TRY HIKE OUT WEST TO TRAILS
IF you’re really looking to stretch your legs this weekend, hiking Mount Barney might just do it for you.
Located in the Scenic Rim west of the Gold Coast – about a two-hour drive – a trip to Mount Barney for the day is utterly delightful.
Think scenic drive with majestic gum trees, shallow waterholes that reflect the azure blue sky and dozens of cows grazing in large paddocks.
Mount Barney itself is a wonder for any nature enthusiast, being listed as a Gondwana rainforest area, and one of just four national parks in Queensland with World Heritage classification.
The area is also home to the vulnerable plumed frogmouth. And you will be doing well if you manage to spot one, con- sidering their excellent camoflague.
All the walking tracks on Mount Barney are classed as Grade 4, meaning bushwalking experience is recommended, with tracks rough, long and steep.
A shorter trail, called Yellow Pinch lookout, is only two 2km long, needing about an hour to complete a return trip.
You’ll be rewarded with uninterrupted views of the mountain, so it’s a great starting spot.
The Lower Portals track is a bit longer at 7.4km, needing three hours for completion. This track takes you to a stunning pool fed by Mount Barney Creek and set within a rocky gorge.
The longest track is the Cronan Creek Falls trail, which is 12km return, but offers up its hidden waterfall in return.