Manna Gum Camping Area, Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park, QLD.

Dwarfed by the Manna Gums at Manna Gum Camping Area.

The Goomburra section of Main Range National Park is one of our favourite places and we return there whenever we get the chance. It is so relaxing to sit in a camp chair and have ringside seats for such a great variety of wildlife.

Satin Bowerbird invading our kitchen.

Red-necked Pademelons are common at Main Range National Park.

We didn't see any snakes or Southern Angle-headed Dragons while at Goomburra in June 2019 which is perhaps not surprising as it was only about 1 C at night and 16 C during the day. On previous visits we have seen an old Manna Gum with a nesting hollow being used by Glossy Black Cockatoos but this trip the tree was nowhere to be seen and we fear that it was cut down as we could see a lot of cut down tree debris. We did still see a pair of Glossy Black Cockatoos fly over the campground in the late afternoon so hopefully they have found another nesting tree nearby.

We always enjoy sitting beside our tent and watching the local bird life. There are always plenty of Satin Bowerbirds and Superb Fairy-wrens about. This trip we were pleased to see three Paradise Riflebirds stripping bark off the trees behind our tent.

Pacific Riflebird.

Satin Bowerbird, male.

Superb Fairy-wren

We noticed a bit of a commotion amongst the Satin Bowerbirds and were lucky to witness a courtship ritual involving the males twitching violently while offering females a nice tasty green leaf. A couple of the males were successful so it seems the population of Satin Bowerbirds is secure for the future. This activity occurred in low vegetation and not at a bower as might be expected.

Courtship Ritual

We were keen to walk the Winder Track because it was the only walk we hadn't yet done in the Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park. It is a 12 km return, Grade 4 walk. The walk starts from a car park at the end of Lookout Road. Although the track is along a ridge line there are only limed views. However, there are a couple of stunning lookouts along Lookout Road that are well worth doing.

Limited views on the early part of the Winder Track.

We very quickly discovered that there is a lot of damage caused by feral pigs along the track. We soon passed a pig trap that had been freshly baited by national park rangers. Of all the creatures that can be encountered in the Australian bush, pigs are my least favourite so we were glad that we didn't actually see any.

Pig Trap

We did see a few Lyrebirds in dense bush alongside the track but were unable to get any photos as they sent out strident alarm calls as we progressed along the track.

The Winder is an old piece of forestry equipment and was quite overgrown.

The Winder

As there is no seating and no view we took a few photos and headed back the way we had come. Overall, this walk is a bit underwhelming and I wouldn't put it on my list for a return visit, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Wildlife: Red-necked Pademelon, Red-necked Wallaby. Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Butcherbird, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-browed Finch, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, White-napped Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Albert's Lyrebird, Australian Magpie, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Australian King Parrot, Paradise Riflebird, Crimson Rosella, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Grey Shrike-thrush, Bassian Thrush, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Whipbird. Heard: Green Catbird, Pheasant Coucal, Common Koel.

Details for Manna Gum Campground:
Where: Goomburra section of Main Range National Park, QLD About 195 km south-west of Brisbane. From Brisbane drive up Cunningham's Gap. Turn right at Gladfield or Clintonvale. Turn right at Goomburra and drive along Inverramsay Road to the very end. 
Access: Unsealed roads. Some pot holes. Suitable for tents and all rig types, however, there is a very short section between Poplar Flat Camping Area and Manna Gum Camping Area that is narrow and uneven and sometimes has overhanging vegetation so if you have a high or large rig it might be better to book into Poplar Flat Camping Area.
Sites: grassed area, no designated sites, some shade.
Fees & Bookings: Bookings must be made by phone or internet before arriving as there is no reception at, or anywhere near, the campground. Ph 13 74 68. $6.55 per person per night, adults and children. Has single rate. Family Rate: $26.20 per night includes 1 to 2 adults and a maximum of 8 people (ie up to 2 adults and up to 6 children, extra adults $6.55)
Facilities: Non-flush toilets, fire places, BYO wood, some non-potable water taps throughout campground. No showers, no power, no phone reception.
Prohibited: No pets, no generators.

Diamond Head Loop Walking Track, Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW.

Forest Walking Track: 1.5 km one way, Grade 3. 
Diamond Head Loop Walk: 4.3 km loop, Grade 3. 
Metcalfes Walking Track: 700 meters one way, Grade 3.

We combined the Forest Walking Track, Diamond Heed Loop, and Metcalfes Walking Track into a loop of about 6.5 kilometers starting from Diamond Head Campground and walking via Indian Head Campground, Kylies Hut and Kylies Campground.

Forest Walking Track

We started on the Diamond Head Loop Walk from Diamond Head Campground, turned into the Forest Walking Track and walked to Indian Head Campground.

Young Eastern Grey Kangaroo having a scratch at Indian Head Campground.

We continued on via the walk-in trail to Kylies Hut. 

Kylies Hut

From Kylies Hut we took Metcalfes Walking Track to Kylies Beach Campground.

Brackish creek on Metcalfes Walking Track.

We saw both and Red and Little Wattlebirds in this section of the track.

Red Wattlebird.

Little Wattlebird.

Amenities at Kylies Beach Campground.

From Kylies Beach Campground we walked out the 4WD beach access into the Kylies Beach section of Crowdy Beach. There were several Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos eating banksia cones in the Banksia trees along the track.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo eating a banksia cone.

Photographing birds on Kylies Beach.

Sooty Oystercatchers on the rocks at Kylies Beach.

At the northern end of Kylies Beach we found a rough, unofficial, track that climbed up the hill and joined up with the Diamond Head Loop.

We climbed up from Kylies Beach to rejoin the track.

From here we rejoined the Diamond Head Loop track and started the return north to Diamond Head along the coastal cliffs. We arrived at Kylies Lookout shortly after rejoining the track.

View looking south from Kylies Lookout.

This section of the track is very scenic with great outlooks over the ocean and a variety of rock formations. It is also a great vantage point in the winter for whale watching.

The Natural Arch

Diamond Head Loop Walking Track.

Looking south on the Diamond Loop Walking Track.

More coastal rock formations.

A Mapping Authority marker on Diamond Head.

Walking through heath; looking south on the Headland Walk.

Looking north from the Headland Loop Walk.

After a very pleasant mornings walk we arrived back at Diamond Head Campground.

Wildflowers, Mermaid Lookout Track, Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW.

At the end of August last year we camped at Diamond Head Campground, in Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW. The short Mermaid Lookout Walking Track leaves from the campground and is a great place to see wildflowers.

Mermaid Lookout Track: 700 meters one way, Grade 3:

Mermaid Lookout Walking Track.

Boronia.

Kunzia.

Sowerbaea

Drumstick.

Flannel Flowers.

Daisy

Several different types of Banksia can be found along the track.

Banksia

View north to Katang Nature Reserve.

Hardings Paddock, Flinders - Goolman Conservation Estate, QLD.

Communal Fire Pit at Harding's Paddock Campground.

Harding's Paddock Campground is a well laid out campground run by the Ipswich Council. There are only eight sites but they are easy to book online. Booking in advance is necessary because the campground is gated and you will receive a gate code when you make your booking.

Tents tend to be set up in the middle area behind bollards.

Site 1: Typical campsite layout.

Each site has a large driveway suitable for parking caravans and motorhomes. The sites are divided on each side with trees and bushes. Each site has a table at the end. These tables are great but my tip is to take something to sit on because the metal gets really cold in winter and really hot in summer. There is a grassed area behind bollards where you can pitch tents near your table. Fires on the ground are not allowed at the campsites but there is a nearby communal fire pit that people were happily using while we were there. Pets are not allowed.

Facilities: Camp Kitchen, Toilets, Shower Cubicles.

Behind the campground there is a large grassy area with a  sheltered kitchen furnished with tables, gas barbecue, sink (BYO plug) and tank water. Shown on the right in the photo above, there are four shower cubicles (BYO shower). The toilets are shown in the middle of the photo. The toilets are the vandal proof type that are stainless steel and have no plastic seat. When we were there in May 2019 the toilets stank so bad that we didn't use them. The toilet situation is a shame because everything else about the campground is outstanding.

Juvenile Blue-faced Honeyeater.

Juvenile Pied Butcherbird.

The most common camp birds were Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Pied Butcherbirds. They were on constant stand-by waiting to raid the tables for food.

Horse Yards at Harding's Paddock.

Harding's Paddock is set in the Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate. There is a good selection of walks from easy to hard. Some of the trails allow mountain bikes and some are horse trails. We didn't see any bikes but there were some horses around on the weekend. Horses are well catered for with horse yards, water and hitching posts.

Harding's Paddock Picnic Area.

There is a popular picnic area at Harding's Paddock with sheltered picnic tables, toilets and walks. The little lagoons that are a feature of the picnic area where dried up and devoid of water birds this trip.

Yarning Circle.

There is a very well signposted Bush Tucker Garden next to the campground. The Yarning Circle could come in handy for family gatherings.

We walked to Goolman Lookout and returned via Rocky Knoll and the very dry wetlands walk. All up about 7.5 km. It is a bit of a slog walking up and up to Goolman Lookout but from then on it is either level or downhill. I was glad that we walked in May as I think it would be very hot to walk in the summer due to the open nature of the track. 

Walking Track.

View of Mount Goolman

Distant views of Brisbane.

I was amazed at the sheer number of birds we saw in the conservation park. There seemed to be Silvereyes and other small bushland birds everywhere we looked. I had no idea that the area was such a birding mecca. Recently, there was even a confirmed sighting of a Regent Honeyeater near the picnic area. 

Silvereye.

Rose Robin.

Jacky Winter.

Australian King Parrot.

There were also quite a few butterflies about.

Lesser Wanderer.

Glasswing.

Details for Harding's Paddock Campground, May 2019:
Where: About 55 km south-west of Brisbane or 40 km north of Boonah. The picnic and camping areas are at the end of Carmichaels Road; ignore Google Maps and keep going to the end.
Access: Carmichaels Road is a 2WD unsealed road, in good condition this trip but with pot holes last time we were here.
Sites: 8 individual numbered sites. Suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes. 
Bookings and Fees: https://www.discoveripswich.com.au/accommodation/hardings-paddock-campground/ or phone 07 3281 0555   $12 per site per night. Up to 6 people per site. 
Facilities: Gated campground with key codes. Tables in each campsite. Communal Camp Kitchen (with tank water, sink, tables and gas BBQ's), one communal fire ring (BYO wood), toilets, shower cubicles (BYO Bag). Horse Yard with water. Walks. Information signs.
Prohibited: Pets. Fires at campsites. Collecting wood.
Caution: The Ipswich area can become very hot in the summer and there isn't much shade in the campground.

Wildlife List, May 2019: Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby. Butterflies: Monarch, Lesser Wanderer, Evening Brown, Glasswing. Birds: Pied Butcherbird, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pied Currawong, Australian Wood Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Straw-necked Ibis, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Australasian Figbird, Red-browed Finch, White-throated Gerygone, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Jacky Winter, Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Masked Lapwing, Noisy Miner, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Rose Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, Grey Shrike-thrush, Silvereye, Eastern Spinebill, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail. I did get a surprise to see a Blue and Gold Macaw flying past our tent, however, this was a pet bird.