Kilkivan to Kingaroy (South Burnett) Rail Trail - Day 1

 7 April 2023 – Good Friday

https://southburnettrailtrail.au/

https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/recreation-tourism/outdoor-activities/tracks-trails/kilkivan-to-kingaroy-rail-trail
We left the Sunshine Coast early in convoy and drove to Kingaroy.  We parked one vehicle at the old Kingaroy Railway Building.  After piling into one vehicle with our packs, we headed to the Kilkivan end of the rail trail, where we parked the other vehicle.  All the time we were in the cars the rain just kept coming down, finally easing to a drizzle as we approached Kilkivan.  

https://www.visitgympieregion.com.au/great-places/the-west/kilkivan/

After a quick toilet stop, we popped the raincoats onto our packs and our group of five headed off.  Today’s walk was from Kilkivan to Goomeri – which is on gravel and mowed paths, mainly through private land with lots of gates.  The drizzle lasted less than an hour and the weather remained overcast which was a blessing as there was very little shade on this section. 

Last check before loading up

A midday rest

Trying to avoid exercise induced vasculitis

A very long walk with heavy packs today – 28.5km.  I had a 14.5kg pack, which is heavier than I have previously carried.  Unfortunately, due to the high humidity, heat and my heavy pack I once again experienced some exercise induced vasculitis despite the compression socks and regular breaks to put my legs in the air – nowhere near as bad as previously though.

We stopped at the Foodworks in town on arrival and bought our food for dinner – chicken sandwiches for us.  Then on to the Goomeri Showgrounds for the night to camp and well-deserved, and needed, hot showers.  Over dinner we caught up with some day walkers who were camping at the showgrounds.

https://www.discoversouthburnett.com.au/towns/goomeri/

https://foodworks-goomeri.myfoodworks.com.au/

https://www.goomerishow.com.au/camping

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Parkrun and Northern Section of D'Aguilar National Park

 This morning we awoke early to head west to Blackbutt to try the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail parkrun - no surprise, the course is along a section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.  It was a good quality trail surface with a gentle gradient and areas of shade - a lovely run!

https://www.parkrun.com.au/brisbanevalleyrailtrail/

We then headed to the Bunya Nut Cafe for breakfast with friends - very good value bacon and egg muffin.

https://www.facebook.com/bunyanutcafe

Today's main adventure was the northern section of D'Aguilar National Park, in particular the Mount Mee Forest Drive and its various stops along the way.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/159028/mount-mee-trail-map.pdf

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar/journeys/mount-mee-forest-drive

First stop was the Broadwater - aptly named.  The angle of the trees showed the power of the water that must flow through here at times.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar/attractions/broadwater

Continuing through the National Park we came to the understandably very popular Rocky Hole swimming spot.  The water must be very deep as it was divinely cool in spots with vertical sides to the gorge.  On a quieter day or first thing in the morning this could be a serene spot to contemplate the world.

Rocky Hole walk | D'Aguilar National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

Falls lookout was a short walk with views of several small waterfalls and of the waterhole at the top of a cliff that flows over - this is a different perspective to the standard waterfall view as you see the water running off the edge and disappearing.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar/journeys/falls-lookout-track

Our final stop for the day was The Gantry picnic ground for a late lunch before heading home. A very enjoyable day.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar/attractions/the-gantry

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daguilar

Woondum National Park, Mothar Mountain Rockpools and Boulder Mountain Climb

 Woondum National Park is a small national park that I had never heard of.  We began with a walk along the Turpentine Circuit - a short 500m stroll through nice bushland.  

Next was a much more arduous hike up Boulder Mountain.  This is 3.2km return and says it will take 2 hours, rarely does a walk take us as long as the signs say, but this one did.  It was a fun hike with some steep sections requiring the use of hands to ascend and descend.  Unfortunately, the views from the top were largely obscured by lantana overgrowth.

On return to the carpark, we had a refreshing swim in the rockpools.  There is a main pool near the car park that had plenty of people in.  However, with some minor rockhopping we headed slightly upstream to have a rockpool all to ourselves, even on a busy day.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/woondum/things-to-do

    

Mount Cooroora, Tuchekoi National Park

 Love this climb - just the right degree of challenge, followed by fantastic views.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/tuchekoi

Cooloola Great Walk - Brahminy Walkers' Camp to Great Sandy Information Centre (Tewantin)

 https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/great-walks-cooloola

Day 5 Statistics

Distance: 21.15km

Total time (including breaks): 6 hours 45 minutes

Total Ascent: 179.2m

Total Descent: 258.7m

 

15 July 2022

This morning the early morning light over Lake Cootharaba was lovely.

The walk south to the ferry begins as an undulating walk through low coastal heath.  At one point we surprised a wallaby, who bounded away quite quickly and then stopped to peer back at us.

We chose to take the detour to the top of Mt Seawah for the views out over the coastline and Lake Cootharaba.

The walk then continued through some low-lying swampy land before the path comes out onto the beach at Noosa North Shore.

After leaving the beach we continued into Arthur Harold Nature Refuge where the path has filled with tannin-stained water creating some vivid reflections.  In parts there were major washouts of the path creating sudden large holes partially obscured by tree roots.

At the end of the official great walk, it was a walk along beside the bitumen road back to the ferry. From the ferry terminal at Tewantin, it was a quick walk back to the car where we had parked it at the Great Sandy Information Centre.  I went in and let the staff know we were back; they asked a few brief questions about our walk and then we were on our way home for a well-deserved hot shower.

A wonderful adventure!