Where are we searching and how do you get there?
- Tamborine Skywalk: the main identification stations, displays and talks will be here, and some of the walks will start here in daylight and early evening, as well as some live-trapping.
- Thunderbird Park: several of the walks and trapping stations will start here, and there are some very affordable accommodation/camping options. Roger Kitching’s team for trapping and identifying moths will be housed in the Sapphire Room, and there will be other displays in here, and the display of live animals by Bush Buddies on Sunday will be just outside. See details for parking below.
- Several council-owned landcare properties (participants will follow leaders from Skywalk/Thunderbird or be provided with directions)
The easiest route to Thunderbird Park and Skywalk from Brisbane, Ipswich or most of the Scenic Rim is to take the Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road, and at the big roundabout turn onto the Tamborine Mountain Road. The Bearded Dragon Hotel will be on your left, and traveling uphill from there will bring you first to Thunderbird Park (on your left) and a little further to Skywalk (also on your left).
Costs
- Our main setup (identification tables etc.) will be at Skywalk’s carpark. Visiting the displays in the carpark is free, as is entry into the other properties
- There is a heavily-discounted charge for entering Skywalk during normal business hours. Bioblitz participants will be given a badge or lanyard to wear: adults will pay the children’s price of $9.50 and participating children accompanied by adults will be free. You must collect a lanyard from the information table in the marquee at the end of the driveway at Skywalk to identify yourself as a participant .
Parking at the Bioblitz
Parking will be limited at Skywalk during business hours, especially on Sunday, and also at Thunderbird Park’s main parking area on Sunday. We don t want to crowd out their other customers one a busy weekend, so please try to park near the marquee at the end of the carpark, where our opening ceremony and many of the displays will be.
Car-pooling from other parts of Tamborine would be much appreciated. If you are staying at places such as Bearded Dragon or Thunderbird Park, or visiting there for lunch or drinks, you may be able to leave a couple of cars there and car-pool to the Skywalk. There is also a parking area across the road from the Skywalk entrance, and other roadside parking areas along the way (see photo below).
At Thunderbird Park we will mostly use the parking near the bunk-houses, and this is also where Bush Buddies will display their animals on the Sunday. As you come down the driveway from the main road, take the road to the right that begins near the camping and caravan letdown point, and follow it to the bunkhouse area.
Accommodation
There is no requirement to stay for the entire Biobltz, but if you would like to do so or you would like to avoid traveling in the dark after an evening search or before a dawn one, there are several good options for staying overnight.
Thunderbird Park
- Cedar Creek Lodges at Thunderbird Park has set aside three bunkrooms for BioBlitz volunteers wanting to share this style of accommodation. Each room sleeps eight guests (byo bedding) in single bunk beds. Hot showers and toilets as well as laundry facilities and a camp kitchen are located in the same building. If we have eight to a room the nightly rate will be $16 per person. Anyone wanting to book this option may call Karen on 07 5545 7998 or email functions@cedarcreeklodges.com.au . It’s a great opportunity for a low cost overnight visit, but book soon!
- On Sunday 15th October and Monday 16th October both campsites and bunkroooms will be available.
- On Monday 16th October hotel rooms and lodges will also be available. We are offering bioblitz participants a 10% discount on rooms and lodges booked online, using the promo code SRBB.
- The Terrace Kiosk is open daily for light meals, snacks and beverages. The Rainforest Restaurant will be open Monday night for dinner, and possibly Tuesday depending on our occupancy level.
- The Sapphire Room will be used for sorting moths from the light-traps and for other displays, but there is also room for other displays and a kitchen with a large fridge where volunteers (whether or not staying at the bunk-house) can leave food and drinks. To reach the Sapphire Room and the bunkhouses, take the road to the right of the camping and caravan setdown (a right hand turn from the driveway between the main road and the main carpark – see above)
Amber Lodge
A couple of rooms are currently available at Amber Lodge near Gallery Walk. This B&B is run by Pat and Rosie Comben and a couple of our committee members will be staying here.
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragon Hotel has rooms and plenty of parking, and is very conveniently located for traveling up the hill to Thunderbird Park, Skywalk and the other Bioblitz-search properties. They arena of the few hotels that have resisted installing pokies, and pride themselves on maintaining good old-fashionedpub hospitality. You can also get meals and drinks here, and attend their regular reptile show at 2.00pm Monday and meet some friendly pet animals at any time. Thanks to them also for helping to publicise this event
Meals
You can get a light lunch at Skywalk, plus drinks and snacks in biodegradable utensils.
Bearded Dragon and Thunderbird Park (see above: variety of gluten-free and vegetarian options) provide all three meals (breakfast 8.00am – 10.00am, lunch throughout day, dinner 6.00-8.00pm)
If visiting the glow worms at Cedar Creek Estate, they do some delicious lunches. Another place we liked for lunch is Tea and Niceties near the Joalah section of Tamborine National Park.
Other things to do while visiting Tamborine Mountain
- Cedar Creek Glow Worms and Frog Hollow open 10.00am to 4.00pm. An impressive artificial cave, purpose-built to take the pressure off natural populations of glow worms, and giving visitors a chance see them glowing in daytime (lights are turned on at night and off during the day). On weekends in warm months you canals vispttheir frog-breeding area.
- Tamborine Botanic Gardens
- Gallery Walk and other arts/craft places
- Various sections of Tamborine National Park – waterfalls, rainforest, impressive views, birdlife etc.
- Reptile Show, pet animals and playground at Bearded Dragon (see above)
- Treetop challenge, fossicking, horse-riding and other activities at Thunderbird Park