Ben Bennett Bushland Park is a reserve with a number of habitat types and ecosystems, only a few minutes from the main street of Caloundra. The park was once known as Ben Bennett Botanical Park but was renamed at some point, although I’m not sure when this occurred. The park has been around for over … Read more
Kumbartcho Sanctuary is a hidden pocket of wildlife and bushland beside the North Pine River in Eatons Hill of Brisbane. Kumbartcho is derived from the local Aboriginal word for Hoop Pine, which was the dominant species in the area before they were felled by settlers to build ships. The sanctuary is 6 hectares incorporating the … Read more
Buckley’s Hole is a conservation park on the southern end of Bribie Island. It sits at the bottom of the eastern side of Bribie Island, south of the Bongaree Jetty . The area is a habitat used by local and migratory shorebirds, some flying 6000km non-stop. Migratory birds stop at Buckley’s Hole to rest and … Read more
Sharon Gorge Nature Park is a rest stop and nature park between Bundaberg and Gin Gin, with a walk from the rest area to the Burnett River along a creek. Gorge seems more of a confidence-building name for the creek gully because it doesn’t look like you would expect a gorge to be. The walking … Read more
One of a number of reserves managed by Ipswich City Council, Purga Nature Reserve is the largest protected area of endangered Swamp Tea-Tree forest in the world. There are two walks at Purga Nature Reserve, both are easy class 2 walks with one partly wheelchair accessible. Tea Tree Boardwalk The first walk is called Tea Tree … Read more
Benarkin State Forest is on the D’Aguilar Hwy west of Kilcoy before getting to Blackbutt. The Benarkin township is on the northern edge of the entrance to Benarkin State Forest. At the entry road from D’Aguilar Hwy, there is a day use area. The area is basic with not much there, though there is a covered … Read more
Mary Cairncross Park is a conservation reserve in Maleny on the Blackall Range. The reserve is a 55 hectare area of subtropical rainforest, preserving the remnants of the ecosystem once covering the southern part of the Blackall Range. The area was heavily timbered from the 1880s, in particular for the prized red cedar trees, and … Read more
Queens Park in Ipswich is like three destinations in one – a playground, an Australian animal zoo, and Japanese gardens, all in walking distance between each other. Queens Park Playground The playground design borrows from the coal mining history of Ipswich. A mining shaft headframe is at the top of slippery dips and the start … Read more
The Wooroolin Wetlands is a palustrine wetland (inland without flowing water). It is located right next to the township of Wooroolin, accessible from behind the pub, or at the sports grounds just outside of town. At the turn of the century early settlers reported feeling the earth shaking, and the lagoon suddenly dried up and … Read more
Jack Smith Scrub Conservation Park is a small softwood scrub north-west of Murgon, named after Jack Smith who donated the park. The area was once a vast dry rainforest, with land clearing for agriculture there are only small pockets remaining. A similar scrub is on nearby Boat Mountain Conservation Park in the Silburns Vine Scrub walk. … Read more