DAY WALK
NORTHBROOK GORGE
17th January 2010
Hilary Pearl

Wivenhoe Lookout was a cacophony of motorbikes, leather jackets, bikies, and noise, as we arrived to discover that our meeting place for the Northbrook Gorge walk coincided with well over 100 vintage motorcycles meeting for an annual ride.

Twenty two NPA walkers eventually managed to find each other, organise a car shuffle and start the descent down the slope to Northbrook Creek. It was a shady, but steep walk, with lots of plants, fungi, mosses and the occasional snake to see, but a highlight was a rainforest glade with an understorey of massed white flowering orchids.

After morning tea by the creek we rock hopped our way down to the rocky gorge, and enjoyed conversation and lunch. Then the real fun began, with the wonderful refreshing swims through a series of steep-sided canyons. It was entertaining to see the variety of methods people used to keep their gear dry! Eventually we left the creek and walked up the short steep track to our cars. It was a lovely relaxing way to spend a hot summer Sunday.

DAY WALK
COOMERA CIRCUIT
Saturday 6th February.
Ann Ingham

Fourteen of us set out on this very beautiful walk from Binna Burra. One of the prettiest walks in the Lamington NP, the rain forest was at its best after considerable rain over the past few weeks. We were to experience more of this as the walk progressed.

The waterfalls and the blue crayfish were the best many of us have seen; the crayfish migrating in a stream from one waterfall to the next. We had to be careful not to step on them. The helmholtzia lilies were gleaming in the rain and the Christmas orchids in flower. The new fronds of ferns glowing pink were a photographer’s delight as they were covered with raindrops. This is the way we love to see the rainforest!!

The rocks at the creek crossing were quite slippery so we crossed with care. An early lunch spent perched on rocks at one of the best waterfalls was interrupted by rain which quickly became heavy and indeed torrential. Record time was set on the return to Binna Burra in the increasing rain.

This was a first walk for a new member and he was enthusiastic in his enjoyment of the whole experience. Once again, an enjoyable walk spent with like-minded people.

Members enjoy rock hopping during the Coomera Trip