Sunshine Coast Walks

drron · Sep 9, 2023

I decided rather than posting the walks I have done in the view from my office thread I should put them into a Sunshine Coast walks thread.
Thought it about time I acted as an honorary tourist ambassador for my home region. So first a repeat of my first 2 walks on the Coastal Trail.
Walked the section of the Coastal path near our house to one of our favourite restaurants Bocca then back via the Nicklin Way to home. The views.

I came across a plumed frogmouth being attacked by 2 per weed and several noisy miners. I went to its aid scaring them off. The frogmouth looked at me for a couple of minutes then flew back into it’s tree.

Good camouflage. It is in the centre of the photos.
This area was an Artillery range in WW2. The guns were on nearby Battery Hill.

A goanna that didn’t hang around.
The restaurant is in a new subdivision. Good facilities for residents. Nice picnic area.

And a lake. You can kayak around to Currimundi Lake.

But a few people suffering due to a building firm collapse.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

Now views of the canal our office is on.

With some different ways to exercise.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

Another walk from the office. This time I turned right!

This would take me to the Currimundi Environmental Park which we used to walk through when we first moved here. Lots of wildflowers in spring which was what I wanted to see again. As I started down the path I had the plumed frogmouth - preumably the same one as seen 2 days ago - fly past my right shoulder at head height. When it was about 2 metres in front it turned and flew past me. The flew into a tree. Watching this happen I nearly trod on a goanna which made quite a noise as it hurtled into the bush.

Along this coastal path there are numerous entry points to Wurtulla Beach. This is the closest one to the Environmental park.

And the beach with a dozen ships waiting to enter the Brisbane port and a couple obviously were leaving.

The path then turns to run between the Parkhaven subdivision and the Environmental park. The park exists because they are still occasionally finding live shells there.

Some mosaics on the path.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

Some of the park flora.

And the slight rise you see between the trees is Battery Hill.

Now when we first came there were numerous fire trails through the park which we used to walk along to view the wildflowers. There are a few greens active here so now the firetrails are overgrown and impenetrable. Going to be great when another fire occurs if there is a strong southerly wind blowing it towards the houses. At least it might result in the elimination of the fox colony that now lives there.
So now the walk just leads back to the Nicklin Way.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

So today I did a bit of research and found out they have put a walk into the Environmental park closer to Currimundi lake. As I had to make a trip to the supermarket in Currimundi i decided to stop of on the way for today's exercise.
I started from near the bridge on the Nicklin Way over the lake. It is a lovely spot and useda lot on fine weekend days. people fishing,swimming,paddle boarding,canoeing and just lying on the sand.

There is a pathway through the park. The first 300 metres are paved and then a bush track. A bit late for the best of the wildflowers but a nice relaxing walk.

The entrance to Currimundi lake is very shallow but the water can flow quite fast through it. A little further back it is ideal for young children.

There is a fire trail that I took back to my car. very sandy.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

So I took the path back to the heath trail as closer to my car.

A place to launch your canoe.

At least a dozen paddle boarders were out on the water.

drron · Sep 9, 2023

The Park adjoining the car park with a children's play ground and a few BBqs.

Took me an hour for the walk.

drron · Sep 12, 2023

Sunday and I decided to explore west of the Nicklin Way. Lived in Wurtulla for 30 years and this is the first time I have walked the area. The old Caloundra Council was forward thinking and their are walkways between buildings and a quick way to other streets. Some really well maintained.

That one ran down to a little park on our canal. this is the Nicklin Way Bridge over the Tokara canal. Didn't realise there was a little beach around the corner.

Views up the canal which runs into Currimundi Lake.

That view is at the end of a pretty basic walkway.

But the Canal also leads to a new area around the New Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The light towers are on the Kawana Sportsground which is the home of the Kawana Dolphins Rugby League team which is the feeder club for the Melbourne storm. Occasional NRL games and the Matildas have played here.
Some extensive open areas and wide waterways.

At that ovel there was a training session for some young girls playing soccer. most with the Matilda's jersey on. As I walked past several called out Hey Poppie. Now that is what I am known as by my grandkids so I looked around. turns out Poppie is the name of the youngster wearing the number 20 jersey.
So I continued my walk.

drron · Sep 12, 2023

On these newer areas there is a wide walway around the edge of the waterways. That park is well equipped with a couple of under cover BBqs.

Now we have swans swim up our canal and at this time of year usually have a few youngsters. I discovered on the edge of this park the home of some swans though not the ones we see at home because these 2 have more youngsters.

Quite a few were fishing though I have yet to see anything being caught. A lovely beach where dad was fishing unaware that his 3 youngsters had collected bark from the paper bark trees and dead leaves and were trying to set fire to them by rubbing sticks togeter.

Several of these purple Callistemons used in the landscaping.

And some left overs from the old days.

I enjoyed the walk and have resolved to do more exploring.

Noel Mugavin · Sep 14, 2023

Beautiful part of the world. Plan is to retire there around the Mooloolaba area, in about 8 years.
Will be back in a couple of weeks to play a bit of golf, and more importantly defend our national Masters Football title.
Drron, If you're looking to have a laugh in a few weeks, get yourself down to the Maroochydore Sports Complex on the Sunday, Wednesday and Friday to watch some stupid old fools try to re-live their youth, being old men playing a young man's sport.

NoName · Sep 15, 2023

I did the Coastrek charity walk in July last year. 60km from Currimundi Creek to the Noosa Spit Recreational Reserve. Route was almost entirely along the beach/coastal paths with a few exceptions where that wasn’t possible. Completed in Approx 12.5hrs. A painful but enjoyable experience with lots of nice scenery along the way and I recognise some of the spots in the pics up thread from being along the route. Here’s the map for anyone interested:

Coastrek

Join thousands of wild women - and men! - in teams of two or more as we immerse ourselves in nature for an epic adventure of fun, fitness, friends, fresh air and fundraising.

www.coastrek.com.au

drron · Sep 15, 2023

Sorry @Noel Mugavin We are off to Bangkok on 24/9 so unable to get along and cheer/ heckle all the oldies.

Good on you @NoName . My days of all day walks are well and truly behind me. back in the mid 60s I did participate in the first Sydney University fun runs. Not much fun as they were 50 miles and began at night. Didn't finish the first, finished but lame and after 16 hours in the second so I went into training seriously for the third. Surprised myself by finishing in the top 20 in a bit over 6 hours. So I retired from those adventures.

drron · Sep 15, 2023

Back to the walks.
Looking at the map of the Coast I spied a beach with a name I had never heard of before - rump shaker beach. No where the name came from. I doubt it has anything to do with the first song written by Pharrel as that was recorded in 1992. A little bit naughty as well. I decided to walk up the Nicklin Way first and then turn left to the beach opposite the Kawana state College. It is also where there is an adult shop. Then down the street until I came across a walkway to the beach.
Came out on the Coastal Walkway at Warana beach.There was a sign up announcing that it was brush turkey mating season. A couple of minutes later the first male in action.

The view from the coast path over Warana beach.

The second brush turkey was cleaning the path for his mound.

A nice rest area.

It wasn't far from there that google maps announced I was at Rump Shaker beach. But no signs to take a photo of. i guess if a sign had been put up it wouldn't last long. So this is it.

drron · Sep 15, 2023

So looking north to Point Cartwright then south to Dicky Beach.

On the way back the first turkey had worked hard and the mound had taken shape.

Just after I took the pic he returned to do a bit more.

A little further on I passed a couple of females finding their dinner.

The return journey was all via the Coastal Path. Behind Bokarina beach.

drron · Sep 22, 2023

Back to some more walks. This was exploring Lake Kawana. To get there I first walked through some of the older Wurtulla area. You come across these little parks with playgrounds and picnic areas with BBqs.

Then the Southern end of Lake Kawana with an upmarket Residential island.

But that photo was taken from the lakeside path behind what used to be the Youi call centre.

Some of the staff probably got distracted by the views.

From this point most days you see people sailing their radio controlled yachts.

And from there you look back at the old call centre.

drron · Sep 22, 2023

Kept walking north towards the oval. Lots of spots to have your picnic.

Those buildings on the right of the last photo mark the end of the rowing course. Basically world class and before various competitions many countries train here.
But first past the Kawana Community garden.

and the stadium.

And they have an old fashioned grass hill.

drron · Sep 22, 2023

The starters box on the rowing course.

Then cut back to the Nicklin Way through the industrial area. Concrete boots anyone?

The stadium is basically a small part of a sports precinct. Part is proposed to be a new indoor sports arena for the 2032 Olympics. Seems like they are taking their ideas from Victoria's plan for the 2024 Commonwealth games.