GIRRAWEEN – Place of Wildflowers
Although not yet 100 years old, Girraween National Park on the Granite Belt of southern Queensland will participate in the Centenary of Parks celebrations on Tuesday, providing a full day of activities for vistors and a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy the park facilities during the Queensland State school holidays. Over the past twenty years I have frequently gone bushwalking and mountain climbing at the Girraween National Park, which is about 15km from Das Helwig Haus B&B and have encouraged many of our guests to visit this little known National Park. The word Girraween is of Aboriginal origin and means wildflowers. The spring wildflowers are particularly prolific but I have also seen ground orchids blooming there in mid summer.
These photos that I’m including today were taken in 2005 when I climbed the granite monolith, known as The Pyramid, with a young Korean girl who at that time was my wwoofer – a Willing Worker on Organic Farms.
Bower of the Satin Bower Bord
If in the treasure hunt you are asked to find something blue from the bower of a Satin Bower Bird you will find a bower close to the stream near the signs to The Junction, The Granite Arch and The Pyramid.
This stream is edged with beautiful bottle brush callistemon trees, just one of the many wildflowers you’ll notice when bushwalking through the park.
In the summer, when the days are warmer, many people are tempted to swim in this stream, but they find the water is too cold for more than a dip.
A mountain stream with The Pyramid in background.
The Pyramid has one of the steepest rock faces I have climbed.
Korean girl admires the view.
A stunted tree grows on the rock face of The Pyramid.
It is only when you reach the summit of The Pyramid that you realise it has a twin. There is a second pyramid mountain directly behind it.
The program for the Centenary of Parks Celebration Day, Tuesday 30th September, starts at 10.00am. It includes guided walks, history displays and a family treasure hunt. Instructions for the treasure hunt will be available from the Girraween Information Centre and families can carry out their search while they explore the Granite Arch and Circuit tracks. In other words, you won’t be expected to climb one of the granite monoliths like The Pyramid to find your treasure items.
There will be a sausage sizzle from 4.00pm to 5.30pm for those who have worked up a hunger from bushwalking and ranger Jolene McLellan and ranger in charge, John Cowburn, will present evening sideshows, which cover the history of the park.
Fay and Ok Sun at the top of The Pyramid.
If you would like more information about the program contact Girraween National Park on 07-4684 5157.
If you need a bed for the night contact Fay on 07-4683 4227 or email her at helwig@halenet.com.au to make your booking to stay at Das Helwig Haus B&B.
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Technorati Tags: girraween national Park, Satin Bower Bird, The Granite Arch, The Pyramid, wildflowers
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