Life and death amid the wonders of nature

JOURNALIST Peter Carruther’s yarn about the amazing survival tale of peregrine falcons on the Tablelands is another example of just how magical this part of the world is. Bird fanatics are being given a birdseye view (forgive me!) of nature in action and they are flocking (forgive me again!) there in their droves for a peek.

Photography lovers are delighting in these amazing birds which can reach speeds of 300km/h while diving.

Peter, who has witnessed the incredible nature show, says you wouldn’t know they were even there without being told.

The nest, on a sheer granite wall, is itself in a wonderful place, Mt Hypipamee Crater.

Not as well publicised as other tourist spots in the Far North, the crater has a diameter of 61m at the water level, which is a staggering 58m below the viewing platform which is 400m along a rainforest track from the carpark.

It is well worth a look.

But there are so many other places to discover off the well-worn track.

Even Mamu Tropical Skywalk on the Palmerston Highway is one of those quiet beauties that offers up plenty of wow factor.

For intrepid travellers Barney Springs is a natural waterhole just off the

Kennedy Highway at Rocky Creek.

There you can revel in a lush oasis of huge fig trees and ferns that have become home to unique fish and species of shrimp.

Barney Springs was a key source of water for the thousands of World War II troops based at the nearby Rocky Creek barracks and is now used by farmers to irrigate crops. It flows into Rocky Creek and then eventually into the Barron River.

Get out and discover the Far North.