Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
Welcome to Jinbara Country and the beautiful Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, now managed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council thanks to the Cairncross family and First Nation caretakers. This subtropical rainforest once covered the whole of Blackall Range. Volcanic activity, some 30 million years ago formed the range and the 14 Glasshouse mountains. For more info on the rock composition of each mountain, we would encourage you to watch the short doco playing on level 2 of the discovery centre.
The spectacular Paradise Riflebird, Regent Bowerbird and Noisy Pitta can be spotted in the rainforest regularly. We have included a picture of the pademelons you are likely to see. A colony of rare mountain crayfish (Euastacus urospinosus) only found in the Blackall and Conondale Ranges, lives in the creek bank. In fact, this 55 hectares of land is home to 141 bird species🐤, 25 mammal species🐨, 34 reptile species🐍, 17 amphibian species🐸 and thousands of insects🐝, worms & crustaceans🦀.
Why not try spotting at least one from each order while you are here?
There are 299 recorded plant species🌿, including our favourite FUNgi.🍄
There is a mid-story wheelchair accessible forest walk, as well as two kilometres of well-graded paths through the rainforest. We will be asking you to walk a short way in, to complete this virtual. The track can be accessed through the discovery centre (gold coin donation) or behind the discovery centre if you prefer.
You will find great amenities including BBQs, shaded seating, a playground, and even a spot for cricket. Dogs are not permitted on the reserve. The discovery centre is open from 9-4.30pm every day. ANZAC day 12.30-4.30pm. It is closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. You will only be able to take a picture for you log during daylight hours.
The Cache:
To claim a smilie you will need to visit 5 waypoints and answer a few simple questions and send your answers through to us via the geocaching message centre.
- WP1/Q1: What is a Gaya and how many Gayas are featured in this instrument?
- WP2/Q2: What is threatening trees?
- WP3/Q3: What tree stands here?
- WP4/Q4: What tree stands here?
- WP5/Q5: What tree stands here?
Any ‘logged’ finds without the answers sent to us will be deleted. If your answers are wrong we will let you know. When you log the cache, you must also post a photo of your GPS or self at the viewing deck looking out to the mountains.
Just a last comment about the community. When we visit the hinterlands we keep an eye out for the movement of scarecrows, free or cheap fruit boxes, and bridal parties enjoying their photo moments. We’ve included a pic of our loved family members getting married alongside their Kombi Van maybe 30 years ago. There is another (traditional) cache here to collect and lots of awesome farms, wineries, cheese makers, gardens and views of the ocean and Baroon Pocket Dam to check out while you are on the range.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
Happy Geocaching!
***🌳Congratulations to dahumbug on getting FTF. 🌳***