Yesturday we welcomed 6 new TAP students.There are now 45 TAP students from Austria, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Belgium & Japan which are now studying at GV Noosa.

The 6 new students joined rest of the group from the afternoon activity – Mt. Coolum Hiking.

Dome-shaped Mount Coolum rises 208m above the sugar cane fields and coastal resorts to dominate the skyline in the Sunshine Coast lowlands. Mount Coolum National Park contains most of the mountain with its craggy cliffs. After rain, waterfalls cascade over the sides.

Open eucalypt forest skirts Mount Coolum’s lower slopes while grasslands and montane heath grow towards the summit. This is one of only two coastal places where montane heath grows. The park extends south and west of Mount Coolum protecting coastal wallum, paperbark wetlands and rainforest remnants which have largely disappeared from this part of the Sunshine Coast lowlands.

The park contains threatened plant species such as the endangered Allocasuarina thalassoscopica and the rare Bertya sharpeana. About 40 percent of known fern families grow in the park. Peregrine falcons nest along the cliff faces.

The journey began with a nice leisurely walk around the base of the rock. It was not long before the real “mountain climbing” began. The path gave way to a steep rock climb to the very top of the rock!! Waiting for all, was the most spectacular view from anywhere on the Sunshine Coast!!!!

It was challenging activity and we all enjoyed a very deep sleep!!!!