Canungra

This is the route we took from Kilcoy to Somerset Dam then Canungra.

Canungra is a country town which is our next stop after Kilcoy. Being a popular destination for short drives from the Gold Coast and Brisbane we decided to stay for a week at the town's showgrounds. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, 35 kilometres west of the Gold Coast and 90 kilometres south of Brisbane. From Kilcoy we drove around 176 kms straight to Canungra. The slopes around Canungra are steep and forested with some cleared farmlands and rural homes in the flatter valley areas.
   

We need to shift the bus twice because of
the bullriding on the weekend.

It is a busy little town which seemed very popular to tourist especially bikers and paragliders. When we arrived at the showgrounds there are many campers around with big, long tubes on their vehicles. The caretaker said those were gliders and there is a competition going on for the week. Canungra Hang Gliding club is apparently one of the biggest in Australia. Also, a twilight bullriding was to be held at the showgrounds on the weekend that we are camping there. We were just in time to witness all these and more! Have a look at the pictures from the twilight bullride.

While waiting for the bullride, we were entertained by this trial bike driver.

This driver is really trained to perform this amazing stunt.

I wonder how many times he fell before mastering this stunt.

I think trial driving is a piece of cake for bullriders. Would you agree?

Just look at this particular bull.







  
As I've mention earlier, Canungra Hang Gliding Club is the biggest in the region. Because of the town's usual weather conditions gliders fly pretty much all year round (according to the club's website). They have international competitions every spring for paraglider and hang glider pilots. Pilots climb up to 10,000 feet and fly across country as far as Dalby and Warwick. We were able to witness parts of the competition at their Mt. Tamborine launch site. If you feel like flying on a glider, visit http://www.chgc.asn.au/ and join the club. Check out some interesting pictures from the launch site.
 

 

Assembling the gliders.











Ready for take off!?!

 

Up!

Up!

... and away!