Scenic Rim Walk

The tour company that we are doing the walk with, will pick you up in Brisbne, but because we have George with us, we are meeting them at Beaudesert.  We  have a painless trip to the the Bean to ? Café, the bus is 15 mins late, they call us to let us know.  There are 8 people on the tour, Julie and Andrew who are also in their own transport and they are our age and they live most of their time in Gerringong NSW, but have a Sydney apartment in Cronulla.  Then there is John and Linda, they are academics one specialising in International Politics and the other in International green business.  Yawn. And last but by no means least there are the Sisters Tracey and Tony.  Tracey lives on a farm in Young with her hubby and is here with her sister Tony (whom I keep calling Tracey) - Tony lives in Lane Cover right near us in Sydney.

We now follow the bus to the start of our first walk. The Scenic Rim is a chain of forested mountain ranges forming an expansive quarter-circle ridge, that is part of the Great Dividing Range. The imposing rim of mountain ranges date back millions of years when they were created by volcanic activity. This activity caused the region's lush flora and fauna to flourish and provided fertile grounds for rainforests to prosper. The region boasts 6 National Parks with 4 of these National Parks declared World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest of Australia areas. This 3-day pack free walk explores three of the most spectacular locations of the Scenic Rim including Main Range National Park, Moogereh Peaks National Park and the impressive Mount Barney.  

Today the first of the regions we visit in the stunning Scenic Rim is the spectacular Mount Barney National Park. Today’s walk features magnificent scenery everywhere and you will be entranced by the bushland, crystal clear rock pools and pretty waterfalls of this area. We will visit the stunning Cronon Creek Falls on Yellow Pinch trail. that is the sales pitch - now for my view!!  

For the first 1km we climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed until we had ascended 460m via a steep uneven, rocky screed hill, once at the top.  I was absolutely knackered, puffing and panting.  John kept asking me my heart rate and telling me how much lower his was (face pull).  But I was relieved when our guide told us that was the climb over - then the rest of the walk was pretty gentle, over streams and rockpools as described in the brochure.  Tracy had a tumble and hurt her elbow and out came the first aid kit - I must say the Guides on our walk, Helena and Ray were AMAZING.  After Tracey was all bandaged up we continued on.  We did not summit Mount Barney as it is a very difficult climb - I am think thank goodness for that!  The rest of the track was on a fire trail called Yellowpinch and we landed up at Cronon Creek Falls, which was lovely.  Not sure what was morely lovely, the falls or the fact that I could sit down.  My shoes were great considering they were new (I had walked in them around the house and Waverton), and my new endurance socks were working a treat.  I was wearing my leggings as I thought they would be the best for avoiding any chafing on a 3 day hike.  We learned about the 3 explorers Allan Cunningham, Charles Fraser and Patrick Logan and that they were instrumental in connecting NSW and Queensland and establishing the trade routes.

Sadly the break was over and the re-traced our steps,  one of the stream crossings had another casualty where John (other John) took a tumble.  He hurt his ribs and John (hero John ) offered to take his backpack which was heavy and overweight.  My hero!  I was so proud that he was my husband, it was such a nice thing to do.  He then chatted and walked all the way with the injured John.  Oh, did I mention that I carried John's and my backpack down.?

All I could think of was how sore my knees were going to be climbing down the path on the way back.  Luckily I got some good advice on how to use walking sticks.  Did you know that they can take 70% of the load off your body up and down hills?  when going uphill you need to shorten them as you use them to leverage you up and the opposite for going down - if you lengthen them and use them to stabilise you journey down and they also take the load off.  As a result the descent was fine and my knees were okay.  But I was having a wardrobe issue with my leggings which, considering I wore them for comfort they were causing me quite an issue in my nether region! By the time I got down the mountain, I was on fire.

I was relieved that I had done the walk, I was relieved that my feet and knees were okay and I couldn't wait to see what was causing my other issue. We are staying at Mount French Lodge,  Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Mount French, the luxurious Mount French Lodge offers a unique and unparalleled experience of nature's beauty, tranquility, and exclusivity. The lodge features four beautifully appointed apartments.  We were both pleasantly surprised by the accommodation it was absolutely gorgeous - all-inclusive, help yourself to unlimited amounts of French Champagne, Cognac, you name it they had it.  The rooms had a kitchenette, with tea and coffee making facilities, TV, Fireplace, lounge, and upstairs there was a kingsize bed, with luscious linen, robes and towels, and a high pressured shower that is just delicious after a dusty day on the track. 

Although it is dark, the sun was setting as we arrived, the apartments offering stunning views of the Fassifern Valley and mountain ranges.  It reminds me a lot of Africa, with the flat-topped poinsettia trees.  Just heavenly.

A much needed shower, both John and I did feel like falling asleep, but we would miss dinner and we were starving.  After my shower and an inspection of the source of my fiery nether region, I had a welt that had sort of blistered, which is right where my knickers elastic rub.  I swear after I put knickers and jeans on - the only way I could walk without pain was to place my left foot at least 1.5m away from my right foot and walk like that.  It was ridiculous, there was no way I could go to dinner like that.  Even going bare back was no good.  John wears these bamboo boxer style undies, so I try those on - what a treat.  I could walk normally and we could go to dinner.

Dinner was nothing to write home about, but welcomed.  The ambience was lovely with the fantastic views across the Fassifern Valley and the roaring fire.  Our hosts James and Sophie were just lovely.  Everyone was so tired, we were all ready for bed by 9:30pm, I go to bed straight away but even though I am physically knackered, I cannot fall asleep.  Eventually, my last look at the clock was 11:30pm.  Bed was very comfortable and the view we woke up to was splendid.  Jaw dropping splendid!

Breakfast was at 7:30am, when we went to the main pavillion for breakfast, we found out that there was an emergency during the night, Tracey - who had had the fall on the walk had developed cellulitus during the night and had to be taken to the local hospital.  Her Sisyer Toni was staying with her - so they were not on the walk this morning.  Then John and Linda, came into Breakfast and said that John's ribs were really bruised, so they wouldnt be walking either.  Julie came in saying that her bliseters were too bad to walk, now there are 3! Andrew, John and myself.

The walk is a well-formed trail. It is a sustained, zig-zagging ascent and consequently a steady, steep descent. There are a few steps and some rocky, bouldery sections but nothing overly challenging.  The difficulty is that you go uphill for 6km, non-stop.  Firstly after 3km, we get to the top of Mount Cordeaux, with fantastic views across the Fassifern Valley towards Mount French and our lodgings.

I felt a bit weak going up the first section, think I got dehydrated, after a bit of sugar in the form of a nectarine and a good top-up of water - I was right as rain. Andrew has a dickie knee so he needs to rest every 2km and that suits me just fine.  We are walking through the Gondwana Rain Forest, it is really special when I think of it now. 500-year-old Artic pines, we learned about the Mushrooms being the NBN of the forest.  They are the fruit of the mycorrhizal network fungus, and connect trees through tiny threads called mycelium. In healthy forests, each tree is connected to others via this network, enabling trees to share water and nutrients. For saplings growing in particularly shady areas, there is not enough sunlight reaching their leaves to perform adequate photosynthesis. For survival, the sapling relies on nutrients and sugar from older, taller trees sent through the mycorrhizal network.  Cool hey!

We learned about Lichens, the strangling fig, and the very very dangerous stinging tree.  The stinging tree has these big leaves ideal for loo paper when stuck in the forest.  The folk story goes that some loggers used the leaves of the stinging Tree (which look pretty harmless) as loo roll and the leaves have these fine hairs that go into your skin and they feel like shards of glass.  It can take months for the toxins to leave your body.  The story goes that the loggers were in such agony that they =would rather jump over the cliff and die than be in pain.

Remember I said I was hydrated, then I drank a lot.  Now I need to pee - but I do not want to go into the rainforest off the path in case I accidentally touch a stinging tree.  So a path pee it is for me, it is quite busy - so a guide stays behind to warn others and John would go ahead.  After reaching the top of Mount Cordeaux, we then go along a ridge to Bare Rock where we have lunch.  You pretty much have 360º views from up there.

Back to Mount French Lodge for dinner and a well earned rest.  Cheese and Wine on the Terrace to watch the sunset, then shower and change and dinner.  Again quite an early night as we are very very tired.  A great nights rest, still wearing Johns undies, we are up and ready for the last leg of the walk.  Today we have a 7km walk, through a heritage logging trail, RainForest upto Mount Mathieson, we reached the summit of Mount Mathieson after a hard up hill - then when you get to the top you think hoorah - last uphill.  Do not be fooled, in Queensland summit doesnt necessarily mean the highest point.  We then had to scramble up rocks - at some parts it was literally a vertical rock face with steps, I didn't dare look up or down, just for the next grab handle or step.  We then walked along the logging road, all heritage listed.  It was a fun challenging walk and the last leg.

After the walk, we went to a winery for lunch, it was the Overflow estate, which was an absolute gem.  Lovely setting, very efficient staff and lovely food.  Our guides, Helena and Ray were the best and we highly recommend "Lifes an Adventure" walking Company.  A fab walking tour, with excellent accommodation, small and boutique.

After lunch we have driven 3 hours to Noosa, where we will stay for the next 4 nights.