Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey heads inland from Freshwater Camp heading rising to the top of the Cooloola Sandmass passing Kauri Camp before continuing along the Cooloola Great Walk trail into a large area of rainforest before returning to the top of the range and following a scrubby forested plateau. Eventually the track descends into a valley and crosses a small ridge before descending to Lake Cooloomera where I stop before starting to climb the next ridge briefly to arrive at Litoria Walker's Camp.
Distance hiked today: 25.0km
Total distance hiked: 653.5km
Today's Journey
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Departing Freshwater Camping Ground at sunrise, I follow the track across a few low sand ridges passing through ancient forest growing in the sand. |
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At one point the track starts a moderately steep rise up to the top of the range at about 200 metres above sea level. It stops climbing as it passes Kauri Walkers' Camp and follows the dense forest along the top of the sand range. |
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The dense schlerophyll forest gives way to tall cedar forest growing out of the sand range. The track rises and falls with the sand hills running along the top of the range. |
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After crossing a four wheel drive road, the track descends into a valley filled with lush rainforest, probably the world's largest patch of rainforest growing on sandhills. |
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After hiking through the rainforest for over half an hour the track rises back to the top of the range to cross Wildflower Road track before starting a gradual descent along the top of the range through tall forest which has been burned a couple of years ago. I have the occasional glimpse into the upper Noosa Everglade. |
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After following the main range, the track turns eastward to follow a long sand plateau covered in scrubby forest over several kilometres. The forest is quite twiggy for much of its length with the occasional grove of wildflowers. |
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Upon reaching the end of the plateau, the track doubles back heading southward down a spur to cross a four wheel drive track running along the bottom of the valley before steeply rising the sandhills on the other side. |
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Once at the top of the sand hills the track crosses a couple of low forested summits before descending into another valley. |
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Reaching the bottom of the valley, the track passes Lake Cooloomera. A short rough side track leads to the side of the (apparently) snake infested lake. I stop here briefly before continuing along the track which crosses Francis Gulch Road before heading up the next ridge. |
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A short distance along the uphill, I reach the end of the ridge where a short side track leads to the right to Litoria Walkers' Camp, where I set up camp to stay the night before the sun sets. |
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