Nightcap National Park …World Heritage listed

A Kookaburra welcomes you to Nightcap National Park. In fact, he was quite tame, no doubt from receiving a morsel or two to eat!

 

 

 

There are two walks through the Minyon Valley with its ancient rainforest vegetation.

 

Minyon Falls Walk

This is a 6km (approx. 2 hour) moderate walk which includes some hills to experience the amazing Minyon Falls in the spectacular Nightcap National Park. Walk through the beautiful brush box rainforest valley to the plunge pool of the 100m Minyon Falls and see magnificent Strangler Figs, Bangalow Palms and Helmholtzia Lily along the way.

 

Minyon and Condong Falls Walk

This is a 9km (approx. 4 hour) walk through beautiful brush box rainforest to experience two awesome waterfalls Condong Falls and Minyon Falls. On your way see magnificent Strangler Figs, Bangalow Palms and Helmholtzia Lily and stop at the Minyon Falls plunge pool before walking on to the Condong Falls.

 

Start of the Minyon Falls walk and onto the Condong Falls.

 

 

Directions to the Minyon Falls.

 

 

 

What to bring

·         Wear a pair of sturdy covered shoes.

·         Bring a raincoat as the weather is changeable in the ranges.

·         Bring sunscreen and a hat.

·         Bring at least 750ml of water.

 

Where is

The Nightcap National Park is easily located from Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina. For directions go to this link – Nightcap National Park

 

The Weather

You might want to check out the weather at Bureau of Meteorology before planning your trip.

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Minyon Falls …rises out of the rainforest

The Minyon Falls can be found in the Nightcap National Park whose ranges form the southern rim of the massive Tweed volcano caldera, one of the largest and best preserves of its type in the world. Mt Warning is the plug from this extinct shield volcano which once had a diameter of over 100km.

 

Two thirds of Nightcap National Park is a World Heritage area after logging of the Daintree was stopped in this significant ecosystem. Whian Whian State Conservation Area which is adjacent to Nightcap NP plays an important role in protecting the catchment area of Rock Creek Dam, and provides an extended protection zone for Nightcap and protects threatened species.

 

Standing on the viewing deck, which extends out over the valley is breathtaking in itself, as there is nothing but the platform under you. The untouched Minyon valley with its ancient rainforest vegetation and the Minyon Falls that rise over 100m out of the rainforest, is an awesome view.

 

This pic was taken from the top of the falls as the water cascades down; and shows just how high the falls actually are by the view through the trees.

 

 

Minyon Falls – taken from the viewing deck.

 

 

Further upstream and deeper into the rainforest.

 

 

 

More to come … some easy bushwalking …

 

 

 

 

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Natural Bridge …the waterfall cascades into the cave

 Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park is a most unusual geological feature created over millions of years by water tumbling through the roof of a basalt cave. Natural Bridge is home to an amazing colony of glow-worms, whose lights can be seen only after sunset. Lookouts and lush rainforest also grace this World Heritage-listed haven, making it one of the most popular parks in Australia.

As we entered the park we were greeted with huge tree. Looking up the trunk made for a spectacular photo as it seemed to keep going forever.

We took the short circuit walk through the lush rainforest to the natural arch over Cave Creek.

The view of the unique waterfall cascading down into the cave through its roof is amazing.

We ventured into the dark cave and got closer to the waterfall which was almost deafening as it tumbles into the cave with the sun shining through.

We left the cave and did the easy climb to the top of the Waterfall where we dipped our hands into the pools of very cold water.

As we walked through the park we could hear the calls of paradise riflebirds, green catbirds and wompoo fruit-doves.

There is also an area where you can enjoy a picnic and relax in the cool rainforest.

Nocturnal tours are also available to see delicate glow-worms and on summer nights you can see luminous fungi and fireflies.

Mini-bus tours also run to the park from the Gold Coast and Murwillumbah.

How to get there …

Please note that the scenic access roads are winding and should be travelled with care.

Natural Bridge is located on the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road, about four kilometres north of the border gate. From the Pacific Highway, you can turn off at Nerang (30 kilometres to the park) or at Mudgeeraba (42 kilometres to the park via Springbrook plateau).

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Canyon Lookout …sheer cliffs and waterfalls

Welcome to Springbrook National Park

Canyon Lookout

 

Springbrook National Park is part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia, and internationally recognised World Heritage property. The park protects outstanding examples of our natural environment.

 

Sheer cliffs and waterfalls are spectacular features of this park. Creeks abruptly become waterfalls, which plummet 60m over sheer cliff edges.

 

 

 

Still feeling euphoric after experiencing the Best Of All Lookout I was eager to move on to the next lookout. After a few kilometres of twists and turns and more panoramic scenery we reach the Canyon Lookout.

 

 

View from Canyon Lookout

 

 

At last … waterfalls. They are so alluring.  

 We spotted at least 4 through all the vegetation and unfortunately I never got up close to any, only through my zoom lens of course. To get closer to the waterfalls you need to do the 4km circuit walk which I intend to do when I revisit in the very near future, maybe after the next good rainfall when they will be quite spectacular.

 

Twin Falls

   

This area can be explored on two circuit walks…more about those next time.

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Best Of All Outlook ….link to ancient times

Springbrook National Park
Best Of All Outlook

  

 Link to ancient times

One of our remaining links with the ancient ancestors of Gondwana is the presence of these majestic Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei). During a wetter cooler time in Australia, about 50 million years ago, forests of these were widespread across the continent and provided a habitat for animals, many of which have long since disappeard from our landscape.

About 38 to 45 million years ago, as Australia drifted north from Antarctica, our climate cooled and dried dramatically, forcing rainforests to retreat to isolated areas of high rainfall on the east coast. The Tweed Calera was one area where Antarctic beech took refuge.

 The ring of massive gnarled trunks you see today has grown from a single tree. Over many decades this tree has undergone a process of coppicing – the dying and regrowing of new stems. This ring of growth encircles the site where a single seed began life some 2000 years ago.

 

 

 

 

In all my excitement to share my experience of the panoramic views of the Numinbah Nature Reserve I had temporarily forgotten about the small section of ancient Antarctic beech forest that we had passed on the way to the viewing deck.

 

It was kind of eerie looking at these huge trees and thinking of how they had come to be there and also to comprehend how old they actually were.

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