Spring has sprung and to celebrate nature's blooms 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.
Milkmaids found in wallum wetlands - Image: Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival FB
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.
🌻 Sunday 19 August | 9am - 10.30am
Hidden Jewel, Ben Bennett Park
An introductory short walk into Spring's wildflowers. Friends of Ben Bennett Bushland Park and Wildlife Preservation Society will show you one of Caloundra's best kept secrets.
Enjoy a walk at one of Caloundra's best kept secrets
sunshine@wildlife.org.au (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: Ben Bennett Bushland Park, Queen Street, Caloundra (UBD Map 100/E12)
🌻 Monday 20 August | 9am - 11am
Walk on Salt Water Country
Wander along the Golden Beach foreshore with Mooloolah Kabi Kabi, Bridgette Chilly Davis and gain insight into the traditional cultural landscape.
Wild Pansy - Image: Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival FB
events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au (maximum 20 participants)
Meet: End Onslow Street, Fraser Park, Golden Beach (UBD Map 110/D6)
🌻 Tuesday 21 August | 9am - 11am
Mooloolah River National Park Walk
How exciting! Take a walk through the wildflowers with QPWS Rangers. Don't forget to bring your cameras as the explosion of colour and close-ups of nature at her best, is sure to astound you. Learn some camera techniques on how to take a great shot or just enjoy the scenic walk through this local wonderland. Please remember to bring a hat, drinking water, covered shoes and, of course, your camera.
Bookings: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au (maximum 15 participants)
Meet: Mooloolah River N.P. Claymore Road entrance, Sippy Downs (UBD Map 89/G4)
🌻 Tuesday 21 August | 9am - 11.30am
Marcus High Dunes and Lake Weyba Wildflower Walk
An invitation from
Friends of Lake Weyba for you to take a walk awash with colour and intrigue, through the wet and dry heathland of
Marcus High Dunes with Janet Whish-Wilson, Sonia MacDonald and Robert Price. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of Lake Weyba and the coast.
Image: Friends of Lake Weyba to Marcus High Dunes and Lake Weyba Wildflower Walk FB
friendsoflakeweyba@gmail.com (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: Hawthorn Grove, Marcus Beach (UBD Map 19/K20)
🌻 Wednesday 22 August | 9am - 11.30am
Weyba Nature Refuge Biodiversity Walk
Friends of Lake Weyba invite you to discover the rich biodiversity and vibrancy of the
Weyba Nature Refuge Walk, which ranges from wetlands to dry heath, on the western shores of Lake Weyba. The guide is Michael Reif, a Conservation Officer and Bushfire Management expert with
Sunshine Coast Council. The discussion and walk for 2018 will focus on fire management for biodiversity conservation and the impact on native flora and fauna, following an ecological burn in the nature refuge.
Bookings: friendsoflakeweyba@gmail.com (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: Tidswell Rd (off Eumarella Rd) Weyba Downs, entry to pond (UBD Map 18/H11)
🌻 Wednesday 22 August | 10am - 12noon
Explore Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden*
Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden (MRBBG) is absolutely one of my most favourite spots on the Sunshine Coast.
Friends of MRBBG will take you on an easy walk around the gardens, abloom with local native plants. You will also be able to buy some of these plants to take home to create your very own wildflower patch. Please wear walking shoes, a hat and remember the all important, drinking water. A species list will be provided to walkers.
Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden is one of my all-time favourite locations!
friendsofmrbbg@gmail.com or phone Carolyn 0400923728 (maximum 25 participants)
Meet: Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Tanawha (UBD Map 77/N17)
🌻 Thursday 23 August | 10am - 1pm
Mountain Creek Conservation Area Walk
Stroll the trails of this remnant, native bushland reserve with Sunshine Coast Council's Conor Jenkins and discover interesting information about the local wildflowers and wildlife. Please ensure that you are appropriately dressed with hats, walking shoes and sunscreen. Don't forget cameras, binoculars and refreshments.
Bookings: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Meet: Coho Court, Mountain Creek (UBD Map 79/J11)
🌻 Thursday 23 August | 2pm - 4pm
Noosa National Park Wildflower Walk
Join
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association for an awe-inspiring 2.2km
wildflower walk in the Headland Section of Noosa National Park. Discover the variety of different communities which include wet eucalypt forest and dry heath. Please remember to bring hats, water, sunscreen, insect repellant and walking shoes. Walkers will be provided with a species list.
Image: Noosa Integrated Catchment Assoc > Noosa Nat Park Wildflower Walk FB
admin@noosariver.com.au (maximum 25 participants)
Meet: Noosa National Park Entrance, Parkedge Road, Sunshine Beach (UBD Map 9/Q17)
🌻 Friday 24 August | 10am - 11am
Keith Royal Park Wildflowers
Learn to love the local wallum in a small section at the southern end of
Keith Royal Park with Friends of Keith Royal Park.
Image: Coolum and North Shore Coast Care > Wildflower Festival Coast Care Events FB
Phone Rosa 0419770922 (maximum 30 participants)
Meet: Playground next to the car park, Keith Royal Drive, Marcoola (UBD map 59/K9)
🌻 Friday 24 August | 2pm - 4pm
Girraween Nature Refuge Guided Walk
Discover wildflowers and a variety of vegetation in this 1.5km return walk, through dry and wet heathland, with
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association guides. Please remember hats, water, sunscreen, insect repellant and walking shoes. A species list will be provided to walkers.
Image: Noosa Integrated Catchment Assoc > Girraween Nature Refuge Guided Walk FB
admin@noosariver.com.au (maximum 25 participants)
Meet: Behind the Police Station in Langura St, Noosa Heads (UBD Map 19/H1)
🌻 Saturday 25 August | 10am - 12noon
Explore Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden*
Please see information on Wednesday 22 August for Explore Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden - all details are exactly the same here, just on a different day.
Please
click here to view and/or download the Wildflower Festival 2018 Programme. Or visit
here to see the event's website.
As all these Spring walks and activities are totally
FREE, bookings are essential.
Happy walking, wildflower lovers!
Ready the walking gear, wildflower lovers! Image: Maxmann via Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons
