Archive for the ‘Day trips’ Category

McConnell’s Lookout + Mudlo National Park

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

McConnell's Lookout

After visiting Cania Gorge, we travelled to Mudlo National Park. On our way we crossed the beautiful landscapes of North Burnett with creative patterns of (dry) brown grass and green trees. Along the Burnett River, near Gayndah, the oldest town in Queensland (1849) we visited McConnell’s lookout (350km north west of Brisbane). A steep road brought us to the top of the mountain where we could get a good overview of the area. Along the river it was much greener than elsewhere. Later that day we discovered that many of the green spots were fields with orange trees.

In this situations it is impressive how quiet it can be on such nice locations. Again we were the only visitors here.

McConnell's Lookout

After arriving at Mudlo National Park we had a picnic and walked the Mudlo gap track through a high density bush. A steep path was finally bringing us to the Pearsons Lookout.

 Mudlo Gap Track "Lettuce in a tree" (Jorick) Finally reached the top

From between the trees at Pearsons Lookout we had a nice view and took some rest. Then we walked back to our car and went home.

Pearson Lookout in Mudlo National Park Going home

In the next weekend we went to a park in Eatons Hill with a playground and a athletics track. Here Nicole could practice some skating. Since we are in Australia Nicole didn’t use her skates this intense. Jorick had to learn to ride his bike without the side-wheels. Since it’s very hilly in our living area, there are not so many opportunities to learn cycling around our home.

Cycling through a park in Eatons Hill Skating Dog on leash and bags for poo

Also in this park you have to keep your dog on leash and bags are provided at the entrance to clean up the poop of your dog. Not a bad idea.

Kind regards,

Jan, Anita, Nicole and Jorick



Lamington National Park + farm excursion.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Not long after the start of the new school season, Jorick already was lucky having an excursion with his school class. They went to Trevena Glen Farm and some parents joined. Jorick insisted that his Dad also should join, so he did, which was fun. The kids could feed calfs, pigs, goats, hold chickens, ride a pony, sit on a bull and milk a cow. It was a real educational interaction with animals and they loved it.

A nice calf. Feeding a goat. Better a chicken in your hand AND on your head.

The next weekend we went bush camping and walking in Lamington National Park being one of the beautiful rainforest parks close to Brisbane (around 110 km, 2hrs drive). We selected the Green Mountain region, close to the well known O’Reilly’s region with O’Reilly’s resort to put up our tent.  A more than 30 km one-lane road with small and steep parts is leading to this destination. It was a beautiful road in a natural environment. After reaching our destination we could set up our tent, look around and have a barbeque in the evening.

Setting up our tent. Having a barbie. A Red Necked Pademelon Wallabi visiting.

During the night it became fairly cold on the mountain around 10 degrees Celsius. Other people camping here were walking in ski clothing, which was a bit weird. As usual the darkness already started early with complete darkness after 6 pm. That’s something we cannot get used to after being used to the long summer evenings of an (North-)European summer. So we went early to bed and awoke with the sounds of many birds, brush turkeys and also saw some very small wallabies (Red Necked Pademelons).  We started the day with the Botanical Gardens and the Tree Top Walk, which is an elevated path/bridge high through the trees. This gives unusual nice views of the forest.

Tree Top Walk. Tree Top Walk. Mushrooms in the high humidity.

After that we walked the Morans Falls Track of 4.6 km, 800 m down hill. It leads to the Morans Falls. First we could watch the Falls from the other side of the valley. Then we went to the top of it.

Morans Falls.  Top of Morans Falls. Lookout at the top of Morans Falls.

The bush. Palms in the valley.

It was a nice walk in a beautiful area.

Especially around O’Reilly’s it was busy with much tourism since this is a popular destination.  The walking track was much better, although not as quiet as many other tracks in other areas.

 

In our garden (name unknown).

At home we still enjoy the bush environment and all flowers in the more cultivated garden. For us it is unusual to have flowers around the house during the whole year. Also the trees always have leafs and also are loosing them continually. This makes us less aware of changing seasons.

Thanks for your interest.

Kind regards,

Jan, Anita, Nicole and Jorick