What's On Tablelands December 2017 / January 2018 | Page 15

Tableland Trails and Destinations A N U N D E R WAT E R TO U R by Paul Curtis I like cryptic titles. Recently I bought myself a little Olympus TG4 underwater camera with a fish-eye lens attachment. I’ve been thinking about all the possibilities when you don’t have to worry about getting camera gear wet and the perspectives that might be available from just under the water. At Millaa Millaa Falls recently, I started thinking about images from within, behind and under the falls. This developed into a tour of iconic Tablelands scenes from angles limited only by my imagination and ability to hold my breath. So it makes sense that the destinations in this article will feature waterfalls and other wet places! Closest to my home is Emerald Creek Falls. The park entrance is off Tinaroo Creek Rd between Mareeba and Kuranda. The road has recently been cleaned up so it’s an easy drive to this fantastic attraction for swimming, picnicking and photography. Just before the walking track zig-zags up to the lookout, an unofficial track leads to a deep swimming hole at the bottom of a set of falls (not the main waterfall). After a short refreshing swim got me to a ledge, I was able to attempt a few shots through the water. the waterline. The fish are quite friendly though! Another aquatic photo location was Lake Eacham. The lake, I have to say, is rather eerie when viewed from under water. As part of the Crater Lakes National Parks, Eacham and Barrine offer great recreational experiences but as anyone who has dived in the lakes will tell you, they are very mysterious from below The iconic Millaa Millaa Falls is one of the most photographed falls in Australia and as such is a subject screaming out to be photographed differently. Having tried many angles before taking the underwater approach, including a behind- the-falls view, I climbed the slippery track on the left bank. Shooting the sun Emerald Creek Falls. Photo: Paul Curtis through a veil of water is an experience I thoroughly recommend however great care is needed on the slippery rocks and do try to keep water droplets off your lens. A trick to avoid this is to lick your lens then dip it in the water. Saliva is to a degree hydrophobic and displaces water giving you the opportunity for a clear shot and a bad taste in your mouth. Most waterfalls around the Tablelands have the potential to get up close and personal with a waterproof camera. Both Millstream and Tchupala Falls (Palmerston Section of Wooroonooran National Park) once had trails to the bottom of each waterfall but as they have now been closed I can’t recommend these sites as destinations. So if feeling adventurous and you have a camera that you can take some risks with (GoPros and the like of course come to mind), why not try some new perspectives with old favourites. Just be extremely careful with slippery rocks and strong undertows around big falls and make sure you don’t run out of saliva! north queensland wildscapes phototours Lake Eacham. Photo: Paul Curtis Call anytime on 07 40930 379 or 0408 835 160 [email protected] www.nqwildscapes.com December 2017-January 2018 What’s On & Where To Go 15