Mount Maroon

Its three weeks between club walks this month which is a long time without a walk so I gave Colin a call on Friday and suggested we walk up Mt Maroon on Saturday. Colin is always keen for a challenging walk so he gladly accepted. This is not a very popular walk with the club as it involves an almost vertical ascent of 600 meters to the summit on what you would not call ideal walking tracks. So it is always a good walk to do as a private ‘off club’ walk.

It was a very brisk 6 degrees as we left home so we knew it would be cold on the summit of Mt Maroon which is 400 meters higher than Tamborine Mountain. We were very surprised when we went to park in the small parking area at the base of Mt Maroon, cars everywhere so we had to squeeze in to be able to park, its normally deserted.
I have been teaching myself how to use the clubs GPS, using the instruction book and any other bits of information I could gather from talking to people and off the web. I think I have mastered the basics so before I left home I took the grid references of Maroon’s summit from a map and transferred them into the GPS. At the car park I marked our position there into the GPS so if we got lost I should be able to get us back to the car. Most of the track to the summit is very obvious but there are sections where it is possible to wander off plus we also wanted to walk to the second peak (no trail at all) before we walked back down to the car so it was fairly important that we had a reference to get back to.

The track lead off from the car park across a cow paddock and then up a lightly wooded ridge before the huge boulders and rocky outcrops start, then the going gets tougher. We found a nice spot with views about halfway up the ridge for smoko. Not long after smoko we managed to miss a turn and finished off the track and too far south, this then required a traverse as I knew from past walks that the only access to the summit from this side is up the gorge. We found the gorge and then continued up what I would consider the hardest section. We saw a couple of rock climbers to our right doing it harder than us so we really had nothing to complain about.

As we climbed out of the gorge and onto the plateau of the mountain any sign of the track to the summit disappeared as we were walking only on rock. I turned the GPS on; found enough satellites to give us an accuracy of 9 meters and the compass arrow pointed to our left with an estimate of the distance to go. We continued following the directions and arrived at the summit. The calculations I had taken at home were out by 21 meters and that was not taking into account the 9 meters variation on the GPS. I was very impressed with my newly learned GPS skills.

I know I have told you about my dislike of cairns being built in National Parks and I don’t like the one up here but I am prepared to accept it as it is very old and the only one here. Colin and I even posed next to it so you may call me a hypocrite if you wish. It was too cold and windy to have lunch at the summit so we joined a group of walkers from the Brisbane Bushwalkers Club who were sheltering from the wind just below the cairn.

After lunch we descended from the summit and found our way through very rough terrain to the other peak, it was windy and cold here also so we did not stay long. During our descent to the track leading down into the gorge, Colin lost his footing on a step rocky slope. As he tumbled forward he also knocked me down, somehow we managed to stop our fall before we suffered serious injury. I expected Colin to have skin off him everywhere but as far as skin loss, it was me who came off worse where Colin’s boot had hit me in his initial fall. He did finish up with a very sore rib cage and minus a bit of skin. A very kind nurse from PA Hospital in Brisbane came upon us and dressed my wounds. Whoever you are, thank you.

The trip down the gorge was a very careful descent as we did not want to tempt fate with another fall. Without further incidents we arrived back at the car and being sore and sorry for ourselves we abandoned our normal beer at the Rathdowney Hotel and opted for a quick trip home and a hot shower.

Tallebudgera Creek again

Last week was not a good week for either bushwalking or kayaking, we had rain on and off for most of the week. So when Tuesday was such a nice day Wendy and I could not resist loading the kayaks on the top of the car and heading for Tallebudgera Creek.

We are so much more confident in them now that we have them set up right for us. As we were about to set off two dolphins swam past just a few meters from the beach. We spent the day cruising around the lagoon outside the caravan park, and then we paddled up the creek to just below the bridge on the M1 and back downstream under the bridge on the Gold Coast highway towards the mouth of the creek. A great day paddling.

Thursday we had to take some friends to Coolangatta Airport for an early morning flight to London. We were out of bed at 4.15am, (ever try getting out of bed at 4.15am on Tamborine Mountain in winter) it was very cold. We had left the kayaks on the car as we intended to take the opportunity to go for a paddle before coming home.

It was just breaking day by the time we got back to Tallebudgera Creek from the airport and the temperature was just touching 8 degrees. It was beautiful; the rays of the sun were just touching the crystal clear calm water, almost no traffic on the bridge so the sound of the waves crashing on the beach carried up to where we were.

We had bought a few sausage’s and bread rolls with us so while I got the kayaks ready Wendy put the snags on the electric BBQ and prepared breakfast. Very nice, hot coffee and BBQ sausage’s on a toasted roll, a perfect breakfast for a couple of kayakers on a cold winter’s day. Breakfast finished and cleaned up and before long we were out on the water.

What a day, not a ripple in the water, bird life everywhere and the kayaks gliding through the water with almost no effort. These “Necky Looksha 14” kayaks are just fantastic. They are more expensive than the general run of the mill kayaks but if you are thinking of buying a kayak, the extra few dollars are worth the investment. They are made in New Zealand so you are paying for the real thing, not a copy made in some dodgy foreign country. Remember you will have them for a long time so buy one’s that will last.

After a lap around the lagoon we headed up stream. A quick stop at that lovely little sand and mangrove island up past the last of the houses, we can never resist stopping here. As the tide was fairly low the birds were feeding on the mud flats on the northern bank of the creek, several different species of Egrets, Herons, and Waders with the occasional Azure Kingfisher. We continued on and around the next bend a Sea Eagle flew up stream with a few twigs in its beak. We watched where it landed, a large dead gum tree with its very large nest built on one of the highest branches overlooking the water.

By the time we paddled under the bridge on the M1 Freeway the early morning peak hour traffic was in full swing. The traffic noise was deafening and the fumes were so strong we had to get past as quickly as we could. We paddled up as far as Schuster Park where we stopped for a break and a snack. As we had hit a few sand bars on the way up we knew that the tide was at its lowest, the tide would soon be turning and we did not wish to paddle against an incoming tide so we headed back.

The Tallebudgera Creek is a wonderful creek to kayak in because it has more vegetation than most creeks on the Gold Coast but the worst part about putting the kayaks in where we do is it is very popular with ski boats in the lagoon. Ski boats and kayak do not mix very well.

Apart from the M1 traffic and the ski boats we had a very good day. I was tired by the time we got home but we were very glad our friends had an early morning flight as we would not normally get on the water so early and the day would not have been so spectacular if we had started later.

Cainbable Falls

Last Saturday I walked with the Tamborine Mountain Bushwalkers on their scheduled fortnightly walk. Peter and Sara led this walk and as is usual, Peter does not take us on just any ordinary walk. This walk had several bits and pieces of various recognized walks and old tracks up on the Lamington Plateau all tied in together.

Because we would not be doing a circuit we had to first do a car shuffle. We were to start at the Romeo Lahay’s memorial and finish at the entry to the Python Rock Track. Without a car shuffle this would require a long walk down the very narrow and dangerous Lamington National Park Road back to our cars at the end of the walk.

With the car shuffle taken care of we set off down though the very steep rainforested slope. The only sign of a track here is the very old remnants of a snig track left behind by past generations of loggers. The forest is doing its very best to cover these old wounds so we lost our way several times before finally stumbling onto a clear track just upstream of where the Cainbable Falls plunge over the embankment to the valley floor hundreds of meters below.

We had smoko on a little overhanging rocky outcrop further along the cliff. From here there are good views of the falls and the valley below with views out as far as Flinders Peak. The falls were a disappointment as very little water is flowing over them at this time of year. Somebody has placed a white cross here dedicated to “Judy” whoever she may be. While I can understand people mourning loved ones I think nobody has the right to desecrate our National Parks with private memorials. Particularly such a beautiful wild place as this. We have cemeteries for that.

We continued on following the top of the escarpment until a small creek which we followed up before coming out onto Duck Creek Road which we followed for some time. Being a Saturday, all the 4x4 drivers were out so we had to be wary not to be run over or at the least splattered with mud.

After escaping the road we went down to Kurrajong Lookout where we had lunch on a grassy knoll with views out to the west. A very pleasant lunch spot where we attempted to locate our position using a GPS and an old map. Back onto the road then once again back through the bush as we followed a faint track leading out to Luke’s Bluff where we admired the views out as far as Mt Lindsey and across to Lost World, a fabulous unexplored wilderness.

The next stop was at Pats Bluff which has views to equal any with the added bonus of large granite boulders to sit upon while we rested and enjoyed the views. From here we followed the clear marked trail back to where we joined the Python Rock lookout track which led back to where we had parked the car. After a quick car shuffle we headed back to Tamborine Mountain, it was too late in the day for our customary social coffee stop on the way home.

Tallebudgera Creek - Kayak

I am a few days behind in keeping my Blog up to date. Busy times again this week.

We have been talking about buying kayaks for years now but the best we have managed to do is hire one every now and again. They have always been very basic kayaks as nobody hires out good ones. The hire rates have always been far higher than the quality so we have always felt that we did not get good value for money.
This week we had a few spare dollars left over so instead of investing it we spent it on two new kayaks. That is I suppose a form of investment if you look at how much fun we will have in them.

We bought two “Necky Looksha 14” kayaks from Goodtime in Woolloongabba last Wednesday. They are big enough to store camping gear and food for an extended trip down a river but still small enough to go for a paddle in a small stream and carry on top of a car. They are not sea kayaks but still very suitable for sheltered bays, estuaries, or a trip up along a coastline in good weather. Just the style of kayaking we intend doing.

On Thursday we loaded them on the car and headed to Tallebudgera Creek down on the Gold Coast. The creek opens up into a perfect bay a few hundred meters inland, just a place to try out our new kayaks. We thought we had set them up correct so pushed off and headed up stream.

After a couple of hundred meters we were both having trouble keeping them in a straight line and very uncomfortable in the seat. We knew they were quality kayaks so the problem had to be us.

Wendy pulled into a beach and I followed her in. After 30 minutes of readjusting the seat and rudder pedals we set off again. Surprising what a few minor adjustments will do. We were soon skimming across the water and performing sharp turn using the rudder and all the while being very comfortable in the seats.

We spent the best part of the day paddling in the inlet, and we will be back. There is a caravan park (Tallebudgera Creek Caravan Park) in this little bay so we intend taking the Avan down in the next few weeks and we will spend 4 or 5 days camped there and go paddling each day instead of driving up and down the Mountain every day.

The Twin Peaks of Mt May

A few of the bushwalkers from the club missed my walk up Mount May so at the last club outing I offered to take them up there on Saturday. There were only 4 of us to do the walk, Julie, Paul, Colin (who had done the walk with me previously) and myself.

 Being an off club walk, I knew I could get them to go a little quicker and a lot further so I decided to climb both peaks this time. Although I had previously climbed both peaks on separate occasions, I had never done both of them on the one day nor had I walked the saddle between the peaks.

We managed to start the climb a bit earlier than before so we were at the top of the first peak in time for a late smoko at around 10.40am. We needed the rest as we had really pushed it, this is the steepest and hardest part and I wanted it over and done with so as to give us more time in case we had difficulty finding the track across the saddle between the two peaks.

Refreshed after a break and a snack washed down with a cup of black tea from my flask we headed off the top of the first peak and down along the saddle heading towards Mount Maroon. After a bit of searching around at the bottom of that saddle we found the track on our right heading down to the dry bed of a creek. There were a few fallen trees on this track but it was easy enough to find the track again after detouring around them.

We crossed the creek and found a piece of pink flagging tied to a tree so gathered that this was the marker to head up a rock slab towards the top of the next peak. Towards the top of the slab Paul noticed a faint track going up a spur on our left so we followed that and it soon became obvious that we were on the right track. This track was fairly easy compared to the slog up the first peak and without much effort we were soon at the top of the higher of the two peaks of Mount May. It was only 12.30 pm, well before I had anticipated.

The highest part of this peak is on the southern side of the mountain where we had commanding views over the Mount Barney ranges all the way into southern NSW. A great view but we decided to cross over to the northern side and have lunch overlooking the first peak and Lake Maroon with views out to Main Range and Cunningham’s Gap. It was a perfect winter’s day and Lake Maroon looked like a sparkling jewel in the sunshine surrounded by the many peaks of the western rangers. Lunch is always a special meal in such surroundings even though it may only be a bit of dried out bread with stale cheese with a piece of wilted lettuce on it washed down with a cup of luke warm black tea from my flask.

We were not keen to leave an we had a long way home so on with our packs an we headed off the peak. The descent down from this peak is very steep and requires a lot of hands on climbing down rocky outcrops. The only joy of being so steep is that it takes but a short time before we were back down on the fire trail/road that leads up to the Upper Portals of Mount Barney.

This is the worst part of the entire walk. According to my pedometer it is a 4.45 km slog down this road to the car park. It is a real shame to finish such a fine walk up one of the South East’s nicest peaks with a boring walk back down a dirt road.

For those that are interested the first peak is 787 mts high and the second peak is 836 mts high. The reading’s on my pedometer showed we had walked 18440 steps to cover a distance of 13.45 km. I know the kilometre reading would not be accurate walking on such track up and down a mountain but it still gives me a rough idea of how far we had walked.

After a detour up Waterfall Gorge we were back at the car about 3 pm. Replaced the walking boots with a pair of sandals, packs in the back of the car and we were soon heading to the Rathdowney Pub. You remember I told you before that it is a great pub so what better place to go for a beer on the way home today. It had started to cool down so they had the fire going in the bar area. A very pleasant way to finish such a great day, sitting in front of a fire with an icy cold stubby of XXXX Gold.

Federation Walk - Gold Coast

Yesterday we went for a bushwalk with the Tamborine Mountain Bushwalkers. This walk was lead by Julie who always takes us on an interesting walk somewhere around the Gold Coast area as that is where she lives.

This time Julie stuck to her form and led us to the Federation Walk on The Spit. This walk was built to celebrate the Centenary of the Federation of Australia in 2001 with the first section being opened to the public on the 21 January 2001. The walk has been extended over the years and now reaches to the end of The Spit with a final bonus of a walk out along the windswept rock wall seaway that juts out into the Pacific Ocean.

Being classed as an easy walk bought all the casual walkers out of the woodwork so we had a total of 15 walkers for the day. It takes a bit of organising to get 15 walkers to meet in one spot and out on the trail on time but somehow Julie managed it. We set off from the car park at Macintosh Island and headed over the foot bridge that crosses the creek before braving the Gold Coast traffic to cross the road so as we could start our walk along the walking path above Main Beach.

Without the loss of any walkers we continued on the path and entered the Federation Walking track. This track is a real asset to the Gold Coast, one of the few patches of green set amongst a concrete jungle of high rise apartments, shopping centres and restaurants. The area has been extensively revegetated by the community and Green Corps as a large section of The Spit was burnt out by seven deliberately lit bushfires between 2003 and 2005. It is hard to believe we have such morons living in our community who would burn out such a valuable asset.

From the end of the walking track we ventured out onto the seawall. There was a stiff wind so the sea’s were coming over the end of the wall and crashing against the Lighthouse. To our south was the high rise on Main Beach and just across the seaway to our north was the southern section of Stradbroke Island.

We had smoko out of the wind on the sheltered side of The Spit under the shade of a group of she-oak trees. We were surprised to see a large group of soldier crabs feeding at the low tide mark on the water’s edge.

It was time to head back to Macintosh Island as we were to have a late BBQ lunch in the picnic area so we crossed over to the ocean side and walked a section of the beach back towards the car park. It was a surreal type of walk as here we were walking along a near empty beach with the Pacific Ocean on one side, trees on the other side, towards one of the largest concentration of high rise apartment blocks in Australia.

As pleasant as it was the wind eventually drove us back inland to the shelter of the trees on the walking track. We arrived back for lunch a little later than planned but looking forward to the BBQ chicken sausages that we had only bought the day before on the recommendation of the butcher. He had assured us that they were the best he had ever made. We are normally very traditional in eating sausages and normally only eat the beef ones but thought, here we are out for a BBQ with the bushwalkers so why not try something different. After eating them we wished we had stayed traditional.

Apart from the sausages we had a great day and found a part of the Gold Coast we knew nothing about. We enjoyed it so much that next Thursday we are taking our bikes down and going to do the ride on our mountain bikes. Thanks Julie for a great day and also thanks for the photos. All the photos on today’s blog are courtesy of Julie.

The Knoll (canceled walk)

Yesterday was one of those special winter days that we get on the Mountain. Clear, crystal blue skies with the thermometer almost reaching 12 degrees, just perfect for a bush walk.

We have driven off the plateau a few times in the past week so we thought we would do a local walk. Lessen our carbon footprint and save a few litres of fuel. The circuit to Cameron Falls on the Knoll Walking Track is always a favourite with us so we pulled on our boots and drove to the trail head at the picnic ground.

The car park was full, this was strange as mid week we are often the only walkers down there. Then we realized that it is school holidays and the place was packed with kids and reluctant parents so only one thing to do. We turned around and went home. We will have to do an extra walk next week to make up for missing this one.