Mik's Random Adventures: November 2011

Monday 28 November 2011

EXPLORING OXLEY CREEK COMMON

Oxley Creek Common is a large natural wetland. The park borders Oxley Creek to one side and farmland on the other.

The park is accessed via Sherwood Road, Rocklea. Located approximately 14km from Brisbane City.

A place for large gatherings is possible with many decent size picnic areas.

Taking a peek inside the red shelter shed

Nice place to rest in the cool, away from the summer sun

I have a fascination with windmills they seem to add character to a place.

Which way to go

The park is popular for bird watching, but is known for canoeing, walking dogs, and jogging. In January 2011 the park was covered by several feet of muddy flood water and as a result was closed off to the public. The main park and walking trail have been restored but unfortunalety the Pelican Lagoon is still closed off to the public.

the stairs down to canoe platform

The Canoe platform area . If your are interested in canoeing along the creek, a map for a guide is available at this link; http://www.upstreampaddle.com/oxley.html

Walking the trail around the creek, looking into the farmland that borders the pathway.

Oxley Creek Common is a haven for birdlife. 180 known species have been recorded in the park in the past several years. The park even has its own Bird watching guide; The Birding Guide . A list of birds at the park can be found at this link;http://www.uq.edu.au/spatialecology/docs/Hughs_Bird_Files/OCC-AnnotatedList-February-2009.pdf

The walking trail goes close to the creek's bank

The view of the walkway.

found this plant growing in the grassy field near the edge of the pathway.

Cattle grazing, daring the heat in the middle of a hot summer day.

Another view of the creek bank.

I was lucky enough to get close to this dragonfly to take the photo.

Guys walking back from their water rafting adventure.

There is a remarkable large number of Butterfly's fluttering around the walking trail, however they are very hard to capture on camera. This photo took me almost an hour.

Butterfly in mid flight

Monday 14 November 2011

WHALE WATCHING

Last year while searching for things to do around Brisbane to entertain relations from overseas I stumbled upon Whale Watching. The adventure was a winner with our guess travellers and was reasonably priced. We booked The Aquatic Blue Charters and could not be happier with the service. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and safety was enforced at all times.

There website http://aquaticbluecharters.com.au/ if you would like to use the same service.

On our journey the Guide informed us that the Whales we were observing were actually Great Northern Humpback Whales migrating from Antarctica to the sub-tropical coastal waters of western and eastern Australia and Fiji to give birth and mate during winter and spring.

My flatmate waiting to get on the chartered boat in background

Humpbacks migrate an average of 2,500km from polar waters to their tropical breeding grounds, undertaking some of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. Most humpbacks will have left the Queensland coast by the beginning of November.

The Gold Coast in the background

Popular spots for whale watching are, on the Australian east coast, Hervey Bay and Stradbroke Island in Queensland, Cape Byron and the Sapphire Coast in New South Wales, Point Hicks in Victoria, and Storm Bay in Tasmania.

Whales showing some fins.....

Finally a little closer to the boat....

In Australian waters it is illegal to drive a boat too close to the whales.

Photo from video footage of whale jumping out of the ocean

second photo of whale jumping

Dolphins swimming in front of boat

There are many great places to stay around Currumbin Sands for accommodation, if you are planning to book whale watching as part of your holiday adventure. I booked the Hotel 'Currumbin Sands On The Beach' and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of our stay. Bookings can be made at this website;http://www.currumbinsands.com.au/booking-request/

Friday 11 November 2011

Bora Ring

Bora Ring is a large circle of foot hardened earth surrounded by raised embankments. They were generally constructed in pairs (although some sites have three) . The Bora Ring site was an initiation ceremony of Indigenous Australians, where young boys are transformed into men.

Wights Mountain ( in the Samford Valley suburb ) has one of the best preserved Aboriginal Ceremonial Bora Grounds in our area. The Bora Grounds consisted of one large ring in which important tribal ceremonies were conducted, and a second secret ring where young initiates were taken to learn “mens business”. The two rings are connected by a sacred pathway approximately 400m long.

The Bora Grounds are surrounded by grazing country. I was only recently told about this place by a friend who took me on a tour around the area.

Photo of a Bora Ring. This is the only Bora Ring at the park you can get close to, the other ring is located on a farmers property and dared not climb through the fence to get there.

A better view of the Bora Ring

Bora Grounds have enormous history but unfortunately there was not much to see at the park. Expected to see ancient ornaments and tools but all seems lost through lack of preservation. A great lost to Australian culture and History.

The country side is beautiful and had to add this photo of the logs.

At the entrance looking in...

Grazing land on the other side of the road.

The road to the park...walking back to the car I decided to take this photo of a country road.

Found this cactus growing amongst the grass. I have not seen a cactus grow wild before in Australian Bushland so I became a little fascinated with the plant.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

ROCKS RIVERSIDE PARK

The Rocks Riverside Park was a former Queensland Cement Limited quarry. The park is built on a 26-hectare of reclaimed industrial land. Scattered throughout the park you will find public artworks and industrial debris such as remains of conveyor belts, crushing plant and wharf.

Map of park located at the entrance

In the south west of Brisbane at Seventeen Mile Rocks is the Rocks Riverside Park. This huge park has a wide range of features including a market garden, bushland range, river flat and dry eucalypt forest.

Man - made rock creek that flows into the Brisbane River

The Park was badly affected by the Queensland January 2011 floods and some areas of the park are currently closed for safety reasons. The Brisbane City Council have commenced restoring the park and work is expected to be completed by late 2011.