Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey departs Flaxton Walker's Camp in the early morning continuing along the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk descending off the ridge to Baxter's Falls at the bottom of the ravine. A moderately steep climb up the other side brings me back onto the range where the track follows the road to the top of Mapleton Falls dropping into the valley far below. From here I explore the rainforest through Mapleton Falls National Park, before a short road walk takes me to the entrance of the Linda Garrett Reserve section of Mapleton National Park. The reserve goes through dense rainforest at the headwaters of Gheerulla Creek until reaching Leafy Lane, a wide firebreak track along the top of a ridge. I follow this for a couple of kilometres before reaching Ubajee Walker's Camp overlooking the Gheerulla Valley.
Distance hiked today: 13.4km
Total distance hiked: 392.0km
Today's Journey
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The sun rises into a very clear day in sharp contrast to yesterday as I pack up the tent and head out of Flaxton Walker's Camp. The camping ground is a group of small clearings in amongst the bracken linked by paths to the communal area where a small toilet shelter and water supply stands. |
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Departing the camping ground, the track follows the top of a ridge through cedar forest before descending into the steep Baxter Valley, zig-zagging down the side of the hill as the forest gradually changes to rainforest as I approach the bottom of the valley. |
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Upon reaching the bottom of the valley, I follow the cascades of Baxter Creek to Baxter Falls hidden in the rocks at the back of a large pool. Here I rest for a while before heading back downstream to the main track. |
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A swingbridge crosses Baxter Creek between two huge boulders. Once across I rest here before starting the long climb up the other side of the valley continuing along the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Upon reaching the top of the valley, the track follows several roads along the top of the range before reaching Mapleton Falls (pictured at the top of the page). |
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The hazy Mapleton Falls drops into Pencil Valley with views out to the upper Mary Valley, where Obi Obi Creek which I followed yesterday flows into. The valley is a lot wider here with the Conondale Range visible in the distance and the Great Dividing Range visible in the far distance to the right. |
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From Mapleton Falls, I follow the walking track into Mapleton Falls National Park through spectacular rainforest, then into eucaplypus forest perched at the top of the cliffs. |
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After going around the bluff, the track leaves the tiny national park and crosses the road into the much larger Mapleton National Park. After hiking through the rainforest for half an hour, I reach Mapleton Cemetery at one of the track trailheads. |
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From the cemetery, the track continues straight back into Mapleton National Park, passing through the Linda Garrett Reserve, an area of rainforest protected before Mapleton National Park was established. The track goes over boardwalks crossing the swampy headwaters of Gheerulla Creek. |
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The track ends at Leafy Lane, a wide firebreak following a long ridge. Here I turn left and follow the firebreak track continuing along the great walk for 2.7 kilometres to Ubajee. |
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Ubajee Walkers' Camp is the second of the three camping grounds along the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Here I stay the night before leaving the great walk tomorrow morning to continue north along the range. |
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