Karawatha Forest, Poets Corner Rocks:

Distance: 12 - 14 km return:
Time: 4 + hours approximately (+ lunchtime stop)
Area: Karawatha Forest (Southerly)
Start Time: 9.30am Meet-up time: 9.15am
Difficulty: Easy Grade 2-3
Cost: $2

Karawatha Forest, Woodridge.

Walk leader: Robyn F, 0448 193 628
Please read the Conditions of Group Membership and event participation at the end of the walk description.

Suggestion: Car Pool: Meet up at 8:15 am Leave-8:30 am at the Helensvale Homemaker Centre, off Hope Island Road in front of the Pool Shop, the quietest area to park. Give the driver $5 From Helensvale.

This is one of those winter or autumn walks due to the Brisbane heat syndrome so come along remembering we only visit each walk once in any year. Lodged in-between the Gateway motorway and the M1, right in the middle of suburbia. Nevertheless, once inside you would never tell. The walk is mainly on level tracks, however, on just two occasions you will encounter a couple of very small hills, nothing too dramatic.

We start the walk from the picnic area off Acacia Road in Woodridge, following the fence line initially to meet up with the Maculata track. Turning left along Hakea and onto one of several lagoons located within this park. Nothing spectacular to see other than the natural surroundings of this forest. The canopy in not thick, so sunshine does penetrate through. Making this a walk that should be completed in the cooler months.

Through the Lagoon trail and onto Wild May, arriving at the Melalecua Picnic area, where by now, it should be time for an early lunch, sitting by this very pretty lagoon under canopy shades and benches, water lilies and fish to view from the bridge. Very tranquil. Lunch over now, out and over the bridge missing out the Melaleuca circuit. Unless, we have arrived too early for lunch where we will just stroll round this 20 minute circuit.

We are now heading for the quarry, located along the Casuarina track just 1 kilometre northwards. To make it interesting, we will however, make a left turn into the aptly named green area. Taking in the highest points in this forest named Paratz Lookout, a rocky outcrop with great views towards the east. Extra care should be taken here as the drop off down to the floor below is a good 60-80 metres. Leading to and from this lookout are the only two areas where the flat walking track becomes a slight incline. The reccie team found it to be easy. Care should be taken now with the decent, in parts, because of the steepness.

Conditions of Group Membership and event participation
1 GCMWWG is not an incorporated association or organisation and is composed of individuals who join with each other in an informal manner to engage in the pleasurable activity of bushwalking and accordingly each individual member is required to take personal responsibility for his or her own safety and to comply with the recommendations published on the Group’s meet up website and with directions given from time to time by any walk leader of a Bushwalk undertaken by the Group.
2 Participants are recommended:
(i) to wear walking boots which provide ankle support;
(ii) carry his or her own rucksack which will contain at least 1 litre of fresh water in watertight containers and personal first aid items including band-aids (or similar), bandages, antiseptic, insect repellents and sunscreen and foodstuffs appropriate to the length and timing of the bushwalk;
(iii) to make a realistic assessment prior to participating in a bushwalk as to whether the participants’ physical condition will allow the participant to enjoyably and safely engage in the bushwalking activity without endangering the safety and enjoyment of other participants;
(iv) to wear or carry clothing suitable for each walk including clothing (such as a waterproof jacket or poncho) that is appropriate for unexpected changes in the weather.
3 Each bushwalk undertaken by the Group shall have a nominated leader who will walk at the front of the Group (“walk leader”) and a nominated person who will walk at the rear of the group (“back marker”). The walk leader will set the pace of the walk and will halt the walk at appropriate times in his or her discretion for rests and drink breaks and meal breaks. The back marker will endeavour to keep the group together at all times and to notify the walk leader if any untoward accident or injury is sustained by any participant. The walk leader and the back marker for each bushwalk will be nominated by the Group Leader.
4 Each participant will be required to observe any directions or instructions given by the walk leader including any instruction to shorten the walk, change the route of the walk or abandon the walk due to any unexpected change of circumstances such as track closure or obstruction, inclement weather and/or injury or illness suffered by any member.
5 Any one of the Group Leader, walk leader or back marker for each bushwalk undertaken by the group shall carry with him or her a mobile phone and a first aid kit.
6 There shall be published in each event's description a degree of difficulty by the Group a statement as to the degree of difficulty of the proposed bushwalk so that members may realistically assess whether they (or their guests) have the requisite degree of physical fitness required to pleasurably and safely undertake the proposed bushwalk.
7 Details of each proposed bushwalk including the walk route, the commencement time and the anticipated time required to complete the walk will be published on the Group’s meet up website.
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