Week 2 : 1 Mar to 7 Mar 2012 - - Day Trips & Pedro

_{Weather – Mon to Fri the weather was fine but the weekend was overcast with rain periods.}

Wyaralong Dam

Rathdowney is a good spot to base yourself and from where to take day trips to explore the local area. On one trip we visited the new Wyaralong Dam just out of Beaudesert which was completed in June 2011. Due to the recent rains in the catchment, the dam was overflowing. 

A little further on in Boonah we had morning tea at the rest area near the Visitors Bureau. This is an overnight free camp. Behind here in the trees, is a large bat colony which was interesting, but due to the noise, I wouldn’t want to be camped here. 

Locals had told us about a local lavender farm and winery just out of Boonah but we were unsure of its location. Vic was driving and luckily saw the very inconspicuous sign which I missed cause I had my face buried in a map. Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavendar Farm is a pretty place to visit and has a beautiful outlook across the vines to the mountains from it's restaurant.

From here we took the Waterfall Way, which runs along the edge of Main Range National Park, on it's way to Killarney. The drive was absolutely beautiful through the rainforest with some creek crossings before we began to climb the range. Towards the top we photographed Teviot Falls and Dagg Falls. Both were spectacular after the heavy rains. The views over the surrounding mountains and valleys were fantastic.

Dagg Falls

An old igloo hut half way up the range

We had lunch in Killarney (including a great ‘country style’ milkshake) and returned to Rathdowney via the small township of Woodenbong along the Mount Lindsay Highway.

Another day trip was to check out the Farmers Market and local antique shops in Kyogle. We headed off early and took the picturesque Lion's Road. It was a wet day and the hills were shrouded in low clouds so photo opportunities were few and far between. At the markets we stocked up on fresh fruit and vege's and strolled the main street. After browsing through a little new & old collectable shop we decided to make our way over to the pub in Urbanville for lunch. Along the way we stopped at a little antique shop out in the middle of nowhere. This was an interesting stopover with many a treasure to be found. We continued on to Urbanville and arrived in time for a great counter lunch at the Urbanville pub. 

From there we returned home to Rathdowney via the Mount Lindesay Highway where, just north of the border gates, we had to stop for a pedestrian who took the liberty to cross without a care in the world. Our pedestrian was a large Koala, who we nicknamed Pedro. He was kind enough to stop while Vic took a great photo of him. He even looks as if he smiled for the camera.

Pedro the Koala who slowly crossed
the highway in front of us.

After another great happy hour we headed for bed on our last night. Sunday morning we left Rathdowney and drove via Beenleigh then north to Brisbane and on to Bribie Island. The rain started again as we neared the island and continued for our two day stay with more good friends. It was a really enjoyable stay but on Tuesday morning we moved north again to the Sunshine Coast where we are currently staying at the Cotton Tree Family Park.

Talk to you again soon… happy travelling or commuting if you haven't decided to go yet!