28.05.11 Charlie Moreland

Glenn decided on Charlie Moreland some weeks ago, but being Easter, we opted for somewhere a little quieter.  Now with Winter days away, we thought it a great idea.  Crowds would be down due to the blast of snow in the air ... no we don't get snow, just freezing cold winds that head our way, like they've come straight off the snow ... Barrington Tops has had snow in the last week or two.

So I reckoned 2 hours and we would be there and I wasn't far out thankfully.  We made our way over the Gateway Bridge and up the highway, passing Caboolture and turning off on the Steve Irwin Way (formerly the Bruce Highway) towards Landsborough.  The day was perfectly crisp and clear
as we made our way up the Great Divide to Maleny, which was a hive of activity as usual.  People everywhere eating and drinking coffees in the little cafes in the main street.

So we drove straight through heading towards Kenilworth, which meant going back down the range.  Decided to check out Booloomba camping area # 4 before checking out Charlie Moreland and deciding on the best of the 2.  Picky aren't we?

Booloomba can be reached by 4wd or an adventurous 2wd owner (and there was one).  The campgrounds are very tree heavy, and # 4 is a bit on the slanty side, so you would need to take blocks or a shovel to get the camper in.  There was 2 or 3 spots that wouldn't need any effort to be flat, but were very shady (ideal for summer).  This is in a National Park along side Little Yabba Creek (yep the same creek that Peach Trees in on).

So then we do the 5k's back to the main road, then another 1k down the road (or so) and a few k's into CM, past the Forestry HQ, over Little Yabba Creek and into the campground.  This one is much larger and is on both sides of Sunday Creek Road (which ends up near Jimna and Peach Trees).  We decide to head towards the overflow and see what it's like.  It's only another couple of k's up the road, but alas it's locked, so Glenn has to reverse out of the entry ... and dings the stone guard again ... yes I have photo's.  He needs more practise reversing for sure.  Love you darling.

So we head back to CM and find a spot we like.  We are at the far end along the creek.  There are some toilets beside us, but they are locked as well.  Guess no one wants to clean so many loo blocks (there are 4 in all).  We set up the CT in next to no time and settle into our site.  It's a lovely site.  Let's hope it doesn't rain like predicted.  We wander down to the creek and walk it from the entrance almost back to camp.  We run into some older day trippers who have come back from the 1.5k walk.  They say the walk is closed further along, so we head down there to have a gander.  Yes the walk is closed.  The walkway across the creek has washed 100m down the creek.  We take off our boots and walk through the water.  It's freezing!  Once over, we start the last 500m back to camp.  The water has been really quite high, over my head,

There is also a horse corral just down the road too.  A really nice one with proper gates and shelters.  It's a good acre or so and fully fenced, with a wash down area for your sweaty horse.  You can ride them all over the forest, but they can't stay in the campground.

We are having stew again for dinner.  Special request.  Must like my cooking.  However I did put too many chillies in it this time and it's a bit warm.  Always good in this cold weather though.  It's not lethal either as we are both still breathing!

The website says there is 50 persons onsite this weekend.  It feels like more though.  Of course, there is one camp playing music (read Doof Doof), but they aren't staying as they don't have a tent.  Luckily for us it isn't overly loud, and they keep it that way till they leave which is really nice.

I gave Glenn his birthday present ... he loves it.  A nice warm sheepskin seat covering for his camp chair.  It goes on his chair straight away and it sure does make a difference to your late night seating (I trialled it at home).  Remember he complained at Butinga that he was cold on the chair as we were sitting in front of the fire? 

As dinner is cooking, there are heaps of Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo's go over, and they are quite vocal.  I don't think I've seen so many in one place, except for the Red Tailed Cockatoo's at 1770.  There are also Bell Minor's chatting away and they have been since we first arrived.  The bird song is fabulous and most of the it's all we can hear.  Even the other campers are keeping it down to appreciate the bird song, which I think is great.  There are even a few wallabies getting around as well.  Small, red and scruffy looking and very timid.

We do the nightly creek walk to see what's to see.  Shrimp, small fish, eels ... usual stuff.

This is our 25th night in the Camper and we both agreed that it's a great investment.  One of our best decisions ... excepting the places we visit with it of course ... they help to make it a good thing.  Our Home Away from Home.  Pity we couldn't have our puppies here with us.  They would also love this camping experience.  They are safe and warm at home and that's good.  I wish there was more dog friendly places to camp here in SEQ.  My Oz Pig is also an excellent thing.  Glenn agrees.  It's cooked our dinner and is heating our bath water (well shower in a bucket with a big old camp cup), but still better than not having one.  And it's keeping us toasty warm too. 

Glenn keeps checking the temperature and says it's 18C but it feels much warmer than that (only 1853).  Must be the cloud cover that is now blanketing the area.  Was 16C before we went up the range, then 17C coming back down and it's warmer than through the day now ... kinda weird but I'm not complaining.  2154 and it starts raining ... not rain as such but rather heavy sprinkling.  Bed is lovely and warm.

Next day dawns bright and clear just like the day before.  As just as warm.  It rained on and off through the night.  Snags and eggs for breaky.  We've even got company.  A monitor comes in to enjoy any left overs and bask in the sun near our camp.  It's one of many that head into our camp over the morning.  Picking through anything we drop and searching the fireplace.  Lucky we didn't use it.  Glenn tried to chase it out of the firepit once we emptied the pig and got a tail slap for his trouble.  Warning # 1.  Later on it hissed at him.  Warning # 2.  This isn't a bearded dragon Glenn ... so glad he isn't trying to wrangle one.

We slowly pack up until the canvas is drier.  The clouds are coming over thick and fast as well.  Better to keep things dry.  1245 and we are on our way.  Now ... which way home?  Let's head to Kenilworth and up through Mapleton. 

Slight deviation to check out Gheerulla campground first.  We park outside the narrow road leading in and hot foot it for a kilometre and then decide to turn back.  Still can't see the end of the road in sight.  Don't know if we can turn our rig around.  Better safe than dented or scratched.  Next time maybe.  So no report there.

Head to Mapleton.  Which means up and over the range again, but the views west are so worth it.

We stop at the lookout on the top of the range and I take a few photos.  There are some beautiful yellow flowers all over the place here.  I steal a few dead heads in the hopes of growing some at home.  The plants are large and straggly, but the flowers are very cheery.

Then it's down through Nambour, past where Daniel Morecombe was taken (he and I share a birthdate) and then past the Big Pineapple.  It appears to have gone into ruin, but the pineapple is still there.  So much for the highway making it famous.  Guess no one wants to see a large fibreglass pineapple any more.  Shame. 

Then onto the highway and the long drive home ... clouds are forming into thunder heads and darkening as we head closer and closer to home.  Sigh ... another weekend is over.

Trip Kilometres:  365
Trip Duration:  48 hours

And here are all the BIG things we saw along the way.