Around Queensland - the forests

We knew that Queensland is an amazing state with a vast diversity of scenery, so we eventually shook off our sloth and set out to see what lay beyond our cosy berth in the 'burbs.

Being supersmart, we left the hot and sunny open areas of the national parks to the crowds, preferring to walk alone on the cool trails of the ancient forests. It was rare that we saw anyone else, and we were enchanted by the loud birdcalls and trilling songs of the many different birds that inhabited these glades.We spotted the satin bower bird, who collects or steals anything blue to make tunnels of love for his mate, green catbirds that snarl and screech like tomcats, and plump looking scrub turkeys wandering unconcernedly through the undergrowth.

On one trip, we spent the night in a village at the foot of Green Mountain, so we could drive early to the summit and take a treetop walk on a suspended walkway fifteen metres above the ground. The drive up was so special; we saw wallabies out for their early morning hop, and a field full of about one hundred large cockatoos roosting in a field. As we left our motel, the bottlebrush tree by our balcony shook with king parrots, their red and green feathers perfectly camouflaged by the green foliage and red flowers. Huge squads of these gorgeously coloured birds swooped from tree to tree like Dambusters - definitely worth getting up early for.

Incidentally, this village had a real pub, with no airs and graces, which sold rum and coke on draft by the pint!

We sat on the terrace of a cafe that sold the best milkshakes in the world, and this cockatoo came to see if there were any pickings for him.

At the same cafe, this king parrot was happy to rest a foot away from our table. Stunning blue and red rosellas flew nearby, together with large black and yellow budgie-type birds whose name we never found out.

We thought we'd never tire of walking in these fabulous old forests; the temperate climate meets the sub-tropical here, giving rise to a wonderful mix of trees and palms, creepers and flowers, and best of all, more wonderful birds.

Inland from Brisbane, gently rolling hills dotted with serene farms and grazing animals made a very pretty picture, and we particularly admired the "Queenslander" style of houses set imposingly on the lush acres.