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South East Queensland, Oz...

South East Queensland, Oz...


Postby onsen » Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:08 am

Date walked: 26/01/2018

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Scoob999's recent overseas trip report about climbing a couple local volcanic plugs here in Queensland, Australia, gave me the incentive to share a few pics from my own 'off-track' bushwalking trips.
A brief snapshot, just in case others would like to follow in his footsteps to the wide land on the other side of the world...enjoy.

Kinannes Falls overnighter, swirling morning mists...during the warm summer months, if your keen, you can take a teeth chattering swim through a small narrow gorge to the infinity pool at the edge. It can also be abseiled.

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The distinctive volcanic plug of Mt Lindsey, I nickname it 'souffle mountain'...rarely scrambled, ropework & abseiling required.

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There had to be one....a beautiful Red bellied black on Black Snake Ridge.

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Wandering in the leaf litter beside a rainforest creek...a feisty Spiny Lamington Crayfish.

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Large lazy Goanna resting on a warm summers day...around 2metres long.

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Seasonal cicadas...the males calls are so loud in some species that you have to stick your fingers in your ears to ease the pain.

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Deep dark Rainforests...primal & earthy.

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Bushwalking mecca...Mt Barney offers up over 12 different ridges for you to ascend plus a Lower & Upper Portals summer rock hop & swim-through on it's northern side.

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...and last but not least, remote Running Creek falls...vibrant blue crayfish shelter in the plunge pool at it's base.

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Hope these images warm the cockles of your heart....while your buried in the depths of winters snows. :wink:
Last edited by onsen on Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:00 am, edited 16 times in total.
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby PauloUK77 » Fri Jan 26, 2018 2:26 pm

Fantastic pics and creatures. I would love to someday do a spot of walking in this part of the world.
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:49 pm

Thanks PauloUK77, there's a lifetime of natural wonders to seek out & strange beasts to encounter in our National Parks...my walking 'to do' list just keeps getting longer & longer each year. 8)

Remote plane wrecks, caves, canyons, gorges, waterfalls, scenic ridge lines & peaks are constantly whispering...'come find me'. :wink:
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:00 am

More off-track teasers to wet your whistle... :wink:

Mt Castle high camp...

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Lincoln Bomber wreck Mt Superbus...

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Koreelah Gorge...

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Sneaky leeches & ticks are all part of the fun... :roll:

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Boring looking Mountain Katydid/Cricket...until

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Ta- daa ! Not so dull after all !

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My avatar...biggest python I've come across so far...a musclely 4metres & as thick as your thighs.

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Crookneck & Mt Beerwah in the morning light...I'll let you work out which one is which. :wink:

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Sands & solitude...Yuraygir NP coastal walk.

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Happily addicted to this part of the world...I hope you enjoy it too. :wink:
Last edited by onsen on Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:28 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:25 am

Speaking as somebody who get nervous crossing a field with cows in it I'm not sure how I'd cope in Aus :lol: Some fascinating pics
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Tue Feb 06, 2018 5:47 pm

Ha ha, you'll be fine Johnkaysleftleg...just let someone know where your going, add a pair of gaiters, couple of rolls of snake bandage, a PLB (personal locator beacon) and a small 1st aid kit takes care of most things. :D

Glad you enjoyed the pics...I tried to keep it interesting & showcase some of the natural wonders you might encounter in my neck of the woods. :wink:
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby scoob999 » Tue Feb 20, 2018 7:45 am

Nice one :clap:

We looked at Mt Barney but decided we never had enough time to appreciate the walk :( It'll be on the to do list next time though.

Luckily (I think) we never saw as much wildlife as you on our walks, but I'm sure they'll not be far away though :shock:
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby Alteknacker » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:29 am

Fascinating pix. Thanks for sharing. Seems very different from the Aus of "The Fatal Shore"!!!
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Tue Feb 20, 2018 12:05 pm

Thanks Scoob999,
Mt Barney's not going anywhere & I'm sure you'll have your own close encounters to share
whenever you decide to return. 8)

Cheers Alteknacker,
Glad you enjoyed the pics...haven't read the book but had a quick google.
Just to be sure, you'll have to make a trip down here & decide for yourself. :wink:
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Wed Feb 28, 2018 5:09 am

Last in the series...if I've made you a little curious my work is done, come visit one day & explore. :wink:

Mt Ernest...high camp, dying day, morning inversion,
breakfast beside a clear running creek...curry with a couple of crunchy poppadams waved through the burners flames to crisp them up. 8)

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South Obelisk...

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Glen Rock...looking down the catchment of Dry Creek.

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Sticky date pudding & runny custard while waiting for the setting sun to do something special...Mt May

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Dooja or native lime...usually found on the outer edges of rainforests. Finger limes too.

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Native Ginger...

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Mt Cordeaux's rainforested flanks...

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Mt Greville...Ascend the shady Palm gorge in the centre to the summit, descend via the cool Waterfall gorge to the right.

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Main Range in the distance, just a small section...the rest of the Great Dividing Range follows the whole length of the east coast, up north to Cooktown & down south to Melbourne . Roughly 3500 kms long.
There is the Bicentennial trail running along its length, mainly for horse riders, but walkers & the occasional cyclist do attempt it. Wriggly length of trail, 5330kms long.

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Mt Warning...extinct super volcano. 23 million years ago it was around 2000 metres tall covering a huge area,
with erosion over the ages, just over half that height now.

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Southern ridges of Mt Barney, all routes head to the east or west summits...

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Northern ridges of Mt Barney...Barney creek hundreds of metres below my feet

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anything is possible...pepperoni pizza.

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Cheeky Butcher bird looking for leftovers...

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Meal time beside the tranquil Boonoo Boonoo river...

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Safe enough to camp in fine weather...those large boulders slowly grinding themselves downstream in huge floods.

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Half way up Mt Maroon...

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Emerald green...mosses, lichens, ferns & hanging vines...midstream

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Salmon, noodles & spices...quick & tasty.

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Lay back, watch the show above, a rising full moon, satellites & shooting stars...while your there, pass the popcorn. :wink:

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That's it, enjoy...and now back to normal viewing. 8)
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:16 am

Since your all heading towards cold, grey wintery weather....a report from a few weeks ago from warm tropical Northern Queensland is in order.
A low humidity 30c trip (cool overnight/dry season temps) before the sauna like 'build up' to the monsoon begins in Oct. :D

Inbetween Cairns & Cooktown, lies Cedar Bay in Ngalba Bulal National Park...only way in is to walk in over the range covered in rainforest & clear running creeks.

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Forest roots extend through heavy red clay soils...searching.

Catbirds & Wompoo pigeons provided unique background noises as I pushed, ducked, slid, climb over, under, around fallen trees and weaved my way through the rainforest.

Google 'catbird or wompoo call' to hear their strange noises.

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Painful plants

...if you loose your footing try not to grab hold of any of these. If its just a hooked vine clawing at your skin or shirt, twisting your body like a spinning top or a whirling dervish usually sets you free.

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Last edited by onsen on Fri Sep 28, 2018 1:16 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:39 am

Creek crossings, cool, clear, calming, inhabited by long-clawed freshwater prawns, eels & a lime green tree snake swimming across the surface, a brief oasis of sorts...i rested, unshouldered my pack, splashed water on my face & neck, listened, glimpsed movement, jotted down thoughts, sipped water...before diving back into the lush greenery again.

Mesh socks & mesh runners soon dried...

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...A short warning grunt before noisily charging through the bush, wild pigs & their diggings were plentiful...so I filtered.

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Fruits & Roots

...there's a lot of looking down for foot placement & then quickly glancing ahead for direction. You don't want to break an ankle in this remote National Park.

Blue, red, yellow, green, large & small, smooth & bumpy...so many fruits I didn't recognize.

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Highlight of the trip...a shy Bennett's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus)...on the vulnerable list. Climbed to the top of a tree to escape before deciding it was safe enough to jump into the bushes below & hop swiftly away from this large mammal with a camera...

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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Thu Sep 27, 2018 1:05 am

Classic beach scene...marine blue seas, coral reefs, fine white sand, onshore breeze, leaning coconut palms with the tiny threat of being eaten by a large reptilian beast. :shock:

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toothy lizard tracks...

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Home sweet home...among the cedars.

Wild feral pigs roamed freely through the camp at dusk...thoughts of being gored to death or being dragged from my hammock by a croc soon gave way to a tidal wave of tiredness.

Gentle rhythmic crashing waves followed by a bubbly shooshing sound also helped...

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room with a view... 8)
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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby onsen » Thu Sep 27, 2018 1:24 am

Dawn high tide wanderers left their taletell signs in the soft sand...a Beach Stone Curlew, feral pigs & a Dingo.

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Tidal castaway's...there's always something that catches your eye along the high tide line.

Pretty, practical, edible, curious things.

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Fringing coral reefs

Beyond the breaking waves, turtles surfaced in the calm to breath & then slipped quietly beneath.

In the surf, through polarized glasses, silvery flashes gave away the presence of fish, bait sized & much larger...the hunters & the hunted.

A Sea Eagle lazily circled above & cruised the shoreline scanning for opportunities

Cedar Bay = Paradise.

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Re: South East Queensland, Oz...

Postby Mal Grey » Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:42 pm

Some brilliant, inspiring, pictures there. Definitely make you realise how diverse Oz is, and want to go and explore one day.
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