by Don R » Mon 10 Nov, 2014 3:18 pm
Hello again,
The choices boil down (very appropriate in the current weather) to:
1. Base camp with interesting day walks;
2. Overnight or longer walks with swimming and other diversions but limited distance and minimal navigational requirements.
As the rest of the contributors point out, the Lamington area is a good choice for #1 above. Stay at O'Reillys and there are numerous good walks, albeit with limited swimming potential (Blue Pool is probably the best for swimming although the track it joins,West Canungra Creek circuit, was closed earlier this year). As alluded to in my previous post, through walking (i.e. overnight walking and camping) is prohibited after 1 December in Lamington. An alternative is the Border Ranges, especially Sheepstation Creek. If you wish to base camp at Sheepstation Creek there are a couple of good track walks there which involve water or good views (e.g. Brindle Creek, Grady's Creek, Tweed Pinnacle). Very picturesque,easy for kids, sufficient water, rainforest scenery, all in all nice country. Good views from the lookouts to Mt Warning etc. Dirt road accessible in just about all conditions by conventional wheeled vehicles.
Re Noosa River and bull sharks that is a personal decision, I swam there last in October and have done so for 30 years without a problem. As far as I am aware there has never been an attack on a swimmer (may be wrong !).If you have any qualms about that, its your call. What can be fun for kids is to hire some kayaks / canoes from Elanda Point, have them delivered to Harry's Hut, drive in there and you can paddle upstream, walk up the sand blow and generally enjoy "the serenity". The river is dead flat at that point and is perfectly easy to paddle. However if you are anxious about swimming that is probably not your preference.
Re Dingos on Fraser. They can be a risk if your behaviour around them encourages them. Keep food scraps in a sealed plastic bag, preferably away from your campsite (suspending up a tree would do the trick). I have done a lot of walking on the island and can recommend seeing the sights, the smaller Lakes north of Boomanijin are great, Lake McKenzie is touristy but beautiful and the smaller Coomboyo Lakes are good too (pardon my spelling).Boomanijin is behind a high dingo proof fence (probably would stop zombies as well....).
Re the Conondales, sorry to say at this year it would be pretty hot, the creeks are subject to being dry or stricken with algae, and the circular route is relatively long and, having done quite a bit of it over the years, probably a little repetitive and dull.If you decide on the Conondales, ring the Ranger for info on the quality of the creeks (I have walked between two of the Conondales' highlights,the Breadknife and the bottom of Boulomba Creek,one year and it was all a horrid algae filled mess).
I am working on the assumptions that going west of the Main Range is pointless due to heat and dryness (fires recently at Ballandean) so Girraween, Sundown, Main Range etc are out. At this time of year, bushwalker stay away from the high peaks, scrubby walks, and aim for the cooler higher altitude rainforest.It is not the best time of year to come to South East Queensland for bushwalking, unless you are in a) rainforest or b) on a river.
If you want to see photos of any of these places, drop me a line.
Enjoy the trip and do not hesitate to ask any queries.