Maleny Botanical Gardens

After a week at home I was itching to get out and we had promised George a trip to Maleny to see if we could spot elusive platypuses in the Obi Obi Creek. We started our day trip in the magnificent Maleny Botanical Gardens set up by Frank Shipp, a South African immigrant from Durban - he purchased the land with a view to create beautiful gardens. He landscaped ponds, lakes and waterfalls and the gardens were opened to the public in 2012. The following year he opened the Bird house which looks after many rescued birds - parrots which were once pets, injured birds, rare species. It's just a delight and especially now when the agapanthus flowers dominate the area,  giant balls of blue blossoms swaying on their strong stalks. Borders of blue - with the occasional white flowers just to break up the colour palate. 

We explored the gardens, the ponds, the waterfalls and the ancient rock formations. 

The Glasshouse mountains silhouetted in many of the photos. Volcanic plugs in the flat landscape. A Euphorbia collection near this pond made us think of the many we came across in Kenya.  

Exquisite flowers and ancient rock formations. 

I have been meaning to visit for years. Well worth it and on our way out we went to the Obi Obi Creek and George spotted Platypus !