The Scenic
Rim
Wildlife Ecology Centre on Running Creek Road, , is used by our
regular wildlife tour guests and for educational visits and
camps.
With prior
notice it can also be available to self-drive
travellers. It is
ideally situated for those exploring the Rainforest Way, Australia's
Green Cauldron or the Great Sunshine Way, or for those taking a scenic
route between Brisbane and New South Wales.
It is just
90
minutes away from Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast or
Lismore, or a couple of hours from Byron, making it an easy day trip
with scenic driving en route.
Being right next to Andrew Drynan reserve it is also perfect for
campers, and there are also B&B's, self-contained cabins,
farmstays, motels and hotels within 45 km.
Inside
the
WIldlife Information Centre:
- What
is so
different about Australia? What is different about our
mammals, birds, reptiles, plants and other natural features compared to
the rest of the world
- 500
million years overview of the geological and
evolutionary history of Australia as a whole and the Scenic Rim region
in particular
- Australia's
ecosystems
and
habitats
-
marine,
freshwater
and land, and a sample of
animals that live there
- Exploring
wildlife though science, natural history and art
- WIldlife
ecology, using
local
examples
-
what
does
an
animal
need in its daily life in order to stay
alive and reproduce, effects on populations and communities
- Wildlife
behaviour, using local
examples - why animals do what they do, senses of animals
- Wildlife
of the Scenic Rim - background habitat, mammals, birds, reptiles,
frogs, fish and invertebrates; local species, threatened species
- Children's
corner - puzzles, games, soft toys, arts/crafts and our 'rockaroo'
- Library
of
additional information - from children's books to science journals
On the
rest
of the property:
- Butterfly
walk - the foodplants for the larvae of
butterflies of the five major Australian famuilies of butterfly, and
information on life cycles, behaviour and ecology (note: we have no
butterflies in captovoty, but plenty bring themselvrs in especially in
warmer months)
- Seed
dispersal walk - fleshy-fruited herbs,
shrubs, vines and trees with information on the animals that dsperse
them
- Other
guided and self-guided walks in preparation
- Rainforest
and rainforest regeneration
- A
full
kilometre of creek, with catfish, turtles and platypus
- Eucalypts
with native grassy understorey
- Riparian
community of sheoaks, tea-trees and other
natives
- Good
birdlife, also red-necked wallabies,
pademelons, other mammals, reptiles and frogs
The
surrounding region:
- Campground
next door, and various styles of
accommodation within 45 km
- Mt
Chinghee National Park (seasonally dry
rainforest) next door, Border Ranges NP (extensive rainforest and open
forests) nearby, Lamington NP (extensive rainforest and open forests,
some mountian heath) visible from but 90 minutes drive to reach main
entry, Mt Barney NP (open forest, some mountain heath and rainforest)
40 minutes
- Scenic
Rim
generally
- Border Ranges region
generally (also
part of Rainforest Way and Australia's Green Cauldron), third highest
biodiversity in Australia
Cost
- included
in cost of educational excursions or camps
- included
in cost of three-day wildlife tour or
weekend wildlife camp
- for
day-trippers or campers not involved in the
above, currently a donation of $4 per adult or $2 per child towards our
habitat restoration efforts (includes guided tour of information centre
and nature trails)
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