The Area ‘Ravensbourne National Park is a very popular rainforest park. It has two picnic area and several interesting walks through rainforest and adjoining eucalypt forest. Discover towering trees, palm groves, trickling streams and amazing birdlife in the best remaining example of the rainforest that originally covered this part of the Great Dividing Range. Local Aboriginal people and those travelling to the Bunya Mountains used the area extensively. Rainforest hardwoods, red cedar Toona ciliate and other timbers were felled from about the 1860s.’ [see parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/ravensbourne]
The Walk
The track notes to this cache are based on Walk #27 Ravensbourne Falls from ‘Bush walks in the Toowoomba Region’ by Neil McKilligan and Ian Savage, 4th ed. 2011, and tracks uploaded in Wikiloc. It is for experienced hikers with a good level of fitness. I highly recommend following the clockwise circuit as described below and in the waypoints I have provided. This is a fairly hard hike and will take around 5.5 hours plus rest breaks. There are some fun scrambles, and a few very steep parts. Please take all necessary precautions including food, water, clothing, navigational aids, and be sure to tell someone where you are going.
Also be aware there is little to no phone reception for most of the walk, and the rocks and trees around GZ can make your GPSr go a little crazy. This geocache has been placed with permission from the Senior Ranger, Eastern Downs, Department of Environment and Science (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships).
Waypoints: P0 S 27° 21.960 E 152° 10.793 Carpark & Trailhead. Park here. Picnic area and toilets are nearby. Follow the Buaraba Creek Trail to the end.
01 S 27° 21.561 E 152° 11.325 End of Buaraba Creek trail. Cross over and turn right (East) and choose your own adventure along the creek towards the next WP.
02 S 27° 21.566 E 152° 11.528 Fence Post. When you get to this old fenceline, follow it North up the hill until you join the old track, then head right/East and keep following that trail, taking the lower track where there are options, until you get to the creek WP.
03 S 27° 21.379 E 152° 12.159 Creek. Cross the creek here and follow it down to the East until you reach the top of the small falls. Scramble down the Northern (left) side of these falls and continue along the creek for about 400m. This is also the WP where you will turn left on your return.
04 S 27° 21.255 E 152° 12.310 Top of Falls. This is a great spot for a break if needed. When ready, follow the faint trail to the right of the falls. There was a rope here when the cache was placed, to assist with the short climb and narrow ledge but you may like to bring a 20m rope of your own. From there, zigzag carefully down the steep slope to ground zero.
GZ S 27° 21.241 E 152° 12.321 Ground Zero. The cache is under a large rock, hidden behind a few smaller rocks. Please replace as found.
Further down the creek are some excellent swimming holes.
Return carefully the same way to the top of the falls and back to WP 03 where you will follow the trail to the left, opposite where you came in.
05 S 27° 21.525 E 152° 12.210 Turn right with the track here.
06 S 27° 21.559 E 152° 12.130 National Park Gate. Continue through the national park gate onto Wellers Road.
07 S 27° 22.032 E 152° 11.223 Caves Track. Head down to the right here to join the caves trail, pass the caves and continue on.
08 S 27° 22.150 E 152° 10.951 Turn left here and continue on to the carpark.