Near the base of the falls we side-tracked to Warringa Pool before climbing back up the cliffs. It was a busy day in the bush with politicians out inspecting the bridge work (something tells me there is an election around the corner) and quite a large group of Gold Coast walkers sharing the track. With our hiking boots and walking poles and leech-protective clothing, we were in stark contrast to the suits and business shoes of the local politicians. I think they might have quite a bit of mud to rake off after their walk. |
With the threat of rain hanging heavy in the air, this week we drove up into the Gold Coast hinterland to Springbrook to do some waterfall circuits. With so much recent rain we knew they would be flowing in all their glory. Our first route was the Purling Brook Falls track. The horsetail falls plunge over a hundred metres to a cool green pool where work was in full swing on the construction of a suspension bridge. After our picnic lunch we drove a short distance so we could do the Twin Falls circuit. The rain had held off all morning, but now it looked ominous, so the trusty ponchos came out. The walk was spectacular, meandering through palms, tree-ferns and rock clefts, beside creeks and behind waterfalls. As the walk proceeded, the rain began to fall more heavily, but the beauty of the surrounds made it all worthwhile. We congratulated ourselves on surviving another day in the bush without any ticks, leeches or snakes scaring us off. 13 ks this week, though all the cliff descents and ascents made it feel longer. Our three January walks total 35 kilometres.
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More hot weather aided our decision to do a twilight walk this week. Storms seemed to be gathering all around, but held off for us to complete a comfortable 10 ks along the Wynnum foreshore from Wynnum Creek to Lota and back. Wynnum is located on the shores of Moreton Bay and is stunningly attractive on a sunny day when the tide is in. Today was mostly grey and overcast and the tide was out revealing large expanses of grey mudflats. Not so attractive today, but the air was fresh and cool, the company great, and our legs work, so it was still a worthy walk. The pathway along the foreshore was littered with masses of seaweed and jellyfish washed up by the present king tides. Very hard to imagine a king tide with all this mud about. We completed our walk just on dark and enjoyed a casual meal of fish and chips in a foreshore cafe before heading home. It seems we chose well as we avoided the storms to the north and south of us, staying dry and relatively cool with the pleasant afternoon sea breezes. Week 2 has taken the running (or should I say walking) total to 22 kilometres this year.
A new year, a new set of walks, and for the first time in several months the whole of our band of four were back in the country at the same time to walk together. Thanks to Helen's research we discovered another surprising gem to hike through in our fair city surrounds. The Minnippi Parklands at Tingalpa are a natural haven close to a busy city. The parklands were lush and green and steamy due to summer rains and summer heat. Once farming land, the park is now a wonderful recreation area with picnic facilities and playgrounds, a lotus covered lake, and paths for cycling and walking. The aviation themed playground delayed the start of our walk as we explored the imagination-encouraging setting complete with sculpted bugs nestled among tree roots, a control tower and an Icaroplane (part bird, part plane, part human). Our walk in the park took us as far as Carindale Shopping Centre, where we stopped for coffee before heading back. One day we plan to follow the track further along Bulimba Creek which winds down to Mansfield, but today we contented ourselves with an easy 12 kilometres due to the oppressive heat. Our early start, also designed to avoid the hottest part of the day, meant an early finish that saw us home by lunchtime.
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