infinity pool, surrounded by majestic mountains, dropping down deep into the valley below. We drove there via Mareeba, taking the Old Cairns Track, which took around two hours from Port Douglas, After parking the car, we embarked on the 4.5KM hike, which is fairly easy and takes around one hour. There's not a whole lot to see until you reach the waterfall itself.



We knew that we were getting close when we heard the delightful sound of rushing water. After climbing over a few rocks, we reached the infamous infinity pool, where we stopped to catch our breath and take in the wonderful view. We enjoyed a dip in the water, which was freezing although not totally unwelcome after the walk up. It was slightly unnerving as the wind was causing the water to rush quickly over the edge of the cliff, and I certainly didn't want to be taken with it!



As we sat on the rocks enjoying our picnic lunch, we heard a distant noise that sounded alarmingly like thunder. It hadn't rained in months so we didn't think too much of it, but we did head back towards the car hurriedly. As we power-walked back to the car, the thunder grew closer and more constant. Shortly afterwards we saw lightning, making us fully aware that we were surrounded by trees, and needed to move fast.



Unfortunately, we couldn't beat the rain, and soon enough it was pouring down, soaking both us and the ground. We ran the last couple of kilometres, slipping over on the wet, uneven ground, hoping to see the car around every twist and turn. Finally, after what felt like hours, we were out of the woods - I've never been so happy to be in a car! When we finally returned home, it felt odd to look at our stunning photos from the top, before it all went horribly wrong. I would still recommend the hike, but would advise caution. Just because it hasn't rained in three months, don't assume that you won't be caught in a storm.

#near_port_douglas
#escape_the_city
#outdoor
#parks
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%wnportdouglas