Hiking in Mapleton National Park

White-eared Monarch

I did a 20-kilometre hike yesterday through Mapleton National Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland's Blackall Range. I started on Delicia Road at the trailhead for the track to Gheerulla Falls, heading west to Thilba Thalba camping ground and beyond to 480m, the highest elevation for the day. Then it was down the steep escarpment to Gheerulla Creek, following the creek up the valley eastwards to the falls and back to Delicia Road.

Open forest, Mapleton National Park

The hike goes through some nice patches of rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and eucalypt woodland. The creeks aren't running due to the current dry spell and conditions are very dry. I didn't see a single (other) human being or a single Noisy Miner all day! Images of scenery and birds seen along the way here. The hike started at 7.30am and finished at 4pm. Elist.

Looking towards the Blackall Range ridgeline

Striated Thornbill

Paradise Riflebird

View from near Thilba Thalba

Rocky escarpment above Gheerulla Creek

Looking towards Kenilworth Bluff and Mary River valley

Gheerulla Creek 

Eastern Spinebill

Gheerulla Creek

Marbled Frogmouth at its day roost

Wonga Pigeon