QLD - need advise, tips, ideas!

[cocacola-light]

Till now I had an amazing time in Australia. Started in Brisbane I travelled through Victoria'S High Country, Great Ocean Road, Oodnadatta Track, part of the Simpson desert, Savannah Way and Cape York (OTT) - just to name a few

I'm on the east coast and looking for new adventures. But the way from Cairns down the coast was pretty boaring till now. Did the Blencoe Falls (Girringun National Park), but that was pretty easy. I don't like to travel on the main highway that much. Right now i'm in Townsville and somehow I have to travel to Fraiser Island.

What is between here and Fraiser? I would like to make a circle and travel inland first. But is there anything interesting? The rainforest is pretty much boaring so I would like to see something else

What would you recommend? I'm from Germany so I would like to get some great ideas from real Australians

Thank you!

[mickyd555]

carnarvon gorge, ive never been but its about 5hrs from brisbane and the photos i have seen are amazing

[coxy321]

I'd say Magnetic Island, however its the wrong time of the year to catch all of the chicky-babes.....

[chikoroll_]

...you don't want rainforests? then go west

here's some places i like though

Misty Mountains - 1 hour from townsville
Proserpine river (full of crocs) - 1 hour from airlie beach (which is a shithole)
Jaurama Falls (MASSIVE FALLS, difficult rock climbing, swimming, danger imminent when you get past the track ) - 2 hours from townsville
Josephine Falls (extremely powerful) - 1 hour from townsville
Mt Morgan
Mt Tibrogargan (good basic rock climbing) - 1 hour from brisbane
Condamine Gorge (awesome!) - 3 hours from brisbane
Mt Tamborine (interesting place) - 1 hour from brisbane
Broadbeach (awesome beach minus the tourists and BS) - 1 hour from brisbane
Mt Coolum - awesome cave under it

be sure to explore the mountains away from the tracks, the best stuff won't be seen on the formed tracks

[BundyRumandCoke]

If time isnt really an issue, then head into the outback.

West from Townsville to Charters Towers, then either south through Belyando crossing to Clermont, Emerald, Springsure, Rolleston then Cavarvon Gorge,

Or Townsville, Charters Towers, Prairie, then down through Muttaburra Aramac, Barcaldine, then east to Emerald, then as above,

Or Further west still, Townsville, Cloncurry, then south east to Winton, Longreach, then Barcaldine then as above, or you can go south from Barcaldine to Tambo, then across to Salvator Rosa National Park, then Springsure, Rolleston, Canarvon Gorge,

From Carnarvon Gorge, you can head south, to Injune, then work your way easy to Dalby, then across to Maryborough to Fraser Island, or north again to Rolleston, east through Bauhinia Downs, Moura, Banana, then through the Burnett region to Maryborough to Fraser Island.

The choice is only limited by budget and time. Heaps of interesting places to see.

[toaddog]

So how did the brakes go ?

[BundyRumandCoke]

Or if you want to see coastal scenery

Cape Palmerston National Park, turn left at Illbilbie, about 1 hr south of Mackay.

5 Rocks, turn left at Yeppoon turnoff, just north of Rockhampton, turn left at the road to Byfield, and follow till you turn right to Waterpark Creek and then follow to 5 Rocks.

Turn left to Turkey Beach, about 1/2 hr south of Benaraby- near Gladstone- and then turn right off this road to head into the top end of Eurimbla National Park. From there head south to Agnes Water/1770, then head south along the beach road to get into the top end of Deepwater National Park.

South of Bundaberg, turn off and head east to Kin Kuna, and Woodgate, then head for Hervey Bay, and Fraser island.

Along the way, head west from Mackay up to Eungella National Park, and from the Calliope turn off, west of Gladstone, head west then south up to Kroombit Tops National Park, and see Beautiful Betsy, a crashed WW2 B17 bomber that laid undiscovered for over 50 years.

West of Gin Gin, towards Mt Perry, is Boolbondoola tunnel, the longest unsupported and unlined railway tunnel in the southern hemisphere. No longer used as a railway tunnel, you can drive a vehicle through it these days. Its about 250 metres long.

Make sure you visit the Bundaberg Rum distillery at Bundy, and see how its made, and sample their wares.

[chikoroll_]

Or if you want to see coastal scenery

Cape Palmerston National Park, turn left at Illbilbie, about 1 hr south of Mackay.

5 Rocks, turn left at Yeppoon turnoff, just north of Rockhampton, turn left at the road to Byfield, and follow till you turn right to Waterpark Creek and then follow to 5 Rocks.

Turn left to Turkey Beach, about 1/2 hr south of Benaraby- near Gladstone- and then turn right off this road to head into the top end of Eurimbla National Park. From there head south to Agnes Water/1770, then head south along the beach road to get into the top end of Deepwater National Park.

South of Bundaberg, turn off and head east to Kin Kuna, and Woodgate, then head for Hervey Bay, and Fraser island.

Along the way, head west from Mackay up to Eungella National Park, and from the Calliope turn off, west of Gladstone, head west then south up to Kroombit Tops National Park, and see Beautiful Betsy, a crashed WW2 B17 bomber that laid undiscovered for over 50 years.

West of Gin Gin, towards Mt Perry, is Boolbondoola tunnel, the longest unsupported and unlined railway tunnel in the southern hemisphere. No longer used as a railway tunnel, you can drive a vehicle through it these days. Its about 250 metres long.

Make sure you visit the Bundaberg Rum distillery at Bundy, and see how its made, and sample their wares.

:( you're meant to keep deepwater national park a secret

[Skegbudley]

Or if you want to see coastal scenery

Cape Palmerston National Park, turn left at Illbilbie, about 1 hr south of Mackay.

5 Rocks, turn left at Yeppoon turnoff, just north of Rockhampton, turn left at the road to Byfield, and follow till you turn right to Waterpark Creek and then follow to 5 Rocks.

Turn left to Turkey Beach, about 1/2 hr south of Benaraby- near Gladstone- and then turn right off this road to head into the top end of Eurimbla National Park. From there head south to Agnes Water/1770, then head south along the beach road to get into the top end of Deepwater National Park.

South of Bundaberg, turn off and head east to Kin Kuna, and Woodgate, then head for Hervey Bay, and Fraser island.

Along the way, head west from Mackay up to Eungella National Park, and from the Calliope turn off, west of Gladstone, head west then south up to Kroombit Tops National Park, and see Beautiful Betsy, a crashed WW2 B17 bomber that laid undiscovered for over 50 years.

West of Gin Gin, towards Mt Perry, is Boolbondoola tunnel, the longest unsupported and unlined railway tunnel in the southern hemisphere. No longer used as a railway tunnel, you can drive a vehicle through it these days. Its about 250 metres long.

Make sure you visit the Bundaberg Rum distillery at Bundy, and see how its made, and sample their wares.

Hang on. You have just directed a backpacker to drive between Turkey beach and Eurimbula.
We can go and watch. How many times would we have to recover him?
How many times would we have to recover ourselves if it rains?
Does anybody know if the bridge has been rebuilt?

Should probally mention that if you make the track, then you are worthy of camping at Middle Creek. Turn left instead of right when you get to the t-intersection in Eurimbula Nat park. Best camping in the area.

[BundyRumandCoke]

Strangely, reviewing the original post, I dont see backpacker mentioned anywhere. Also, if he/she has travelled where he/she says he/she has, then the Turkey Beach/Eurimbla track should not be an issue, even in the recent damp conditions.

But I was unaware that Worthington Creek bridge had been damaged.

[SilverBulletBM]

Mt Coolum - awesome cave under it

be sure to explore the mountains away from the tracks, the best stuff won't be seen on the formed tracks

Where abouts is this cave, ive never seen it?

And if you do go off the tracks make sure you have a decent gps etc, you dont want to get lost

[Skegbudley]

Strangely, reviewing the original post, I dont see backpacker mentioned anywhere. Also, if he/she has travelled where he/she says he/she has, then the Turkey Beach/Eurimbla track should not be an issue, even in the recent damp conditions.

But I was unaware that Worthington Creek bridge had been damaged.

Yeah, kind of wrong wording there. I know he's driving instead on walking.
I was thinking more about navigation issues with the multitude of random tracks that lead off the power line track.
I should be able to supply him a Ozi generated map.
I don't usually go down some of those tracks solo in the wet. I have been in there in extreme conditions to recover a "Fritz in a Britz" 4WD. It took over an hour to get in there to them. (about 10km from where I picked up one of them that was walking for help) The tracks are easy enough in the dry.
The bridge washed away during the storm that got the Germans bogged. I was camped Middle creek and was going to wait a few more days for the water to go down before going for a play in there.
Pic is at dead low tide, a week after the storm. Rest of bridge is a few hundred meters downstream.

[cocacola-light]

Thank you for all the information. We decided to drive from Townsville inland and that was a good idea. First we went to Lake Dalrymple and the Burdekin Dam Falls. That's a cool spot for camping, fishing and the sunset. The dam falls are pretty interesting. Have never seen something that big before. Unfortunately the crossing was cloased and we had to drive a 400km detour (Charters Tower).

I would have loved to travel more west but don't have the time. So we're heading down to Belyando Crossing and further South.

[chikoroll_]

Mt Coolum - awesome cave under it

be sure to explore the mountains away from the tracks, the best stuff won't be seen on the formed tracks

Where abouts is this cave, ive never seen it?

And if you do go off the tracks make sure you have a decent gps etc, you dont want to get lost

it's a cliff face known as the "cave" leftover from the old quarry days

http://chikoroll.deviantart.com/art/Mt- ... -119337724

from the normal track that goes up the mountain, hang a left at the carpark instead and follow the rangers track, after 100m hang a right, it will take you up to the quarry, walk around it, going south of the mountain, follow that track for 100m, hang a right, and check out the rockclimbing wall, it scallops out of the mountain about 15metres, and 40 metres tall, the face is indescribable