Whale Watching

Quick Update

On Saturday 13th September 2008,  Maria and I went whale watching off Moreton Island with Maria's Parents and work colleages. Some photos of the day can be seen in the gallery. 

Many pods of Humpback Whales were around us but we stayed with one pod for the whole day. The whales weren't very active initially an d spent most of the submerged for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, but as the day went on they did seem to get more active and spent more time on the surface.

Gallery, Slide Show. 

Mt Maroon Hike, 6th September

We (Nick, Dionne, Trent and the two of us) all headed down to Mt Maroon (near Rathdowney/Beaudesert) early Saturday morning, all squeezing into Dionne’s Car from Nick’s place.

Mt Maroon from the car park

Now this walk was much different to Mt Warning last month, and you could tell that straight away, just by the only other solitary car in the parking lot (there were about 40 cars at Mt Warning).

The last couple of days we had had some heavy down pours of rain, which worked to our advantage, as it is normally very dry and dusty. It was a beautiful day except for being a bit windy.

The first section of the walk was mainly straight up the mountain, no real track or signage (glad it wasn’t Nick’s first time), we had wonderful views no matter where we were.

The next section was a plateau, going around the outcrop, where we got to appreciate our surroundings.

Then next was the straight up rock scramble, then we had a little break where we got to appreciate the view and the tiny white wild flowers.

Then a 10 minute walk up the granite and we were at the top – it was blowy, but the view was magnificent, we sheltered on one side and had lunch for 30minutes.

Finally at the top, Mt Barney in the distance

We then did it all in reverse, the best hike we have done so far – highly enjoyable – just don’t do in the rain. Took us 2 and half hours up, 2 hours down.

We finished off the day with a beer and a massive serve of chips and gravy at the Rathdowney Pub




Gallery, Slide Show

24th Aug 08 – Mt Warning Hike

Mt Warning is located about 45minutes south of the Tweed Coast, so New South Wales Territory.

We picked a perfect day for a hike, it was lovely and clear and warm.

We picked up Mark and Sue on the way through at Oxenford.

Nick, Dionne, Phil, “super calves” Rob and a hung over Trent all joined us at the carpark. Which was very busy.

The Warning path is very well maintained, all the way up. Most of the walk is under the canopy of tree’s so not much danger of sunburn (except at the top).

Mt Warning is approx 1200m high, so you need some fitness. 1/3 of the track is mainly steps. 1/3 of the track is warn pathway and the last 1/3 is a scrambling up granite rock, there is a chaint o help – thankfully.

  

It takes about 2 hours to get up to the top, we all had lunch for about 30 minutes in the viewing area. It then takes about 1.30hrs to get back down.

Looking South

 

View Towards Byron Bay (needed my camera filters)

We all stopped off at the “Budda Belly” coffee shop, we had seen on the way, we crawled in for a coffee and cake.

Then home for a nice bath!!!

Gallery, Slide Show