Coomera Circuit, Binna Burra.

Thursday 2 November

So true for today's hike!

Hikes of over 10 to 15 kilometres are rare in SE Queensland. The Coomera Circuit is 18. I've thought of hiking it for sometime. It wasn't the distance that gave me concern, but in all the notes I had read, there was a strong warning of its numerous creek crossings, especially after rain.

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, our months of drought had been broken with a week of wonderful rain. This area had had falls of 3 to 400mm. Setting out 2 weeks later, I still expected a wet trail, leeches and boots off to ford the creeks. The scenario was quite the opposite, with this magnificent hike being all about the journey.

It was a hike of thirds. The first third gently winds its way down to Coomera Creek Gorge, through 

magical subtropical and warm temperate rainforest. The path was smooth and carpeted in a thickness of forest leaf matter.

The gorge we were headed down to.

The trail

The wildlife - basking python.

Rarely spotted, female lyrebird, foraging for ants.

A splash of colour in the rainforest greens. I think a tropical waratah. I'm not sure if the bottom tree is the same or a flame tree.

The canopy

We were totally in awe of the massive old brush box trees. 

The buttress trees had us impressed as well - front and back view.

The buttress base of the above tree.

Another impressive giant.

Part of the root system of this brush box tree, had been sawn through, to allow the gradient of the trail  to continue evenly.

Front and back view of these giants, clustered together.

Sadly, we saw far too many uprooted trees. After months of no rain, the wide, but shallow root systems of these massive trees, were unable to withstand the heavy deluge that came.

The Coomera Falls - LHS, Yarrabilgong Falls - RHS. This was the closest we could view them, but the second third of the hike had begun. It followed tumbling creeks and one amazing waterfall after another, with cascades regularly seen through the trees.

Tumbling streams and massive boulders.

Unnamed cascades.

    

............... and its cascades / falls.

We lost count of the number of creek crossings - thankfully the water level caused us no hassles.

The waterfalls

Bahnamboola Falls

Kagoonya Falls

Gwongarragong Falls

Below is our final waterfall, glimpsed throught the trees, as the final leg of this sensational trail finally wound its way back up the mountain, leaving the soothing sounds of the creeks behind. We now listened to  to the constant calling of a variety of birds, as they flitted swiftly through the trees, never allowing us to see them for more than a second or two.

Five and a half hours after our early start we exited the trail. It had been a spectacular hike, with its unexpected encounters with the local inhabitants, the forest beauty of its tree ferns, palms, giant trees, breath taking waterfalls and an incredibly user friendly track. 18 kilometres, but definitely not exhausting, given the amount of ascent and descent of its length.

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