Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival - Week 2

Post

Subscribe

Posted 2018-08-03 by Elaine ⇒ follow

Sun 19 Aug 2018 - Sun 02 Sep 2018

Spring has sprung and to celebrate nature's bloom out in the wild, FREE guided walks and activities with local experts have been organised across the Sunshine Coast.

The annual Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival has been going since 1967 and was initiated by Kathleen McArthur, an artist, author and environmentalist. You might remember the Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park walk I did in Currimundi, a small remnant of thriving wallum heath, which was named after Kathleen McArthur. With the support of local community groups hosting activities, the Wildflower Festival has grown in leaps and bounds, since its humble beginnings.

The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival will be running from Sunday 19 August to Sunday 2 September - two whole weeks where we have the opportunity to discover the diversity of native, flowering plants in our local environment. From Bribie Island to Noosa National Park, the public can enjoy FREE, public guided walks and activities.

To ensure my readers don't miss out on an opportunity to take a walk on the wild side, here's a quick guide to what's happening during the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival. As all these walks and activities are FREE, bookings are essential.

** & #127802 ; Sunday 26 August | 9.00am - 11am
The Great Pollinators - Cooloothin Creek Bushland**

Explore one of Noosa's newest land acquisitions, funded from the Environment Levy. This Bushland Reserve is tucked away between Cooloothin Creek and the Noosa River. The walk will pass through regrowth forest and onto riparian ecosystems along waterways. Walkers will be able to see the Cooloola National Park and the 'sand blow' across the Noosa River. Peter, your guide, will be enhancing the walk with information on 'The Great Pollinators' - essential for plant survival. A medium level of fitness is required for this walk, covered shoes, hat, water, sunscreen and insect repellant is recommended.

Bookings: [email protected] or phone 5329-6328 (maximum 15 participants)
Meet: End of Riverpark Drive (off McKinnon Drive), Ringtail Creek - approximately 15 minutes north of Tewantin

** & #127802 ; Sunday 26 August | 9am - 11am
Discover Leacy's Bushland Conservation Reserve**

Currimundi Catchment Care Group will take you on this guided walk - on a well-maintained walking path - through a stunning little pocket of remnant bushland, hidden among the urban sprawl of Currimundi and district. Covered shoes, a hat and drinking water are essential.

Bookings: [email protected] or phone Tony (07) 5438-8267 (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: The entrance to the left of Pinehurst Park, Mimosa Cres, Currimundi (UBD Map 89/R18)

** & #127802 ; Tuesday 28 August | 9am - 11am
Explore Scientific Area #1 , Glass House Mountains National Park Walk**

The QPWS Rangers will take you on a wildflower journey on this walk. Learn some photo-taking techniques or just chill and enjoy this scenic walk through nature. Bring your camera, a hat, drinking water and covered shoes.

Bookings: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au (maximum 15 participants)
Meet: Roys Road gate entrance, SA1, Glass House Mountains National Park, Beerwah (UBD Map 116)

** & #127802 ; Wednesday 29 August | 9am - 12noon
Paddle and Explore Ewen Maddock Dam**

Oh my gosh, this is definitely one that I would love to do. Explore the habitats of Ewen Maddock Dam on a guided kayak and bush walk tour with Sunshine Coast Council's Gordon Agnew and Kenneth McKlymont. BYO canoe/kayak (well, that counts me out), paddle and life jacket.
Meeting location may change dependant on wind direction. Activity may be cancelled if challenging weather conditions are being experienced, but notifications will be sent out by 9am the day before.

Bookings: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au (maximum 15 participants)
Meet: Maddock Park, Mooloolah Connection Road (UBD Map 97/E3)

** & #127802 ; Thursday 30 August | 9am - 11am
Guided walk through Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park***

This is the wallum heath walk that my adventurous other and I did. Unfortunately, we didn't have the benefits of an expert guide to educate us along the way, but nevertheless, our walk through the Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park , was a very enjoyable one and one I would quite happily do again. Enjoy this walk with members of Wildlife Queensland - Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. Please wear covered shoes, a hat, sunscreen and remember drinking water.

Bookings: [email protected] (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: Eastern end of Coongarra Esplanade, Currimundi (UBD Map 90/G18)

** & #127802 ; Thursday 30 August | 9am - 12noon
Arthur Harrold Nature Refuge Guided Walk **

Explore the beautiful wildflowers, wallum heath and incredible woodlands of Noosa North Shore with Noosa Integrated Catchment Association guides and a QPWS ranger. Walkers will be provided with a species list. There will also be an opportunity to carpool for the ferry trip. Walk is approximately 2km return. Please bring a hat, water, sunscreen, insect repellant and walking shoes.

Bookings: [email protected] (maximum 25 participants)
Meet: Noosa Vehicular Ferry, Moorindil St, Tewantin (UBD Map 8/C6)

** & #127802 ; Friday 31 August | 2pm - 4.30pm
Mangrove Boardwalk and Community Bushcare, Weyba Creek **

Discover the mangrove mysteries with Noosa Integrated Catchment Association , then join Weyba Creek Bushland Care Group members to see the results of their community bush care work. This walk is 1.5km return and a species list will be provided. Please bring a hat, water, sunscreen, insect repellant and walking shoes.
This walk is accessible for wheelchairs.

Bookings: [email protected] (maximum 25 participants)
Meet: Carpark east of NAFC grounds on Weyba Road, Noosaville (UBD Map 9/D20)

** & #127802 ; Saturday 1 September | 8.30am - 11am
Coolum Beach West Wildflower Walk
**
Coolum Residents Association and Coolum and North Shore Coast Care invite you on a casual walk through the wallum wildflowers in the southern extent of Noosa National Park. A single track takes walkers north-west into wildflower country. Enjoy a spectacular walk amongst a mosaic of brilliant spring colour and foliage. Please wear covered shoes, hat, sunscreen and bring water.

Bookings: Phone Mark 0431 123 419 (maximum 40 participants)
Meet: School Rd (northern public car park) Coolum Beach (UBD Map 20/C9)

** & #127802 ; Saturday 1 September | 9am - 11am
Guided walk through Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park***

Please see information on Thursday 30 August for a Guided Walk through Kathleen McArthur Conservation Park - all details are exactly the same here, just on a different day.

** & #127802 ; Saturday 1 September | 2pm - 3.30pm
Surprise at Marcoola
**
Coolum and North Shore Coast Care invite walkers on a guided walk through the south section of Mt Coolum National Park, Marcoola with two wildflower experts. Please wear covered shoes, hat and sunscreen. Please ensure you have drinking water too.

Bookings: [email protected] (maximum 30 people)
Meet: End of Cessna St, Marcoola (UBD Map 59/E9)

** & #127802 ; Sunday 2 September | 8am - 11am
Wonders of the Wallum**

The Bribe Island Environmental Protection Association (BIEPA) welcomes walkers to their annual spring wildflower walk. Enjoy a guided bush walk with local wildflower enthusiasts. Bring hat, sunscreen, camera, walking shoes, refreshments and binoculars for bird spotting.

Bookings: No booking required
For more information phone Diane 0438 111 163
www.biepa.org
Meet: Corner Cotterill Ave and Protea Dve, Bongaree, Bribie Island (UBD Map 53/H16)

Please click here to view and/or download the Wildflower Festival 2018 Programme. Or visit here to see the events website .
As all these Spring walks and activities are totally FREE, bookings are essential.
Happy walking, wildflower lovers!