I have been fortunate enough to grow up in the beautiful outdoors. I have treasured memories of doing coastal walks with my family as a child. I feel being young you never fully appreciate those times until you become older.
When I was 29, I developed the desire to complete a marathon by the time I was 30. I was certainly a beginner and started with run / walk intervals between lamp posts before increasing the distance. As time passed and training continued, I fell in love with running and things escalated quickly. I soon started competing in ultra marathons which is any distance over the 42.2km marathon distance, with the 100km distance being my favourite.
When I’m not running, I enjoy country walks with my husband and friends. Together we enjoy the more relaxed, easier walks so finding family appropriate areas are important to us.
One of our “go to” places is Glen Rock, which has recently been renamed Main Range Conservation Park. This beautiful walk is particularly spectacular after rain as the 16km return, mainly flat Blackfellow Creek Trail crosses a few creeks. The out and back means we can do our own distance and turn around when ready.
Our adventures often take us to Cunninghams Gap at Main Range National Park. We usually stop at a bakery on the way for snacks at the top. There are multiple, beautiful walks there with a variety of distances with family friendly paths. We can recommend Mount Cordeaux for sunrise while Bare Rock track and Mount Mitchell offer stunning views of the sunset. This location is perfect who don’t mind an uphill hike.
A wonderful day can be spent at the Goomburra section of Main Range National Park. There’s a few beautiful walks with lovely views, we made it special by packing a picnic and enjoyed watching the birds after our walk.
Mount Tamborine boasts some wonderful, relaxing walks with the addition of having lovely cafes and shops to explore, it’s a full day out.
White Rock at Spring Mountain Conservation Estate offers stunning walks around beautiful bushland with stunning views. It’s very family friendly with a mixture of flatter and short walks or treks with a bit more elevation for those who like a challenge.
Kirsty Baker
Kirsty is an ultra marathon runner and nurse. She took up running at the age of 27 and has since competed in races of up to 100kms all around the world.
Kirsty’s passion for the outdoors means she’s not always looking for a major challenge. Her favourite pastime is a long walk with friends and/or family, taking in the beauty of our great state.
Kirsty is known to many as ‘that running nurse’.
