Campers…………visit the wildlife!

For those adventurous travelers willing to venture off the main roads, why not try tenting in the State Forests?

Only 2 hours drive from Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland takes you into the hinterland. There are plenty of opportunities to pull over in small townships for a rest and a nice cuppa. Montville and Maleny have some superb art and gift shops including Swiss style cuckoo clocks, toys, needlework and more. There are many bushwalks and camping areas as you get near to Kenilworth.

Charlie Moorland Camping Area on Little Yabba Creek provides toilets, water, and cut firewood for those evening campfires. Self registration is done on arrival so you'll want to have suitable cash on hand (Approx $4 pp a night.) Cold water is laid on, but a swim in the fresh creek is the way to shower.

Wild bush turkeys, large lizards,(no not 6 - 8" , but 2 - 3ft.) and wild birds are daytime visitors. At night time keen wilderness folk should head out with a flashlight to see the opossums, small kangaroos and bilby's that live in the area. If your camping gear is not packed up at night various rattling will keep you awake as the 'locals' check it out. Not to mention the keen kookaburra's that will swoop down and steal your last sausage off the fork at meal time.

Bush walks vary from 45minutes to 4hrs using well prepared tracks. Kenilworth state Forest covers 20,000ha and is just 2hrs North of Brisbane.

Forest Safety:

• Stay on the tracks.
• Don't feed or play with the animals. (They can bite)
  Carry water and insect repellent.
• Snake bite: More than 80% of people bitten were trying to kill the snake. So.. no heroics. A brown snakebite can kill in two hours if not treated!
  If bitten, a crepe roller bandage should be firmly placed around the bite area from below to above.(but not restricting the blood flow) The bite should not be washed or tampered with as the hospital will diagnose the breed of snake by the bite residue. Endeavor to remain immobile while seeking medical treatment. (That means if you have help with you, don't walk out, be carried.)


After all that ……. Happy camping!

For further info……www.qld.gov.au