Yes Virginia there really is a platypus!

We went out in the late afternoon for a rainforest wildlife tour. The drive took us through sugar cane fields to the Atherton Tablelands an area that featuresa range of habitats including lush tropical rainforest and volcanic crater lakes. It is a World Heritage site which means it must fit strict international criteria to get that designation. While we still had daylight we spotted wallabees, and several rainforest birds. Then to a quaint Tea room restaurant on the edge of a crater lake, Barren Lake. Delicious local coffee, and scones were served. Yumm. From there a short walk took us to twin Kuwra trees. These things are huge! I do have pictures. At dusk we patiently waited alond a stream fed pond for the elusive platypus. After a good 30 minute wait we spotted him, and he repaid our wait with a bit of showing off directly in front of us. We stopped for dinner in a lovely Swiss/ Italian restaurant. Again I was so impressed by the food and the wonderful friendly people. Oh I forgot to mention Mary Lou and I were the only people to book the tour so we had our very, I mean very, knowledgeable guide to ourselves. It was completely dark now so we drove deeper into the rainforest to "spot"(with lights) some creatures!As we walked along mountain tracks, we were lucky enough to see Lumholts Tree Kangaroo with a baby joey. We also spotted 4 of the 6 endemic possums. These are not at all like the possums back home. We went to a few other sites getting higher and higher up in the mountains to an elevation of @ 1200 meters. More wallabees, the Red legged melon paddy, a flying Fox (one of the largest bats) and several other bats and night birds. Awesome. Thursday the Great Barrier Reef!!