We started this year’s bush walks today with a relatively easy walk in the Main Range National Park. Teresa of Horizon Guides was our guide. Teresa describes this walk as:

Walk 1: Gap Creek Falls (Main Range NP) 9.8km Approx. 5 – 6 hrs return. Easy –
moderate.
Description: This ridge walk is a pleasant outing that starts at Cunningham’s Gap. Beginning within the closed canopy of sub-tropical rainforest the vegetation changes to open eucalypt forest as we descend to the east. The track is not difficult as it follows the contours of the land, winding down the ridge and eventually ending at the top of the falls. This is a pretty creek and a lovely spot to rest before we return by the same route – this time easily gaining altitude all the way.

The route overlaid on Google Maps

Today started out as a glorious autumn day after storms last night. When we left Boonah there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Teresa has started running mid-week walks so after organising some annual leave days from work, my wife Maree and I signed up for several of the walks. Several of the walks in the Main Range National Park are closed due to the damage from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald on Australia Day. The Gap Creek Falls track is one of the few to remain open.

There were only a handful of us today, four of us and Teresa. We traveled to Cunningham’s Gap in a single vehicle and commenced walking around 9:30am.

Heading off…

The walk to the falls is about 5km through constantly changing bush. We started in the rain forest and moved through areas of grass trees and eucalypt forest before reaching the creek. It was a constant downhill walk all the way.

The peak of Mt Cordeaux hiding behind the trees.

A small creek we crossed.

The track had washed out in one of the creeks.

A cloud coming over the range.

Grass Tree

The valley below

Mt Castle in the distance

Along the way we saw a variety of fungi, insects, plants, birds and reptiles. It was one of the better days for wildlife.

Albert’s Lyrebird

Fungi

more fungi

and even more fungi

A Red-and-Black Spider (yes, that is its name)

Caterpillars munching on a leaf

Giant Spear Lily

Frilled Lily

Then after about two and a half hours we reached the falls. They were spectacular however it was a very long drop to the bottom so we stayed a respectable distance from the edge. It was lunch time and a chance to boil the billy for a nice cup of tea. After lunch we explored the creek for a short time.

These aren’t the Gap Creek Falls but another set of falls in the distance.

The Gap Creek Falls

The last little bit was quite steep to get down in the creek.

Perfect spot for lunch.

Here we all are…

Then it was time to retrace our steps back to the carpark. Except this time it was all uphill – a 400m climb over 5km. We were all glad to reach the top.

Going back home…

A chart showing the elevation of the walk from my GPS data.

We got home about 4pm, had a nice hot shower then turned around and went down town for a coffee. Two weeks until the next walk. Looking forward to it…