Spicers 5 Day Scenic Rim Walk

MEETING DETAILS
Group meeting time is 11.45am at Spicers Hidden Vale Retreat located at 617 Grandchester Mt Mort Road Grandchester at reception. Join your fellow walkers for a chef selection light lunch including tea, coffee & sparkling water before heading out on the afternoons adventures. If you would like any other beverages with lunch you are more than welcome to order and then pay directly at the bar.

If you are self driving you will park your vehicle here for your journey otherwise a transfer can be pre-arranged to/from Brisbane. Please note there is no under cover parking, if this is a concern we can assist with arranging transfers.

A Scenic Rim Trail team member will greet you and assemble the group on the front verandah. When ready the group will walk over to the Hidden Wildlife Centre (approx. 15mins) learning about the conservation initiatives of the Turner Family Foundation.

KOALA SAFARI
Transferring by 4WD bus your guides will take you on a conservation inspired koala safari as you learn about the extensive koala research project that has been underway for a number of years offering an incredible opportunity to spot koalas in their native habitat.

MARKET GARDEN TOUR
Returning to the retreat by approx. 4pm you will be provided with your hiking gear & your guide/s will brief you on the evening ahead and the plans in the morning. You will enjoy dinner with your fellow walkers.

If you enjoy gardening and cooking you can join an optional yet highly recommended 4.45pm market garden tour led by one of the talented Homage chefs.

DINNER
Your group will meet for dinner at 6pm in the Homestead (sometimes the time may change). Enjoy a 2-course dinner with optional dessert if you are feeling like something sweet at hatted restaurant, Homage. Beverages are provided with dinner – non-alcoholic plus a selection of wine & beer.

If you would like to enjoy a drink before or after dinner you are more than welcome to do so at your own leisure and pay directly at the bar.

Retire for a restful nights sleep ahead of your first day of walking tomorrow.

BREAKFAST
Breakfast is at 7.30am in the Homestead. We will collect your bags from your room. We recommend parking your car in the long term parking area before breakfast and double checking that you have everything. Please note during the warmer months the tour will have a continental breakfast at 6.30am.

TRANSFER TO START OF THE WALK
The 4WD bus transfer is approx. 40 minutes to the start of the trail with bathroom facilities available at the ‘trail head’. Your luggage will be transferred and all you will be carrying is your hiking day pack with lunch box and water bottles (all provided).

ON THE TRAIL
Magnificent views and wildlife spotting are on the agenda today with sightings of the endangered brush tailed rock wallaby a possibility. The rock ladder is a highlight of the day, with a harness and helmet your guides will lead you through this exciting experience. If you have a grave fear of heights a walk around track is available.

Today’s hike is approx. 12km on Grade 4 trails – Suitable for experienced hikers as navigation and technical skills will be required (guides provide this expertise). Trails will be long, rough and very steep with limited signage. Rock scrambling required.

An adventurous day that sees you climb up onto the Mistake Mountain Range with a 600m ascent. The ecosystem is dry sclerophyll forest with incredible views afforded throughout the day.

HIKING DETAILS
12km
550m ascent | moderate to hard.

ACCOMMODATION
Tonight you will stay in our off-grid Spicers Mount Mistake Farmhouse with 6 ensuited bedrooms, a cosy communal lounge with roaring fire place and nothing but the views and the trees surrounding you. Share style dinner will be at 6pm.

MORNING
Sunrise on the edge of the escarpment offers a beautiful start to your day (optional), with breakfast from 6.30am during the warmer months or 7am during the cooler months. After some morning stretches, refilling your water bottles and collecting your lunch boxes your group will walk out at 7.30am – 8am.

ON THE TRAIL
Today’s walk is mostly a Grade 3 trail – Formed track, some obstacles, 20 km or less. May have short steep hills and many steps, with the final hour of the day spent on a Grade 5 trail unformed track. Likely to be very rough, steep and unmarked.

The total distance is approx. 18km and starts with a meandering climb where you’ll see evidence of the 2019 bushfires. Today you’ll have your first Gondwana Rainforest encounter, a taste of what’s to come. As we emerge from the rainforest we follow a former logging trail, some sections aren’t under canopy so in the warmer temperatures we take plenty of water breaks. In the final portion of the day we step deep into the rainforest on a private Grade 5 track that takes us into camp.

HIKING DETAILS
18km | approx. 8hrs
Easy to Moderate | Morning tea and lunch on trail

ACCOMMODATION
Designed with sustainability in mind the two camps in the National Park are architectural masterpieces nestled into the environment on formerly cleared areas of land. Offering stand alone cabins connected by walk ways with two communal wash pavilions and a stunning lodge. The cabins located here are like tree houses perched above the ground.

MORNING
Wake to see the tops of the trees rustling in the morning breeze. You may wish to get a tea or coffee and return to your cabin, opening the tilt door and enjoying a cuppa in bed. After a hearty breakfast and some morning stretches on the deck you’ll walk out of camp.

ON THE TRAIL
today’s walk entails Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 track. We start the day with a relatively flat warm up as we make our way up the access road enjoying the sounds of the rainforest birds as we go. This initial track can sometimes get muddy so we may have to skirt our way around some puddles as we make our way past. The total distance is approx. 16km.

As we decend into the valley we become enveloped by rainforest. Approx. half of today is on Grade 5 trail with our guides leading the way on the unmarked trails. We ascend down some rocky boulder sections that will require us to crouch down and go slowly. The pace is slower as we take care with our footing navigating the tree roots and rocky sections. We will take plenty of stops so you can look up and marvel at the rainforest around you.

All creek crossings are dry as we use rocks to navigate our way across and keep our boots dry!

HIKING DETAILS
16km | approx. 8hrs
Moderate to hard | Morning tea and lunch on trail

ACCOMMODATION
Aesthetically different and architecturally the same Spicers Timber Getters offers a unique experience with towering trees above and those with a keen eye for design will appreciate the difference from the night before. Explore the historic timber getters shack and be amazed at their accommodation compared to yours!

MORNING
Listen to the birds this part of the walk has incredible bird life. Breakfast at 7am followed by stretches and morning preparation before walking out at 8am.

ON THE TRAIL
Today’s walk entails Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 track. We start the day with a heartwarming climb up the fire trail past an old pine plantation. Once at the top we once again head deep into the rainforest on Grade 5 track. The total distance is approx. 16km.

We come across some huge rainforest trees with buttresses 6 feet tall. Once again the pace is slower as we all take care with our footing navigating the tree roots and rocky sections. As we emerge from deep in the rainforest we climb up and over Bare Rock offering 360 degree views on a clear day.

From here we join the public trails and will often pass fellow walkers not many of whom will ever venture where you have just been. In the final section of the trail the modern world comes into earshot as we hear trucks carrying goods from the coast to the west via Cunningham Gap. Vehicles will be waiting for you at the end of the trail ready to whisk you away to Spicers Hidden Peaks eco camp.

FOOD
Morning tea and lunch will be enjoyed on trail before arriving to drinks by the fire and a tasty grazing platter. Dinner will be at 6pm.

HIKING DETAILS
16km | approx. 8hrs
Moderate | Morning tea and lunch on trail

ACCOMMODATION
Staying in handmade timber huts each with their own ensuite, Spicers Hidden Peaks is a stunning place to spend your last night with the and views to the mountain range you just conquered in the background.

A celebration dinner is enjoyed by all tonight, sharing stories of the journey and delighting in what you have experienced.

Your final morning is at your leisure with breakfast from 8am. Enjoy some free time before you depart at 10am.

For 2021 bookings if you have opted for the helicopter transfer you will trace the trail from the sky back to Spicers Hidden Vale if not you can relax on the 1hr drive back to your vehicle (or if travelling by transfer to Brisbane you will leave straight from here).

For 2022 bookings the heli transfer is included and is a magical way to end your Scenic Rim Trail experience.

Here we say a fond farewell as you depart with life long memories and a renewed love of nature.