Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Twenty off-the-beaten track adventures are in store for visitors to this year’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland Festival of the Walks

Gheerulla Falls bush walkers Group

THE SECOND Sunshine Coast Hinterland Festival of theWalks will feature over 20 guided walks from August 21-29.

The guided walks, which range from 20 minute strolls to parts of the ‘GreatWalk’ of over five hours, will showcase the unique beauty and charm of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

The Festival is held in the Blackall Range villages of Montville, Maleny, Mapleton, Flaxton, Conondale, Kenilworth and the Glasshouse Mountains.

“The Festival includes walks, photographic and bush poetry competitions, a street party, markets and exhibitions,” said Festival of theWalks co-ordinator Richard Hill.

The walks with experienced and knowledgeable local guides and bushwalkers include the dog friendly walk, garden walks, nature walks, artists walks and the Community CareWalk.

This 10 kilometre walk, which is expected to attract 200 participants commences at Mary Cairncross Park to raise funds for the Blackall Range Care Group and Barung Landcare.

The Community CareWalk is on August 21 and finishes with the participants joining in the fun of the Maleny Street Party in Maple Street. Music, buskers, food tastings and old fashioned novelty events will celebrate the end of the charity walk.

Penny Riddoch Photographics

A similar event, ‘The Montville Family Day Out’will be held the next day, in the charming village of Montville, popular for its cafes, restaurants and eclectic specialty shops.

The Sunshine Coast Hinterland area covers such diverse habitats as subtropical rainforest, open eucalypt forest, waterfalls and the spectacular Glasshouse Mountains. They range in degrees of challenge from easy to strenuous.

The walks descriptions are set out on the website, but to name a few:

The TrachyteWalk covers 5.7 kilometres in two hours in the shadow of Mount Tibrogargan volcanic plug. Trachyte, a spectacular type of volcanic rock, forms the Glasshouse Mountains. The track covers heath and openWoodlands, and then offers unique views of the mountains.

The Lake Baroon to KondalillaWalk in the national park follows Skene Creek through riparian rainforest, crossing bridges over palm and vine forested streams. There are dramatic views of the Gorge, Obi Obi Creek and Lake Baroon. The walk finishes at Kondalilla falls with a swim in
the natural rock pool (for the hardy!) after the four-five hour walk.

TheWildlifeWalk explores the Bellthorpe Forest old growth eucalypt, rainforest and creek cascades. Along the way of the seven-eight hour walk, visitors can expect to see kangaroos, wallabies, sugar gliders and reptiles.

Walk guide Susie Duncan is an expert in spotting wildlife as well as the endemic species.

The Montville Coffee Photographic Exhibition is expected to attract over 200 entries.

“Photographers love rainforest with its majestic trees, light filtering through the canopy, raging waterfalls and still pools,” said Richard.

The competition offers a $1000 first prize for adults and a digital frame for children.

Entries will be displayed at Flame Hill Winery at Montville. The top nine entries will have their photos printed and framed courtesy of Holden’s gallery and will be announced at the festival opening cocktail party at the winery on Friday 20th of August.

The festival will wrap up at the Mapleton Markets Street Party on Sunday August 29.

From 7:30 am to 2:30pm, the Village will come alive with market stalls, emerging performance artists and a bush poetry performance.

The Mapleton Markets have built a reputation for offering genuinely local produce and crafts. All food must be grown or created in the area by locals who live and work there.

The bush poetry event attracts well known performers from all over Australia regularly, including John Majors and Jackie Bridle. The audience will also be encouraged to contribute their own bush poetry and yarns.

“The festival is expected to attract large numbers of nature lovers and walkers,” said Richard. “As many of the walks have limited numbers we urge people to book early”.

Participants can join ‘Friends of the Festival of the Walks’ to register. Registration is $20 per person or $40 for unlimited Walks.

“Accommodation for the Festival is available in over 1800 beds in the many charming B & B’s, guesthouses, small hotels and private rentals on the range,” said Richard.

“The new Spicers at Clovelly Estate and Spicers Tamarind will be newly opened, so it’s a great launch party for those new properties”.

Visitors can find accommodation options and information at www.hinterlandtourism.com.au.