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Host Sites : O’Reilly Rainforest Guesthouse [Website: www.oreillys.com.au] EPA/QPWS [Website: www.epa.qld.gov.au ]
GREEN MOUNTAINS SECTION – LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK WEEKEND OF HIKING / WILDLIFE WATCHING / MOON-STAR GAZING Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April 2005.
Pre-Departure Bookings – Camp Site – The Campsite entry is just before you see the O’Reilly’s Guesthouse buildings, and QPWS day visitor car-park It is sign-posted on the right hand-side of the road. We have made bookings and paid for 5 sites at the QPWS operated Green Mountains Campsite 07 5544 0634, adjacent to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse. Facilities include campsites (we hoped to occupy the lower terrace area, but chose the raised crushed blue-metal tent sites near the camp top, when wet, overcast weather threatened on Friday afternoon), public telephone, toilets, showers (hot!), drinking water, cooking places (but you need to bring fuel stoves, etc.- no open fires allowed), (and adjacent picnic area includes 3 coin-operated electric BBQ’s). No powered sites, nor campervan facilities. QPWS camping fees are nightly $4 per person per night; and family discount ($16.00 per family), children rates apply(Under 5yo free). See QPWS website for details. We have booked sufficient space for those intending to go – please check with Convenor Robyn before you attempt to book more sites. O’Reilly’s have expensive accommodation, meals, and services, etc. – refer to their website, but it’s not very helpful with details; nor are their staff if you phone them!! - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse – operates Gran O’Reilly’s General Store (very little stock!) Bistro and Gift Shop which is open from 9am-4pm daily, but the kitchen closes at 3pm!! Gran O’Reilly’s has both a Bistro menu and Take-away menu available. The coffee, snacks, meals are reasonably priced, and the views from the indoor tables over the western ranges to Mt Lindsay, Barney, etc are worthy views. Alternatively,….If your really keen, or desperate, dine out at the Rainforest Guesthouse – Buffet dinner is $47pp. ‘Bar’ meals are $15-25 including steaks, pasta, BLT, Caesar salads. We intend to self-cater for breakfasts, have our lunches on-the-track or in camp, and probably self-cater for evening meals.
Packing – What to Take Pack for the trip using as a guide Bob’s Bike Book list, provided by Robyn! Thanks Robyn. But essentially we are ‘car-supported’ camping for bushwalking on formed graded QPWS walking tracks. Weather on the Lamington Plateau at 930m elevation, can be cool; typically 4-5oC cooler than Brisbane particularly evenings (and occasionally showery) – so pack some warm clothes (layers preferable), along with boots or shoes for rainforest walking!! and wet weather gear (an umbrella will suffice?) Take insect/leech repellent, too!!* When the south-east wind blows, shower activity increases as you approach the crest of the McPherson Range and decreases to the north of O'Reilly's. The accompanying low cloud blocks out the view on top of the range making the border walks less attractive under these conditions. {So,…Hope for those rare westerly winds!!) Bicycles? – we don’t intend to use them, but those that must ride, they may wish to ride to Canungra, or Kerry, or Beaudesert. Definitely, no kayaking!! Insect Repellent Leeches use a DEET containing product – RID applied around shoe uppers and lower legs/ankles will deter them exploring and attaching to you – if they do, it is less painful, traumatic, etc. to allow them to complete their feeding (ingest only 1-2 teaspoons of blood in engorging) and drop-off naturally. Ticks can be removed by applying a pyrethrum based insecticide, apparently without causing the tick to stress, and inject toxins whilst dying!!. Walking QPWS recommends that you take/wear on a walk – even half-day walks – · Warm clothing and raincoats (umbrellas?) as the weather can be changeable; · Wear substantial footwear, boots or strong shoes; Wear a hat to prevent sunburn; · Carry adequate drinking water; extra food, a torch; and a First-Aid kit and book; · Carry a bag to walk out all food scraps and rubbish (No bins in campground either, but one large industrial bin near car entry to ground!) · Carry a copy of the walking track guide – available at the GM Site Office- it’s good! – and the O’Reilly’s Guest’s Map is better, if you can get one!!; · Carry a map and compass (and know how to use them!!) if you plan to go off-track!! Feeding Wildlife If your kids (or you big older kids!!) must/want to feed the wildlife – consider bringing some suitable food/s with you (it’s cheaper, more effective). Suggested foods for selected quarry – Possums (mostly nocturnal) – Fruit – bananas (cheap), sultanas (dear), etc.; these foods also feed Bower Birds (daytime); Parrots (daytime) – Rosellas– ‘Wild bird seed mix’ – can be bought at Coles and Woolworths. (Cheaper than the O’Reilly’s sold product!!). No Sunflower seeds!!! Don’t feed the Dingoes – No joke!! And for their protection and future survival, don’t interact with them, either!!
Phone Coverage A ‘Public’ landline phone is available at the ‘bus turn-around’ near the QPWS Picnic area. Telstra mobile phone coverage is patchy – try for elevated line-of-sight locations. Optus has strong signal!!! You can see the lit Brisbane CBD skyline on clear evenings from the O’Reilly’s Guesthouse entry portico locality!!
‘Planned’ Activities Friday 22nd April 2005 Set up camp; Settle in; Check out the locality; Phone home? - tell them what they’re missing; Enjoy a ‘short walk’ (see list below), feed the Wildlife, feed yourself dinner, drinks; then evening activities? A short walk, spotlight wildlife, or……
Saturday 23rd April 2005 and Sunday 24th April 2005 If you’re travelling up on Saturday, try arriving by 8-8:30am by leaving early; then we can all plan the activity on the day – if not, do your own thing!!
We intend planning the activities/walks ‘on-the-day’ by just getting a consensus as to what people want to do, and forming like-minded and like-paced walking groups. What you can’t do today, or this evening, could be done tomorrow??
Some may prefer to do short walks and just enjoy the wildlife, for an easy relaxing weekend, including :- The Canopy Walk, a special experience for everyone, especially for first timers; or Rainforest Return for ‘bird-watching’ 1.4Km return in about 30minutes.
Others might choose from ‘Half-Day’ walks that are short and worth doing – Moran's Falls, 4.6Km return allow about 1.5hrs walking time; [Note this walk can be done as a circuit by combining the O’Reilly’s ‘Wishing Tree and Glow-worm Gully’ walks off their property (leaves from beside the lowest, eastern-most side of the guesthouse accommodation, to the south side of Moran’s Falls then cross over the falls headwaters on a concrete bridge. ] Python Rock 3.4Km return allow 1 hr walking time. You can see Moran’s Falls in the eastern distance from here, and the western skyline of Mt Lindsay, Mt Barney, . Elabana Falls is nice and not too long (about 8Km return not circuit) – its just part of the Box Forest Circuit (10.9Km return allow 4hrs walking time). Blue Pools is very steep but a nice swimming hole if its not too cold. BUT note that it is part of the ‘Full Day’ West Canungra Creek circuit (13.9Km 5.5 hrs walking time, and warned as needing high degree of fitness and experience) which is listed as closed due to multiple, large tree falls!!! Check with Ranger before going!!
Others might choose from ‘Full Day’ walks including- West Canungra Creek Circuit - 13.9Km allow 5.5 hrs walking time,[ and warned as needing high degree of fitness and experience] - is listed as closed due to multiple, large tree falls!!! Check with Ranger before going!! Box Forest Circuit - 10.9Km return allow 4hrs walking time. Toolona Creek Circuit – 17.4Km return allow 6hrs walking time. Albert River Circuit – 20.6Km return allow 7hrs walking time.
And then…..there’s those bikers…..
Evenings - Saturday 23rd April 2005 and Sunday 24th April 2005 Check out the locality; Phone home? - tell them what they’re missing; Enjoy a ‘short walk’ (see list above), feed the Wildlife, feed yourself dinner, drinks; then evening activities? A short walk, spotlight wildlife, or……
Monday 25th April 2005 This is a ‘short day’ – pack up and vacate the campsites, but you can stow your camping gear in your car, park it in the day parking area and enjoy the day, before you head home.
Hoping you have a great week-end – Why be L, when you can be J !!!
Walks Chosen 22-25 April 2005. Friday 22nd – drizzling rain overcast – did not go anywhere! (Robyn/ John) Saturday 23rd – Rainforest Canopy Walk, Tropical Gardens walk, before lunch. (Robyn/ John/ Wayne) Saturday 23rd – Wishing Tree through Walk to Moran’s Falls. (Robyn/ John/ Wayne); Glow-worm Gully night tour - (Robyn/ John/ Karen/ Wayne/ Jim/ Jean) Sunday 24th – Elabana Falls Circuit (Jim/Jean) Toolona Creek Circuit (Robyn/ John/ Wayne); Python Rock(Paul/Karen/Lachlan/Nathan) Monday 25th – Bird-watching with Robyn – Satin Bower-birds & bower; bird-feeding (All); Python Rock (Robyn/ John/ Wayne/ Jim/ Jean) Moran’s Falls (Paul/Karen/Lachlan/Nathan) Itinerary – Friday Saturday Sunday Monday - 22nd to 25th April 2005; Car Travel Fuel is not available at Green Mountains, but is available at Canungra and Beaudesert. Where to Go!! Best route is on Pacific Hwy, exit at Beenleigh (Exit 34), then follow signage to Tamborine Village, then follow signage to Canungra (O’Reilly’s Plateau) then follow signage to O’Reilly’s, Green Mountains. Approximate travel times – Brisbane-Beenleigh 30 mins; Beenleigh-Canungra 30 mins; Canungra-O’Reilly’s 50mins (seriously uphill and a narrow, winding road!). Consult your RACQ District Map #10 “Gold Coast-Northern Rivers”. There is only one road to O’Reilly’s – but you may wish to go home down Duck Creek Road through Kerry, and Beaudesert – more on that later!!. When to Go!! Friday 22nd April 2005 – “Experience a Friday Evening Outdoors” Try avoiding driving Canungra-O’Reilly’s after sundown, due to the narrow, winding road; otherwise take the full 50 minutes or longer – don’t rush! John will be there to greet you!! On Arrival at Green Mountains Campground – Where’s the CBG team camping!! Check out the lower level – first Arrange your accommodation on Friday afternoon prior to sundown; pitch your tent and settle in; feed the resident Bower Birds and Crimson Rosellas from mid afternoon You could indulge – Coffee and cake at Gran O’Reilly’s Store / Bistro if you’re there prior to 4pm! Check out the western skyline view to Cunningham’s Gap. Friday night camper arrivals may wish to self-entertain / party at the Camp Grounds. O’Reilly’s no longer encourage campers participation (even if willing to pay!) in guest evening activities. So, you could do the Canopy Walk in the Moonlight, or seek out the Glow-Worms by the Creek on the Wishing Tree Walk in the evening, - they are only spectacular if there has been significant rain beforehand, but it is a nice walk anyway. Wine in company in the Campground (no competitive whining with the dingoes!!) It’s a “Full Moon” on Sunday 24th April, so a bright sky will lower visible star numbers, but it’s still vastly better than Brisbane, and romantic too!!! “Grasp the Opportunity - Sleep-out in a 5 Trillion Star Resort!!” Camp Friday!!
Saturday 23rd April 2005 & Sunday 24th April 2005 Aim for 8.30am arrival at the latest for a 9am sharp walk departure on Saturday You need to carry supplies – see the QWPS list above - water, food, snacks, insect repellent, etc. for your needs whilst walking – either shorter morning and/or afternoon walks, or wildlife activities, or longer all-day walks.
We can leave camp/tents erected on-site in safety against vandalism/theft whilst away on walks. Alternatively, we can stuff our more attractive, expensive equipment inside our vehicles on –site. J
We aim to congregate in mid to late afternoon about the campsite for pre-dinner drinks and tale-telling of the days activities, adventures, etc.
Saturday 23rd April 2005 & Sunday 24th April 2005 - Evening Activities Dinner – Self-cater – BBQ or other tasty treats you’ve planned. Campfires are NOT permitted in Campground or Picnic Area. Then - What do you suggest?? J Wine and Star gaze from the campground?; It’s a “Full Moon” on Sunday 24th April, so a bright sky will lower visible star numbers, but it’s still vastly better than Brisbane, and romantic too!!!
Monday 25th April 2005 – Anzac Day This is a ‘short day’ – If there are waiting crowds of ‘would-be’ campers, you may need to pack up and vacate the campsites, but you can stow your camping gear in your car, park it in the day parking area and enjoy the day, before you head home. This is unlikely – just pack up after a leisurely lunch!
J
Packing Up Pack vehicles, (and some stow bikes, as well) for return to Brisbane.
Departure - Home from Green Mountains Presumably the reverse of how you got there – but there are usually big ‘day-trip’ crowds on the mountain on long-weekends, so driving off the mountain to Canungra is a bit processional, and it is wise to avoid the Pacific Highway traffic from the Gold Coast, so you may prefer to go through Canungra, to Tamborine Village then towards Logan Village, but turn-off at Dog Monument to join the Mt Lindsay Highway at Jimboomba, and on into Brisbane.
You can travel down the mountain to Canungra then home. Alternatively, you can go down Duck Creek Road (it’s shown on the QPWS Lamington National Park – Binna Burra and Green Mountains Walking track Guide as ‘4WD track only’, but I’ve driven down comfortably, slowly in a Ford Laser – but it’s still quicker than the road down to Canungra, and the views on the way down are nice, as is the drive through Kerry to Beaudesert. You then make your way home from Beaudesert. If you leave Green Mountains in the late afternoon, both Canungra and Beaudesert have ‘fast food’ outlets, if you need to treat ‘little people’ for a well-behaved week-end, or to avoid frayed nerves on-the-road, or when you get home!! J
J
- and it seems like it was only yesterday!! But it could have been Friday night, if you got organised!! J Costs and Budget Ready Reckoner [Fill in the bits relevant for you!! And check-off your self-catering supplies!!]
Did you allow for the inevitable/unavoidable ‘tourist gift’ from Gran O’Reilly’s??
Hoping you have a great week-end – Why be L, when you can be J !!!
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