A walk in the treetops ...
By guybrush
@guybrush (4658)
Australia
July 16, 2008 5:50am CST
We've just spent a lovely day visiting the Illawarra Fly, which is a new treetop walk through a local rainforest. Apparently (according to the brochure), there are only four steel treetop walks in the world - all of which are in Australia! The Fly is made up of ten towers supporting a 500 metre long structure designed to have minimal impact on the environment. The walkways themselves are 22 metres above ground level, with a central steel tower 45 metres up which gives a fantastic view of the mountains and valleys to the west and the ocean to the east. The birdsong was fantastic - and we finished off the day with a fish'n'chip lunch at Kiama harbour. Lovely!
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9 responses
The treetop walk sounds pretty special. I've been on a low one before which was pretty cool, but I imaine that being right up in the tree tops must be amazing. I'd love to do it.
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
16 Jul 08
This sounds really neat. I am afraid of heights though. I don't like to be 5 feet off the ground. I don't think that I would really enjoy it very much unless you gave me something and dragged me up there. LOL!
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I have not heard of this nor seen it on TV at all. This is something that looks like it would be very educational as well. especially for one that doesn't have Rain Forest like areas near them. I would love this. Any more photos? Did you take this or what?
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
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@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 Jul 08
WOW! Thanks for the link as well.
I love the shots they show on the main pages slideshow. Awesome.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
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@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
16 Jul 08
Yes, Grandpa Bob, this is fairly new and was only opened in January. Being a nature lover, I think you'd really enjoy it. They have posted signs all along the way telling you about the trees and ferns and things, so you know what to look out for. I did take the photos - so here's another one - this time of the valley to the west. Here is a link for the website, in case you'd like to look! http://www.illawarrafly.com/
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@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
17 Jul 08
The treetop walk sounds wonderful - I will have to try it out if I'm every down that way.
I went on one of those treetop walks in a place just north of Mossman up in Far North Queensland, and I think it might have been one of the 4 steel treetop walks you mention. The views were amazing - looking down on the treetops was a strange feeling, and the birdlife was out of this world! A very rewarding experience to say the least.
We are so lucky here in Australia to have such wonderful and unique flora and fauna.
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
17 Jul 08
We are lucky! This is such a diverse country - from rainforests to deserts and coral reefs ... it's pretty fantastic. I was thinking how lovely it would be to go on the treetop walk at nighttime ... there'd be so many animal noises, as there are wombat burrows all through the area too and all the nocturnal native creatures would be out and about - and the lights of the towns along the coastline would look breathtaking.
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@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
16 Jul 08
Sounds absolutley, gloriously delightful! It must have been surreal! Were you lucky enough to have the trail to yourselves, so that you could take time to stop and listen to the "sounds of silence?"
As a young girl, I had a "treehouse"....and I would love to sit, extremely quietly up there, and have the birds, & squirrels come within feet of me!
Thanks for sharing your lovely day! (I don't look at profiles) Are you a lucky soul that lives in Australia? Cheers.
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@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
16 Jul 08
Hi pergammano! It WAS beautiful - and although we didn't have it to ourselves, the other people there were quiet and respectful and enjoying nature at its nicest. It's pretty special to be up there looking down into the ferns and trees. I've lived in Australia for about 45 years now - it's a very diverse country and we're very lucky!
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@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
16 Jul 08
Hi ellie ... how lovely your daughter's been here! Maybe you'll come too some day ... we have something for every taste - snow, tropics, desert - you name it! I'll attach another photo from today - this is the view of the ocean from the top of the tower!
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@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Must have been a memorable trip. I bet it was beautiful. Hopefully you got some good pictures. It just sounds amazing. One day I'd like to see it.
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@NoddaProbBob (108)
• United States
17 Jul 08
WOW!
What a great experience this must have been.
Im sure you had a great time. I really wish I could visit a place like this. Im a student just headed into college. So no time for that. lol
But I hope to soon. I did visit a beautiful part of Mexico once tho. Went to Puerto Vallarta and it was absolutely gorgeous. So many wonderous things!
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