Warrie Circuit

Danger! Sheer Cliffs and Waterfalls. One slip could be fatal - serious injury or death may result from walking near the edge.

This is the sign at the start of the Warrie Circuit, which is a 17-kilometre walk in the picturesque Springbrook National Park. 

Depending on the weather, you are likely to see at least 9 waterfalls.

We haven't completed the full walk YET.   We walked in to Goomoolahra falls and back again, which is about 6.5 kilometres.   Not many people do this walk, so we were on our own.  It was a wonderful walk.

The stunning Goomoolahra falls.
It is an easy walk  (wheel chair friendly) to view the Goomoolahra falls from the viewing platform at the top.  However about 3 kilometres to walk in to see it from here.

Rainbow Falls is along the way. 
Although there was no rainbow on the day (at the time) that we were there.

The track takes you under Rainbow Falls.  Prepare to get wet.

At times, it is like you are walking on a track on the side of the cliff with sheer drops below and cliffs above.

Many different types of flora along the way

More rocky cliff faces

Amazing how trees grow in nooks and crannies.

If you visit after rain, you are likely to see water running down the cliffs in several places.

Great views of  Surfers Paradise

A path has been built to enable hikers to safely cross the waterfall.
The first photo was taken looking up from this path.

This photo was also taken from the same path but looking down.

Many interesting plants along the way

Swell Sculpture Festival

Wow!  Wow! Wow!

The Swell Sculpture Festival on Currumbin Beach is the largest outdoor sculpture exhibition in Australia.

Some of the sculptures are fantastic, some are unusual, some are creative and others are just weird!  It very worthwhile to purchase the booklet, which tells you about the artist, how the sculpture was created and the meaning behind the artwork.

With over 50 sculptures, there is something for everyone.

Below are a small number of sculptures from 2018.  We were away last year so we missed it.   The 18th Swell Sculpture Festival is scheduled for September 2020.  Let's hope that the COVID-19 pandemic has passed and it is not cancelled.

Prickles; the unhuggable bear (made from barb wire)

Currumbin Beach Swell Sculpture Festival (Surfers Paradise in the background)

Embryo

2 of 52 Women

Shemple on the Shore

Wherever you go there you are

You're Terrible Muriel (made from fencing wire)

Perpetual Consumption
(Can you see what it is made from?

Trafficking

Sandberg

Portal Sun
and
Hex (the Kite)

Ngara tree in foregournd
Sandy Sundays in background

What are we sinking?

Kaleidoscope
Although photos do not do it justice, Kaleidoscope was my personal favourite for several reasons.  Although there was a handle, the wind made this huge Kaleidoscope operate with changing colours, patterns and the sound.   I had an emotional connection with this artwork as it reminded me of a childhood toy.

Beautiful Beaches

Alex enjoying the view at Point Danger. 

What is your favourite Beach?

I grew up with the ocean and the beach.  Every school holidays and most weekends were spent at my parents Beach House.  The one thing that Alex and I missed while living in North East Victoria was the Beach.  

I love the sound of waves crashing into shore. The sand between your toes and the feeling of sinking as the sand beneath your feet is washed away by the waves.  The screech of seagulls and children having fun.  The wind blowing your hair and the smell of the ocean.

Greenmount Beach

There are so many lovely beaches in Queensland.  Today took us to the Gold Coast.  There were people everywhere as it was a warm day (30 degrees Celsius) and school holidays.   Parking was hard to come by so we kept driving along the coast.  We were looking for a beach that was not extremely busy, where we could enjoy a picnic and swim. 

Near the Queensland and NSW border, we stopped at Point Danger.  It was primarily a surfing beach (I don't know how to surf yet!) so we walked along the beach as far as we could go, but rocks prevented us from continuing along the beach so we went up to the Walk of Remembrance and viewed the beaches from above before deciding on a place to picnic and swim.

Point Danger Walk of Remembrance
Remembering the "men and women who lost their lives in the forty-one Allied and
Australian Naval and Merchant ships sunk along Australia's coastline
during World War Two".

Point Danger

Greenmount Beach at Rainbow Bay was patrolled by life guards and was good for swimming, surfing and exploring rocks.  When the tide was out,  a pool of water remained, which was perfect for young children to play. No dogs are allowed at Greenmount Beach.

Greenmount Beach at Rainbow Bay

However my favourite beach was Froggy Beach.  It is a secluded beach between the rocks of Point Danger and Snapper Rocks and as it is not patrolled there were not many people there.  A real hidden gem!

Snapper Rocks and Froggy Beach

Froggy Beach

I now have a new goal;  I want to try surfing so am going to have surfing lessons before the end of the year (but not during school holidays!)

My Tips:  Take a beach umbrella or beach tent.  Wear sunscreen and reapply regularly as there is not a lot of shade.