Mount Clunie

Hervey Bay to Brisbane

28 October - 2 November 2017

After our fabulous and relaxing time on Lady Elliot Island it was back on the plane for our return flight to Hervey Bay where we stayed the night before heading to Brisbane. We were to have a few days with daughter Jo before setting off again.

We were looking for reported Painted Snipe but did not find them. A consolation Wandering Whistling-Duck.

As well as spending time with Jo and the obligatory shopping trips, we ventured south towards the Gold Coast for a visit to the Arundel Wetland which is part of the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area. This open space in the middle of the suburbs features walking tracks and boardwalk. Unfortunately one section was being upgraded and closed when we visited. We did walk the available tracks, which are well made and level. Venturing onto a less well made track through some longer grasses resulted in an encounter with a rather large red-bellied black snake. Needless to say we beat a hasty retreat.

Mount Clunie Cabins

2 - 5 November 2017

After 4 nights in Brisbane, we headed for Mount Clunie Cabins near Woodenbong, on the New South Wales side of the Border Ranges. We had visited here about twenty years ago when the girls were very young and had always wanted to return, so this was our opportunity. After leaving the city we made our way along the Mount Lindsey Highway with a stop at Jimboomba for lunch and some shopping. We continued on until we reached Woodenbong, then drove the 10 kilometres to the turn off to the cabins. The cabins (there are two) are on a cattle property that is nestled on the edge of world heritage rainforest area. Mount Clunie National Park is one of a series of parks in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland that protect remnant Gondwana rainforest.

Welcome Swallows nesting under the cabin eaves.

Crimson Rosella taken from the verandah.

Our cabin.

The Border Ranges in the distance.

View from the verandah.

Part of Fran and Jim's wonderful native garden.

Hosts Fran and Jim welcomed us warmly and explained the working of the cabin which has no electricity connected – it is powered by gas (stove, fridge and lights). There is also a wood fire for colder nights, which we didn’t need.  There are a number of walks on the property and into the national park. Some years ago Fran and Jim were successful in obtaining a government grant to fence off and preserve four sections of the property to allow the rainforest to be maintained in perpetuity. Some of the walks take in these sections, while the one we went on travelled along an old logging track in the Mount Clunie National Park.

We chose the Condamine View walk which leaves the property and continues into the National Park along old logging tracks. There are a number of junctions with other walks, all of which have markers also shown on the map which was provided. The track was reasonably easy with some uphill sections, followed of course by downhills.

Four-bar Swordtail

Another new bird for me, Glossy Black-Cockatoo.

Feeding quietly on casuarina fruit these parrots can be hard to spot.

In addition to the walks, a key feature of the property is the extensive native garden that Fran has spent more than 20 years creating and nurturing. Guests are welcome to wander the garden and sit on the verandah, which we did each afternoon. As a keen bird watcher Fran was able to provide details of the many visitors - some we saw, some we didn't. Sitting quietly looking towards the pond was certainly a lovely way to end the day.

Lots of Eastern Spinebills enjoy the bounty of Fran's garden but they are still very hard to photograph.

A Noisy Friarbird feeding on a banksia flower.

On leaving Mount Clunie, Fran suggested a drive that would take us to a rainforest picnic spot in Tooloom National Park. There is a nice picnic area with a covered table and chairs, as well as a toilet. There is a short, easy walk through the rainforest and another to a lookout with fabulous views across the ranges.  It was such a nice spot we stayed for morning tea and lunch. At lunch we were joined by some other travellers who suggested a stop at Tooloom Falls which is further down the road towards Urbenville. We made a quick stop there - it was very crowded on this Sunday, but looked like a nice camp spot. We made a later stop at Kyogle and were pleasantly surprised to find the Visitor Information Centre and adjacent coffee shop open on a Sunday afternoon. There was also some local produce for sale.

There are some great birds to be found around the Border Ranges area. I was after Glossy Black-Cockatoos and came up trumps. I was also hoping to find Albert's Lyrebird but dipped out. They breed in winter so I'll try again next time. Black-breasted Button-quail are also in the area but I saw none this time. We did hear Paradise Riflebird. Mick

A Yellow-throated Scrubwren forages on a mossy log.

Eastern Yellow Robin at the picnic spot.

A brief glimpse of a noisy Pitta on the walk.

Tooloom Falls looked like a popular camping spot.

We decided to spend a night in Nimbin because we had never been there before and because of its proximity to Nightcap National Park. We chose a motel a little way out of town which was in the hills with some nice views. On Monday morning we ventured into Nimbin town for a look around and to buy a few things. I was disappointed by this well-known counter culture mecca. I found it grubby and not very welcoming. We did find a decent coffee shop for morning tea before setting of for Nightcap National Park.

Some wallabies grazed behind the motel.

The weather hadn't been great over the previous few days, with overnight thunderstorms most nights in the general area, so we were lucky when the clouds cleared and the sun shone for us. Nightcap National Park is accessed from mostly narrow and windy roads, but nothing too extreme. We took the first turn we saw into the park which we found out later was the longer way. Never mind, it was a nice drive on the unsealed road. Nightcap National Park is another part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

We eventually made our way to Minyon Falls picnic area and lookout. We were very surprised to find it so crowded on a Monday morning out of school holidays. We took the short walk to look at the falls but didn't attempt the longer (4km) Boggy Creek Walk. There are a number of other walks in the park. We decided to check out the Rummery Park Campground a few kilometres down the road and ended up spending some time there. We walked a little way along the the Boggy Creek Walk and had lunch in the picnic area. This would be a nice place to camp in future - there are lots of grassy tent sites and a small number (about 8) sites suitable for camper trailers and campervans. There toilets, picnic tables and barbecues. This is one of the NSW National Parks where bookings are required, so you do need to plan ahead.

A disheveled looking Varied Sword-grass Brown at the campground.

Minyon Falls

After a pleasant visit to Nightcap National Park we headed back towards the coast and our next stop -  Byron Bay.