Toowoomba Bushwalkers Calendar 2007

We do require non members, as well as inexperienced members, to contact the walk leader first to get their approval to attend the clubwalk.

Please advise the activity leader of your experience level in relation to the proposed walk. It will also allow the activity leader to discuss walk and other requirements with you.

Lamington National Park - 15th - 16th November
Walk Leader	Adrian Jensen
Contact Details	0427 394 676
Rating	L46
Travel Distance	n/a
Start Time	6:30am for 7:00am departure from Rod Bradey's place at 105 Ramsay St.
Details	Change of plans for Lamington. We will take cars to Lamington, rather than hire a bus. Meet at Rodney Bradeys house as detailed in the newsletter, 7.00 am Saturday. We drive to Binna Burra. O'Rielly's campground is booked out absolutely full. Binna Burra campground tentsites are also booked out, but I have booked two of their 6 bed on-site tents, which will take 12 of us all up. One double bed in each tent, plus 4 bunks. Each tent cost $90 per night, so as long as we have 12 people along, cost will be $15.00 each. At this stage I have one spare bunk place available. Saturday we can walk some of the shorter circuits at Binna Burra, then Sunday we will walk the Coomera circuit from Binna Burra, about 18 Km. Any queries, ring Adrian Jansen on 0427 394 676. It has been several years since the club went to Lamington, but the lure of green mossy rocks, tall forest trees, magnificent waterfalls, glowworm caves and other delights has finally conquered again. We will use a bus to drive to Lamington, and camp Saturday night at the NPWS site at Green Mountains, near the O’Reillys resort, which is better for a group camp, and do the Morans Falls and/or Python lookout walks on the Saturday. First thing Sunday, we might have to pack up some wet tents, but at least we don’t have to carry them! Then we do the main O’Reillys-Binna Burra walk, about 19 Km on graded tracks using the Toolona Creek circuit track past several waterfalls to Wanungara Lookout, then follow the Border track towards Binna Burra, branching on to the Coomera Falls circuit to take in several more lookouts and Coomera Gorge before getting to Binna Burra. The total ascent/descent is about 500 m, mostly easy grade. If there are many people who want to see the Antarctic Beech forest near Bilthongabel, I could be persuaded to use the Border Track rather than Toolona track, but it will make the total distance about 23 Km. Anyone who does not want to do the long walk can go with the bus, for which we will need a driver to take it around to Binna Burra on the Sunday to pick us up. There are many short walk possibilities also from Binna Burra. We leave at 7:00 am from Rodney Bradey’s house at 105 Ramsey St, for the drive to O’Reillys. Parking is available in his yard. Please be there from about 6:30 am, to allow time to load packs and gear on the bus. Be aware that although we will have a trailer for gear, space is limited. We will need definite numbers at the meeting to finalise the bus and campsite booking, and decide whether we need a trailer. If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact me BEFORE the meeting, so that I can include you in the party. If we get at least 15 people, the bus cost will be around $25-30 each. As long as we use small tents, we can book only a few of the actual tent sites, and then just camp around them on the grassy area. Water, toilets and hot showers are available. Fuel stoves only are permitted. Coin operated barbeques are available in the O’Reillys resort area. We finish the walk at Binna Burra, where there is a shop available to stave off starvation before the drive home. As well as the wonderful rainforest, Lamington also has a large population of leeches, so bring suitable repellent. Grading for the full O’Reillys-Binna Burra walk is about L46. Lamington Toolona Creek circuit — 17.4km return (Allow about 6 hours walking time) Class 4 The Toolona Creek track branches from the Box Forest circuit near Elabana Falls, then climbs beside Toolona Creek up a gorge and past its headwaters to emerge on the Border Track near Wanungara Lookout. The narrow Toolona Gorge creates a protected moist and shady refuge for many ancient flowering rainforest plants. The king fern Todea barbara is a relict of one of the oldest fern families, Osmundaceae, evolving even before Gondwana formed. The return trip via the Border Track passes Mt Bithongabel. Many large clumps of Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei) trees are found in the area. Coomera circuit — 17.4km return (Allow about 7 hours walking time) Class 4 The scenic Coomera circuit leaves the Border Track 1.9km from the entrance and passes through subtropical and warm temperate rainforest and giant brush box Lophostemon confertus forest. The gorge is 160m deep. Views from the lookout platform provide dramatic evidence of the power of erosion, which has cut through a thick resistant rhyolite lava flow. The circuit climbs beside Coomera Gorge, crossing the river several times before rejoining the Border Track and returning to Binna Burra. The river crossings involve rock-hopping: they can be hazardous after heavy rain and should not be attempted when the river is in flood. Half-day walks in Green Mountains section Python Rock — 3.2km return (Allow about 1 hour walking time) Class 3 This track leaves the Lamington National Park Road 800m downhill from the Information Centre. Some parking is available at the track entrance. Python Rock Lookout (1.6km from the track’s entrance) provides views of Morans Falls, Castle Crag and Lost World. Views from the lookout highlight the geological processes of erosion, including valley widening and escarpment formation. This track passes through a closed rainforest community into an open eucalypt forest where fireadapted species such as grass trees, hakeas and various wildflowers grow. The guttural “popping” of the masked mountain frog Kyarranus loveridgei can be heard on wet or moist days in late spring and summer. These ancient frogs are members of the Gondwanan family commonly known as southern frogs. Morans Falls track — 4.4km return (Allow about 1.5 hours walking time) Class 3 This track leaves the Lamington National Park Road 800m downhill from the Information Centre. Some parking is available at the track entrance. An excellent view of Morans Falls and Morans Creek gorge can be seen from the constructed lookout. Layers of ancient volcanic lava flows are also visible; the more resistant have formed small cliff-lines along the valley. Half-day walks in Binna Burra section Caves circuit — 5km return from Information Centre (Allow about 1.5 hours walking time) Class 4 From the Information Centre, this interesting track winds up through open forest and rainforest to emerge on the road near the Binna Burra Lodge road entrance. Alternatively, begin this track from the Binna Burra Lodge road entrance and return via Binna Burra Road. The track provides excellent views into the Coomera Valley and passes a large red cedar and fine specimens of other rainforest tree species. The major cliff line opposite is of a flow of rhyolite and deposits of boulders and ash (tuff) can be seen in overhanging caves. Possibly the largest intact stand of hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii can be seen along the Darlington Range. White-throated treecreepers, members of one of the oldest groups of songbirds, are frequently seen on this track. Koalas are often seen in open forest areas along the walk. Take care when walking down the bitumen road to return to the start of the circuit, especially on weekends when traffic is heavy. A self-guiding brochure for this circuit is available at the Information Centre, kiosk and Binna Burra Lodge. Rainforest circuit — 1.2km return (Allow about 30 minutes walking time) Class 2 For a quick introduction to the “typical” warm subtropical rainforest of Lamington, follow the Border Track for 500m, then branch right and return to the picnic area along the rainforest circuit track. Bowerbirds and catbirds are commonly heard. A self-guiding brochure produced by the Lamington Natural History Association (LNHA Inc.) is available at the Information Centre, campground kiosk and Binna Burra Lodge. Bellbird Lookout — 2km return (Allow about 1 hour walking time) Class 4 This track branches off the Ships Stern circuit and descends through rainforest and open forest before emerging suddenly at Bellbird Lookout – a natural lookout that has no handrails and is above a very high, steep cliff. (This lookout and most of the track is on Binna Burra Lodge land and is not part of the national park). Please keep children under close supervision and keep well away from the cliff edge. From here you get an excellent view of Ships Stern, Turtle Rock, Egg Rock and Numinbah Valley. This is a brilliant opportunity to view what millions of years of erosion, landslides and weathering have created. These continuing geological processes will continue to shape what you see before you. Hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii can be seen from the lookout, growing on the exposed northern slopes. Harvesting of hoop pine and red cedar Toona ciliata led to the initial European settlement and ultimate clearing of Numinbah Valley for agriculture. Tullawallal circuit — 5km return (Allow about 1.5 hours walking time) Class 3 Visit the most accessible cool temperate rainforest in Lamington and the closest patch of this forest type to Binna Burra. Leave the Border Track 1.9km from the track entrance and follow a short sidetrack to Tullawallal. The pocket of Antarctic beech Nothofagus moorei on the summit is the northernmost location of this species in Australia. These trees are one of our remaining links with the ancient forests of Gondwana. Nothofagus forests were once widespread across the continent and provided a habitat for many animals that have long since disappeared from our landscape. From Tullawallal, return to the track junction and continue the circuit via the Loop Track to Binna Burra. Gwongoorool track — 6km return from Information Centre (Allow about 2 hours walking time) Class 4 This track branches off the Illinbah circuit (see below) and descends past cliffs of volcanic ash (tuff), through open forest and rainforest to Gwongoorool Pool on the Coomera River. The river is important habitat (as are all of Lamington’s streams) for hylid frogs (tree frog family), freshwater crays and the eastern water dragon. Return via same track. (Illinbah circuit begins at the carpark near the Information Centre). Lower Bellbird circuit — 12km return (Allow about 4 hours walking time) Class 4 This track branches off the Ships Stern circuit 3.7km from the track entrance. The track passes through a patch of dry rainforest, regarded as an example of the rise of the “dry adapted” flora now widespread in Australia. Follow the track below Bellbird Lookout and emerge at Egg Rock clearing, part of a former dairy farm. The circuit returns via the Binna Burra Road. (If you choose to return via Caves track, this adds 1.6km to the walk). Daves Creek circuit — 12km return (Allow about 4 hours walking time) Class 4 To see a fascinating variety of forest and heath, branch off the Border Track 2.3km from the entrance and descend through the head of Nixons Creek Valley out into Daves Creek country. The track passes through several distinctive vegetation types: warm and cool subtropical rainforest along the Border Track; warm temperate rainforest containing many examples of ancient angiosperms such as coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum in Nixons Creek’s headwaters; and wet sclerophyll forest with giant New England ash Eucalyptus campanulata around Nagarigoon clearing. NPWS Class 4 Distinct tracks with junctions sign-posted, rough track surfaces with some exposed roots and rocks. Variable in width; muddy sections, steep grades and steps may be encountered. May be extensively overgrown; hazards such as fallen trees and rockfalls likely to be present. Caution needed at creek crossings, cliff edges and naturally occurring lookouts. Moderate fitness level with previous experience and ankle-supporting footwear strongly recommended.