Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Bludger's day
To allow Brisbane workers/residents to attend the Exhibition, the middle Wednesday of the “Ekka” is a public holiday.

Alternatively, if you are a somewhat over visiting overpriced, overbusy marketing agricultural shows masquerading as little more than a giant marketing opportunity, then it is a bludge off work mid week.

Judging by the number of SUVs northbound out of Brisbane that morning, I’m not sure whether anyone has gone to the Ekka this year. Assuming the weather was going to up to up to scratch, we headed north for the first beach day of the season, possibly at Caloundra.

Just to give the weather a chance to warm up we climbed Ngungun first. Ngungun is one of the more moderate volcanic plugs that make up the Glasshouse Mountains. At 227m is dwarfed by the larger peaks, but nevertheless provides some great panoramics of the whole range and good scrambling/climbing terrain for kids.

James and Matthew lapped it up; for them (with shorter legs) it was ‘climb’ nearly all the way to the top. At the top, the forest thins and a the peaks thrust out above a slabbed plateau.

Being volcanic plugs, much of this plateau is the weathered tops of hexagonal columns of lava. It makes for some interesting exploration and climbing, if the walk to the top hasn’t been enough.

By the time we had lunch in Landsborough the wind at picked up and the beach didn’t seem such a good idea so we sat in the car park (the southbound Bruce Highway) all the way home.

Matthew (4 ½) has shown his enthusiasm for climbing/scrambling often enough and he is certainly fit enough to do some 12-15km in a day. I think we shall attempt Mount Warning at Christmas.

Tomorrow, we fly down to Canberra for a day’s skiing on Saturday at Perisher. Kids are staying with Richard and Lisa for the weekend.

1. Climbing Ngungun
2. View of Coonuwrin and Beerwah (rear)
3. On the summit of Ngungun
4. Tibrogargan

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