Hikes not under cover of rainforests in SE Qld

[gidge12374]

Hi there
I've been living on the Gold Coast for over 3 years now and was wondering if there are any hikes within a 1 1/2 drive which dont involve rainforest or covered hiking. Im from the Uk origionally and used to spend a lot of time on Snowdonia and the Lake District. Although i've seen some spectacular sights up on Lamington, Im starting to miss the 'open' hikes I used to do back home where you always had a view during the hike. When I've been driving up to Lamington, we pass open land but this seems to be private property. Are you allowed to hike over private property here as you are in the UK? We spend a weekend at Mount Barney where there was more hikes out in the open and loved it. Its just this is a 2 hour drive and a bit too far for a day hike. Any help you can give will be greatly received. We're booked to hike the Overland track in January so we're out most weekends training so the more recommendation the better
Thanks Rob

[nq111]

Nah - just drive the extra 1/2km to Barney - can't be beat

I agree with you that closed forest walking can get a bit boring.

[tomh]

In Queensland there are no public rights of way as there are in England. To cross private property (usually to gain access to National Parks) you should find the owner and ask permission. Usually it is given willingly.
As far as a choice between forested or open walking - although there are plenty of SE Qld walks that incorporate both and walks such as in Lamington that are almost totally covered, nothing goes even close to resembling Snowdonia, the Lake District, Kosciuszko NP, the Overland, or N.Z.
Vive la différence.

[Drifting]

some of the lower hikes in Lamington have nice views- the ones in gum forest.

[gidge12374]

In Queensland there are no public rights of way as there are in England. To cross private property (usually to gain access to National Parks) you should find the owner and ask permission. Usually it is given willingly.
As far as a choice between forested or open walking - although there are plenty of SE Qld walks that incorporate both and walks such as in Lamington that are almost totally covered, nothing goes even close to resembling Snowdonia, the Lake District, Kosciuszko NP, the Overland, or N.Z.
Vive la différence.

Thanks for the response......can you elaborate on the the open walks in SE QLD? I know nothing will resemble the above but anything other than forests will be a breath of fresh air!

[gidge12374]

some of the lower hikes in Lamington have nice views- the ones in gum forest.

Thanks for the resonse....which walks in lower Lamington have the views?

[tomh]

......can you elaborate on the the open walks in SE QLD? I know nothing will resemble the above but anything other than forests will be a breath of fresh air!

Not sure of the walk difficulty you are willing to attempt, but as you mentioned Mt. Barney I'll take that as a clue. Most of these are off-track so you'll need navigational skills.

Spicers Peak- great open views as you climb from Governor's Chair to the gulley near the top of east peak. Forested on top, but great fern floor. If you can then find the N-W descent ridge near the west peak (do not attempt if unsure of navigation skills), this is also open.
Mt. Maroon - once you achieve the 'plateau' after the climb, plenty of open rock-slab walking on top including the peak cairn.
Mt. Ernest - the ridge extending for about 2km west of the peak
Mt. Barney - Logans, Mezzanine and North ridges plenty of open/low-growth sections with good views
Girraween NP may be too distant but definitely worth a visit, plenty for the low-growth devotee. Minimum dry forest, some head-high scrub amongst large climbable rock formations. Easy walking.
Lamington - best open track walk is Dave's Creek Circuit and only the circular part after the track divides. You could also try Shipstern - some low growth sections with views along the ridge and at the end.

[gidge12374]

......can you elaborate on the the open walks in SE QLD? I know nothing will resemble the above but anything other than forests will be a breath of fresh air!

Not sure of the walk difficulty you are willing to attempt, but as you mentioned Mt. Barney I'll take that as a clue. Most of these are off-track so you'll need navigational skills.

Spicers Peak- great open views as you climb from Governor's Chair to the gulley near the top of east peak. Forested on top, but great fern floor. If you can then find the N-W descent ridge near the west peak (do not attempt if unsure of navigation skills), this is also open.
Mt. Maroon - once you achieve the 'plateau' after the climb, plenty of open rock-slab walking on top including the peak cairn.
Mt. Ernest - the ridge extending for about 2km west of the peak
Mt. Barney - Logans, Mezzanine and North ridges plenty of open/low-growth sections with good views
Girraween NP may be too distant but definitely worth a visit, plenty for the low-growth devotee. Minimum dry forest, some head-high scrub amongst large climbable rock formations. Easy walking.
Lamington - best open track walk is Dave's Creek Circuit and only the circular part after the track divides. You could also try Shipstern - some low growth sections with views along the ridge and at the end.

Thanks for this. I didn't even know Giraween existed. Looks a top place and I've just got the wife to book a long weekend off so we can spend a few days there.
We've done ships stern and Daves creek. there not completely open but just enough to tease. Climbing up on surprise rock is a top spot for lunch though. Awesome views.
With regards to the others. We'll check a few of them out next time we're heading down Mt Barney way
Thanks again

[gidge12374]

......can you elaborate on the the open walks in SE QLD? I know nothing will resemble the above but anything other than forests will be a breath of fresh air!

Not sure of the walk difficulty you are willing to attempt, but as you mentioned Mt. Barney I'll take that as a clue. Most of these are off-track so you'll need navigational skills.

Spicers Peak- great open views as you climb from Governor's Chair to the gulley near the top of east peak. Forested on top, but great fern floor. If you can then find the N-W descent ridge near the west peak (do not attempt if unsure of navigation skills), this is also open.
Mt. Maroon - once you achieve the 'plateau' after the climb, plenty of open rock-slab walking on top including the peak cairn.
Mt. Ernest - the ridge extending for about 2km west of the peak
Mt. Barney - Logans, Mezzanine and North ridges plenty of open/low-growth sections with good views
Girraween NP may be too distant but definitely worth a visit, plenty for the low-growth devotee. Minimum dry forest, some head-high scrub amongst large climbable rock formations. Easy walking.
Lamington - best open track walk is Dave's Creek Circuit and only the circular part after the track divides. You could also try Shipstern - some low growth sections with views along the ridge and at the end.

Thanks for this. I didn't even know Giraween existed. Looks a top place and I've just got the wife to book a long weekend off so we can spend a few days there.
We've done ships stern and Daves creek. there not completely open but just enough to tease. Climbing up on surprise rock is a top spot for lunch though. Awesome views.
With regards to the others. We'll check a few of them out next time we're heading down Mt Barney way
Thanks again

Couldn't wait for a camping trip back to Mount Barney so went and done Mt Maroon last Sunday.....Wow!! Well worth the effort at the view was spot on! Much more my type of walk which was well out in the open. Just looking at Girraween for the end of September. Going to do 3 nights up there and and hike in between camp sites. Can you recommend any overnighter on there?

[tomh]

Can you recommend any overnighter on there?

For your first visit suggest you get a copy of the Hema 'Girraween Bald Rock Sundown National Park' map, stay at Castle Rock campground (don't go during Qld or NSW school holidays or 3 day weekends) and walk out from there - Girraween is not that large and the walking is easy, many places to visit and rocks to climb including Mt. Norman. The map shows tracks and also has some walk descriptions (or did have - I have an older edition). There are a few 'remote' camping sites (small, no facilities, often not easily identifiable but close enough is good enough) and you could overnight at the one next to Racecourse Creek near South Bald Rock - book and find location through Qld Parks & Wildlife.
Another thread that may help: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4239

[phan_TOM]

If you havent been there before I'd recommend camping at one of the main campsites, Bald Rock Creek or Castle Rock, and then doing all the walks that radiate out from there. Theres enough to keep you occupied for 2-3 days and these maintained tracks take in many of the more interesting landmarks in the park.

Theres also plenty of options for extended walks if you're after more, like going from Girraween to Bald Rock or to South Bald Rock etc etc but as tomh said I would get a copy of the HEMA map for these. While you're there you can get a copy of the 'bush camping brochure' which will help you plan any trips to the more remote areas of the park.

There are a few 'remote' camping sites (small, no facilities, often not easily identifiable but close enough is good enough

Theres 7 recommended remote campsites, the ones that I passed were fairly easy to spot last time I was there, but these are only the preferred sites for groups of 4 or more people, if you have less than that you are allowed to camp wherever you want (with a few exceptions such as no camping within 200m of any walking tracks, within 500m of any track end point eg Turtle Rock, Mt Norman etc its all in the bush camping brochure).

Some more info here -> viewtopic.php?f=38&t=10446&p=138804&hilit=girraween#p138804
& here -> viewtopic.php?f=38&t=9680&p=130347&hilit=girraween#p130347
& here -> viewtopic.php?f=48&t=10338&p=137816&hilit=girraween#p137816

[gidge12374]

Thanks to you both for the advise. We plan to go saturday 6th October and the kids go back to school on the monday after so will have to risk the one night of chaos on the Saturday. Will take your advise and stay on Castle Rock. We can just go out from there. As we're training for the Overland track would 20 kg packs for me and the wife be too much on Girraween?

[tomh]

... As we're training for the Overland track would 20 kg packs for me and the wife be too much on Girraween?

Pack weights are an endless source of debate but I would think most would agree keeping the weight as low as possible is high priority - especially if you want to avoid joint problems later in life. 15 kg including water and shared tent is the maximum weight I would aim for - Girraween and the Overland are relatively easy walks anyway. Member lotsafreshair has produced an excellent video on pack loading for 7 days, the end result being 12.5 kg + water:

[gidge12374]

Yeah was probably going over board with the 20kg pack weight...mines probably 17kg and the wife's 13ish. Good vid by the way.