Paddle At Your Peril

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #29 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Springbrook National Park

It would be tempting on a hot day to discard your shoes and go paddling in one of the many creeks at Springbrook National Park. Rainforest trees shade the little streams of crystal clear water and, in some parts, shallow pools form between smooth shelves of water worn rock.

But a refreshing dip would be foolish when, just a few metres downstream, the creek reaches the edge of the McPherson Range and falls 60 metres to the valley below.

Where Mundora Creek tips over the escarpment the falls are aptly named Goomoolahara, the Aboriginal word for big waterfall.

The scarlet flowers of giant spear lilies bloom on the cliffs in spring. They grow exclusively in these mountain ranges on the Queensland/New South Wales border.

Purling Brook looks deceptively pretty. It’s only up close that the sheer drop over the cliff is evident.

There are 265 steps down from the lookout to the walking track at the base of the falls.

Halfway down, delicate King orchids cling to the rock walls.

From Canyon Lookout, it’s easy to see where the waters of Rush Creek and Ee-jung Creek plummet over the edge of Springbrook Plateau to form Twin Falls and Rainbow Falls.

The pretty little creeks leading to all these falls might be tempting, but take heed of the signs. Paddle at your peril!

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

Breakfast Time

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #28 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Springbrook National Park 

A Lewin’s honeyeater searches for a tasty treat at breakfast time.

The flowers on the spike of a grass tree are just what he’s looking for.

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

Anybody Home?

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #27 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Springbrook National Park

Who wants to meet the occupant of this unusual home?

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare.

Disappearing Act

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #26 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park

On the walking track through the Numinbah Valley section of Springbrook National Park, Cave Creek looks like any other pretty rainforest creek. Icy cold mountain water tumbles over mossy rocks on its way to the Nerang River.

Suddenly it disappears, rushing over a weathered sheet of black basalt before emerging again down below.

Over thousands of years the relentless force of the water has created a rock arch, formed when a pothole collapsed into a large cave underneath. The water falls through the pothole into a deep pool in the cave.

The craggy formation, aptly named the Natural Bridge, is festooned with mosses and epiphytes which flourish in the damp conditions.

Inside the cave the water displays its power as it falls down from above. Once the water flows out of the cave, it transforms back into that pretty bubbling creek and continues its journey through the forest.

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare.

Crimson Beauty

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #25 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Tamborine Mountain

Callistemon, commonly known as bottlebrush – an Australian native as popular with birds, bees and butterflies as it is with gardeners

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare.

Park Life

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #24 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Burleigh Head National Park       

While those pesky brush turkeys and seagulls are busy raiding picnics on the sand at Tallebudgera Creek, many other creatures live a much quieter life on Burleigh Headland. 

An Eastern water dragon basks on rocks in the sun, a sea eagle soars overhead at Tumgun Lookout, a blue tiger butterfly rests between flights and a king parrot feasts on berries high in the trees. 

On the railings beside the Ocean View Circuit, dozens of small hairy caterpillars gather. Some play follow the leader while others go their own way. Where they’re going and what kind they are, nobody knows. 

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

Small But Beautiful Part 2

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #23 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Burleigh Head National Park Rainforest Circuit

The Rainforest Circuit starts where the Ocean View Circuit ends, immediately beginning its ascent up the headland. It’s not long before the track is surrounded by littoral rainforest, a particular type which only grows by the ocean.

Along the way there are glimpses of those majestic Norfolk Pines at John Laws Park and the white sandy beach at Burleigh Heads.

At Jebbribillum Lookout the view expands, revealing the northern areas of the Gold Coast all the way to Surfers Paradise. 

After the lookout the track heads inland through the rainforest, where more of those hexagonal basalt columns lie half hidden by vegetation.

There’s a second opportunity to see the ocean at Tumgun Lookout. This time the view is southwards, past Palm Beach to Currumbin, Kirra and Coolangatta on the Queensland/New South Wales border.

The Rainforest Circuit does not go to the summit of the headland, 88 metres above sea level. The risk of rock falls means the highest part of the park is not open to the public. 

Instead the path heads gently downwards, rejoining the Ocean View Circuit at Tallebudgera Creek, the perfect spot to complete your walk with a quiet lunchtime picnic.  

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

A Passion for Waves

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #22 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Burleigh Heads

The Ocean View Circuit around Burleigh Headland ends at John Laws Park in the Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh Heads. Popular with both locals and visitors, the park is filled with 450 Norfolk Pines, some planted more than 80 years ago. They provide welcome shade for those who want to sit, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful outlook or watching surfers in the water below. 

Surfing has long been part of the beach culture at Burleigh Heads. The waters off the headland have attracted surfers for decades and the world’s first professional surfing competition, the Stubby Surf Classic, was held here in 1977. 

Even the picnic tables in the park celebrate Australia’s passion for surfing.

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

Small But Beautiful Part 1

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #21 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Burleigh Head National Park Ocean View Circuit 

Even though Burleigh Head National Park is one of Australia’s smallest at just 27 hectares, it dominates the coastal vista. Rising 88 metres above the Coral Sea and covered with dense rainforest, the headland separates the beachside suburbs of Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach.

The ocean view circuit begins on the southern side of the park. The walking track skirts around the base of the headland, beginning with rainforest on one side and Tallebudgera Creek on the other before rounding the bend to the ocean side.

Unusual six sided basalt columns, remnants of volcanic activity 23 million years ago, lie in scattered piles beside the path. 

Groves of pandanus palms laden with ripening fruit grow on the protected edges of the creek,

while further around only the hardiest vegetation lives on the exposed rocky shore.

More of those hexagonal columns, created when molten lava from those long ago eruptions cooled very slowly, jut out of the hillside above. 

Around the last bend in the track, the northern suburbs of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach come into view. 

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare

Also joining Jo’s Monday Walks

Picnic Raiders

Kind Squares Photo Challenge #20 ~ Queensland: One of a Kind

Destination: Tallebudgera Creek, Gold Coast

Everyone knows seagulls will steal the food from your hand if given half a chance. 

But along Tallebudgera Creek, a wily band of even more cunning marauders lurks, looking for any opportunity to help themselves. Australian brush turkeys, also called bush turkeys or scrub turkeys, live wild in the forest on Burleigh Headland. They’ve become familiar with the habits of humans and know that where there’s a picnic there’s likely to be a free meal. 

The local seagulls aren’t deterred and happily join in, taking their lead from the turkeys. There’s some rowdy bickering, but everyone gets their share of the plunder. 

When they’re discovered the turkeys make a quick getaway,

but the seagulls are bold as brass. They simply assume an innocent expression, all the while keeping an eye out for the next tasty treat.

This month I’m joining in every day with Becky’s October Kind Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word “kind”. Look for #kindasquare