Day Trip - Ipswich Castle Hill walk and Historical society

The under cover at the Blackstone Reserve

Morning another great weekend, sun shinning another opportunity for adventures, pack the drinks and snacks and jump into the Bat mobilise, well our car anyway, and find somewhere to explore. Found this bush walk in the middle of the Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve, Mountain Bike Trails brochure,  yes that is the name. Also while digging on the Internet found out that Ipswich has it's own Historical society, Cooneana Heritage Centre. Sounded good to grumpy, so let's have a look. 

Markers for the LTHT walk

Blackstone Hall

We found the car park for the bike paths and had to look for the signs for the "Lewis Thomas Historical Trail" (LTHT), which starts in the Blackstone halls car park, on the other side so you walk over the bridge and though the playground and 100 meters up the road. The only thing is we couldn't find and toilets even the halls toilet were locked.


On entering the Trail you find a lot of pictures and information of "Brynhyfryd" house which was the three story mansion built for the coal king Lewis Thomas in the 1880, wow leaned something new didn't know this was here, some of the stands are half hiding by grass which was a bit sad. Moving on and the place is will signed most of the way one part does get a bit confusing with the bike trails and end up one one of them. but you get to see the brick walls, garden stairs case and the old water tank.

The story of Lewis Thomas

The top of the Beehive Water tank

The garden steps

more history on the area

It was very interesting the mining history to seeing how small theses mines tunnels were and the air shafts they dug. These areas are most fence off so you can't go in. and have a lot of information to read. The walk is a level 2 so some of the ground is lose and parts are up hill. Blackstone Reserve is 30 minutes from Brisbane and about the same from Lockyer Valley and quiet easy to fine at 7 Mary St Blackstone.

one of the mining shafts

Air shaft 

After a great workout walking which is just over an hour, and learning more about this little corner we live in. We sat and cool down after a drink and few snacks we fell ready to head down to the Heritage centre, we is really just down the road a t New Chum. Wow Cooneana House what a hidden gem.

Cooneana House inside the grounds

The grounds have quiet a few mining relics as well as a large display of mining rescue within the museum, they even have a an old train carriage and bus in the yard. We so also like the range of displays of Ipswich History, and the dedicated volunteers will even take you around and share their stories of the pass ...thank you Arvo.

an underground mine vehical

the old mine building now used as the main entery

displays inside

more displays inside

The centre is a work in process and you can, most of the area is on going restoration of some of building, but do have changing displays so is good to come back and see. There was only 2 of the houses open while we where there but we could look though the windows. I really enjoyed looking at all the old photographs and the classroom set up.

Artwork on the water tanks

Old train carriage

Hopefully council will keep helping with grants and money, and with the awesome volunteers you can see within a few years this place will be even more full of Ipswich Heritage. Cooneanna heritage Centre at Redbank Plains Rd New Chum, and is open Thursdays to Saturday 10am - 2pm. It does have a large grass area for children, Tables are in the shade out front for lunch or a snack.

Travel as much as possible and don't overlook the little things they may surprise you

Destination Everywhere

Day Trip - Mt Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

   

Well another beautiful weekend and Happy new year and why waste it inside. I have been to Mt Tambourine many many years ago but never did the Rainforest Skywalk, so a day on the mountain and stroll through the Rainforest Skywalk looks good, then we can see if we could find anything else, sounded like a good plan. So grumpy and I packed up the car and switched on the GPS.

It was a a beautiful drive watching all the changing scenery, we were quite surprised to see so many car parking down at the Thunderbird Park we may have a look a little later. Think we picked the most popular time to visit the skywalk as the car parks were full, we were lucky and got a park in the top car park the place is beautiful you can feel the soft rain though the area.

The area is peaceful, so heading up to the shop slash Birdwing cafe to buy our tickets. We also brought coffees and something to eat and sat on the outside deck area taking it all in, plus a quick pit stop the facilities are very clean.

As you enter the walk area there is a great information area to read and look at, then its out onto the Skywalk , the minute you walk out you feel the coolness of the rain forest. The views are amazing as you look down into the forest, over the rain forest and waterfall, you are walking 30 meteres above breathtaking.

The trails marking were clear to read and follow the pathway is cleared and maintained,  the information signs are quite interesting about the area. So once you have finished the high part it is still an easy walk down to the creek lookout, you can hear the running water beautiful.

 

Paying $19 each adult we were not going to rush around so we had a easy walk down and back which took us about an hour, but we did see a lot of people come and go, enjoyed the little bit about logging in the area at the end before going back inside to the gift shop. So back at the start I had a quick look around  brought another sticker for the book and back to the car, we thought we would have a look and the Thunderbird Park to see if we can look for some thunder eggs.

There is plenty to do at this activity park/ camp grounds, the place is very open and hot and has a small car park. There are  a collection of outdoors activities including Mini Golf, Thunder egg mining, horse riding, laser skirmish and a treetop challenge, all the activities are owned and managed by different operators. The Thunder egg mining is the big hit, but at $24 per adult was out of budget this time, on a side note wear closed in shoes if that's why your going.

Rock pools 

Bird Feeding

outside Thunder Egg Mine

The only things that are free are the bird feeding at 2:00pm everyday, boy the noise but fun having sit on your hand, and swimming in the rock pools oh and to look around. The thunder egg mining is the draw card but i would suggest coming and doing a specific activity only as they all look enjoyable but do cost.

In a hunt to find out more to do we took a drive up to the Information Centre and finding a fantastic fish and chip shop we had lunch in the park before heading up to Rotary lookout and then a bit further on. While we enjoyed our picturesque  views we started planning our next trip up here to this beautiful Hinterland with its rain forest and bush walks and many other enjoyable activities. It is a top day trip destination.

At the Lookout

Travel as much as possible, the little things may surprise you

Destination Everywhere