Map of the Trip-July-Aug 2013

Photos of all the Trip and this Text

Left Brisbane around 1.30pm for our first trip with the Outback and van. Outback pulled the van quite easily, but there wasn't any wind to speak of. The car seemed to pull to the left as one stage, but maybe it was the cambre of the road.

Boreen Point is a sleepy little town with a pub and general store on Lake Cootharaba (the big lake the widens in the middle of the Noosa River). Didn't do much that afternoon, by the time we set up it was getting late and it was very windy and the water choppy. 'A few showers' doesn't mean the same on the coast as it does at Forestdale where we had had some lovely sunny days the last few days with the same forecast. We got a couple of bouts of light rain that evening but it wasn't a big a problem. The ground was a little muddy though. Our water tap pump device over the sink broke so we couldn't get access to our van drinking water. Luckily we had a couple of empty bottles and the camp ground has tank water for drinking (bore water for showering). No-one believes me when I say those empty bottles might come in handy. We were just pleased the tap didn't break when we were on our Alice Springs round trip.

Woke to a lovely morning. Guy in another van said the last few days had been windy and rainy. Fingers crossed. We decided to go for a paddle early in case the wind came up. Where the camping area is, there is a long narrow stretch of sandy beach, so after about a 100mtr walk from the van, we easily launched the kayak only having to contend with sand instead of the usual mud. The wind started up and it was a little difficult, but we were with the tide sort of. Paddled across the channel to the other side of the lake (about 2.5km wide) where it was all mangroves (and national park) protected from the wind, lovely, peaceful just drifting amongst or near the vegetation. Beyond that stretch of National Park is the ocean. Paddled a little more into the Noosa River itself, crossed to the other side to head back and followed the bank for a while, birdlife, found a large creek, then headed back directly across the lake again. Total round trip 6km. My arms and wrists certainly got a workout. Weather was mild around 22 degrees and mostly cloudy, but pleasant so we didn't ever get hot paddling. Later walked a circuit of the town (4km) and found a bush track short cut from the historic pub back to the camping area. We checked out the free tennis courts, skatboard enclosure, BMX track and open playing fields just behind the camping area, all of which is surrounded by national park. Soon the wind had got up just like yesterday afternoon, so there is a trend there.

Camping area is generally nice. Some of the powered sites a little close to each other (including ours) (best site for next time is Site 5)(we had site 8 where the car and awning ropes were on the road). $28pn powered (no water connection or sullage). Showers, cleaned but need a good scrub. Lovely hot water. Code locked. Grounds very treed with mostly paperbarks. Lovely setting by the lake (except when it's windy). Bit muddy as they had had some rain recently (the Sunshine Coast ALWAYS gets rain). Overall, a lovely environment.

Mostly sunny morning, a little breezy. Had a late breakfast and went for a walk along the lake foreshore until the track ran out into the paperbark swamp. Really nice with Banksias, Eucalypts, Tea Tree, some remnant Mangroves and of course Paperbarks providing shade all along the shoreline and lovely whiteish sand. In the afternoon, we went for a drive to see a couple of lookouts. Stopped at Elanda Point to check out the camping. Non-powered sites only, $10pp, huge expanse of lawn leading down to lake (not sure if vans allowed - no-one answered the bell when I rang at the office/store). No trees. On the road in to Elanda point we stopped at the launching ramp (in the National Park through Paperbark forest) and a spot where lots of walks start from within the National Park. Recognised we'd done one of the walks years before. Maybe next time we'll do a longer walk. Followed the official Trail map which was not accurate and sent us on a wild goose chase. We did fine a high bit and then the other official lookout both with beautiful views of Sunshine Coast hinterland and Cooloola National Park (or is it the Great Sandy National Park? they all seem to blend in together) andway the Lake, National Park, Noose in the distance and some of the Glass House Mountains to the west. We got to go up and down some quite steep unmade roads and I felt confident in the Outback as opposed to the handwringing in the Falcon (my hand-wringing NOT Geoff's who has confidence in all things dicey).

We thought the weather would improve, but it was very windy this morning. We went for another walk into the township, back up the bush track towards the pub, diverted to another bush track, came up behind the pub, kept going and found ourselves back down into the open playing fields behind the camping area. Kept walking toward the main road, did a loop back through the town and down to the launching ramp on the northern side of the point. Sign says best to canoe in the mornings as the afternoons get windy - so it's official not just chance regards the winds. It was much calmer that side. Came back to camp and had lunch. Geoff couldn't resist feeding the Butcher Bird who then sat like a Vulure on our awning waiting for his chance to swoop and grab my toasted sandwich. Of course then the Ducks got wind of the feeding and the only way to get rid of them is to run towards them where they waddle just out of arms reach, until you get puffed. As it was our last day here, we went for another paddle with just two hours of daylight left and the wind still blowing. We headed north to the point and then around the point away from wind where it became pleasant instead of a struggle and followed the bank which had a strip of natural parkland all the way around. There were heaps of Pelicans floating, standing on rocks just under the water (our early warning submerged hazard warning) and on an old pontoon as if they owned it. We past a couple of large houses and then into the National Park where we beached in a tiny sandy patch backed by more natural paperbark swamp forest. We paddled back, dispersing the Pelicans as we went, into the wind and made it back as the last glimpses of sunlight were at the tree tops. So be paddled back out into the lake to catch the sun until it had disappeared fully behind the trees. During the evening I felt an itchy lump on my back and Geoff took a photo - yes, another tick.

A very still, sunny morning (probably the best we'd had). We packed up headed south to see what we could see at Lake McDonald (Between Tewantin [near Noosa] and Cooroy as we think there is the Noosa Botanic Gardens and a scout camp that takes the public. Stopped at a nursery on the road into Tewantin but no bamboo, diverted to see Lake Coorinbah which was no better than Lake Cootharaba where we had stayed, it had only a very small launching ramp, no sandy beaches, muddy shore, a small car park which was difficult to turn the van so we didn't stay long. Got into Tewantin, bought a few groceries as Geoff was determined to stay somewhere for the last two nights. We had reception so we rang the scout camp, but only an answering machine. Plan B was to do stuff today then maybe stop at Jowarra Park at the Caloundra turn off tonight. We walked along the Noosa River bank to the wharf and the shops and went into the gallery, walked back and bought some proper tweezers (for ticks) which we'd forgotten to take. Headed out of Tewantin and found a turn off to a lookout - Mt. Timbeerwah. Magnificant views of Noosa and the Hinterland. Halfway up the lookout track, lady from the scouts rang back so we booked in for two nights, yeeh. (Bookings essential and too far off the main road to do a pass by). As they didn't take credit card we still had to go into Cooroy and get cash and then back to book in. Camp Cooroora (scout camp). Large grassed open area surrounded by trees. Overlooks Lake Macdonald with access for canoes. Amenities definitely seen better days, but new pans and washing sinks/taps and very hot water (make sure you press the timer light button before having a shower). $12pp pn powered ($24pn for us). Fantastic sunset. We were a bit away from the amenities but chose a patch of grass closer to the power pole nearer the lake where we'd get more sun in the morning and afternoon. A bit of a walk to the amenities and lugging drinking water but not too bad.

It was cooler last night (being away from the coast a little). Sunny, till morning and no wind up until 9.30am - advantage of being inland. Very, very dewy last night. We could have paddled to the Botanic Gardens, but walked around the lake instead. Before we left for our walk Geoff discovered just behind the power pole were water taps, a bit late, but no more 200mtr walks for water. We connected up to the tap and then started our 7.5km round trip to the Botanic Gardens. Geoff got directions from the cleaning guy, but somehow got muddled up. We were looking for two large rocks and a path and to keep to the left. After walking up the road a little, we found 20 large rocks and a path to the left - deadend, back we came and found a path to our right, a very narrow track with high grass bounding the treatment plant. Luckily it eventually joined a decent path through the bush, we kept to the left and eventually found our way. Had a nice time at the Botanic Gardens, but there were not many plant names so a little dissapointed, but lovely just the same. Had lunch, fought off the Butcher Birds again and headed back. We came to the same fork we'd come to previously and not wanting to get lost (Geoff said that track leads us down a valley and away from where we want to go) we went back along the narrow, grassy, tick-ridden track, out to the main road and back about 100mtrs to the turn off to the scout camp. As we turned into the camp road I looked across the road and there they were, 2 LARGE ROCKS AND A PATH hmmmm - the same track we had avoided because WE believed it took us in the wrong direction. Went paddling in the afternoon - only did 2kms then sat and drifted in the late afternoon sun much of the time watching the water birds. A nice day today, clouded up in the afternoon, but very little wind (a bit on the water) and stayed warm to mild all day. Friday night, chips night.

Headed home today. Lovely day. Stopped at Browns Creek rest area just north of Yandina, where we had stayed overnight another time. Just a bollarded ring road, but was full (except for 1 spot). Had lunch on the grass headed off towards Maroochy Botanical Gardens. No wonder we couldn't find it on our last trip. You need to leave the highway very early, follow local roads, then under the freeway and around some more windy local roads. Was worth the trip, very nice. Found a nice flat paved car park. Lovely stone sculptures. The whole place is built on a hillside. Left late afternoon and stopped in at the Ewen Maddock dam not far off the Steve Irwin Way. Was also worth the stop, but as the sun was going down it got quite cool. Nice picnic area with a board walk and walking tracks, but no bush to speak of. Also stopled off at Mt Tibrogargan Lookout, one of the Glass House Mountains on the way home.. The last day is alwasy the best time to do a full day sightseeing as I don't need to worry about finding somewhere to stay early. It was dark when we got home.

All in all, a nice week away, plenty of paddling and the weather held off to be not too bad.