Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
When your legs are tired from climbing mountains and hiking and the weather isn’t conducive to hitting the beach, the Sunshine Coast region still has a few tricks up its sleeve.
One overcast day, we decided to head north to Gympie for something a little different. We planned to spend some time in the Gympie Gold Museum (after hitting up the markets right next door that are held on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of each month for a coffee and a browse).
To give you a bit of background, Gympie has been touted as the "Town that saved Queensland from Bankruptcy". This is why we wanted to see a bit of the history behind this.
It all kicked off when James Nash discovered 72 ounces of Gold in just six days back in 1867. Today that would be worth just under $100,000.
With five hectares of land and displays in 15 buildings, you can definitely while away a morning or an afternoon here.
As you enter the first stop is where you can try your luck gold panning. We didn’t have any luck here but I sure had fun trying.
From there you will find a lot of mining relics and gem displays and even a fully-functioning steam-powered winding engine. While all cold and quiet on the day we visited, apparently they do fired this up on special occasions.
The other buildings in the museum range from old school houses to a blacksmith's shop and the displays include an old camera and movie room, a military museum, a railway display, a trophy room celebrating Gympie's sporting achievements, and a dairy display. Other attractions include horse-drawn equipment, a blacksmith and a 1931 Leyland bus.
Also on display are memorabilia, documents, artefacts and photographs exploring one hundred years of history.
Entry is just $10 for adults.
Fraser Island
Part of me doesn't want to write this post because I want to keep the secret, but the other part of me cannot wait to share the amazing spots you can find on the world's largest sand island.
Many flock to K’gari (Fraser Island) for the beach driving and pristine freshwater lakes but they tend to stay on the East Coast which is easily accessible from the Inskip barge and has plenty of camping or accommodation options. Those looking for a little less 'roughing it' land from Hervey Bay at Kingfisher Resort and barely even have that 'covered in sand and sunscreen' feeling.
There is so much to see and do on this relatively small island, from the sand driving to the famous blue waters of Lake McKenzie, you won't be bored but for us, it is a chance to escape the crowds and live off the grid for a little while.
It takes a little more effort and a lot more gear to spend 10 days hours from any sort of civilization. But it is so worth it.
Once we hit the sand from the barge from Inskip, or Rainbow Beach, on the mainland, you drive an hour or two north then another hour or so driving across the island before we hit the quieter, calmer West Coast of Fraser Island. To get to where we want to camp, you need to really pay attention to the tides as the rivers and creeks on this side are a lot bigger and changeable than on the popular East Coast and you might get stuck unable to drive across them at high tide.
You could also get here by boat from Hervey Bay if you have your own.
Once on the coast again we continue to head north - to the northernmost campsite on this side of the island before Wathumba Creek. It is unlikely you will see anyone else camped here and that is the biggest part of its appeal.
All we need is our tent, a fridge, a gazebo (essential for that scorching midday sun) and whatever else floats your boat. For us this was fishing rods, a hammock, my SUP and the tinny. Cue 10 days of pure, isolated bliss.
You will see some people driving past on occasion - usually people fishing but they will return further south to their campsites. In 10 days, our only visitors were dolphins (daily!), turtles and the Fraser Island Ranger who came once to check our permits were in order.
You will be forced to make friends with all manner of insects but that is just part of island life.
Pack enough water and food (pending the fish catching of course) to last you, your stay unless you plan to drive to the other side of the island because there is nothing to buy here. We also rigged up a little shower from the small creek that runs behind the campsite. This was perfect for rinsing the salt and sunscreen off or just cooling down.
Our days started with brekkie and a swim for me and some pre-brekkie fishing for the man. Your body is truly guided by the sunshine so up early and early to bed.
Within walking distance of camp, we had the 'coffee rock' - made up of ancient sands and river sediments - providing a haven for smaller fish and large sand dunes to either admire or run up. All depending on your energy levels.
We fished a bit and caught a range of things, some we kept to each and others we released for another day.
We snorkelled a bit further out, seeing turtles and stingrays enjoying the warm waters as much as we were. It was serene and peaceful.
An added bonus of camping on the West Coast was that we got to watch sunset every night, always will a keen eye out for dolphins of course.
On this trip, my favourite after dinner activity of stargazing was curbed somewhat by the full moon blazing in the sky but this did mean evening walks before bed didn't require a torch!
Craft Beer & Cider Festival
When I heard that the Sunny Coast was getting a new beer festival I was pretty happy. Then I heard that it was going to be ON my birthday and my excitement levels really peaked – what could be more perfect?
The Sunshine Coast has a slew of craft breweries and this festival gave me a chance to sample them all – plus a few more from around the country – in one spot.
Despite a rainy forecast, the Saturday dawned hot and sunny (possibly next time a little more shade might be required…it is HOT in Queensland at the end of November peeps!)
Gates opened at 1pm and the day promised more than 160 beers and ciders from Australia and New Zealand available for tasting and with our tiny sample pots, I am sure I made a fair dent in that number!
Local brewers represented included Eumundi Brewery, Your Mates, Moffat Beach Brewing, Bargara, Brouhaha and Buderim Ginger.
You didn’t have to worry about cash on the day which was nice. Your entry wristband could be loaded with whatever money you wanted to spend and you just scanned it at the stands around the stadium for your food and drinks. No chance of losing it and at the end of the event (which finished up at a very respectable 9pm) any unused funds on your band could be refunded to you.
If the sample pot wasn’t quite big enough for you, or you found a tipple that really took your fancy, you could purchase larger drink sizes as well.
There really was a beer, or cider, or ginger beer, for everyone. I tried everything from heavy, malty flavours to lager-style, easy drinking brews and I probably missed a few as well. A girl can only drink so much!
In addition to the many drinks on offer, there were plenty of food trucks (think mexican, donuts and kebabs!), giant TV screens (for the cricket fans…) and live music.
There was room to set up your own picnic rug on the grass or if you were lucky, grab a free hay bale to rest your weary beer-drinking feet.
This was pitched as a family-friendly event and while there was a little for the kids to do and food for them to eat – I am not sure it is the right space for children – especially later in the day as a few of the beer taps ran dry and people got a little rowdy.
The icing on my birthday cake was that there was a lucky door prize and I happened to be one of the winners – definitely a first for me.
If I have one complaint, it actually started before we entered the Sunshine Coast Stadium – the queue was at least 20-25 minutes long and we had all pre-paid for our tickets and ‘express entry’. A more streamlined entry system should be looked into for future events.
Given this was the first year, there is room for growth and I will be back in 2018 to check it out all over again.
Mt Ngungun
It doesn’t matter if you are heading north from Brisbane or south from the Sunny Coast, you really can’t miss the Glasshouse Mountains.
It may be one of the hardest to pronounce - I am still not entirely sure how - but Mt Ngungun is probably the easiest of the bunch to hike up and the view from the top is spectacular!
The walk to the top of this mountain is just over 1.2km so there will be some steep bits and you will sweat – especially if you decide to tackle this is the humidity that is Queensland summer.
No matter when you decide to climb, you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of everything around you at 253 metres above sea level. You can spy Brisbane in the distance on a clear day and look out to the ocean as well the nearby Mt Tibrogargan and Mt Beerwah.
The path is well-marked and well-maintained and about half way up you will come across an overhang that looks like a cave. This is a good spot for a break from walking, the sun, or both!
I would recommend that you apply bug spray before getting out of the car and starting the hike as the mozzies around here seem not only extra hungry but huge!
Once you make it to the top, keep an eye on any smaller people you have brought along for the journey as there are some sheer edges with no barriers.
The summit is rocky but with enough spots to sit back and soak up the incredible views.
It is easy to see why this climb is super popular at sunrise and sunset – I want to do it again just to watch the sun come up from the east! I might have to pack a head torch just to make sure I don’t lose my footing.
We made our way down pretty quickly on my first visit as there was a storm approaching but that didn’t seem to stop the people we passed racing to the top – the walk is popular with those looking for a bit of fitness.
On the descent, we did spot some people making the trip down a little quicker – abseiling. It turns out abseiling clubs use Mt Ngungun as one of their practice sites with quite the highway going up and down the rock face.
Whichever way you go up and down, this is a mountain worth visiting.
Gardners Falls
If there is one thing you know about a Queensland summer, it is that it gets hot! This means that everyone is looking for the quickest way to cool off.
Enter the natural swimming holes you can find right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Just a stone’s throw from downtown Maleny, you can find Gardners Falls.
You won’t have to work up a sweat getting to this natural beauty, as a short, level walk of about 400 metres is all it takes.
On our visit, it hadn’t rained in a while so the falls themselves were just trickling down but the pool at the base is deep and wide – perfect for swimming anytime.
For the brave an adventurous, there are a couple of rope swings on either side of the large pool to swing and flip and jump to your heart’s content – just make sure you check the depth beforehand and exercise common sense!
The shallow rock pools at the top are perfect for small kids to splash about in, and the grassy banks, rock formations and picnic tables make a great spot to while away a summer’s day.
We also explored a little further downstream just to see what we could find and the peaceful sounds of trickling water and the serenity of the surrounding bush just make me happy. You will need to be careful if you want to head down that way as the rocks are small and slippery – in my mind it is definitely worth a bit of scrambling.
There is something magical about swimming amongst the trees. The cool water is refreshing, the surroundings are peaceful and somehow the whole experience is more special than a dip in the ocean.
That is not to say there aren’t other people here. On a hot summer day, the pools and grassed area around Gardners Falls can get pretty busy so plan your visit accordingly.
We combined our trip to the falls with a visit to some of the local cheese, wine and beer makers in the area – all in all a perfect way to spend a day in the hinterland.
Brouhaha Brewery
Many people visit Maleny in the Sunny Coast Hinterland for its lush and scenic spots but this little enclave has a lot to offer in the food and drink department too.
Brouhaha Brewery gives you the best of both worlds!
Nestled amongst the rolling hills of Maleny, here you will find an on-site boutique brewery plus a restaurant/cafe and a nice sun deck for the warmer months and fireside couches inside for when the chill sets in.
There are also long communal tables inside for those epic Sunday sessions with all your friends and you can even check out the row of giant stainless steel tanks at one end nursing the beers you’ll end up drinking.
Founded by locals just over a year ago in mid-2016, this spot is a must-visit for any beer lover!
These guys are brewing with such an enthusiasm for the craft, constantly changing and evolving their 10-tap menu, one which is always left for a cider.
Basically each week you can expect to find something new on their white-tiled bar-front.
Given the options, the obvious choice was to order the tasting paddle so I could sample a range of what Brouhaha has to offer.
The paddle comes with four beers – all your choice – so you can customise your experience. I filled my board with a dry hopped saison, a blonde ale, a pale ale and a Russian imperial stout to finish it off. All were very different and interesting. I actually loved the stout even though it was super rich and heavy – I probably wouldn’t be drinking a lot of them in one sitting at 8.3% alcohol content anyway!
Don’t just take my word for it that the beer here is worth trying, the brew house has managed to pick up a Best Brewer award at the inaugural Queensland beer awards (The Beeries), as well as two silvers and four bronze medals at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards.
If you don’t fancy a beer, there is also a range of spirits, wine and soft drink to keep you hydrated.
Given I had just arrived from downing a bucket load of cheese, I wasn’t up for ordering a meal and just got some pork scratchings with apple sauce to soak up the drinks. I will definitely be back to taste more of what looks like a tasty menu made from locally sourced produce.
This local approach is what the folks at Brouhaha like to think of as a ‘circle-of-life’. Grain is the classic byproduct of the brewing process and rather than throwing the bulk of this straight in the bin, Brouhaha instead donates it to the farmers at Maleny Wagyu cows, who then allow the Brouhaha kitchen to hand select their own fresh beef – perfection!
Sunshine Coast Marathon and Running Festival
I have always believed that running is a great way to explore a place and an organised running event just means you have a few extra people exploring with you.
With a little trepidation – it has been a few years since I ran anything more than 7km – I decided to enter the half marathon event on the Sunny Coast.
Taking place towards the end of August, the idea is that this is a cooler time of year to run, but coming from the south, this winter was the warmest I have ever experienced so training was a little harder and it was definitely warmer on the day than I anticipated…
One of the best things for me was that a local group – associated with radio station and event sponsor Hot 91.1 – organised a free running club 12 weeks out which ran part of the course once a week. This meant was not only was I training with other people (essential), I was also getting to know what most of the course would feel like.
Even though this would be my 5th ever half marathon, the hard work beforehand never gets any easier!
The run was certainly very picturesque – starting at the Alex Beach Surf Club just on sunrise.
For the run itself, the one and only hill is pretty much right at the start. For me this is a good thing because I can get it out of the way and the back 10km are mostly flat – and this is where I generally feel the pain.
The run takes you south at first, from Alex to Mooloolaba along the beachfront before heading back north and along the South Maroochy River.
The beach and river front streets are closed for the duration of the event so runners have plenty of room to move.
Given the hotter day, I stopped at more of the drink stations than I have in the past and I was very grateful for the frequent hydration options.
To be honest, twenty one kilometres is a long way. Running that far requires patience and persistence. There's a lot of time to talk to yourself - in your head, not out loud because that would make you look like a crazy person, plus you want to make sure you are breathing properly. But that’s the good thing about an event like this, there are hundreds of other people right there doing the same thing and people on the sidelines cheering you on. The atmosphere definitely helps you get to the finish line.
Once over the finish line, my friends and I celebrated our achievement with something cold and bubbly - it is tradition after all!
I was definitely not in the running, but 2017 saw Australia’s fastest male and female distance runners will not only vie for line honours at this year’s 7 Sunshine Coast Marathon, but a $25,000 pay day if they break the country’s long-standing half marathon record in the Red Hot Half.
The event just gets bigger and better every year and if 21.1km is too overwhelming for you, there are five distances to choose from including 2km, 5km, 10km, 21.1km half marathon or challenge yourself to the full 42.2km marathon.
Mapleton Falls
If there is one thing the Sunshine Coast hinterland isn’t lacking, it is short walks to waterfalls!
Not far from the coast, near the quaint village of Mapleton, you will find Mapleton Falls National Park.
Just 50m from the car park there is a lookout that offers spectacular views over the Obi Obi valley and the canopy of the rainforest below.
To the right, the Mapleton Falls cascade 120 metres down to Pencil Creek. Unfortunately our visit was after months and months of dry conditions so we could barely see a trickle of water. I can imagine the falls seriously flowing after some rain!
After you have taken in the view from here, you can head around on a short 1.3km walk along Woompoo Circuit which takes you through the upper parts of the rainforest here.
The pathway is not very long compared to some other coast walking tracks and it is well marked, with plenty of signs pointing out the different flora and fauna found in the area.
Along the way, you will see some of the biggest trees in the area, reaching for the skies, and hear the sounds of many birds.
You will have to be still and quick with the eye to spot some of the small black and yellow birds. They are so quick, darting here, there and everywhere, that there was no chance of capturing a picture of them flitting about the rainforest floor.
The walk will only take you 45mins to an hour, depending on how much time you spend taking it all in. There are a few steps but nothing overly strenuous.
Once you are done walking and exploring Mapleton Falls National Park, you take the time and have a picnic. There are picnic facilities not too far from the car park.
There is no overnight camping in the park but you could choose to stay some nice in Mapleton if you wanted to spend more time exploring the area.
