For a summer walk we were surprised with a turnout of 11 walkers. The numbers were increased by the return of Jill Agnew and Madelon Bakker, who joined us as a visitor.
As the Twin Falls walk is not a long one we were in no hurry, so it was more of an amble around the circuit, than a dedicated bushwalk. The Springbrook area had experienced some heavy rain over the past few days, so the track was very wet and slippery.We did have a few walkers who did slip on wet rocks, but the only injury was to their pride. Smoko was at the first set of falls. We were surprised with the volume of water coming over the falls and I cannot remember ever seeing such a good flow of water.
We were back at the Canyon car park a bit before midday, so decided to go to one of the other picnic areas for lunch. After some confusion between the drivers of the 3 cars we all managed to arrive at the Goomoolahra Picnic area in due course.
After lunch we strolled down to the lookout there to admire the view and contemplate a future walk later in the year on the Warrie Circuit, or to the Springbrook Pinnacle. Both these walks are now open after being closed for some time.
We then drove to the car park for the short walk to Best of all Lookout, before going to have a look at PurlingBrookFalls. We had a very good coffee at the Café near the Purling Brook car park.
13 March 2010 - APPLETREE PARK to PURLING BROOK
Leader: Max Reindl
As expected, the gathering at the VIC (7:30am) was almost uneventful . . . . at 8:45am we arrived at Appletree Park. Walking down to West Nerang Creek presented some fallen trees but no worries, not yet! But then we saw all that water!
Refreshed after partaking "smoko", eight of us crossed the swollen creek with varying degrees of aplomb, however two shouted over to us "see you at the Warringa Pool" - alright then - no casualities but two missing. Among others, there was a time problem. In the time it took us to get to the pool, Peter and Sara could not even get back to Appletree Park let alone up to Purling Brook and down to the pool. We dilly-dallied at the pool as well at the bottom of the waterfall and still no Peter and Sara.
Finally we opted to continue uphill as it was on the same side where Peter and Sara came down. As a compromise Peter and Sara finished the waterfall circuit which was already open, and I might add in record time, because we all arrived at the top at the same time. Whereupon most of us rested but Julie photographed a goanna on the prowl.
So . . . we might not be infallibel managers, but we had lots and lots of luck, a cause for a lot of reflection on my behalf!
27 March 2010 - BRINDLE CREEK CIRCUIT
Leader: Peter Foster & Sara Henwood
Eleven walkers drove down the Lion's Road and arrived for early morning coffee at the Spiral Loop lookout on the border. Unfortunately we didn't see the train but the sound of bellbirds was wonderful, so we spent a while just enjoying the ambience.
We then continued on up to Brindle Creek. We did the walk up through the forest to have lunch at the Antarctic Beech picnic area. We saw lots of fungi and were thrilled to see the red type Spiney Crayfish wandering along the path. We also saw Grey Fantails playing in the fallen branches.
After lunch we walked back to the cars down the road. this took us one hour exactly. Arriving at the bridge over the creek at the carpark, someone said they had just seen a Platypus.
From there we drove all the way round to the Pinnacle lookout. We arrived there just in time before the rain came and removed the views. The outlook from this point has to be the best of all lookouts. We could also see the real Pinnacle down below and met some people who had just climbed it. Maybe something for us to do in the future.
A great day was had by all and well worth the long drive.
10 April 2010 - LOWER PORTALS OF MT BARNEY
Leader: Max Reindl
By Friday evening I had ten bushwalkers listed including two visitors - Desley and Henk Brent - but perhaps I had gone to bed too early, for Saturday morning there were two more.
So we set out oblivious of things to come! To our surprise and dismay seven cars were already parking at the lower portals car park. This however was only the beginning.
Fairly early into the walk we came upon suitable seatings for our smoko, so we stopped. Low and behold about twenty kids (7 or so) plus their minders filed past us not entirely walking or quietly running. Our planning audibly not up to scratch for sure! In fact I have never seen so many people on the other side of the hole in the rock; so we climbed the knoll above the pool where we had a peaceful lunch.
The return trooping gave some of us a severe test which was however soon forgotten over a drink or two at the garden lounge of the Rathdowney Pub. Eventually the satisfied group parted company, vowing to meet again soon.
24 April 2010 - ALBERT RIVER CIRCUIT
Leader: John Leisten
A pleasant long walk without special incident.
When we reached Echo Point, hoping for good views while we had lunch, we found a whiteout! It lifted for a few seconds though and gave us a fine rainbow.
We returned briskly, reaching the car park about 6 3/4 hours after leaving it. Refreshments at the Canungra Cafe.
8 May 2010 - PAT'S BLUFF & LUKE'S BLUFF
Leader: Peter Foster & Sara Henwood
This walk replaced the Cainbable Falls walk which will be re-scheduled for July when all those members who are holiday in the UK will have returned.
Five walkers started out on the Python Rock track on a cool, crisp morning with clear blue skies. We soon arrived at Pat’s Bluff and stopped to enjoy the fabulous views.Castle Crag and Lost World looked great and in the distance the green top of Buchanan’s fort stood out clearly.
We continued on to Luke’s Bluff where the panorama was equally superb. We had morning drinks here and took advantage of the plastic chairs provided by O’Reilly’s for their tour groups. The view here took in Stockyard Creek with Mount Alexander overlooking Darlington Park.
We then retraced our steps back to the Moran’s Falls Track and followed that down to the falls for lunch. After lunch we moved up to Balancing Rock and climbed out along the ridge towards Castle Crag.What a thrilling spot!
We returned to our cars via the Wishing Tree Track and finished up at Canungra for coffee.
The walk turned out to be 16km so we had a very good day.
22 May 2010 - White Rock at Paperbark Flats Picnic Area
Leader: Max Reindl
Six of us left the VIC at 7.30 to pick up Julie and Colin at Oxenford carpark. Going north on the M1, then following Logan Motorway (two toll crossings),turning off at Goodna Station into Bertha, Alice and Queen Street into Redbank Plains Road and finally turning south into School Road (for the record)
At the picnic area we had smoko which ocassio I used to tell a funny story (Australian) I had recently picked up. After much cuffowing we finally set off but this time we extended the circuit considerably by following Peter on the Horse Trail (north of White Rock) and the power line maintenance road.
It gradually turned south (past the rock) u-turning to go north on the existing hiking track towards the rock. Here we had the usual photo session (at the very top). But hunger soon made us press on to a lovely lunch spot.
After noon we turned to the Ridge Hike to take us back to the cars and ultimately to coffee at the Lorikeet Cafe (Nursery)
Something old, something new, whatmore can one ask?
12th June 2010 - Brisbane River Walk
Leader:John Leisten
Six of us met up for this walk at the Oxenford car park, and decided to go by train to Brisbane (with day-saver tickets or GO cards) rather than drive. It was 8 am on a bright, cold (8 degrees!) morning. We left the cars at Helensvale, and at Fortitude Valley caught a bus to the river at New Farm park, where we stopped for a drink and a bite.
We started walking at 10.30 and followed the river inland to the floating walkway. We crossed the Story Bridge by the Eastern pedestrian path, via Ivory Street, descended the first steps we came to on the other side of the river into Deakin Street, and rejoined the river bank in Dockside via Ferry street. (These details are given because the street map is particularly unhelpful to walkers in this area.)
We rounded Kangaroo Point, had a sunny lunch at a table in the centre of Captain Burke Park, and with an occasional small diversion were able to follow the river all the way to the West End City Cat landing stage, which we reached at about 4 pm, having passed the rock climbers, the activities on the South Bank, the Great Wheel, the cultural buildings, and many smaller sights. We returned by Cat to the South Bank where we had coffee etc before catching the train. (For envious future readers of these notes, the total cost of transport for the retirees among us was about 8 dollars.)
We thought the walk was brilliant. It seemed surprisingly varied: perhaps a bit hard on the feet! I think it gave us all a greater respect for the city of Brisbane. It was a very enjoyable day.
The walk was rec-ed and worked out by Peter and Sarah, to whom we all felt grateful, and who were unfortunately unable to be with us. Peter’s notes and map (in triplicate) were so clear that we could follow it without any worries, particularly as there were three of us keeping an eye on the route.
26 June 2010 – Mt May
Leader: Steve Armbrust
With a few members unable to attend and the promise of a hard walk, the numbers were down to just 5 hardy walkers.
The drive to Mt May took longer than intended as the navigator in each car had a difference of opinion as to what route should be taken. This resulted in the lead car having to go back in search of the following car. Eventually we all finished up at the base of Mt May for a later than planned start which fortunately did not matter as we were only climbing the first peak.
The walk/scramble up Mt May is fairly hard so the stops were frequent. This allowed us time to admire the magnificent views west towards the Main Range and Maroon Dam just below us.
Smoko was enjoyed on a rocky outcrop before the hardest part of the walk which is a hand’s on climb up through a rock escarpment, before levelling out for a stroll through open woodland to the junction in the track. From here the choice is to turn right to the top of the first peak or left to go down to a saddle for the ascent of the second peak. Our destination was the first peak, so we turned right and continued on to have lunch at the top. We were not the only walkers there so we shared our lunch spot with another couple of walkers who were also from Tamborine Mountain. A very enjoyable lunch spot with magnificent views in all directions; east towards Mt Barney, north to Mt Maroon and west towards Cunningham’s Gap, with a myriad of peaks on each side of the Gap.
As the walk down is very steep we all had wobbly legs and sore toes by the time we got to the base of the mountain. I had bought along a few bags of mandarins so that helped quench our thirst as the walk down had been very warm.
The general consensus was to abandon our usual coffee on the way home and to call into the Rathdowney Hotel for an icy cold beer. I am pleased to report the beer was not only icy cold but very refreshing at the end of a great day’s walk.
10 July 2010 – Federation Walk - Gold Coast
Leader: Julie Cullen
What a great day we had today with good weather and good company.Julie was the leader and we had 15 walkers, so a good turnout! It was about 12 to 13 km and an easy walk with no hills or mountains to climb today.
We started at Macintosh Island Park and walked across the pedestrian bridge towards the beach. We walked along the path under the trees, with the ocean in sight, most of the way in this part. The Federation Walk is a bit dry and open in places but the rest of the walk makes up for it. When we reached The Spit we walked out along the rock wall at the Southport Seaway. What a lovely view back towards Surfers Paradise.It’s nice from a distance!
Meanwhile 3 walkers ducked off (deserted) to have a quick coffee at the kiosk. We then had a “later than usual” morning tea and boy did I hear about it! I lost points for that one! We sat near the Casuarina trees, looking across the sand and water in a nice sheltered spot, with a bit of sun to warm us all up. We ate and talked and watched soldier crabs running everywhere. We then crossed the road and walked back a little way along The Federation Walk and parted company with a quarter of our walkers who did not wish to walk along the beach.
It was a bit windy on the beach so we only walked a short distance but it was great to be able to spread out and just walk and talk. We then went back up onto a different track and came out near Sheraton Mirage Resort. We met up with the rest of our group near the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club and continued back to Macintosh Island Park.
We were lucky and our BBQ spot was vacant and so we were able to have our picnic lunch or BBQ with plenty of room for us all. It was a great social day and we were able to catch up with walkers that we hadn’t seen recently.It was nice not having to rush the walk as it wasn’t a long walk and we didn’t have to travel too far to go back home.
24 July 2010 – Cainbable Falls - Lamington National park
Leader: Peter and Sara
We started from Romeo Lahay’s memorial, walking along the road until we reached the path which leads down to the falls. We lost the path several times before finally arriving at Cainbable creek. We then crossed over and climbed up to our early refreshment stop at the small memorial cross to Judy.
After enjoying the views we then continued uphill and eventually came out on Duck creek road. From here we turned left uphill before turning right down to Kurrajong Lookout. We took our lunch here before retracing our steps up to the road and then making our way to Luke’s Bluff. We passed over the original O’Reilly’s packhorse track and down to the campsite before the climb back up to Pat’s Bluff. The views from the Bluff were all encompassing.
The last part of our walk took us up to the Python Rock Track junction and then along the track to the main road where our car was parked. It was quite late at this point so after the car shuffle we forfeited our visit to a café and returned to Tamborine Mountain.
14 August 2010 - Mount Mathieson Circuit - Main Range
Leader Denise
Being a very cold winters morning a larger than expected group of 9 walkers met at the Vic for the drive out to the car park at Spicers Gap. Packs on and we set off up the trail towards Mt Mathieson with Paul in the lead, setting up a brisk pace for so early in the morning.
The track is in very good condition apart from a few branches across the track from the recent heavy winds. Steve had the clubs GPS set with the coordinates for the top of the mount and Governors Chair, something went wrong with the first settings as by the time we reached the summit the GPS was still telling us we had another 10 km to go. A little bit of operator error here but he made up for it with his calculation for Governors Chair, this one was spot on.
We had smoko on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Fassifern Valley and Cunningham’s Gap, slightly marred by the sound of trucks slowly making their way up the mountain road. From here the moderate section of the walk starts as it winds its way up through rocks and the steep slopes towards the peak. Once we were over the top we descended into a very pleasant section of highland rainforest with a very easy walking track with lots of bird, ferns and large trees, such a contrast to the rocky, almost barren slopes that we had just walked through.
Out of the forest and into grassy woodland with grass trees and gums before coming across an abandoned timber jinker from the days when this area was logged. Not far from here we joined the old road and turned left for the walk down to Spicers Gap and then the short walk up over the rocks to Governors Chair. It was just after midday so we had lunch at the lookout, this is a superb place for lunch as the views are endless.
The walk down to the cars after lunch is only short so we called into Moss’s Well for a quick look before continuing past the bell bird colony to the cars. Steve had bought a few bags of oranges from his trees to share with the walkers before the sulphur crested cockatoo beat him to them.
Then on to the small town of Aratula for a coffee, a few vegies from the shop next door and then home to the mountain before 5pm.
28 August 2010 - Mt Greville
Leader - Steve was sick so Paul, Colin and Julie lead and walked.
We all left in Julie’s car from the VIC after Steve dropped off the Book, First Aid items and EPIRB. He didn’t sound too good so it was the best choice for him not to walk.Paul, Colin and Julie discussed whether to go ahead with the planned walk or to do another one and it was decided to go ahead and to walk Mt Greville, as planned by Steve.
We walked up Waterfall Gorge and marveled at the high cliffs on either side. It is the harder of the two gorges as some large, steep rocks to climb up but we took our time so as we wouldn’t slip. Nearly at the top of the Gorge we stopped and had our Morning Tea. What a lovely atmosphere.
We then walked up to a rocky outcrop and looked over the views to Moogerah Dam and the many other mountains surrounding us. The rugged finger of rock on the ridge to the right of the dam is Glennies Pulpit.
We decided we would walk down Palm Gorge, as planned by Steve (rather than to take the quicker way down, which is the South East Ridge), as Paul had not seen Palm Gorge and Colin hadn’t walked either of them before.
We set off along a track and after a while we realized we were heading up hill and heading to the peak so we followed the track back down and re read the Take A Walk book to find that we should have walked back past the head of Waterfall Gorge.Once we were back on track we were happy. We met a few other people who had just come down from the Peak and they told us the best way to go up and how to see a view from up there so we decided we’ll definitely have to come back up when Steve is well and do it with him. I can see why it is one of his favorite mountains to walk.
We sat and had our lunch on a log near the head of the Waterfall Gorge track. We had just passed two young girls with very large cameras and tripods etc photographing some of the flora. While sitting on the log eight walkers from the Brisbane Bushwalkers walked past us on their way back down Palm Gorge.
We set off down Palm Gorge and enjoyed the atmosphere of this Gorge. It is so different to the one that we had just walked up. This one has smaller rocks to walk on and tall Palms reaching up to the sun. There was a lovely Strangler Fig which had attached itself to a rock and stretched way up the side of the cliff.Very hard on the knees and legs walking down but was definitely safer than trying to walk back down Waterfall gorge.
We had our refreshments at the café at Aratula and congratulated ourselves on finding our way up and back, as planned by Steve, instead of just going back down the South-East Ridge, like we’d always done before. We’d all enjoyed our walk and had a lovely day even though there were only three of us.
