After another leisurely start to the day of breakfast followed by cut lunch preparation we drove north about 10:00 from Yeppoon to Byfield State Forest for the day. Initially we headed to the Upper Stoney day use area. As we left our parked car we couldn’t help but notice the amazing reflection in the Stoney Creek. Just stunning.

From the car park it was well signposted to the first short walk of the day, Venusta Circuit.

As we began the trail we were greeted by some beautiful acacia in bloom.

As we walked along we soon crossed a small bridge.

This unusual Byfield Grevillea, Grevillea venusta, caught our eye. No wonder the trail was named Venusta Circuit.

As we continued our walk we could hear but not see running water. After about ten minutes walk we came to another still section of the creek which provided another lovely reflection photo opportunity.

Further along the trail we spotted this bright orange fungi

as well as another delicate flower in bloom.

From there the trail was a bit of a rock scramble before it ascended

to a high point

before again descending back to the carpark where we were happy to have a drink as it was becoming much warmer.

Here we were able to see a Banksia robur which had finished flowering

and a native Hibiscus that seemed to appeal to a particular variety of small bug.

Having quenched our thirst we drove along to the Water Park Creek day use area where we parked and took our packed lunch to a vacant table. However it didn’t take long before we had company. By their boldness we’d say they had tried to gate crash a few other picnics. As we ate we had to shoo them away a few times as they tried to come right up on the table.

Once we had finished eating we packed our gear away so we could do another short walk. This one was the Bowenia Rainforest Circuit. It’s only 1.2kms long and started with a stretch of boardwalk.

As you can see the vegetation was totally different from what we had seen on our morning walk.

Yes you are right, this is top and bottom of the same scene. It took two photos to show you how high the trees were! Along the way detailed information boards could be seen.

This is part of the leaf of the Byfield Fern described on the previous signboard. This rare cycad is found nowhere else in the world.

Another information board informed us that this pocket of the Byfield Forest receives almost 750mm of rain between December and March every year so it was no wonder we saw wide sections of Water Park Creek as we followed the trail.

It took us not quite half an hour to complete the trail.

Back in our car we began to follow the road back out of the State Forest. However as we came to the ford over the creek I found some photo worthy reflection shots.

From there we continued our drive back. In the little town of Byfield we stopped at the Nob Creek Pottery. They had an expansive range in their display area but equally impressive was their large kiln.

Our drive back south continued to Farnborough. Here we detoured to the beach at Bangalee where we had great views back to Yeppoon.

Arriving back at our caravan we took a late afternoon tea. Our visit to Byfield had certainly met our expectations of visiting an area of great natural beauty but with the added bonus of seeing two quite rare plants, the Byfield Grevillea, Grevillea venusta, and the ancient fern-like cycad, the Bowenia serrulata (Byfield fern).