My "Working" Holiday Here are some of the amazing things that I have done during my time Down Under. Share in my experience by reading my articles or viewing my photo galleries.

Just a 25 minute drive south from Coolum Beach, my home down under, I've explored the national park on two occasions. The flat plains, which house pineapple and macadamia farms, are punctuated by the cores of extinct volcanoes. Named so by James Cook as he sailed along the eastern coast of Queensland, as they reminded him of the large glass furnices back home.

As the Aboriginal legend goes, Tibrogargan and Beerwah had ten children, Coonowrin being the eldest, Beerburrum his sister, Ngungun, and a few sets of twins. One day, Tibrogargan notices the rising sea and asks Coonowrin to help his pregnant mother to safety. Fearing for his own life, Coonowrin flees, leaving Beerwah stranded. Angry at his son's cowardice, Tibrogargan pursues him, striking him, dislocating his neck. As the sea recedes, Coonowrin regrets his actions, returns and asks for forgiveness. Unable to do so, Tibrogargan turned his back on Coonowrin and gazes out to sea refusing to look at his son who continues to hang his head in shame and cry.

On my first visit, we hiked to the summit of Mount Ngungun at 253 meters to do a bit of rock climbing and absailing (repelling) on some of the cliff faces. We got attacked by a massive swarm of gnats and fended off an approaching storm, but scaled to new heights for my first climbing experience.

I followed it up with Sunday "hike" up the 364 meters of Mount Tibrogargan. Needless to say, had our local friend and built in guide, Matt, not been along, we wouldn't have been able to claim one of the rocks on the cairn as our own. It turned out to be much more of a rock climb than a hike, and this time without ropes (sorry Mom, but I'm safe and back at sea level).

Take a look at Reaching New Heights.