Mt Cordeaux
| Byron Bay
| Birra Burra - Lamington NP
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Part 2 - December 2025 - Local Exploration
The plan was to buy a 2nd family car, but until that search was complete whilst Hamish was working I took him into work when I needed the use of the main one, at 6am. What surprised me was how busy it was at such an early time, and not just with commuters but people out exercising. Sunrise is 4am but it's dark by 6.30pm, there is no day light saving, which I found perplexing....and exercise, even beach time is often done very early.
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I couldn't venture too far, as Hamish generally needed collecting at 2pm. So using my new friend ChatGPT I researched places of interest in the immediate vicinity.
Firstly though, I'd already bought tickets for my first ever top class cricket event. The fourth day of the 2nd Ashes Test at the Gabba. As the first test bizarrely only lasted 2 days in Perth, there was every chance we may not have made it! Suffice to say it did struggle into the 4th day, so Hamish and I set off (after watching Sienna's dance group perform, which sent shivers down my spine from back in the day!). So to a blisteringly hot Gabba, and facing the sun we watched Australia eventually defeat a gallant England after less than 6 hours. Not going to say I'd rush back to first class cricket, for a number of reasons, but the fact the bowlers bowled so fast you couldn't see the ball! ✅️ first class cricket done
Coolongata - Snapper Rocks
| Yallow Robin
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So, back to those LOCAL PLACES OF INTEREST:
1. Botanical Gardens
2. Schuster Park
3. Eddie Kornhauser Reserve
4. David Fleahy Wildlife Park
5. Columbin Wildlife Centre
6. Curumbin Rock Pools
7. Coombahbah Wetlands
8. Snapper Rocks (NSW)
9. Mudgeeraba Hinterland Reserve
All worth a visit in their own right. Schuster and Eddie K became my go to chill areas (in fact writing this at Eddie K) practically opposite each other along side the Tallebudgera Creek (brackish, no one swimming...bull sharks (in my brain, no evidence!)). Columbin Wildlife is a purpose made large family based wildlife centre, together with an ubiquitous kids train (which of course we all went on 🙄) with all the usual Aussie animals and birds....bit open ish zoo like...I preferred the David Fleahy site, less a theme park, more emphasis on the wildlife.
Moogerah Dam
| Mt Cordeaux & Bare Rock
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Coombahbah to the north, is a natural wetland with mangrove and acres of eucalyptus- we saw a few wild koalas there and plenty of kangaroos.
Wherever I went I took my wildlife camera, and got some quite nice photos although often birds could be heard but not seen....especially in the rain forest....see later.
Snapper rocks is to the south, a promintory into the sea, giving a dramatic coastal affect to the nearby sandy surf beaches at Coolongata in NSW.
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The Gold Coast urban areas are along quite a narrow coastal strip (that originally were lagoons and marsh) but quite quickly the lower reaches of the rain forest (mainly eucalyptus trees) are reached when heading west, and the terrain climbs up....in fact the communities in this immediate hinterland are more organically evolved with some history from mining, to forestry to agriculture....a perfect example being the district the family reside in, Mudgeeraba with a clear village feel to its centre....also Bonogin and Reedy Creek - all affectively in the lower reaches of the rain forest, in very rolling terrain....
That Rain Forest
| Final Scramble - Mt Maroon
| Hastings Point NSW
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PLACES OF INTEREST
1. Tambourine Mountain
2. Springbrook National Park
3. Binna Burra & Lamington NP
4. O'Reillys Rainforest Retreat
5. Currumbin Valley
7. Numinbah Valley & Hinze Dam
Finally picking up a trusty Subaru 4wd workhorse for $10k (130km on clock), I was free to start travelling further afield....
Tambourine Mountain is NOT a mountain, it's a big hill coated in rain forest, it sure is a steep ascent to get up to the community and where you can see a view in just one roadside spot...the GC below is quite impressive. But that became a point or even an issue - this whole area is thick extensive sub tropical rain forest, with minimal opportunities for any views. Similarly though to NZ, the locals love their bush walking. In fact I walked most of a trail at Binni Burra with a local couple, and they'd done this circuit over ten times....WHY? Except for the rare exception we were immersed in trees all the time....this pattern became the norm. With Linda we drove all the way to Springbrook and another occasion to O'Reillys, it became a standard joke, "oh look, more trees!". Interestingly at O'Reillys where the birds of prey demo took place, the bush had been cut right back, with excellent views to the more mountainous looking terrain in the west...I spent more time soaking in that view than the BS about Reg the eagle!
Dragon Lizard
| Binni Burra - Lamington NP - The "Bush"
| Springbrook NP
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So this was the pattern for this hinterland to the GC, perhaps I needed to explore further west, to where those mountains were whilst I ignored Reg the eagle!
NSW and I'm a Celebrity!
I did a few drive excursions, following my nose basically with an idea of a direction, which included driving down the Currumbin Valley and eventually over the tops to drop down on to the sugar cane plantations of NSW, near Murwillumbah....but before I decided to check out a trailhead for a possible future hike....this was (incorrectly) up Dungay Creek Road. All seemed quite normal at first, but after a few km the typical single dirt road started displaying security warnings, eventually to a formidable STOP ALL VEHICLE sign. A burly chap wandered over and politely me informed me it was a private road, a farm road with lots of cattle?? Anyhow, I didn't argue and span around, to soon learn it was the route to the ITV series I'm A Celebrity!! I was half expecting Ant & Dec to wander up the lane having a bit of timeout!
With Linda, on another excursion we went further southwards into NSW to visit the hippy community of Nimbim, all pretty predictable and very chilled, with all the usual dope smoking paraphernalia on sale on and off the street - we bought some gummies (THC) but on later taking them, think they were more probably strawberry pastels! We returned via Byron Bay, another location with a cool dude, surfer, camper attitude reputation but it was no different to Burleigh, just full mainly of "regular" types....maybe it's past reputation has sold it out!
CHAPGPT: "Tell me if any decent mountain scenery with less bush within 2 hours"
1. Mount Barney NP
2. Main Range NP
3. Border Ranges NP
So off I set, heading for the Mount Barney range, just under 2 hours....stopping first at the gateway to the Scenic Rim, Rathdowney...... the Scenic Rim being a route around the above parks, very old volcanic morphology....part of what was the massive Tweed Volcano. The mountain scenery was definitely much more dramatic, although rain forest was still plentiful.
The standout peak from a distance was the extinct volcanic plug of Mt Lindesay, although unfortunately to scale it required rock climbing kit. On this first visit, I decided to scale Mt Maroon in the Barney range....I didn't arrive until 2pm and the signage was warning that if it was any later than 10am, turn back! Also it estimated 5 hour round trip....suffice to say, I walked mainly through bush, rather direct and steep with numerous rock steps. Not sure I would term it UK grade 1 scrambling, until the last section, which was up a steep (tree filled of course) gulley....there were a number of openings where decent views could be seen...but these were rare.
Dragon / Monitor Lizard
| Red Parrot
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However, I wasn't at the top, and there were less than 3 hours of daylight left....with those warnings in mind at the trail head, and how remote I was....I decided to return.
Pelicanr
| Hampshire Point NSW
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In retrospect I had plenty of time, and soon learnt to scale right down all the estimates and warnings at trail heads....annoyed me a little....so....
Not long after, I decided to return, and chose Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock in the Main Range....pleased I did it, but I'd say in 4 hours of hiking excluding the two summit stop offs, except for about 15 mins I was totally immersed in rain forest....the views were OK, although mainly rain forest, of course....I attempted to jog most of the descent, simply to get out of the friggin bush asap!
From Mt Cordeaux
| Mt Mitchell
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The weather also impacted immediate plans to fly to Cairns for a scuba break, and also a proposed road trip north of Brisbane, including the Glass House Mountains....but probably first a visit to Sydney to catch up with Jamie....😊
Happy New Year! 🎉👍
MOUNT BARNEY! 7th Jan 2026
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Setting my alarm for 5am, I was at the trailhead by 7.30am, Yellowpinch. Set off with some admitted trepidation, as the SE Ridge is particular notorious and challenging with unfortunate fatalities through the years. I expected a smattering of other hikers attempting to it but I was alone and really isolated on the whole hike. Suffice to say I didn't really enjoy it, in fairness I'm spoilt with the compact open and stunningly dramatic challenges that even just the UK offers, and I guess the locals have no choice, so this is one of their ultimate challenges. I was out for over eight hours, and the return down the "Peasants" or South Ridge through gnarly dense rain forest with plentiful very slow rocky challenging descents was painfully slow...even eventually reaching a fire track, it took another 90 mins to get to the carpark, through nothing but dense bush....anyway the ascent.
I did put a GPX on Komoot, but on a phone, as previously learnt you can be 50m left or right, although I did recover the trail several times. I wore long trousers for the first time on these hikes, after research on snakes, leeches and mites! The start was steady through forest and although at 8am it was still only in the low 20s, the humidity had me pouring with sweat...my trousers were soaked, and I even rolled them up! Advice was to take 6L of water, especially in Summer, I had about 3.5L, and was concerned I'd drink it too early.
Eventually I met the final steep ascent to the base of the ridge and the multiple relentless crag challenges...most of the routes were clear, but a handful of times, faced with a cliff and not being 100% certain of which route to take, it was slightly worrying. A chosen ascent may initially be "only" a tough scramble, but what would I do if that became a full on rock climb initially not visible. Reversing back down would be treacherous and risky. As a consequence I took what I thought, I may have gone the right way, but without that confidence it was a little unsettling...occasionally had to do some slightly risky moves (relying on a foot push up without real hand connection is not a choice I'd normally make, and I only had my HOKA trail shoes on 🙄).
Suffice to say I reached the summit, which again was super gnarly. The views were OK, with sight of the sporadic remnants of other volcanoes scattered far and wide, with the ubiquitous rain forest covering everywhere.
Just before the summit a snake popped out on the path, I think, but only in retrospect a harmless Carpet Python, but I wasn't to know....🤷♂️ I thought it was a venomous Tiger Snake...anyhow that set in my mind possibly more to follow (a reason locals avoid the Summer). So I started my descent, very carefully and slowly, telling myself each step was a step closer to my car...and hoping I didn't encounter another slippery one! I didn't fortunately.
| Mt Lindesay- rock climbing ascent only
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Just need to check out the Glass House Mountains to the north of Brisbane. Isolated volcanic relics, challenging short sharp ascents, but first 5 nights in Sydney to catch up with Jamie...👍😍
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