One of the agenda in this trip of ours was experiencing one of Australia's premier rainforest walk.
Little did I know, the treetop walk at Illawarra Fly was suspended, swaying and averagely 25 metres from the ground.
My legs were a little shaking when I walked through the elevated steel walkway. Extremely scary when I can't stop my mind popping the scenario of "what-if" those swaying cantilever arms broke and we all fell down, all the way down. Highest, 50m down, that is.
At that point of time, I saw my self heavier than 800 wombats. Even though the signboard said the cantilevers can hold a maximum weight of 28 tonne or 800 wombats.
Do you think acrophobia is rational to analyse exactly how much is "28 tonne or 800 wombats"?
So petrified that, I then decided not to challenge myself to climb that 100 over steps up Knights Tower, another 45m height. Together with my MIL and Aunt-in-law (MIL's sister), I waited, and waited and waited for SC, the girls and the uncle to go up and down the tower.
Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk is located in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Supposedly, we would get stunning views take in everything from the rainforest canopy to Lake Illawarra and out to the South Pacific Ocean.
Here is the very generous space of welcoming all visitors to Illawarra Fly.
We didn't know what to expect from the walking trails and tracks. When we purchased our tickets from the counter, the lady was kindly offer us a courtesy cart ride to our three elderly, just to make them getting around easier. Right before the Tree Top walk, there are some part of the trails sloppy and maybe difficult for elderly, according to the ticketing lady.
The cart would drop them off at the beginning of the tree top walk, ie the elevated steel walkway.
So We took her offer with no hesitation.
The rest of us walked into the forest, before reaching the treetop walk. The forest was cold, quiet and ahem, green.
Think this part of the trail eased the nervousness of "How high can it be?"
The little ones had a little fun here and there. This one here was practically fearless.
A little unfortunate is that, it was a cloudy that day. The spectacular view was a little less attractive from what I read from various source.
The sun was hiding, the blue sky was, gloomy.
Perhaps, it was meant for us to taste the horizon differently. Gloomy, woozy kind of nature experience to me. Freezing too.
The very unique views stretching to Illawarra Lake and South Pacific Ocean, I assume.
Impressively, I met Old Gum Tree.
The true is, I was not the only one freak out of height, My elder girl too. But she was braver than I was, she successfully climbed the staircase of Knights Tower.
Seeing my girl overcame her fear and walked through the steel walkway was, perhaps is the biggest joy of the day.
Gloomy day or not, we had our joy way to immerse into the nature. Maybe because we were with our love ones.
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Address: 182 Knights Hill Rd, Robertson NSW.
Open: 9am to 5pm (Last Admission 4.15pm- allow 45-60 minutes for the walk)
Distance from Sydney: approximately 2 hours drive. It was about an hour from where we stay, Shellharbour.
If you are keen on Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk, go buy the admission ticket from Visitor Center in Shellharbour. The center is very near to Joylaine Beach House and selling discounted adult, child and senior tickets of Illawarra Fly. Even cheaper than the online package!
And if you are able to wake up early (very early) to catch sunrise, there is guided sunrise walks on the second Saturday of every month and early bird visitors are rewarded with a hot breakfast in the cafe on return.
I've been to a treetop walk in Pemberton in WA... the view looking down always makes me catch my breath in dizziness at how high up we are.
ReplyDeleteJudging by your photos, despite the cloudy day the view still looks pretty amazing!