The Wonderful Warrumbungles

 I first visited the Warrumbungles when I was in Grade 6.  Dad had taken long service leave from the SEC and we travelled all the way to Rockhampton in the Holden station wagon and a hired caravan.  And one of the highlights along the way was the Warrumbungles National Park (in fact I used to say that I wanted my ashes scattered there!) where we camped, played in the creek (there were fresh water mussels that we gathered and 'farmed') and completed as many walks as we were capable of doing.  I've returned twice and have continued to enjoy this amazing park with its incredible scenery and challenging walks.  So it was a no-brainer that I would stop here again.  I was a little apprehensive since a catastrophic fire had burned 90% of the park in 2013 and I didn't know if it had recovered.  

View from Whitegum Lookout

I needn't have worried.  After abandoning Maggie May in Doggie Day Care at the Tooraweenah Caravan Park (this really just means I stuck her in a cage), I set off for my first day of walking.  There was a bit of sun but it was still quite cool - perfect walking weather!  I walked up to the Bread Knife and then back to the Belougery circuit.  I could rave about the scenery but it is probably better to let the photos do the talking ...

Regrowth and evidence of the fires

There might have been sun but I was still cold! (Breadknife in the background)

It was quite interesting seeing the incredible recovery of the bush from the fires.  According to the ranger I spoke to, there had been discoveries of previously unseen plants, while others had now disappeared from the park.  The number and types of weeds have increased.  But the biggest change was the proliferation of wattles (their seeds requiring fire for germination) although many of these were now coming to the end of their lives ... and so the whole cycle will start again.

Silver-leafed nightshade (a weed but quite pretty)

Amazing fungii growing in ribbons on the stump

Eremophila maculata (I think?)

There were two things that disappointed me.  Firstly, the feral goat problem seems to be just as bad as it was when I have visited previously.  And I saw evidence of feral pigs where the ground was dug over.  And some paths had been 'sanitised' with groomed paths and even brick paving!  Surely this is taking accessibility a bit too far.  It certainly doesn't feel like you are bushwalking when you are walking on paths better maintained than those at the local shopping mall.

After completing all the walks that I'd planned over two days, I left the Warrumbungles ... but I'll be back!  Although I'm not sure about Maggie - I think next time I'd like to camp in the park with all the beautiful birds and wallabies and she really didn't enjoy the cage!

By now the cold was starting to get me down so I thought I'd make my way to Brisbane.  So three days later (you can't say I'm rushing things) I've arrived on brother Simon's doorstep.  Maggie May and Aleera have agreed to get on (sort of) and I'm quite looking forward to a 'real' bed.