New Great Walk opens window into the Conondales

Gheerulla creek valley

The recently-opened Great Walk Conondale Range is a trip back in time in more ways than one. The 56-kilometre circuit walk, which begins and ends at the popular Booloumba Creek campgrounds, provides much more than a glimpse of the spectacular forests, creeks and gorges for which the Conondale Ranges have become noted. While the walk includes … [Read more...]

Noosa Trail Network

Noosa Trail Network

It’s hard to resist the beach at Noosa, but for an adventure off the beaten track you must travel west a little way into the hinterland. Exploring here has become a lot easier with the establishment of the Noosa Trail Network. It offers 106 kilometres of trail through a smorgasbord of landscapes – rolling hills and mountain peaks, bushland … [Read more...]

Cycling to the Woodford Folk Festival

Cycle to the Woodford Folk Festival and be treated to spectacular scenery

When you stage an event that regularly attracts more than 100,000 people over six days, it makes sense to encourage patrons to travel lightly and leave their cars at home. This helps to cut back on those worrying carbon emissions, reduces congestion and makes the festival experience more pleasant for everyone. With this in mind, the Woodford … [Read more...]

Mid winter update

Inside this edition World Environment Day Festival news Outrage over Sustainable Planning Bill Latest Group Profile - PAGE Eco Adventures - A tale of two mountains Carbon, climate and koalas Eco watch - clean coal Exploring the past - climbing Mount Coolum in 1927 Whales and eco tourism Other articles How to contribute The … [Read more...]

A tale of two mountains

Looking south from the summit of Mt Coolum. Image John Burrows

Mount Coolum and Mount Ninderry are two very striking peaks visible from many parts of the Sunshine Coast, close to each other – only 10 kilometres as the crow flies – but very different in character and offering very different experiences for the eco adventurer. They’re closely connected in the Dreamtime tale of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi … [Read more...]

Exploring the Conondales

Bundaroo Creek. Image John Burrows

Not too far inland from the coast is a lush green wonderland of mountains, forest and crystal-clear streams flowing through hidden gorges – the Conondales. It’s the largest area of sub-tropical rainforest on the Sunshine Coast and a must for exploring. Access is most convenient from Maleny, but it’s good to approach from the north … [Read more...]

Noosa River

canoe255x88

Canoeing the Noosa River, with blue sky and every detail of riverbank vegetation exactly mirrored on the river's surface, is an unforgettable experience. The entire river is worth exploring, but it's the upper reaches, contained in the Great Sandy National Park, which attract the eco-adventurer. Here you'll find a wilderness which is about as … [Read more...]

Glasshouse Mountains

Glasshouse Sunset

The Glasshouses, the impressive collection of peaks jutting up from the coastal plain west of the Pumicestone Passage, have plenty to offer if you're after an outdoor experience. Something mild - a relaxing bushwalk perhaps - or something a bit extreme, like rock climbing. (view google map) They were named by James Cook (just a lieutenant at the … [Read more...]