Souita and Peppina Falls

I woke up this morning without a plan other than to get outdoors. The morning started later than usual and I needed to check the weather. Overcast conditions are better for landscape photography in the open, with no high contrast conditions (bright sun vs. dark shadows). So the weather was going to influence where I might explore if I wanted to photograph. A quick check with BOM of the forecast over the Tablelands and a look at the radar. No rain activity, particularly no rain squalls pushing up from the coast over the Tablelands from the southeast. Low cloud was forecast. Excellent.

Next, check the Alltrails app on my iPhone for possibilities. After some scrolling, no, no, oh yes, up comes Peppina and Souita Falls via the Beatrice Way, a road between Millaa Millaa and Ravenshoe. On past travels through Millaa Millaa, I have seen the turn-off and always wondered what might be down that way (excuse the pun). Now I have a plan, to drive a loop, starting with a drive to Millaa Millaa then via the Beatrice Way to Ravenshoe and return home via Atherton.

Next stop, Coffee Works for a takeaway cappuccino and I am on my way. On approaching Millaa Millaa, there was low cloud and mist about the tops of the ranges. The Beatrice Way is a narrow, winding road, often single lane, making its way through a combination of stunning open hilly beef and dairy country, and remnant rainforest.

The road crosses the Beatrice River. It is worth stopping and taking in the view, upstream and downstream.

Souita Falls is a 5 km detour off the Beatrice Way. The road narrows even more. On approaching one of a few one-way culverts/bridges, I reflected on the absence of any other traffic and the chance of encountering an oncoming car. Suddenly, while I am halfway across this one-way bridge, a Ford ute comes into view around a blind corner and immediately brakes. We manage to stop a metre or two from each other, we sigh in relief and wave, acknowledging each other and our good luck.

Souita Falls is well-signed. It does not get many visitors as there is only room for two vehicles to pull off to the side. I parked and geared up, a DSLR, drone bag, iPhone and PLB (I always carry it when exploring alone).

There are two lookouts along the track, one about 150m in and another 220m in. The walk is very interesting. Rainforest trees and ferns mark the track.

I had a quick look at the first lookout and the adjacent falls but continued to the second, hoping for a better launch site for the drone. The track climbs slightly then steps lead down to the creek. The sound of whitewater is heard along the path and the increasing volume hints at the proximity of the second falls. The second lookout has a clear launch site. However, the upstream flight path back to the earlier falls has low hanging vines making it hazardous to attempt to fly in that direction.

For the first 15 minutes, I let my eyes take in all there is to see. Moving around the immediate vicinity, I noticed interesting features and took photos with my iPhone and DSLR. While I had an idea what images with the drone might be worthwhile, experience has taught me many more opportunities will become obvious in flight.

For about 30 minutes, I carefully flew the drone, initially looking for hazards like thin wisps of wait-awhile vine that are difficult to see and likely fatal for the drone above the whitewater. As I got more familiar with the location, I started focusing on getting images, a few downstream and on the return trip, more of the falls at the lookout. A few times, I had to fly the drone back to clean the mist off the lens. I also managed to get shots from above the canopy to show the bigger picture.

Happy with the images so far, I packed and walked carefully up the damp, slippery steps back to the first lookout. Although a more restricting launch site, once airborne and clear of vines it was relatively open with another set of falls to explore. Again, the location for hazards was my first priority. When operating over white water there is no opportunity to retrieve drones in the event of 'misadventure'.

As well as different perspectives of the falls, I got images giving clues to the underlying geology and the types of vegetation growing around the falls. A few shots above the canopy and I was finished, having used two of the six batteries I had available. In this tight environment, my drone movements are slow and careful, using up valuable battery time.

Back to the Beatrice Way and onto Peppina Falls. The arrival is different. The falls are within 20m of the road, with a small area for parking to the side of the road. A track leads to the base but since I was using the drone and the falls were only a short drop, I worked the drone from the top of the falls. On launching it was hard to find a perspective that captured only the natural environment, given the proximity of the road and weeds. Peppina Falls is not as interesting as Souita Falls. However, if travelling this way to see Souita Falls, continue to Peppina and make a loop of the Beatrice Way.

On return to the car, I launched the drone again to get establishment shots of the local area. On the other side of the road opposite the rainforest was cleared dairy country. No judgement, but what an extraordinary pioneering history on the Tablelands.

As I continued along the Beatrice Way, the mist got thicker and the road appeared to be winding its way higher in elevation. Soon I passed a sign indicating the way to the wind farm at Ravenshoe. The mist thickened. A short time later, my Gaia map showed me passing the wind turbines and approaching the highway, neither of which I could see. Barely able to see in front of me, I pulled over and stopped. With the window down, immediately heard a heavy, loud swooping sound. I was almost under a turbine. Not far off, I could make out the vague impression of the supporting tower.

I made my way onto the Highway and headed home. On passing Mt Hypipamee, I thought I should really return and spend more time here. Maybe my next location to explore further? Unfortunately, drones are not permitted. But the Barron River winds its way around the crater and would be worth following on foot.