Profile for Matty Vee - Aussie Bushwalking

This Year

Number of Walks Ticked

0.0m

Total Distance Ticked

All Time

Number of Walks Ticked

110.7km

Total Distance Ticked

Ticks

Name	Date	Difficulty	Distance/Duration
Obi Obi Gorge (Kondalilla National Park)	2 Feb, 2019	Very Hard	14km one-way 8.5 hrs
What an adventure, the trail notes above were a little lacking in terms of the scale of the trek ahead. Aside from matching the direction (from Kondalilla to Baroon Pocket Dam) our walk turned into a mammoth slog. It was raining the morning my party did this hike so we didn't start at the bridge on Skene Creek due to the rocks looking rather slippery. Instead, we followed the great walk trail for about 2-3 km before jumping into Obi Obi Creek after what we assumed were the main swimming legs. That assumption proved very wrong as we ended up swimming for approximately 2-3km that day and this takes a looong time. So first and foremost, be prepared to be up to your neck in a creek for several hours, complete with hidden rocks to bash your shins on and slippery rocks to walk on underfoot. This may sound like a drag but it was great fun and very rewarding. We started walking from Kondalilla at approximately 9.30am and ended up at the end near Baroon Pocket at about 5pm. That gives you an idea of how long it took to go about 9km up the creek. Aside from the swimming (which was great fun and very refreshing) we realised it was taking a long time and decided to go land as often as possible but this was through bush with no trail so also be prepared to get scraped and bruised. This was accompanied by copious tumbles on the slippery rocks, I grabbed a handy stick which saved me on more than one occasion. Having some kind of waterproof floating bag is a good idea as a backpack will inflate and ride up the back of your neck (which is what happened to me) and this makes swimming such long distances quite tiring. Would also suggest a cheap pair of aqua duck shoes ($10 ish) as swimming with proper shoes also weighs you down. Once you reach the gorge however (which is towards the end) your hard work is rewarded as they are spectacular. This is a very unique walk, consider it Northbrooke's big brother as it is almost 2/3 hike 1/3 swim. Be sure to take something to eat as it is a very long tiring swalk (swim/walk =]) but well and truly worth it. The scenery is fantastic and you are in a great part of the world (Sunshine Coast hinterland - what is not to like?) PS - would definitely suggest two cars as going up and back would be far too much for one day. We parked one at Baroon Pocket at the exit of the Great Walk and drove the other to Kondalilla which is about 10 mins away if that. In summary: one of the most epic one day adventures you can have, would not suggest going in cooler months due to the swimming required, beautiful scenery and very rewarding.
Mount Tibrogargan Summit (Glass House Mountains National Park)	19 Jan, 2019	Very Hard	2.7km return 2 hrs
Was a great trip to do Tibro after climbing Beerwah in Mid-2018. A shorter trip than Beerwah but probably steeper but with better grip so hard to say which is more challenging, each is unique and well worth doing if you have a head for heights. Even in summer it is doable as the western face is fully shaded. Going up the caves route would be pretty toasty I imagine. Most of the advice provided by others is pretty accurate, not loading yourself down is a good idea and having flexible shoes definitely helps. Generally speaking, there are plenty of alternative routes up other than the well worn track which aren't quite so eroded and therefore have better grip. Can definitely get busy so giving way to other climbers can extend the time taken but pays to give people space and offer help if you feel comfortable. Having a spotter is great to assist with good handholds going up and down :-] A good one to get the heart rate going and a nice workout before heading for a swim at one of the plentiful beaches nearby. Nice views towards the coast from the top and spot the city in the distance! In summary: Great challenge and workout, anyone with a head for heights who takes their time should be able to manage, early morning would be the way to go as the route would bake in the afternoon.
Larapinta Falls (Lamington National Park)	5 Jan, 2019	Hard	15km return 5 hrs
The description above is my review =]
The Northbrook River Trail (Northbrook Gorges) (Brisbane Forest park D'Aguilar National Park)	Dec, 2018	Medium	6km 3 hrs
Some of the best fun you can have with your clothes on. Being so close to Brisbane (about 30 mins north past Samford) absolutely worth checking out. The start is a little tricky to find as you follow Mt Glorious Road for quite a ways, approximately 500 metres past Wivenhoe Outlook. The car park is not obvious and is on the right hand side (heading away from Mt Glorious), take care when turning into it! There is a lot more space than 2 cars though from my experience. The trail is as described by others, down the hill from the car park and over the guard rail, be careful of traffic. A short stint down the hill brings you to the waterway and you head left up the creek where you start to get wet. The scenery is beautiful through the entire creek and the gorges are both brilliant. Swimming in the clear water is a real treat though investing in a $10 pair of aqua duck shoes from Target or Big W is a good idea. However, even with these shoes, some of the rocks can be very slippery so be sure to take care when walking through water shallower than your knees. The route is fairly easy to navigate with a little patience and there is nothing better on a hot day than swalking (swim walking) up the creek. Once you pass the second gorge the trail levels out. My party followed this for about 1.5km but it continues on for some time and eventually joins up with a track from a lookout back up the hill (I think). Returning is back the same way so no real issue with getting lost. There is a cairn to mark the path back up to the road which is helpful in this regard though. In summary: Well worth doing in summer, the water is extremely refreshing, not grueling but care is required on the slippery rocks where shallow, very picturesque and not much like it so close to Brisbane.
Mt Eerwah (Sunshine Coast)	Nov, 2018	Hard	2.8km return 3 hrs
Quite short but fairly steep walk near Noosa so the perfect excuse to have a swim afterwards :-] We were fortunate enough to have the local dog Dusty take the trip up with us and he absolutely nailed it. Not the most picturesque walk but gets the heart rate going and offers fairly nice views from the top. We ran into 3 or 4 goannas on the trip which is more than I have seen anywhere else. Trail is quite clear and easy to follow and does not take too long, you could knock it over in 2 hours up and down without much trouble I'd say. Some have noted the trail has eroded slightly towards the top but my group didn't find it to be any great difficulty. However, due to the short steep climb, would not suggest someone lacking fitness does this and we were covered in mosquitoes the whole way and I landed myself a nice tick : < In summary: Nice little mountain to knock off the list, close to beaches so you can make a day of it, trail is easy to follow and gives a good workout due to the gradient.
Cedar Creek - Black Creek (South East Queensland)	Sep, 2018	Hard	18km 6 hrs
Considering how close this is to Brisbane, anyone who loves a hike should check this out. My party took the route as described, turning left immediately after the main falls with the graffiti etc. There is an obvious slab with some writing on the rocks indicating the way to the Nudist section or something? :) The route following this creek is fairly overgrown but there are some fantastic little nook's along the way and several cascades to negotiate - one which is about 10-15 metres tall - great fun though would be rather difficult to climb down this way I imagine - which is why I think this is the route you should take going up. The trail can be a little tricky to follow once the rocky creek starts to disappear after climbing and rock hopping for 2 hours or so. Once the creek levels out and becomes sandy rather than rocky and enters a small forested area (the rocky part of the creek is fairly open in most places), you need to keep to the left of the stream. Thankfully, some kind person has mowed a track through the brush and lantana and soon enough you reach Lindsay Road which can be follow up to Mount Glorious Road. This is a good spot for an intermission at the cafe before continuing onto Maiala Picnic Ground and Greene Falls which you then climb down. It is fairly sheer but not overly difficult. From here, it is a great adventure climbing down and rock hopping repeated sets of small cascades (seemed like there was about 7-8 at least) while being surrounded with beautiful forest. As some have noted, it pays to be careful and a little bush bashing may be required, it is all in good fun though. The way back down Cedar Creek is much easier to navigate as you are following the creek all the way until it joins up again where you left off after the main Cedar Creek falls where everyone jumps off the rocks. All in all, one of most picturesque walks I've done close to Brisbane and well worth the efforts. It is certainly a full day trip (6 hours at least) unless you were to start super early. Be sure to take your togs as there are many swimming holes on the way back down Cedar Creek in particular and the fresh water is divine. Best avoided after heavy rain or any kind of rain as if the creek was swollen you may end up swimming rather than hopping. In summary: Too close to Brisbane to ignore if you are keen for an adventure, beautiful scenery, does pose a reasonable challenge with some of the rock scrambling on the falls and is a great workout.
Stinson Crash Site from Christmas Creek (Lamington National Park)	Sep, 2018	Hard	15km return 8 hrs
Not the easiest walk to get to but definitely worth the effort. You must drive right to the end of Christmas Creek Road which seems to stretch on forever and gets quite narrow and unsealed for the last 1-2km. The car park at the end is quite small, only fits about 8-10 cars max (and that is playing some good tetris). From the carpark there is a locked gate through private property to reach the start of the trail which is about 3-400 metres away. There is an obvious national park sign on the right at the end of the road and you end up at Christmas Creek. The actual trail is found directly opposite where you climb down to the creek bed. My first trip here our party started up the creek straight away towards the large fallen tree but the path can be found straight away if you hop across the creek at the first opportunity. After you find the trail this is fairly straight forward to follow but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the helpful hiking tape which has been left all the way to Westray's Grave site. This part of the walk is lovely as you follow the creek through the forest and takes about an hour so bear that in mind for the return journey. This is definitely an all day experience and this first section could get tricky if you lose the light. The start of the trail up into the hills is about 4-500 metres before the grave site and is very obvious with a nice glove on a post pointing up a very steep, very rough trail. It is worth going to Westray's Grave and this spot is the beginning of the walk to Larapinta Falls which is an absolute must (I will write about that separately). Once you have seen Westray's Grave, head back to the Glove. This is where the vertical assault begins and is very grueling, your legs will remind you that you are alive 8 - ]. After climbing for what seems like a long time the trail will level out and you will follow it around the base of cliffs in front of you. There is tape marked on this section too but not as obvious as the path to Westray's Grave so you need to keep your wits about you. The flat section around the base of the cliffs continues for a short while before it starts to climb again and you resort to climbing up tree roots and rocks which is very entertaining. The trail ends up winding up the rocks and above where the first ascent ended. Some kind soul has tied a rope on a fairly steep stretch which is a big help. Once on top of the ridge, the track continues into denser forest and is fairly obvious but it still pays to keep an eye on the tape. The wait-a-while vine is particularly prevalent in this section we found. There are some crude signs at various intervals along this ridge section which keeps you going in the right direction. After about 2km of this forest walk on the ridge you will come to a clearing with three obvious ways out. The path to the left leads to the actual crash site and is not marked in any obvious way. Thankfully when we arrived at this spot, there were some other hikers present who told us where to go, otherwise it would have been pot luck though we did have a topographical map. Following the left trail for about 500 metres will take you to the memorial and what's left of the wreckage (which is not a lot). The path is quite eroded so a little care doesn't go astray. The clearing at the top is a good spot for a breather and the path straight ahead leads to a lookout over the border towards Mt Warning, however it is not well marked in places and be sure to follow the tape. It was very hazy the day we were there but on a clear day the view would be spectacular. To the clearing, crash site and lookout took about 4ish hours including a few stops. The way back down a little less but it is a very tough slog overall and you definitely want to start early. I've attached a photo of the journey read out one of our party took to give you an idea. Considering how wild the area is, it makes the O'Reilly rescue story even more incredible to experience it first-hand. Suggest long pants and sleeves as you will get caught by the vegetation, a small pair of pruners may not be a bad idea either to clear off some of the grabbing vines. I've seen pythons on both trips to the area so keep your eyes peeled! In summary: Extremely wild and off the grid so be prepared, phone reception is basically 0, beautiful trip along the creek and great scenery throughout, very long and challenging but absolutely worth it.
Spicer's peak (Main Range National Park)	Aug, 2018	Very Hard	6km return 4 hrs
This was one for the memory books. One of the most interesting and challenging hikes I've done in SEQ. My party took what sounds like a slightly different route to the one described. From the Governor's Chair we headed directly away from it in the opposite direction and found a bush track for vehicles. We followed this for about 1-2km always heading left (there was a junction which was marked with tape and we took that route). You eventually pass the obvious national park signage about it being isolated etc, that is when you know you are getting warm. From that point the track narrows and starts to climb, becoming fairly loose in places. After about 1(?) km of this scrub climbing you come to a rocky face with very loose ground leading up to it. This is very steep but there was a path up marked with a stone cairn and that is the way we went though the foot path followed appeared to go to the right around this rocky wall. Climbing up from here was not too difficult with care. From this point it is a decent scramble with spectacular views over the valley almost at every point. You climb up and up until you reach the sheer cliff beneath the peak which you then follow to the right. This section was a little treacherous as parts of the path had eroded away and this was the most hazardous as there is nothing below but grassy hillside (it is not sheer but there is nothing to stop you if you were to lose your footing). Extreme care should be taken through this section. We detoured around the steep chimney mentioned by another poster and found an obvious way up into the forest surrounding the summit. This climb section was not too difficult as there were handholds galore via vines and small trees. Once up in the forest you head left as others have described and reach the top where there is a large pile of rocks marking the summit. Good spot for a breather and to soak it all in, it feels like a little zen garden (did to me at least = ]) The return is back the same way and I find climbing down is always a bit easier than climbing up as your visibility of where you're going is a lot clearer. However, for those with a fear of heights, you may want to skip. Also, best done in winter as the climb aspect is completely without cover. Probably took 2 - 2.5 hours to reach the top? I can't quite recall. It wasn't a quick journey by any strech! As with most of my walks I find the return journey is at least 30-45 mins quicker. In summary: extremely adventurous as the trail is not very obvious in parts and can be tricky. VERY rewarding and one of the best walks visa vi views and achievement around. Highly recommend.
Mt Greville (Moogerah Peaks National Park)	Aug, 2018	Hard	6km return 3 hrs
A good hour south west of Brisbane is this gem of a walk. The route my party took was up the aptly named Palm Gorge and back down South East Ridge though having seen the base of Waterfall Gorge, I'd love to explore that route one day. It is a decent slog up Palm Gorge but the atmosphere and scenery are really something. I felt a little like I'd stepped into a fantasy novel. It is a bit loose underfoot in places but as you are climbing up an ever narrowing gorge, there is plenty to hold onto. From the top of that gorge which takes about an hour at a steady pace, it's about another 30 mins to the top. I felt the experience of climbing that gorge was worth the trip in itself as the views are not as good as those offered from the nearby Cunningham's Gap but it is still decent. The way down through South East Ridge, it pays to keep your eyes peeled as it is possible to wander away from the actual track as the triangle markers can be a little tricky to spot. If you head parallel to the gorge route that is roughly the correct direction and the track becomes pretty well defined once you are off the plateau and heading down. It is a little rough underfoot and scrambly on the way down so a bit of care is needed but takes about an hour or a bit under and is very manageable. All in all quite a unique walk well worth checking out as it offers a number of circuits to mix things up. Probably one to avoid in the heat of a summer's day as it is fully exposed to the elements on the plateau area. Likewise if it has been raining heavily as the track would turn into a mud pit though it was and remains very dry out there. As others have noted, checking for ticks afterward is a must. In summary, good workout, great experience in the Palm Gorge, decent enough views and unique circuits make it a must do.
Flinders Peak (Ipswich - Flinders Goolman Conservation Estate)	Aug, 2018	Hard	6.5km return 3.5 hrs
Being only 40ish minutes from Brisbane, this walk is well worth checking out. It is a reasonable challenge involving some short sections of scrambling and rock hopping along with a steady incline and great views throughout. The only downside really is the helicopter pad up the top which spoils the serenity a little. Our group took approximately 2 hours up and 1.5ish back though that is a guess. Aside from one 15 odd metre chimney section near the top that is basically vertical (though with plenty of holds), if you take it slow, I feel this would be pretty achievable to most. The convenience to Brisbane is probably the biggest brownie point as it is a good excuse for a day trip to get away and the picnic area at the base is a good spot to relax afterwards. In summary: You don't quite feel out in the boonies at the summit but it is a good workout that most could manage with nice views. One for winter as it is fairly open and you'd get baked on a summer's day.
Mt Ngungun (Glass House Mountains National Park)	Jul, 2018	Medium	2.8km return 90 mins
Great walk for all abilities as it offers great views of the surrounding area while being very achievable, even for those with low fitness levels. I went up Ngunngun with a small group after tackling Mt Beerwah (the original plan was to do Tibrogargan after Beerwah - considering the slog we had on Beerwah, discretion was seen as the better part of valor and we chose Ngungun instead 8 - ]). Well worth doing if you are not capable or don't want to take on the its bigger siblings. Nice shady walk up to a great view, round trip was probably an hour with a short stop at the top for some happy snaps. Always plenty of people here with tons of kids on the track which is nice to see. In summary: Worth doing for the view, can accommodate all fitness levels and can be done in a hurry if you want to zip off to the beach aftwards.
Mount Beerwah Summit (Glass House Mountains National Park)	Jul, 2018	Very Hard	2.9km return 3 hrs
Let me preface this review with a comment that I'd never done a proper rock scramble like this before though my level of fitness is probably above average? In any case, I went into this with a fair amount of hesitation having read the comments here and seen a few photos. The beginning is very daunting but definitely the most challenging part. Once you are over the first 20-30 metre slab which is slippery and with minimal handholds, the rest as they say is pretty much gravy. As most have mentioned, there is a way to bypass this initial hurdle if you divert to the left of the official start point though I didn't see that trail myself. Brilliant views all the way up but if you have a fear of heights, probably wouldn't recommend, nor would I recommend during the day in summer as the rock face is basically in full sun for about 2/3 of the climb and would be almost like climbing a frying pan I suspect. There are a number of points to stop and rest, even on the rock face, so it is fairly achievable to most. The intermission in the limestone caves is a good spot for a breather and to take in the views. Once you reach this point, the remainder is a pretty steep scramble / walk but far friendlier than the first section. Terrific views from the top once you make it and a huge sense of achievement for the first effort. You will probably be sore the next few days unless you do it on a semi-regular basis. Suggest going with some companions as it always helps to spot out good purchase points and for encouragement etc. I found the descent easier than the ascent as you are able to control your weight with your arms and keep your eyes peeled for spots to place your feet. Probably took 2 hours up and 1.5 back though this was several months ago now and memory escapes those finer details 8 - ]. In summary: Tricky to begin with but gets easier, great workout and sense of achievement mingled with spectacular views, highly recommend to anyone without vertigo and with a semi descent level of fitness.
Bare Rock track and Morgan's Walk (Main Range National Park)	Apr, 2018	Medium	13km 4.5 hrs
This was my first proper bush walk to get back on the wagon and it certainly reignited a long simmering passion. It was a great walk to get back into the swing of things also as despite being fairly long, it was not especially difficult and is filled with SPECTACULAR views at a number of locations, particularly to the aptly named bare rock at the end which emerges from a clump of trees and allows a view on both sides of the range, worth the effort purely for this view. I was able to complete it in dunlop volleys and a good portion of the walk is covered by beautiful rain forest so it is a good walk for anytime of the year. However, having done this in April it was a bit nippy to begin. You may want to start early as the car park is small and can get clogged up very quickly on weekends and public holidays etc. The suggested time is pretty accurate for anyone walking at a decent pace. You will want to allow approximately 5 hours to soak in the views etc. In summary, long walk, good for your cardio, beautiful views and forest, highly recommend.