Ewen Maddock Dam Track one

Ewen Maddock dam, what a beautiful area. We are so lucky to have walking tracks around this water reservoir. We decided to follow track one, as described in our ebook on Cd " Sunshine Coast Bush Walks" 52 of the most beautiful walks on the sunshine coast, page 64.
The track starts at the rest area off Mooloola Connection Road.
It was a wet day, but that did not matter. Often our best walks are done in the rain and it certainly does not stop us. A poncho seems to be the best wet weather gear as it it as great way to also cover your backpack if you are carrying one.
Track one follows the edges of the dam and gives you beautiful view across the water all the way to the glasshouse mountains.

There are many photo opportunities along the track and the area is rich with birdlife.
When there has been a lot of rain, which is the case at the moment, you may find some water across a causeway, but this is easily forded.

Once we reached the metal gates at Ford Road we return the same way.
We decided to take the trouble to drive on to the delightful little town of Mooloolah where we had our coffee and cakes at the Thunderbird Cafe.

Gheerulla recreation area to Gheerulla creek

A couple of week ago we decided that due to the hot weather it would be great to choose a walk that was cool and shady. We chose the above walk on page 24 of our ebook available from our website: http://sunshinecoastbushwalks.com
Access is through Gheerulla Recreation area in Mapleton National Park. The area on one side of the Creek is used by trail bikes, but when you cross the creek bike traffic should be minimal. As we had such a wet summer the creek was the fullest we had ever seen it, but we managed to hop skip and jump over the rocks to the other side to start our walk.

Once across it was an easy walk along the edge of Gheerulla creek, staying to the left, past the turnoff to Thilba Thalba, a walk we shall have to do in winter as it's a bit of a climb.

The track edges closer to and moves further away from the water, in places following the hillside past tall grasstrees and other times you can stop and rest your feet in the cool water as it flows past rocks and big boulders.

As it was already quite hot at 8am we decided not to do the full walk, but turn back halfway down the track and were back at the car at 9am, ready for a coffee at  Berkelouw cafe in the center of Eumundi.

This bushwalk is definitely our most favourite and highly recommended.