Friends invited us up for a night of jazz and a lunch at Myrtille the next day.

We happily said yes to both and headed to their home in Toowoomba which is a high altitude volcanic plateau at 700 metres above sea level on the edge of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland. It has dramatic views of the escarpment and the Lockyer valley and is certainly cooler. It’s also known as the “Garden City” and every year in September a Carnival of Flowers takes place there which is well worth seeing. The name probably comes from an Aboriginal word tawampa meaning swamp.

We took a walk down from their property and saw cinnamon doves, king parrots, rainbow lorikeets and a host of other birds. The tall eucalypts define the area. Drinks on the deck with Jeff and Ingrid in front of the most beautiful flowering Firewheel Tree a native of the Australian rainforests with its impressive firewheel flowers.

Off to the jazz night at Drayton Bowls Club. Full house and such fun.The music and songs were great but I was most impressed by the big sound coming from the smallest bass I have ever seen.

Crow’s Nest is a small township down from the escarpment which has one of the best french restaurants in the area. It’s called Myrtille. The pate is to die for as is the crab souffle. https://www.myrtille.com.au/

We visited some years back and loved it and we can say their reputation and level of excellence is still up there.

Just outside the restaurant a hedge of flowering grevilleas – the healthiest I have ever seen and some very happy blue faced honey eaters.

The road from Crow’s Nest to Esk the next town was just magical with enormous eucalypts and dense vegetation which led us gradually to Wivenhoe Dam. A long lake which serves as the main source of drinking water for Brisbane. Inky, moody and vast, a haven for birds and animals.

We decided to avoid the highway and take the long winding road back to Brisbane via Mount Nebo and the D’Aguilar National Park where we were often the only car on the road. We travelled along roads shaded with tall trees, interspersed with shafts of bright sunlight and bird call.

Its been awhile since we were out and about and this was an excellent way to dip our toe- more adventures coming shortly.