04/19/2026

Now we know how the glowworms shine in Australia! Yesterday at 8 PM, we ventured into the pitch-black forest with two vans. Before that, all participants were equipped with red glowing flashlights, and then we walked about 500 meters along a path to the 'scene of the event.' By a small river, there were roughly hewn wooden benches, from where we could observe them like on a movie screen. Wow! Bright points that did not move, as they are larvae that glow. These can also be found in New Zealand; they reflected in the water, making it look like there were even more than the stated 10,000. Taking photos proved to be difficult, but we wholeheartedly recommend this experience! As a bonus, there was a fantastic starry sky. We slept wonderfully peacefully and warmly, as nighttime temperatures drop here to single digits. Early in the morning, we heard scurrying on the roof - various parrots and other birds greeted us. Around 9 AM, we set off for our Sunday 'hiking day.' Last Sunday was in the Blue Mountains, this time in the Green Mountains, which also belong to the vast area of the Gondwana Rainforest. Before that, we registered in the 'hiking book,' meaning name, hiking destination, phone number, planned hiking route. If one is not registered out by evening, a 'search' is initiated. A good safety measure. There was a great sense of departure, but we encountered no one for most of our route. At the starting point, there was a 'warning': 'What goes down must come back up.' There were 480 meters of elevation gain and 13.6 kilometers. The path was really untouched by man, partially less than 50 cm wide and very shady, as huge trees formed a roof. Upon reaching the river, it became sporty; we crossed the sides several times, jumping from stone to stone, and once we even had to go barefoot - no bridges and barely any trail markers. However, the beaten path is easy to find, and the modern outdoor tourist has the map on their phone! On the ascent, the route felt long. Additionally, it became warmer as we climbed, and we heard more birds chirping again. We returned around 2 PM. The dark beer really fizzed! Afterward, it was all about putting our feet up and relaxing... We also discovered the feeding area and could observe the parrots on the grounds. As evening approached, it got quite cool again, and it's nice when you can switch the air conditioning to heating...

Link to the bird that accompanied us today:

https://youtu.be/wN8lky4GAcU?si=4lsvPUtZ6g0ZLO4-

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Why the great kingfisher is also called laughing Hans can be heard here:

https://youtu.be/G0OBQURWSKk?si=_VeOYVmKjxHtwcrx