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Karawatha Forest Bushwalk, ?/?/08 - Peter Foster & Sara Henwood
13 walkers turned up for a relatively easy walk through Karawatha forest near Acacia Ridge. Whilst not the best time of year to be walking in exposed areas, the weather was fairly cool, at least until lunch time.
We first followed the Wallum Trail which has lots of Paperbacks and Broad-leafed Banksias. The ground was surprisingly dry after so much rain. However when we reached the Lagoon Trail the water was flowing quite strongly. To cross the stream was big jump or wet feet. We arrived at our morning coffee stop round 10-45 and sat admiring the water lilies.
We then pushed on along the Daniella Trail finally reaching our lunch stop on the sandstone ridge above the Rock’s circuit.
In the afternoon we followed the Echidna Trail and the Ironbark circuit back to the cars at Acacia picnic area.
We all moved on to Nielsen’s Native nursery for well earned drinks
I think the walk was new to most people so it was good to do something different.
Lyrebird Lookout Bushwalk, 22/03/08 - Leader, Peter Foster.
We started from O'Reilly's car park at 8.45 and first made our way over the Tree Top walk and then past the Botanic Gardens to the start the Lyrebird Track. The track was a little overgrown and rather wet, but we eventually arrived at the old mine camp where we came across a six foot long Red-Bellied Black snake. Retracing our steps we got back to the Lyrebird Track and continued on to the lookout. From there we passed Orchid Bower and finally arrived at Moonlight Crag where we made good use of the picnic tables for our lunch stop. We enjoyed the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings, but could not miss the ugly new building development across the valley.
After lunch we proceeded down the cliff edge to Balancing Rock, then came back up the hill and headed back to O'Reilly's via the Wishing Tree track.
Everyone said how much they enjoyed the walk and we then took some refreshments at Canungra.
White Rock Bushwalk, 12 Apr 08 - Leaders - Peter Foster & Sara Henwood
The walk began at The Paperbark Flats picnic area, which is at the end of School Rd, south of Redbank Plains.
After early morning coffee 12 walkers started off at 10.15. We were pleased to have the company of Helen and Graham Griffin and Helga and Klaus Jansen in addition to our regular walkers. We first visited a few small lookouts, which were really just sandstone boulders, before setting off along Six Mile Creek. Along the way we came across a juvenile red Belly Black Snake, which while not long dead, was already being consumed by ants.
After about half an hour we reached the top of the ridge overlooking Woogaroo Creek and then turned back along the crest of the hill towards White Rock. A short while later we ascended the track alongside the rock and emerged by the seat. Here we stopped for a break while 5 of us climbed to the top of the rock, which afforded us 360 degree views. There are hundreds of names carved into the sandstone.
After thoroughly exploring the whole rock we descended and continued on to the next ridge for our lunch. Our return journey took us along the top of the ridge from where we had extensive views out to Ipswich. At the end of the ridge we dropped down through some patchy Lantana before reaching the main track, back down to the car park.
Everyone seemed to really enjoy the walk and was especially pleased to visit a totally new area. I think for the benefit of those members, who missed this walk; we should include it in our program for next year.
Mt Cootha Bushwalk, 10 May 08 - Leaders - Peter Foster and Sara Henwood
Ten walkers arrived at the Slaughter Falls car park at 9am, to find the car park was already quite full due to a large group of walkers doing an early morning training walk for the Kokoda Track.
We started with a small detour to take in the Aboriginal trail where we observed several aboriginal paintings on various rock faces. Then we continued up the steep track to the Mount Cootha lookout, where we took morning coffee and enjoyed the splendid views over Brisbane.
From there we took the Honeyeater Track down the other side of the mountain emerging onto Greenford Street, which we followed towards the Bellbird Track and Gap Creek Reserve picnic area. On the way, some of our group stopped at a garage sale and made some purchases.
After lunch at Gap Creek we crossed over the meadow and started the long climb up to Channel 9, via the Jacksonia Track. Crossing over the road at the top, we then headed down to Simpson Falls via the Eugenia Circuit. The Falls were totally dry as expected, but we still enjoyed just sitting on the rock band over which the water sometimes cascades. This part of the walk is the nicest, and the forest here is quite cool and shady.
The final part of the walk took us through the Simpson Falls picnic area and over the Silky Oak and Hoop Pine car parks back to our cars. We then drove the short distance down to the cafe at Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens. Everyone said how much they enjoyed the walk and were again pleased to have covered areas they had never visited before.
Cronan's Creek Bushwalk, 24/05/08 - Leaders - Peter Foster and Sara Henwood
12 walkers arrived at Yellow Pinch car park, ready to start at 0900. The weather was great, a wonderful blue sky and crisp temperature, ideal for walking.
We were joined by Cathy Ehrenburg who last walked with the group over eight years ago.
We all set off over the first steep hill and then settled down to a very pleasant walk over the paddocks and into the cool forest. We soon passed the turnoff up to Mount Barney, and stopped at the next creek crossing for morning coffee.
We then proceeded over several more crossings before reaching the point where the track comes to an end. We returned on the same route, first overlooking the Cascades, and then stopping at another creek crossing for lunch.
We returned to the car park to find quite a few other walkers relaxing after their return from climbing Mount Barney.
Six of us drove back to Rads cafe at Beaudesert for refreshments before heading back to Tamborine Mountain.
A good day was had by all
Kedron Creek Bushwalk, 14 June 08 - Leader - John Leisten
On a fine, lovely morning, 13 walkers followed John onto the train at Coomera and had a delightful walk along the pathway beside Kedron Creek. Judging by the photos Susan has sent me, coffee and cakes were certainly enjoyed somewhere afterward.
Flinder's Peak Bushwalk, 28/6/08.
Nine walkers arrived at Flinder's Plum Picnic area. We had two visitors on the walk. One was Isolde, a friend of Max's. The other was Lee, a neighbour of Peter Foster.
We set off slowly, to make sure we paced ourselves and didn't get exhausted. We soon arrived at the middle grass plateau area and had our morning coffee break.
From there we ascended the very steep slope up to the boulder ridge at which point the walk became a lot easier and we were able to enjoy some fine views.
Finally we came to the small rock band which we climbed by using the gulley around the side. This was the only place that caused a few people some concern, but with assistance they soon found themselves on the upper slopes of the mountain. Another twenty minutes saw us all on the Helipad, signing in to the visitor’s book.
We then took lunch at the Communications tower and absorbed the wonderful 360 degree views.
The descent was uneventful and we all arrived back safely.
We then travelled back to Boonah and enjoyed some post walk refreshments. A good day was had by all.
PAGES PINNACLE - 14th September 2008 - Leader: Steve Armbrust
Six walkers left the mountain on time and met Julie Cullen at the trail head of the walk for Pages Pinnacle. We missed the track leading off the fire trail but Max saved the day and found it.
The majority of the walkers took the longer route around the razor edge ridge but three intrepid trekkers carefully made their way over the top. Steve had a rope for the decent down off the first peak so we could cross the saddle to climb Pages Pinnacle. Another peak bagged!
Many orchids and wild flowers were in bloom. Views down toward Hinze Dam and back up the valley were tremendous. As there was a lack of shade trees on the peak, and it being a hot spring day, we decided to descend from the peak to the scrub in the saddle for lunch.
We had left the rope in position for the ascent back up the ridge and for the scramble across the razor edge. We rejoined the fire trail back down the hill by taking a short cut that Max had found on an earlier walk. On the drive back past Hinze Dam we called in to check out the area for a canoeing day as a club outing in the future.
We finished the walk with a coffee at the ‘Café La Joya’ on Henri Roberts Drive.
Mt GREVILLE - 27th September 2008 - Leader: Steve Armbrust
Four walkers (climbers) met Julie Cullen at Beaudesert for the trip out to walk up Mt Greville via Waterfall Gorge. The bottom section of the gorge still had water running in the creek due to recent rains. This made some of the rocks that we had to scramble over very slippery resulting in a few walkers slipping on some sections.
We took our time rock-hopping up the gorge admiring the impressive rock walls and flowering orchids. We had morning coffee in the gorge then slowly made our way to the top of the creek. The spring wildflowers were still in bloom. From here we veered to our right and walked out onto a large rocky outcrop below the main peak. The views from here are so much better than from the top of Mt Greville itself.
We had lunch on this rock outcrop before proceeding back towards Palm Gorge to descent via the ridge. This is never a pleasant way down and it was worse this time as National Parks have had a controlled burn so there was very little shade.
It had been a warm day so we called into the ever popular 'Flavours Cafe' in Boonah for a cold drink on the way home. What better way to spend a wonderful warm, clear, spring day than to trek up one of the nicest mountains in the Scenic Rim.
Knoll Road – Cedar Creek Falls – 25th October 2008 – Leader: Sue Tomkins
A group of 9 departed the VIC at 0830 hours for the Knoll Road Tip. Skirting the green waste area we headed downhill towards Tamborine Mountain Road via a disused vehicle track. For the most part we preferred the bicycle path which weaves in and out of the unremitting series of axle-breaking ruts and furrows which makes up the track. After about half an hour we emerged onto TM Road and crossed to the entrance to the Cedar Creek portion of the National Park. This track too was originally made for vehicles and undulates steeply over 2 or 3 kilometres, returning to TM Road near the entrances to Cedar Creek Falls Road and Thunderbird Park. It was clear that this area had not had rain for some time and mid-trek we found a very dry creek bed where we had our morning tea.
By 11.00 we had reached Cedar Creek Falls Road and we followed this bitumen road for less than a kilometre before arriving at a very pleasant and well-appointed picnic ground. From there a path took us on a 10 minute walk to the falls and we found a comfortable spot on some rocks overlooking a glorious pool, where we had lunch. Then we set off back towards Thunderbird Park. At this point a couple of us opted out of the steep climb back and phoned home for a lift while the others set off on a slightly different route home, arriving back at North Tamborine shopping centre at about 14.00.
Dave’s Creek Circuit - 8th November 2008 - Leader: Steve Armbrust
As most of our walkers are away on holidays it was a small group of only four walkers who left the VIC at 7.30am for the drive to Binna Burra. We were met there by Kevin, a guest walker from Brisbane who found us through our Web page. (Thanks to our web master!)
We set off in very overcast conditions. All walkers carried wet weather gear expecting to be rained on during the day, but fortune shone on us. No rain all day, just very pleasant walking conditions.
The heath lands were still in full bloom with the late spring flowers and even though it was overcast the views were still tremendous. We had smoko on the rocky overhang near the cave and lunch at Surprise Rock. Lunch was cut a bit short as we were joined by a very large number of Brisbane walkers who tended to crowd us out in such a small area. The march flies also had an impact.
Coffee at the new café at Binna Burra and we were back home by 2.30pm.
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