Trip Leader: Helen & David Duncan & passenger Kay Trip
Photographer: Eddie Carleton
Sergeant At Arms: David Meier
Trip Reporter: Laurraine Carleton
Trip Visitor: Chris & Rob Braun
Tail End Charlies: Colin, Robin & Ashley
Well an early start to the day was needed to allow us to cover the vast amount of kilometres we would be travelling to take in this spectacular National Park.
We met at Jimboomba at 7.30am where we had a small contingent of 11 people and 5 cars on a slightly cool morning. Everyone stated how early they had to rise to meet the 7.30am time. Some were 5 o’clock, 5.30 etc, oh well the things you have to do in becoming an intrepid 4 wheel driving enthusiast. Eddie & I had the right idea we stayed at a motel close by so we could get an extra hour sleep.
Not long into our trip just out of Beaudesert we struck some fog which was quite thick at times. However it wasn’t long before the sun broke through the fog and gave us back our beautiful views.
The Border Ranges lies on the NSW/Queensland border and is a World Heritage listed rainforest. The Border Ranges National Park is located on the rim of a vast & ancient volcano, adjoins Lamington National Park in Queensland. It offers spectacular views, pristine rainforests, sparkling creeks and is an absolute photographers delight of the breathtaking views and scenery nature provides to capture.
We headed up to the Border Loop railway lookout where you can view a series of tunnels forming a ‘Spiral Loop’, also known as ‘The Border Loop”. Upon completion it was possible to travel an unbroken journey from Brisbane to Adelaide.
When the train is running (unfortunately it wasn’t this day) you can watch as the train comes up one valley, pass through the mountain twice to cross the original track thereby gaining 20 metres in height. We stopped here for our morning tea. Helen was very generous and offered to us all her beautiful muesli slice and her scrumptious melting moment biscuits. Cooking is just another of her great talents. We greatly admired the beautiful scenery looking out over the platform and just had to imagine the train coming through the tunnels.
We then crossed over many causeways across some lovely creeks – more photo shoots, Oh I have to mention that the little boy in some of the men (that would be you David Meier and Colin) who wanted to put on a show for us to take a photo of them creating some splash as they were driving across the causeways. Good way to give your car a bit of a car wash. Then on our way to see the Antarctic Beech tree.
Our next stop was at the Antarctic Beech tree which is estimated to be around 12,000 years old. What an enchanting, mystical looking tree it was. It is called the Antarctic Beech tree as it used to cover Antarctica when it was joined to Australia in its milder days, before its present iced over state today. Lovely group photo of us all standing in front of this magnificent tree and its surrounds.
Then it was off to The Pinnacle Lookout. We took a 200m walk across the rim of the area & reached The Pinnacle Lookout and were absolutely mesmerised by the uninterrupted views of the whole park along with spectacular views all the way to the coastline, the crater escarpment & to Wollumbin – Mount Warning.
Off we set again, this time to Blackbutt Lookout where we would be stopping to have our lunch. Once again Mother Nature put on a spectacular view for us. It was a little cooler here so most put on a jacket – some of us were braver and handled the chill.
Hard to believe that the scenery was even more spectacular than what we had already experienced.
We stopped at a lovely cafe, small clothing shop (Nimbin specialities) and a local grown fruit shop. Chris bought a lovely shirt for herself from the clothing shop. Helen bought a jar of prunes in port ( as if the prunes aren’t enough on their own has to have them soaked in port) and she was going to have them with some yoghurt or ice cream. Chris was also tempted and bought some figs in marsala.
Then it was time to start our journey to the last leg of our wonderous day and that was to Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park. Natural Bridge is a most unusual geological feature created over millions of years by water tumbling through the roof of a basalt cave. We took a 1km walk to the Natural Arch over Cave Creek to view the unique waterfall coming through the cave. We viewed some lovely cascading waterfalls here.
Then alas our time had come to head home – but not before making a pit (sorry should be pie) stop at the famous Yatala Pie shop. They were so delicious.
Well that was the end of an absolutely stunning visual trip and thoroughly enjoyed by all and sundry.
PS. Have to be careful talking on the CB radio as never know who is listening – just ask David Meier. He made a comment as we were going through the National Park about a for sale sign he saw for a 100 acres property. He stated that when he got back home he would Google it to see how much they were asking for it.
Next minute a gentleman’s voice comes over the radio and the gentleman states you must be talking about my property and asked David if he was interested. David said he wasn’t in a position to buy anything at the moment he was just curious. David asked him what was the price he was asking for the property and the gentleman said you would have to come and have a look. Helen then states that she sees some cows up ahead blocking the road and that they look like Hereford cows. Again the gentleman comes over the radio and states that you must be near my property, call in and have a look. Again David states that he is not in a position to buy. Talk about persistent. David then told him he was with a 4 wheel drive club out for the day. Thankfully the gentleman got the message and left it at that.
Photographer: Eddie Carleton
Sergeant At Arms: David Meier
Trip Reporter: Laurraine Carleton
Trip Visitor: Chris & Rob Braun
Tail End Charlies: Colin, Robin & Ashley
Well an early start to the day was needed to allow us to cover the vast amount of kilometres we would be travelling to take in this spectacular National Park.
We met at Jimboomba at 7.30am where we had a small contingent of 11 people and 5 cars on a slightly cool morning. Everyone stated how early they had to rise to meet the 7.30am time. Some were 5 o’clock, 5.30 etc, oh well the things you have to do in becoming an intrepid 4 wheel driving enthusiast. Eddie & I had the right idea we stayed at a motel close by so we could get an extra hour sleep.
Not long into our trip just out of Beaudesert we struck some fog which was quite thick at times. However it wasn’t long before the sun broke through the fog and gave us back our beautiful views.
The Border Ranges lies on the NSW/Queensland border and is a World Heritage listed rainforest. The Border Ranges National Park is located on the rim of a vast & ancient volcano, adjoins Lamington National Park in Queensland. It offers spectacular views, pristine rainforests, sparkling creeks and is an absolute photographers delight of the breathtaking views and scenery nature provides to capture.
We headed up to the Border Loop railway lookout where you can view a series of tunnels forming a ‘Spiral Loop’, also known as ‘The Border Loop”. Upon completion it was possible to travel an unbroken journey from Brisbane to Adelaide.
When the train is running (unfortunately it wasn’t this day) you can watch as the train comes up one valley, pass through the mountain twice to cross the original track thereby gaining 20 metres in height. We stopped here for our morning tea. Helen was very generous and offered to us all her beautiful muesli slice and her scrumptious melting moment biscuits. Cooking is just another of her great talents. We greatly admired the beautiful scenery looking out over the platform and just had to imagine the train coming through the tunnels.
We then crossed over many causeways across some lovely creeks – more photo shoots, Oh I have to mention that the little boy in some of the men (that would be you David Meier and Colin) who wanted to put on a show for us to take a photo of them creating some splash as they were driving across the causeways. Good way to give your car a bit of a car wash. Then on our way to see the Antarctic Beech tree.
Our next stop was at the Antarctic Beech tree which is estimated to be around 12,000 years old. What an enchanting, mystical looking tree it was. It is called the Antarctic Beech tree as it used to cover Antarctica when it was joined to Australia in its milder days, before its present iced over state today. Lovely group photo of us all standing in front of this magnificent tree and its surrounds.
Then it was off to The Pinnacle Lookout. We took a 200m walk across the rim of the area & reached The Pinnacle Lookout and were absolutely mesmerised by the uninterrupted views of the whole park along with spectacular views all the way to the coastline, the crater escarpment & to Wollumbin – Mount Warning.
Off we set again, this time to Blackbutt Lookout where we would be stopping to have our lunch. Once again Mother Nature put on a spectacular view for us. It was a little cooler here so most put on a jacket – some of us were braver and handled the chill.
Hard to believe that the scenery was even more spectacular than what we had already experienced.
We stopped at a lovely cafe, small clothing shop (Nimbin specialities) and a local grown fruit shop. Chris bought a lovely shirt for herself from the clothing shop. Helen bought a jar of prunes in port ( as if the prunes aren’t enough on their own has to have them soaked in port) and she was going to have them with some yoghurt or ice cream. Chris was also tempted and bought some figs in marsala.
Then it was time to start our journey to the last leg of our wonderous day and that was to Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park. Natural Bridge is a most unusual geological feature created over millions of years by water tumbling through the roof of a basalt cave. We took a 1km walk to the Natural Arch over Cave Creek to view the unique waterfall coming through the cave. We viewed some lovely cascading waterfalls here.
Then alas our time had come to head home – but not before making a pit (sorry should be pie) stop at the famous Yatala Pie shop. They were so delicious.
Well that was the end of an absolutely stunning visual trip and thoroughly enjoyed by all and sundry.
PS. Have to be careful talking on the CB radio as never know who is listening – just ask David Meier. He made a comment as we were going through the National Park about a for sale sign he saw for a 100 acres property. He stated that when he got back home he would Google it to see how much they were asking for it.
Next minute a gentleman’s voice comes over the radio and the gentleman states you must be talking about my property and asked David if he was interested. David said he wasn’t in a position to buy anything at the moment he was just curious. David asked him what was the price he was asking for the property and the gentleman said you would have to come and have a look. Helen then states that she sees some cows up ahead blocking the road and that they look like Hereford cows. Again the gentleman comes over the radio and states that you must be near my property, call in and have a look. Again David states that he is not in a position to buy. Talk about persistent. David then told him he was with a 4 wheel drive club out for the day. Thankfully the gentleman got the message and left it at that.
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