Kenilworth Imbil State Forest November 2019 Part 1
Imbil State Forest Day Trip
We did a day trip out to Imbil State Forest in Kenilworth. Basically a 45 minute drive from our place on the Sunshine Coast.
We started out going through the Charlie Moreland camp site, up the gravel road and then took the first left turn off. We followed this down the hill, left at the bottom and then took the first track on the right hand side. We followed this track for a while, it is steep in places but really easy, we didn’t take any of the tracks on the left or right hand side on the way up. This eventually comes out to a big clearing quite high up with lovely views North. We drove around in this open area for a bit and then headed back into the forest.
We then took the track on the right hand side that has a steepish decline with a few ruts, but again nothing too serious here. After driving in the forest here for a bit we then headed back out past the Charlie Moreland campsite, and then at Kenilworth Maleny Road we turned left back towards Kenilworth. We drove down here for about 500 metres and took a track here on the left hand side. This track starts off quite easy going but then you have to send it up a really steep incline (low range, second gear and rear diff locked did the trick easily) and a bit later on there is a long steep decline. This decline took us 3-5 minutes to get down. We then followed this track for a bit longer and eventually ended up coming out near the sewage treatment plant and back onto the Kenilworth Maleny Road. From here we drove back towards Maleny, past the Charlie Moreland campsite turn off and then had lunch at the creek in the picnic area on the right hand side.
Shayne’s Recount
Sadza Cobberdog the First of his name was now almost 6 months old and it was time for his first 4 wheel driving adventure out to Kenilworth Imbil State Forest. We were a little apprehensive about this. When we first got him he hated the car and would howl and cry incessantly throughout any trip. Fortunately this seemed to have resolved (largely because of distraction with pigs ears) but he still hadn’t been for much more than a half hour drive. However he was going to have to get used to it!
I carefully packed Sadza provisions including lots of ‘chickem’ for bribery. We loaded him up with his sports bra (aka his harness) on and clipped him in on the back seat. We had to make sure Elly his toy elephant and best fren (friend) was also in place. We then set off and initially all was well. He alternated between enjoying the breeze and snoozing. Unfortunately though after a slightly windy section Peter and I noticed a strong odour of dog food. Poor Sadza had parted ways with his breakfast – luckily Elly has avoided it. This necessitated a quick road side stop in order to prevent him trying to make it second breakfast! Luckily we had put a towel down to protect his dad’s new seat covers although these were a little damp!
We made our way through Kenilworth, a cute and compact little country town which apparently has an amazing bakery although we had packed supplies and did not sample it. With Richard and Amanda leading the way in their Land Cruiser we headed into Kenilworth Imbil State Forest via the main dirt road. We lacked any maps for the tracks so had to take a spontaneous approach. There were a couple of false starts. One track looked promising but turned out to be impassable. Another warned that lumberjacks would drop trees onto our heads or something to that effect. Eventually we found a pretty good track which wound up to a spot with a lovely, although slightly hazy view. There were a few minor challenges to the track – at one point we went over a large log and there were a few steeper spots but overall it was quite manageable. We made frequent stops for the doggo. During one young Sadza experienced the excitement of his first cow poo (tried to eat) and found a revolting rotting furry creature (also tried to eat – I was not best pleased to have to physically remove it from his mouth!). During another of our little stops to take the nature in Amanda offered Sadza a bit of biltong (the far superior African version of jerky). This was almost as delicious as cow poo and Biltong Lady was a new favourite of his!
We then returned to the tar and tried out another track coming off this which we had noted on the way in. This was more like it! We found ourselves spending a lot of the time looking at the treetops and sky or directly down at the dirt due to the gradient. On one downhill we even had a little slide which was exciting. There were a lot of rutted out sections. On one particularly rutted spot on a roughly 70 degree slope Peter confided, Don’t really know where the tyres are going here’ – which was not exactly confidence inspiring! Nevertheless we made it. How did Sadza react? Mostly by napping, however during some of the rougher spots he’d simply stare quietly at Peter as if doubting his sanity. Amanda took the chance to drive for a bit but as I was yet to drive Big Betty on tar I gave that a miss! The track looped back past Kenilworth so afterwards we headed through the town again and stopped alongside a picturesque creek for lunch.
Peter was excited about the opportunity to show off his kitchen set up, since everything was now installed in the back. He demonstrated the ease of popping it out and unfolding it within seconds.
Amanda and I relaxed on a picnic blanket whilst Sadza tucked into the juicy bone I’d packed to distract him. In one of the trees above was a wooden box and out of this poked a fluffy possum butt. A cheeky kookaburra was also impressed with Peter’s kitchen and flew down to perch on it.
After a lunch of borewors on Turkish bread with salad, all washed down with some of Peter’s strongest and spiciest homebrew ginger beer yet, we mostly just wanted to sleep in the sun! Instead Amanda and I took Sadza down to the creek. There were very few people about for such a scenic area. Sadza had a little paddle but still doesn’t believe that dogs can swim. It was certainly enough to perk him up though, as he was very frisky after cooling down,
The time had come to head home. We were lucky to have such a great place for a bit of 4 wheel driving just a 45 minute drive or so from home. Sadza slept hard the whole way back and for most of the evening. Overall his first adventure had gone pretty well and hoped he’ll have many more to come!
The thoughts of Shayne.
