CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
SIMPLE PLEASURES. UNEXPECTED TREASURES. The freedom of the open road and the thrill of discovery around the corner. Diverse landscapes and national parks home to iconic Aussie wildlife. Genuine smiles, tall stories and shared secrets. Welcome from the locals.
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PLAN FOR FUN Welcome to the heart of Queensland.
You’ll feel the beating soul of each warm country town, the exhilaration of exploring somewhere new, the amazement of stepping back into the past and the ‘wow’ of digging up a fortune.
Choose your own adventure…
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Monto to Rockhampton via Biloela and Mount Morgan This drive itinerary feels purpose-made for nature lovers, history buffs, beef connoisseurs and those who like to get active.
CONTENTS Introduction.................................................................. 04 Monto to Rockhampton via Biloela and Mount Morgan.............................................................. 08 Taroom to Rockhampton via Theodore, Moura, Banana, Dululu, Westwood and Gracemere............... 14 Yeppoon/Rockhampton to the Sapphire Gemfields via Blackwater and Emerald........................................ 20 Biloela to Emerald via Moura and Springsure.............. 24 Injune to Belyando Crossing via Springsure, Emerald, Capella and Clermont................................... 28 Moranbah to Mackay via Tieri, Middlemount and St Lawrence including Moranbah to Sarina and Moranbah to Mackay................................................... 32 Rockhampton to Proserpine via The Caves, St Lawrence, Sarina and Mackay................................ 38 Inland Mackay, short trips to Nebo, Glenden and Eungella................................................................. 46 Visitor Information Centres......................................... 52
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Yeppoon/Rockhampton, Blackwater, Emerald to the Sapphire Gemfields This itinerary has a historic pioneering heart and the promise of heart-pumping excitement.
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Nature lover, history buff, art enthusiast, avid angler, fanatic foodie or family of explorers Central Queensland has an adventure for you.
Snaking through the centre of the beautiful Dawson Valley making this an unforgettable Central Queensland trail.
Discover Unexpected Treasure - map
Taroom to Rockhampton via Theodore and Moura
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Biloela to Springsure via Moura and Emerald DISCLAIMER: Although funding for this product has been provided by both the Australian and Queensland Governments, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of either Government. This brochure is brought to you by Mackay Tourism Limited. The information is provided as a guide only and may have been provided to Mackay Tourism Limited by third parties. Irrespective of any measures taken by Mackay Tourism Limited to check that the information is accurate or complete, in no event will Mackay Tourism Limited be liable to any person in contract, tort (including, but without limitation, negligence) or otherwise if any information on this site is incomplete or inaccurate. PHOTO CREDITS: Tourism & Events Queensland
Pioneering homesteads, the secret hiding spot of European explorers, the battleground of dark days in Australian history, all offer wonderful reasons to stop and explore on this history and nature lovers’ itinerary.
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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Central Queensland is an intriguing backyard of adventure, exploration and good old-fashioned fun.
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The power of this region’s pioneering history has evolved into the locals’ understated pride and the authentic warmth you’ll hear in every ‘G’day!’ You’ll find yourself wrapped up in conversations with local characters, reliving stories of gold rush mayhem, rogue ringers hunting wild bullocks and mining booms. Dry inland plains, towering eucalyptus forests, cliffs of white sandstone, wide open lakes, rivers and dams – all of these can be the setting of your real Outback adventure.
A couple’s getaway, a family adventure or a pilgrimage to discover the raw beauty of Queensland’s wild heart. There is a certain romance about the drive holiday. Strapping in your seat belt and leaving something behind, never really knowing what you might see along the way. Uncovering the unexpected. Witnessing the unforgettable. Always the captain of your own journey. Welcome to a natural playground peppered with hidden treasures.
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THIS IS
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ROUTE
VIA
DISTANCE KEY FEATURES
Monto to Biloela and Mount Morgan 238km Rockhampton/Yeppoon
Incredible national parks, worldclass dam fishing, pioneering gold history and Australia’s beef capital.
Taroom to Rockhampton/Yeppoon
Ancient landscapes, incredible 4WDing and fishing in beautiful natural settings.
Theodore, Moura, Banana, 334km Dululu, Westwood and Gracemere
Rockhampton/Yeppoon Blackwater and Emerald 333km to the Sapphire Gemfields
A historic, pioneering heart and the chance to get your hands dirty and catch gem fever.
Biloela to Emerald Moura and Springsure 354km
A step back into history combined with some of the State’s wildest national parks.
Injune to Belyando Springsure, Emerald, 601km Crossing Capella and Clermont
A tour of some of Central Queensland’s most picturesque country towns, sewn together with a living history of iconic conquests and some of the lowest lows.
Moranbah to Mackay
A little something for everyone and just as many ways to explore the nature, art, history and regional city fire of Central Queensland.
Tieri, Middlemount and 193km St Lawrence with short Direct route trips from Moranbah to Sarina and Mackay
Rockhampton to The Caves, St Lawrence, 476km Proserpine Sarina and Mackay
Vibrant regional city offerings and some truly unforgettable natural attractions that you’ll be talking about for years.
Inland Mackay Short trips to Nebo, 92km - Glenden and Eungella 166km
Living and breathing reminders of our early settler heritage, ancient natural attractions and an epic pub.
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DISCOVER UNEXPECTED TREASURES PROSERPINE
MACKAY EUNGELLA GLENDEN SARINA
NEBO
BELYANDO CROSSING
MORANBAH
ST LAWRENCE MIDDLEMOUNT CLERMONT Yeppoon
CAPELLA TIERI SAPPHIRE GEMFIELDS
EMERALD
BLACKWATER
Comet
ROCKHAMPTON
Gracemere Westwood
Great Keppel Island
Mount Morgan
SPRINGSURE Biloela MOURA
Banana
THEODORE
MONTO
TAROOM INJUNE
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NATURAL PLAYGROUND. MONTO TO ROCKHAMPTON VIA BILOELA AND MOUNT MORGAN
This drive itinerary feels purpose-made for nature lovers, history buffs, beef connoisseurs and those who like to get active.
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WHO WILL LOVE IT? Nature lovers 4WD enthusiasts Those with gold fever History buffs Beef connoisseurs Admirers of art
ROCKHAMPTON
MOUNT MORGAN
ROCKHAMPTON Burnett Highway Total distance 238km
39.4km
BILOELA
MONTO
MOUNT MORGAN For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
105km
BILOELA 96.2km
MONTO queenslanddrives.com.au
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MONTO Monto is an easy starting point, located 200km west of Bundaberg and an easy day’s drive from Brisbane. The town itself is a warm hub of historic, cultural and artistic flare. The Lister Street Parkland is the perfect place for a picnic breakfast under the trees. Work off your meal by strolling through the metal and sandstone sculptures of local and visiting artists that dot the grounds. A walk through the Three Moon Historical and Cultural Complex is a journey through a history of pioneering settlers, epic world wars and the tools of a fortune built from gold. Discover Monto’s painted water tanks, silo towers and street murals, a series of large murals depicting 1920’s settlement life, including the Three Moons story of the Gooreng Gooreng people. With two of Mother Nature’s finest national parks within 90km of each other and a stunning diversity of landscapes, this itinerary is like driving through an art gallery of living, breathing masterpieces. Begin with Cania Gorge National Park, just 30 minutes’ drive from Monto. Watch Mulgildie Plateau’s rich red soil transform into the towering hardwoods of Coominglah Forest. These rich palettes break
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open into a picturesque lake, extending into the horizon outside your window. There are more than 10 walking trails in Cania Gorge National Park, that lead past giant sandstone cliffs, caves, stunning lookouts and winding natural creeks. Just south of Thangool, Mount Scoria is an obvious and impressive landmark, although not large compared with most mountains. It rises 150m above a flat, lightly vegetated plain and has a base less than 2km in circumference. Mount Scoria was the site of an active volcano about 20 to 26 million years ago. The mountain features unusual and impressive basalt columns. As the volcano’s lava cooled, it formed distinct columns or pillars with five to eight sides, called columnar basalt. The number of sides indicates the speed and evenness of cooling. The six-sided columns formed from a slow and regular cooling process while the five, seven and eight-sided columns were formed by irregular
shrinkage caused from a quick and uneven cooling process. The columns are best viewed from the walking track. Please do not strike them as this can cause significant damage. From one of Mother Nature’s finest creations to the next, Kroombit Tops National Park is just 55km north of Cania Gorge National Park. There are a number of access roads to the park, please note most are 4WD access only. Born from volcanoes, the park offers a cool retreat in a mosaic of woodlands, rainforests, scrublands and a hidden secret more than half a century old. For 50 years the park hid the wreck of World War II plane, Liberator, which crash landed in 1945 after flying through a heavy storm. Named Beautiful Betsy, the plane is now on show for walkers who can explore the wreckage laying exactly where it crash landed. Step out of the pages of history and towards the next stop on this nature lover’s itinerary, Biloela.
TOP 5 WAYS TO GET ACTIVE IN NATURE 1. Walk to Kroombit Tops Lookout and take in the whole Boyne Valley 2. Reel in a mighty barramundi on Lake Callide 3. Teach the kids how to canoe through the sunken forests of the Callide Dam 4. Sail across Big Dam at Mount Morgan 5. Spot glossy black cockatoos while you cycle through Mt Archer National Park
BILOELA It’s the kind of town where everyone says ‘G’day’, and making friends is easy. There is a natural warmth to this place that is built from a pioneering past, when people learned to rely on each other. The chapters of Biloela’s past are alive throughout the town. Visit Kilburnie, the 1883 home of the local Campbell Family, now an operational cattle station and tourist attraction. Imagine local artist Ruby Campbell boiling tea on the wooden stove top as you walk through the kitchen, or her father laying the round logs of the Blacksmith’s shed that still stands today.
Or walk the wide verandahs of Greycliffe Homestead, home to the Nott Family for 100 years. Imagine it full of the sounds of seven children growing up. Along with Queensland Heritage Park and Spirit of the Land Mural, these stunning pioneering homesteads pay homage to the men, women and machinery that over generations created a legacy of prosperity.
Step back into the present and try your hand at painting with art workshops offered by Banana Shire Regional Art Gallery.
Don’t leave Biloela without dropping a line. It’s home to the expansive Callide Dam, generously stocked with hard hitting barramundi. Pull up alongside a sunken forest of dead trees and get ready to start fighting as soon as your lure hits the water.
The Dam has a shaded barbeque and picnic area with a playground for the kids. It’s a great space to end your time in Biloela before the 1 hour and 18 minute drive north to Mount Morgan.
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MOUNT MORGAN Imagine risking everything for the chance to strike it rich on the gold fields. For some, lady luck struck indeed. Mount Morgan is home to what was one of the world’s most productive gold mines. So productive in fact that in the past it paid Australia’s national debt and contributed to the cost of Australia’s World War I campaign.
Step back in time and visit the Mount Morgan Historical Museum, diving into a unique collection of early mining equipment, household objects, photographs, cultural and educational aspects of the past. In 1898, Mount Morgan Railway Station was built to serve the booming gold mine. Today it’s part of the Mount Morgan Railway Museum and Accredited Visitor Information
Centre which is definitely worth a visit whether you’re a railway buff or just looking for something different to pass an afternoon. It’s easy to soak up a whole day at No 7 Dam. Known by the locals as ‘Big Dam’ due to its expansive size, it’s a haven for water sports and fishing fans. It has a large playground and extensive shaded barbeque and picnic area, home to a family of kookaburras.
ROCKHAMPTON Just 40 minutes’ drive north of Mount Morgan, you’ll find yourself in one of the largest regional cities in Queensland and the undeniable beef and barramundi capital of Australia.
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SHORT DRIVES FROM ROCKHAMPTON CAPRICORN CAVES 35 minutes north of Rockhampton Suit up for a tour through candle lit stone pathways, culminating in the Cathedral Cave. The naturally domed space is perfectly designed for church-like acoustics. Its beauty and wonder making it a popular venue for weddings. KOORANA CROCODILE FARM 31 minutes east of Rockhampton Run by John and Lillian Lever who originally provided a service to remove crocodiles from public recreation areas. They removed more than 100 crocodiles and started the first commercial crocodile farm in Queensland. Gates open at 10am each day. Tours include checking out the crocodiles, the chance to hold a juvenile croc and if you’re lucky, watch a baby croc hatch. YEPPOON 40 minutes east of Rockhampton Beaches, Great Keppel Island and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. MT HAY GEMSTONE TOURIST PARK 33 minutes south west of Rockhampton Get your hands dirty learning how to distinguish thundereggs from regular stones. When the fossicking is complete crack open your find to discover a galaxy of coloured crystals inside. For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
A walk through town is like turning pages in a book, with Australia’s longest National Trust heritage-listed street lined with buildings like Customs House and the Criterion Hotel. If you time your visit right you find yourself at one of Australia’s major beef selling centres, the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange, getting caught up in the thrill of a live auction. You can’t visit the beef capital without indulging in a mouthwatering eye fillet or iconic pub steak. Check out Explore Rockhampton’s Tastes of Rockhampton for a full list of steakhouses around town. Don’t forget the Rockhampton Zoo. You can explore more than 60 native and exotic animals including their resident chimp family and mischievous mob of meerkats. Go at your own pace or join feeding experiences and keeper talks. With free entry, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. If the kids still have plenty of energy head to Kershaw Gardens and sit back and relax as they run wild amongst an all ages playground precinct and climb the five storey Wyatts Wonder Web. Once the kids have had some fun, cool off in the water play area and take a
leisurely walk to the waterfall and throughout the parklands. If beer and great food is more your scene, head to Headricks Lane micro-brewery and treat your taste buds to some of the hottest brewers from around Queensland and Australia. Step back in time at the Archer Park Railway Museum. Sit on the platform of the heritage-listed former railway station and imagine how many people have bid their farewells or kissed loved ones returning home. Don’t miss the rare French Purrey steam tram that once operated back in 1909. Rockhampton offers a selection of boutique and contemporary hotels, budget style and self-contained apartments, many located on the southern side of the Fitzroy River surrounded by awardwinning restaurants and bars. One of the most surprising aspects of Rockhampton is its stunning natural attractions. Discover Nurim Circuit, Mount Archer’s 500m elevated treetop boardwalk and explore the Rockhampton Riverside Precent. Or pick up a picnic hamper from the Gardens Tearooms and find a shady spot in the 130 year-old heritage listed oasis that is Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.
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ANCIENT LANDSCAPES. TAROOM TO ROCKHAMPTON VIA THEODORE, MOURA, BANANA, DULULU, WESTWOOD AND GRACEMERE
Snaking through the centre of the beautiful Dawson Valley are the green hues of the mighty Dawson River, and the ancient landscapes and pioneering country towns of this aunforgettable Central Queensland trail.
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ROCKHAMPTON WESTWOOD DULULU
ROCKHAMPTON 67.4km
BANANA
MOURA
THEODORE
Capricorn Hwy & Leichhardt Hwy Total distance 334km
WESTWOOD 271km
TAROOM
WHO WILL LOVE IT?
DULULU 40.4km
4WD enthusiasts, Nature lovers, History buffs and Fishing addicts
For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
BANANA 67.5km
MOURA 20.2km
THEODORE 49.3km
TAROOM queenslanddrives.com.au
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5 BEST 4WD ADVENTURES
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NATHAN GORGE 42km north-east of Taroom
Off the beaten track this trip is a true wilderness experience with rocky escarpments and the steep riverbanks of Dawson River.
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ROBINSON GORGE Expedition National Park
Three sensational lookouts. Each walk to the lookouts is suitable for experienced bushwalkers who can handle rough ground. 4WD accessible only.
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HISTORIC FLAGSTAFF ROAD TRAIL/GHINGHINDA Scenic Loop section of Isla Gorge National Park
A 200km 4WD track that encompasses a series of natural lakes near Theodore.
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SANDY POINT North of Yeppoon (40mins from Rockhampton)
Sandy Point offers an easy laidback beach drive which is a fantastic warm up to explore the Five Rocks area of nearby Byfield National Park. The National Park drive is more challenging, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of five rocks breaching the ocean that give this area its name.
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AUSTRALIAN 4X4 TREKS Self-drive Tag-along treks through some of the most beautiful parts of Central Queensland.
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We begin this itinerary five hours from either Bundaberg or Brisbane in a picturesque town that sits on the banks of the Dawson River and under the watchful gaze of magnificent sandstone cliffs and ranges. You’ll know you’ve reached Taroom when you pass the unique Steel Wings Windmill, only one of two windmills in Australia featuring this unique pivoting design. It’s definitely worth bringing the fishing lines with Dawson River fishing at your fingertips. Head to the Sandy Creek Bridge, Ken’s Camp or Glebe Weir and drop a line for the mighty barramundi, saratoga, sleepy cod and more.
TAROOM An easy one-hour drive from Taroom you’ll find a kind of old-world elegance in the palm tree lined streets and gracious old wooden buildings of Theodore. The Theodore township was designed by Burley Griffin of Canberra fame and was named after Premier Theodore (Red Ted), who was the premier of Queensland at the time. This is the town that water built. Established as the first irrigation project in Queensland, the Theodore Weir can be seen from the road as you cross the main bridge just before arriving at the Theodore turnoff. The Queensland Government’s original
Glebe Weir camping area is spacious, level and grassy with plenty of shady and sunny spots. Outside of the river, you can explore ancient landscapes of the region at Expedition National Park. The park
THEODORE vision was for hundreds of high-quality farms and agricultural projects to find their home in the region. Today, it’s highly successful in cattle, sorghum, wheat and cotton thanks to its rich black soil. The timber and forestry industry includes one of Queensland’s very few hardwood mills still operating in Theodore, offering employment opportunities to locals. Dawson Mine is on the outskirts of Theodore with exports of coal and seam gas, and gold mining continues at Cracow, a 50km drive from Theodore, dating back to the early gold rush days. Camp sites are available at the Cracow
heritage centre displaying a very well documented history of the town. A wonderful homage to Theodore’s heritage can be found at Rose’s Garden, next to the Fire Station. Don’t miss the classic white weatherboard exterior of Theodore Hotel on The Boulevard. Aside from being an authentic example of Aussie pub charm, Theodore Hotel is the subject of a great yarn. It is, in fact, the only hotel owned by an entire community. In 1949 the building was acquired from the Queensland Water Commission who handed it over to the Theodore Co-operative Association. Each
is split into three areas, Robinson Gorge, Lonesome and Beilba. Each offers exceptional bushwalking. Isla Gorge National Park is just a short drive north of Expedition National Park and features a road hand-made from large rock slabs in the early 1860’s. Speaking of history, you can’t visit one of the oldest inland towns in the state without checking out the Taroom and District Historical Society or marvelling at the pioneering explorers who travelled through the area in the 1840’s while sitting under the Leichhardt Tree in Yaldwyn Street. Gilberts Lookout is less than a kilometre from the town of Taroom. Enjoy a picnic lunch in an undercover area overlooking the Dawson River, the town of Taroom and the surrounding countryside.
resident took ownership of a share that cost 2s6d or 25 cents in today’s currency. The Hotel is a quirky place for a delicious meal or to stay overnight. The Theodore Showgrounds offer showers, toilets and plenty of roomy powered and unpowered sites for caravans and motorhomes. The popular Junction Park area, located on the banks of the Dawson River, offers unpowered sites with showers, toilets and barbeque areas.
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Say goodbye to Theodore Hotel and take the 40-minute drive north to a little Central Queensland town that is all heart. Built on cattle, coal and hardworking people who know how to have fun.
MOURA Moura is right in the heart of the beautiful Dawson Valley, just under 8km from the Dawson River which is a fishing mecca, and Moura’s Apex Park attracts thousands of visitors every year. A highly practical barbeque and picnic area is located on the gentle slopes of the Dawson River. You can drop a line into world-class fishing waters while the kids play in the playground. Don’t miss an opportunity for a selfie with the water tower mural, adorned with a sunset vision of pink galahs. Find out about Moura’s cattle and mining past at the Moura Coal and Country Museum.
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A short drive from Moura provides travellers and locals with an incredible view of the Dawson mine, a large opencut metallurgical, and export thermal mine (a fancy name for a coal mine). The mine is located at the southern end of the Bowen basin and exports a whopping average of about 4 million tonnes of coal each year. From the lookout, you can watch the operation of the coal mine, the monster trucks, excavators, draglines, face shovels, loaders and so much more work nonstop to produce and export coal.
Did you know? Moura is actually home to the 150th meridian? It’s an intangible line that is used to measure Eastern Standard Time. Located on the east side of town, you’ll find it marked by two large hollowed rocks sitting side by side.
BANANA Visitors are always a little baffled by the town’s unusual name, particularly as there isn’t a single banana tree in sight. A dun-coloured bullock is responsible for that. A favourite of local stockmen in the 1860’s, Banana the bullock, so named for his yellowish colouring, would help herd wild cattle into holding yards. When Banana died, the gully was given the name in honour of his feats. A replica of Banana proudly stands in the town, a warm reminder of his legacy to those pioneering days. A key junction point between the Dawson and Leichhardt highways, Banana travellers can reach all the wonders of the region in next to no time.
DULULU Fifty minutes’ drive north you’ll find yourself in the northern most town of the Banana region and a serious fishing hot spot. The Don River and Lake Victoria is just 25km south and close to the Dululu Rest Area which is a great camping spot. The locals will tell you that our saratoga hit just as hard as barramundi. If you’re saratoga serious, cast lures in white, silver, yellow or light blue or try the local secret, a piece of steak under a float. Retire from the gumtree lined lake to cook your spoils over an open fire and under the starlight. In such a beautiful setting, you can be forgiven for exaggerating your fishing story.
WESTWOOD A drive 25 minutes north will feel more like a trip back in time. Westwood was probably first visited by shepherds from properties nearby as a staging point for horse and bullock teams. It will remain in the history books as the first town that was gazetted by the newly established Queensland Government. It was a town of bushrangers and stagecoach robberies and once had up to 10 hotels operating at one time. Even today Westwood has a little romance of the wild west about it and is a definite pit stop on your way to Rockhampton.
GRACEMERE Saddle up for one last stop, only 30 minutes’ drive north east of Westwood and just 15 minutes from Rockhampton. Gracemere is a quintessential outback town and home to the largest cattle saleyard in the Southern Hemisphere. Most days the stockyard is alive with the dust and drama of thousands of cattle, horses and other livestock going under the auctioneer’s hammer. This epic drama plays out most days of the week, but Fridays are a must-see. Gracemere was named by early pioneers, the Archer Brothers. Tow Archer named it after his wife Grace. For lunch served with a side of old-fashioned charm, visit the Gracemere Hotel. Make a short detour 20 minutes west to Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park. In the shadow of an extinct ancient volcano, uncover thundereggs full of bright colours and patterns, fossick for your own thundereggs and other gemstones. Find the spoils of Mt Hay transformed into gifts and jewellery in the giftshop. You can even camp for the evening. After an afternoon fossicking, Rockhampton is just 15 minutes’ drive away. The city might be the final stop on this itinerary, but the adventure is far from over. Rockhampton is a rural city of history, fine food, natural wonders and enough activities and attractions to keep you busy for days. See the full description of Rockhampton on page 12.
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HISTORIC & HEART-PUMPING. YEPPOON
Capricorn Highway / A4
SAPPHIRE GEMFIELDS
Total distance 333km EMERALD
ROCKHAMPTON
BLACKWATER
This itinerary follows the Tropic of Capricorn and has a historic pioneering heart with the promise of heart-pumping excitement. Imagine learning the art of fossicking. Picking through the rocks when one catches your eye. You rub it to discover it’s a sapphire. For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
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WHO WILL LOVE IT? Pioneers at heart Fossickers Nature lovers Fishing addicts
ROCKHAMPTON 196km
YEPPOON/ROCKHAMPTON TO THE SAPPHIRE GEMFIELDS VIA BLACKWATER AND EMERALD
Let’s start in Australia’s beef capital. Rockhampton is an easy base for short itineraries and at least a few days of exploration in this rural city itself. Check out our full description on page 12 to get started. When you’ve had your fill, it’s time to dive into the Coal Capital of Australia, Blackwater, which is an easy 2 hour and 10-minute drive west from Rockhampton.
BLACKWATER The Australian Coal Mining Museum is a must stop. Located inside the Blackwater International Coal Centre, the museum pays homage to the coal industry, including interactive exhibits, displays of massive equipment and a weekly coal mine tour. Retire with a picnic to the picturesque Japanese Garden. A stunning lunch setting, it also marks a relationship between Blackwater and its Japanese sister city, Fujisawa.
Let’s swap the minute manicured details of the Japanese Garden to the sprawling raw beauty of the Blackdown Tableland National Park, a one hour drive from Blackwater. Watch the dry plains of the surrounding area transform into the coolness of the tableland canopy and its sandstone plateaus rising high above it. The Ghungalu People are the caretakers of this land, their ancient rock art remains throughout the national park. Enjoy spectacular lookouts, deep gorges and swim at Rainbow Falls. Pull your fishing lines out and head 25km north of town to Bedford Weir. Stocked with barramundi and saratoga there’ll be plenty of fight on the end of the line. But don’t forget your nets to try your hand at catching red claw crayfish, a favourite local delicacy.
BLACKWATER 76km
EMERALD 61.3km
SAPPHIRE GEMFIELDS queenslanddrives.com.au
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EMERALD Emerald is an easy 45 minute drive from Blackwater. It is a tranquil Central Queensland Highlands town nestled along the Nogoa River.
Under the spacious high ceilings and white gallery walls of the Emerald Art Gallery are more than two decades of history of bringing the arts to the Emerald community.
There’s an authentic country charm to Emerald that you can feel in every ‘G’day’ and smile as you walk down the street.
Changing exhibitions offer a variety of local and national artists alike. If you visit in August, you might be lucky enough to see who wins the Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Award.
It’s alive in the ornate architecture of the beautifully-restored train station. Built in 1900, the columns and wooden lattice work of the entrance are a beautiful welcome. Still serving the Emerald community, the station is located on the main street. The Emerald Botanic Gardens offer free entry to a tropical oasis hugging the banks of the Nogoa River. Chase butterflies through the footpaths, spot birds through the fan palms and listen to the trickle of the waterfall.
Outside the art gallery, the world’s largest reproduction of van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers masterpiece brings a touch of splendour to Emerald’s Morton Park and pays homage to the town’s history as a significant sunflower producer. It’s easy to be charmed by Emerald. Why not stop over and take advantage of our favourite short trips?
Top 3 Short Trips from Emerald
LAKE MARABOON 20 minute drive south west Home to the mighty saratoga, yellowbelly, murray cod, silver perch and barramundi, Lake Maraboon is one of the reasons the Central Queensland Highlands region is famous for its fishing. Drop a line straight from your rented kayak, cool off with a swim or take in the beautiful views on a walk around the lake.
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CARNARVON GORGE 2 hours and 45 minutes’ drive south Carnarvon Gorge is part of Carnarvon National Park, one of the most visited parks in Central Queensland. The spot is full of ancient rock art, including ochre stencils, rock engravings and freehand paintings on natural sandstone overhangs. Take a dip in the Rock Pool, see how many of the park’s 170 bird species you can find or even glimpse a platypus on a morning stroll along the Nature Trail. The picnic space sits under towering eucalyptus trees and cabbage palms.
MINERVA HILLS NATIONAL PARK 1 hour drive south This national park offers many walking trails, a huge variety of wildlife and plants, beautiful ancient rock art of the Karai people and some of nature’s finest masterpieces in the rising jagged peaks formed many years ago as a result of ancient volcanic activity.
SAPPHIRE GEMFIELDS
Just 45 minutes west from Emerald you’ll drive into more than 900 square kilometres of sapphire gemfields. First discovered in 1875, these fields are some of the largest in the world. For more than 100 years, pioneers have travelled to the gemfields with the hope of getting lucky. Even today, the local pubs are full of stories about finding the big one.
The streets are lined with gem shops and galleries with professional gemcutters available to facet your very own find and jewellers ready to set them into a piece of jewellery that is truly unique. But first we need to find you a gem. Harness the pioneering spirit that built the Sapphire Gemfields and dive right in! Purchase a fossicking permit from a local store or online. Hire the equipment you need and start getting your hands dirty. If you’d prefer to learn from the professionals then join a fossicking tour and learn how to dig into the gravel, shuffle your pan in shallow waters and pick the dark glimmer of a sapphire. Fossicking parks enable people of all ages and fitness levels to join the fun of finding a sapphire. With the digging work already done, visitors can buy a bag of wash and start searching straight away. Try your hand at a high-tech treasure hunt on the Sapphire Gemfields geo-cache trail. Grab your GPS and a map from the Central Queensland Highlands Visitor Information Centre and discover 19 hidden gems.
When it’s time to dust off your hands, visit the pub in Rubyvale for a great meal and some of the best stories of the good old days. Did you hear the one about young ‘Smiley’ Nelson who in 1979 kicked a rock from someone’s discarded heap behind the Post Office and ended up finding the world’s biggest yellow sapphire? – all 2019 carats worth! When night falls turn your eyes to the sky and, with the help of a powerful telescope, discover colourful clusters of stars, Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons at the observatory. We promise you’ve never seen the sky look the way it does under the glimmer of the Outback starscape. Step into another world on an underground mine tour, where the temperature sits at a cool 25 degrees Celsius. Tours take visitors through the network of tunnels, providing insight into the process of underground sapphire mining. Sapphire Gemfields Wetlands Reserve lets you get in touch with nature as you walk through 98 hectares of pristine bushland and seasonal wetlands.
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STOP & EXPLORE. BILOELA TO EMERALD VIA MOURA AND SPRINGSURE
EMERALD
SPRINGSURE
BILOELA
Dawson and Great Inland Way Total distance 354km
MOURA
Pioneering homesteads, the secret hiding spot of European explorers, the battleground of dark days in Australian history and some of the most beautifully wild national parks in Central Queensland all offer wonderful reasons to stop and explore, on this history and nature lovers’ itinerary. For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
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WHO WILL LOVE IT? History buffs Nature lovers Fishing addicts
BILOELA 65km
MOURA
BILOELA
MOURA
We begin in Biloela, a town with pioneering pride and grand old homesteads to prove it. Fishing addicts will love this itinerary, that offers acrobatic barramundi fishing in the Callide Dam before you even hit the highway. Read more details about Biloela’s attractions on page 11.
Next stop is only 45 minutes west of Biloela and is the very heart of Central Queensland itself. On the banks of the Dawson River it’s a fisherman’s paradise, with our favourite spot being Apex Park where you can drop a line while the kids play on the playground. Find out more about Moura on page 18.
221km
SPRINGSURE 68km
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Top 5 ways to step back in time Visit Biloela’s historic homesteads and imagine yourself boiling water on the wood-fired stove or fixing the horses in the stables outside. Step into a past of dust and grit at Moura’s Coal and Country Museum. Sit under Leichhardt’s coolabah ‘Dig’ tree and imagine him sitting in the exact same spot in the mid 1800’s. Step under the ornate white wooden entrance of the beautifully restored Emerald Train Station. Walk the halls of the old Cairdbeign School and Old Rainworth Station, dating back to the 1870’s.
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SPRINGSURE While today Springsure is a charming country town and a natural paradise, its past is full of outlaws and some of the darkest days in Australia’s history. Since 1859 there has been a township here, although it wasn’t gazetted until 1863. Horror marked its earliest days with European pioneers routinely treating the local Indigenous people with horrible violence. The Cullin-la-ringo massacre was the largest recorded massacre of white Australians in the country’s history. Infamous run-away cattle thieves ran through Springsure all the way from New South Wales, even starting a horse racing venture in town before moving on to darker deeds elsewhere. With all the shades of dark, Springsure is today a town of warm welcomes and fields of sunflowers. All its colours are on display at the Old Rainworth Station which also includes the old Cairdbeign School and Homestead, dating back to the 1870’s. The owners are a wealth of knowledge regarding the local history. Spectacular jagged peaks dotted with ancient Zamia palms provide the scenic backdrop to the Minerva Hills National Park. Formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the dramatic escarpment of Mount Zamia dominates the landscape today. Enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding countryside from several easy-to-access lookouts. Stop for a ‘bush picnic with a view’ from the top of the mountain at Fred’s Gorge Lookout. Minerva Hills has several easy to moderate walking trails and opportunities for mountain biking. Lion’s Park is the best vantage point to see Virgin Rock, a niche in the eastern side of Mount Zamia, which has a weathered likeness to the Virgin Mary holding her child. The spectacular cliffs are floodlit at night. Pull your head out of the history books long enough for a day trip to Carnarvon Gorge. The gorge itself is an incredible site, running for more than 30km and ranging in width from 40-400m. This drive itinerary is a trip back into the history of Queensland’s pioneering back yard and world-class bush and forest landscapes.
EMERALD Your next stop is just 45 minutes to the north. On the way call into Lake Maraboon to try your luck at fishing or just a cool swim. Emerald is a town of ornate heritage buildings, lush botanic gardens and an artistic soul. Find out more about Emerald on page 22.
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PICTURESQUE COUNTRY. INJUNE TO BELYANDO CROSSING VIA SPRINGSURE, EMERALD, CAPELLA AND CLERMONT
This itinerary is a tour of some of Central Queensland’s most picturesque country towns, sewn together with a living history of iconic conquests and some of the lowest lows.
WHO WILL LOVE IT? History buffs Nature lovers
INJUNE We begin this itinerary in a town that could pass as a masterpiece of a legendary landscape artist such as Arthur Streeton. Set at the foothills of the dramatic Carnarvon Ranges and on the western spur of the Great Dividing Range, Injune is a six and a half hour’s drive from Brisbane. This vibrant community was born later than most in the region. In 1920 men were sent to build a camp to support the development of soldier housing following the end of the Great War. It wasn’t gazetted until 1922.
Start your journey back in time under the broad-leafed bottle tree just off the southern approach to town where you’ll find a small historical cemetery that dates from 1930 to 1976. Introduce yourself to some of the town’s unforgettable personalities by taking the Characters of Injune walk. You’ll see people immortalised in statues and be able to read their story as you stroll down the main street. You’ll pass Injune Creek Gallery in the centre of town. It’s well
worth a stroll through the local and visiting exhibitions. Just a stone’s throw from the caravan park, the lagoon offers a picturesque walk brought to life by a veritable aviary of bird species including lorikeets, kookaburras, pigeons, galahs, cockatoos, magpies and more. See how many you can spot in the majestic old gum trees that date back from before the town existed. Injune offers real Australian bush tranquillity and unforgettable characters, both past and present.
For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
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BELYANDO CROSSING
INJUNE 243km CLERMONT CAPELLA
Great Inland Way
EMERALD
Total distance 601km
SPRINGSURE 68km
SPRINGSURE
EMERALD 52km INJUNE
CAPELLA 57km
Top 4 National Park Road Trips from Injune
CARNARVON NATIONAL PARK 1 hour and 49 minutes
LAKE NUGA NUGA NATIONAL PARK 1 hour and 36 minutes
EXPEDITION NATIONAL PARK 40 minutes
MOUNT MOFFATT 2 hours
CLERMONT 181km
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SPRINGSURE Springsure is the next town on this itinerary, however there is one stop on this 2 hour and 25 minute drive north of Injune that cannot be missed – Carnarvon National Park. Its great white peaks alone are worth the journey. Once you arrive in Springsure get into the outlaw spirit of Central Queensland’s early days and pay homage to some of the country’s darkest history. Find out more on page 27.
EMERALD Our next port of call is another town of historic train stations, butterfly-filled gardens and art galleries manifested by passionate local curators. Emerald is only 45 minutes’ drive north of Springsure. Find out more about its charms on page 22.
CAPELLA Pull out the camera once again for the 30 minute drive north to Capella. The Central Queensland Highlands town is set against a backdrop of the Peak Ranges, ancient volcanic godly figures that seem to stare down on the community and the sapphire fields beyond. For the best view in town head to Peak Range Lookout, which is 1km south of Capella itself. Hit Peak Downs Street for a stroll through town where you’ll find the Australian Light Horse Monument and pass 30 wall and light pole murals commemorating interesting parts of the community’s history. Did you know that according to local lore, the first time Australian troopers wore the now famous emu feathers in their slouch hats was at Peak Downs station during the Great Shearers’ Strike of 1891. The locally constructed Australian Light
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Horse Monument in the Capella Parklands is a striking dedication to the area’s contribution to the history and tradition of Australian armed forces. Cool off at the Capella Aquatic Centre’s wading pool, plunge pool and shallow pool. It’s also a great place to have lunch on the free electric barbeques or in the café. Take the time to explore history before you leave.
The Capella Pioneer Village is at the north end of the main street and includes more than 5,000 items from the town’s settler, wool, railway and wartime history. The star of the village is the Peak Downs homestead, Australia’s largest restored shingle roofed station. Local spotted gum trees were pit sawn to create the homestead back in 1869. It remains a tribute to 19th century carpentry.
CLERMONT Get ready for drama (and a little bit of tragedy). When you are in one of the most historic towns in Northern Australia there is bound to be a story around every corner. Clermont is just 40 minutes’ drive north west of Capella. The first inland settlement in the tropics, this is a frontier town to its very core.
Our story begins with a group of shepherds who were sent to the area to set up an outpost camp. While they were building huts, they found gold. This prompted the town to be gazetted as Clermont in 1864. The days following were laced with gold rushes, copper mines, timber industry, shearers, stockmen and squatters. In a town of this historic pedigree, the Clermont Historical Centre simply cannot be missed. There are more than 8,000 artefacts reflecting the dramatic history on display. Outside the Centre’s walls history is painted across the town in a series of impressive murals depicting railway carriages, the cattle industry and a lone shearer wandering the dry plains of Central Queensland. See if you can spot the hidden green frog in every mural.
Walk around the Hood Lagoon and imagine the terror residents felt as it broke its banks in the great flood of 1916, killing 65 local residents. The high waters even carried a piano into a gumtree, which you can still see today. Take a short trip 50 kilometres east of town to the Peak Range National Park where climactic volcanic plugs stand like sentinels rising from the plains. Hike to the top of the 411m tall Mt Pollux, one of the Gemini Mountains, to watch wedgetail eagles glide across the horizon and around Wolfang Peak in the distance. This climb is a mixture of walking and a little bit of scrambling, with views that are well worth the effort.
BELYANDO CROSSING The final stop on this history and nature lovers’ itinerary is a river crossing stop that’s worth bringing the camera along for. Belyando Crossing is 1 hour and 50 minutes’ drive from Clermont. Stopover in the shady picnic area or even camp here overnight and set some nets to catch a feed of red claw crayfish in the local creeks. For the 4WD enthusiasts there is a large, shallow salt lake named Lake Buchanan. The drive takes you through some incredibly picturesque landscapes. The vastness of the lake itself has a surreal quality. The tiny Belyando Crossing Pioneer Cemetery is a small but meaningful nod to the local history of the community. You’ll find it on Gregory Development Road. The iconic Belyando Crossing roadhouse has been here since before the gravel and bull dust was replaced by bitumen. While the owners may have changed overtime, the country hospitality hasn’t. It’s the perfect place to look back through all the photos you’ve taken on the journey and think about what the historians will say about our time here in the years to come.
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UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES. MORANBAH TO MACKAY VIA TIERI, MIDDLEMOUNT AND ST LAWRENCE INCLUDING MORANBAH TO SARINA AND MORANBAH TO MACKAY
This itinerary is an unforgettable mix of rustic outback wilderness, living history, intoxicating art, diverse dining, a touch of little city life and just as many ways to dive into enjoying it. Time to make some memories.
WHO WILL LOVE IT? Nature lovers History buffs Art enthusiasts Fanatic fishermen
For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
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MACKAY
SARINA
MORANBAH 84km MORANBAH
Peak Downs Hwy / State Route 70 Moranbah to Mackay 193km direct route
ST LAWRENCE
DYSART 76km
DYSART
MIDDLEMOUNT
TIERI
TIERI 53km
MIDDLEMOUNT 159km
MORANBAH We begin 200km south west of Mackay in one of the youngest towns in Queensland. Moranbah does not have long roots buried deep in Central Queensland’s explorer and pioneering history. It was born in 1970 for the purpose of housing miners and their families. This is one of the reasons that the town has more facilities than other larger regional towns. Essentially built for families, you’ll be able to feel the genuine warmth of Moranbah as soon as you arrive. The kids will love the Musical Railway and Musical Table and
Chairs in the Town Square. Relax with a cup of coffee and watch the kids transform rustic, artistic installations into musical instruments. When the curtain closes on the concert, begin your walk back in history right in Town Square with the Australia Remembers Mural. This tribute to World War II was a community art program painted by Moranbah State High School students. The Miner’s Memorial in Moranbah Town Square is a fitting tribute and peaceful place of remembrance for our fallen miners.
ST LAWRENCE 156km
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Also in Town Square, is the Coalface Art Gallery, the home of emerging local talent. It’s also where the Tourist Information Centre can be found. Move from murals to sculpture by finding the Bridled-Nailtail Wallaby statue. Lovingly named Flashjack the statue commemorates the unique wallaby that was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in
1973 and now has a growing wild population. When it’s time to head outside, start with the easy 1 kilometre Federation Walk. Start at the infamous Big Red Rhino Bucket. The almost prehistoric looking giant piece of mining equipment marks the beginning of a walk that takes you past the picturesque Grosvenor Creek Rest Area.
The Isaac River Rest Area is just 20 kilometres from Moranbah along the Peak Downs Highway and is a great place to refresh after a drive or stop for an undercover picnic table. You’ll find stunning, untouched natural spaces that inspire good old-fashioned fun. Teach the kids how to swing into the water on the rope. Don’t forget the camera.
Our 2 Favourite Moranbah Side Trips
01 MORANBAH TO SARINA An easy 1 hour and 50 minute drive from Moranbah will land you on the serenity coast and a hub of natural country charm nestled into the foothills of the Connors Range. Welcome to Sarina. It’s a town of history, industry and natural appeal. Find out more on page 41. A PEAK SIDE TRIP Peak Range National Park is 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Moranbah – but this side trip is as much about the journey as the destination.
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The drive along Peak Downs Highway encompasses panoramic views of the range.
Gemini Mountains. Check the Isaac Region website to prepare for your walk.
Inside the park, sharp peaks split the flat country plains. The peaks are giant basalt flows, rhyolite and trachyte bodies erupted from the Peak Range Volcano up to 32 million years ago.
Mt Pollux is one of the Gemini Mountains, twin volcanic formations rising out of an open eucalyptus woodland. It offers an unforgettable hike, especially at sunrise. From the peak you’ll find expansive views of the region including Wolfang Peak.
The dramatic scenery can be enjoyed via multiple bushwalking tracks that vein through three of the four different sections of the park: Wolfang Peak, Lords Table Mountain and the
MORANBAH TO MACKAY The drive from Moranbah to Mackay takes 2 hours and 10 minutes, but we recommend giving yourself extra time to explore both Coppabella and Nebo along the way. Coppabella is just 30 minutes from Moranbah. Named after the local Aboriginal word for ‘crossing place’, it was destined to be a stopover. It is wholly owned and operated by Queensland Rail. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the large mining train monument at the entrance.
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Lords Table Mountain is 320 metres high and almost perfectly flat topped. Access the mountain via Huntley Road.
Another 30 minutes up the road, you’ll find Nebo. It is the home of a surprising collection of inspiring art that can be found both in the Pioneer Tracks of Queensland Gallery and on more than 260 metres of historic murals. The final stop on this journey is 1 hour and 5 minutes away. Watch the dry plains of Central Queensland give way to a little touch of metropolitan living, in the vibrant regional city of Mackay. Check out our favourite things to do in Mackay.
TIERI
DYSART Leave Moranbah behind and make the easy 50 minute drive south east to Dysart to uncover one of the state’s youngest mining towns and a gateway to an incredible natural feature of this wild outback region. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the belly dump truck and coal wagon paying homage to Dysart’s mining pedigree. There are multiple mines in the Moranbah area, in fact you can see glimpses of prehistoric-looking drag lines and other mining machinery from the roadside. To get a closer look at mining memorabilia visit the restored Mt Orange Copper Smelter chimney, a huge 54 foot high stack and firebox. It was originally erected in 1879 and was operated until 1910.
Or contact the Isaac Regional Council before your trip and plan to be in town for one of the monthly mine tours. Dive into Dysart’s natural beauty by counting off how many wild camels, kangaroos, emus and koalas you can see around town, its outskirts or on the nine-hole golf course. Cool off in the Olympic-sized pool before taking a 40 minute drive to a huge ancient volcanic plug with an expansive flat peak. The Lords Table Mountain is unforgettable for its sheer size and almost perfectly flat peak. Part of the Peak Range National Park, the mountain offers amazing bushwalking tracks, a beautiful outback picnic spot and one of the region’s best sunset views.
Drive a further 50 minutes south through iconic Aussie outback landscapes to find the home of the simple country lifestyle, Tieri is a destination of active exploration. Blackwood National Park is 50 kilometres from Tieri and is a rugged Outback park. There is a circuit walk and rolling fairways that look like an oasis within the Central Queensland Outback. If two-wheels are more your speed, then jump on the BMX and hit the Tieri Fire Trail. It’s also great for mountain bikers who don’t mind a bit of sand. Brush off the dust and hit the Tieri Golf Course. The club has expansive practice facilities and rolling fairways that look like an oasis within the Central Queensland Outback.
TOP FISHING SPOTS NEAR TIERI Throw out a blanket under gum tree lined banks, jump in the kayak or cast a fishing line for saratoga, yellow belly, barramundi, red claw and sooty grunter. 1. Bedford Weir - 55 minutes’ drive 2. Theresa Creek Dam - 1 hour and 22 minutes’ drive
MIDDLEMOUNT Just 40 minutes from Tieri, Middlemount is an easy stop on this itinerary. Nicknamed the Giant Peanut because of its unique peanut-shaped road layout, Middlemount is another purpose-built mining community. Nestled in the raw beauty of Brigalow country, this quaint little community is active. So much so, that it bred Olympic cyclists Anna and Kerrie Meares.
The Middlemount Golf Course is a casual 9 holes of glorious greens and fairways. Don’t forget to take a moment to relax at the Clubhouse and celebrate (or lick your wounds). The local Olympic swimming pool is a great place to cool off after your game. Our favourite way to say goodbye to Middlemount is surrounded by the panoramic views, feeding wallabies and spectacular birdlife of Blue Mountain Park.
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ST LAWRENCE It’s time to move on from some of the region’s youngest towns to one of the oldest. St Lawrence is 2 hours and 25 minutes from Middlemount.
collection of past machinery and relics of Central Queensland’s outback heritage.
The town was originally built to service the port of St Lawrence. The beauty of local historical buildings such as the Council Office are a living reminder of times gone by.
The St Lawrence Wetlands is a tapestry of deep open water lagoons and swamps. Part of the great Broadsound Wetlands, this scenic environment is relaxing and perfect for spotting fish, turtles and frogs. Follow the interpretive signs to learn more about the wetlands and its inhabitants.
History buffs should also visit the St Lawrence Library which was once the historical railway station, and the Centenary Pavilion which hosts an impressive
Time your visit for the early part of the wet season to capture stunning landscape shots speckled with flocks of hundreds of magpie geese.
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MACKAY A 1 hour and 50 minute drive north through cane fields and bushland landscapes will uncover Mackay. A metropolitan provincial city, Mackay combines country charm and coastal cool. Whether you are seeking adventure or want to relax, you could easily spend a few days in this city. Find out more on page 43.
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MODERN METRO MEETS OLD-SCHOOL CHARM. ROCKHAMPTON TO PROSERPINE VIA THE CAVES, ST LAWRENCE, SARINA AND MACKAY
From one rural city to another, this itinerary is a little bit metro and a whole lot of authentic charm. You’ll find some of the most unforgettable natural experiences of your life on this drive. Get ready.
For more detailed itineraries visit www.queenslanddrives.com.au
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PROSERPINE
ROCKHAMPTON
MACKAY
25km SARINA
Bruce Hwy / A1 Total distance 476km
THE CAVES
ST LAWRENCE
166km
THE CAVES
ROCKHAMPTON
ST LAWRENCE
WHO WILL LOVE IT?
120km
Nature lovers, Fishing nuts, History buffs and Art enthusiasts
SARINA 36km
ROCKHAMPTON So much more than Australia’s beef capital, Rockhampton is a metropolitan regional city with a genuine small-town heart. The food, the history, the action and the natural wonders combine to create a veritable playground.
MACKAY 127km
Rockhampton is a 7 hour drive or 1 hour 15 minute flight from Brisbane. Find out more about the city on page 12.
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THE CAVES A truly unforgettable experience is beckoning just 30 minutes’ drive from Rockhampton. The Capricorn Caves are a family-operated attraction with the genuine warmth to match. Tour groups are small, with a variety of experiences to suit all needs. From wheelchair accessible tours to higher-difficulty tours that will have you crawling through rock tunnels or abseiling into cave pits. Discover stories trapped in caves for thousands of years on the Fossil Tour or navigate the zigzagging passageways and suspension bridge into the stunning Cathedral Cave. So, named for the incredible acoustics the expansive space offers, the cave is lit by lights and candles and cannot be forgotten. Don’t miss a trip to the summit for uninterrupted 360 degree views over the top of the forest. Enjoy lunch or a coffee in the licensed café before cooling off in the pool. If you haven’t had enough of the Caves, you can also stay overnight.
ST LAWRENCE After your adventures in the cave, take an easy 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive to St Lawrence. Oozing with outback charm St Lawrence offers the chance to step back into history and meander through stunning natural wetlands. Find out more on page 36.
GET YOUR FISHING FIX Between St Lawrence and Sarina there is a bevy of saltwater fish habitats that will give you plenty of reason to stop the car and add to your library of fishing stories. The area is also famous for its mudcrabs. Just be careful as this is the home of saltwater crocodiles. Fishing Lawrence Creek you’ll find your heart pounding as you see barramundi launching their bodies out of the water or the red flash of a mangrove jack. Access it from a weir just off the Bruce Highway. Your next stop should be Clairview, just 30 minutes north. Here you can fish the Clairview Creek for jewfish, grunter, salmon, golden snapper, mangrove jack and barramundi. There’s also great reef fishing out of the Broad Sound.
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Just 20 minutes’ drive north of Clairview, Carmila Creek is a local favourite for sunset fishing. Whether you’re launching the boat or casting off the shore near the creek mouth, you’ll be pulling in barramundi, mangrove jack, trevally and flathead. The locals favour lures with large paddle-tails with soft tail wrists. It would be hard for a fisherman to drive past Ilbilbie without tackling Notch Point. The Point is 25 minutes’ drive from Carmila and accessible via 4WD. It’s a great spot for self-contained camping right on the beach and is famous for its whiting and flathead.
SARINA From St Lawrence a 1 hour and 20 minute drive north up the Central Queensland coastline. Start your Sarina exploration at the Field of Dreams Parklands. Aside from being the location of the Visitor Information Centre, it’s also home to the Sarina Sugar Shed. Walk through the local sugar industry processes and history on the Shed’s interactive tour. You’ll experience the colour, aroma, taste, feel and sounds of mill production. Before you leave the parklands, stop in at the Sarina Art and Craft Centre, home of locally made arts, crafts and souvenirs. If you’re interested in another of Sarina’s industries, the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal is located at Hay Point. Start your tour at the administration building where you’ll find interpretive signage and fantastic views. It also includes one of the largest
coal loading jetties in the world, at 3.8 kilometres. The Sarina Museum and Sarina District Historical Centre can easily be explored together. The exhibits showcase displays of gold mining, sugar, the cattle industry, coal and rail industries. But also feature an intimate look into daily life of generations gone by with relics of the kitchen, children’s toys and even wedding dresses worn more than 100 years ago, all lovingly cared for on the premises. You’ll find World War I memorialised by a soldier statue that has stood since 1919. It specifically commemorates the 114 local men who enlisted in the war campaign. The slightly bowed head and crossed hands leaves you with a thoughtful sense of the sacrifice of war and the 24 local men who died to protect the Australian way of life. Don’t forget to stop at the local bakery for one of Sarina’s infamous pies before you head off.
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MACKAY Mackay is a vibrant regional city with an unforgettable array of ways to explore it. This itinerary has a little something for everyone.
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This city puts its history on display with two dedicated architecture walks, the Mackay City Heritage Walk and Mackay Art Deco Walk. Make sure you pick up the brochures that guide you through these fascinating buildings of interest. Art lovers should hit Artspace Mackay or walk through public art displays at the beautiful Bluewater Quay. In a metropolitan outback city like this one, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to tempt your taste buds. We love the cafés on the bank of the Pioneer River, which make an after lunch swim in the Bluewater Lagoon easy. Mackay marries all the things you love about city living, with an undeniable natural offering that is deeply embedded in its DNA. From fertile countrysides, lush rainforests and natural parks to a pristine coastline, there is so much to explore and everything’s at your fingertips. Dive deeper into Mackay’s natural attractions by walking along the raised boardwalk of the
Bluewater Trail through natural river wetlands before finishing at Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens. In North Mackay, Gooseponds combines popular walking tracks around a large central wetland lagoon. If you’re there to exercise there are plenty of fitness stations along the tracks. If you’re after relaxation, sit on a blanket and watch the geese, ducks and pelicans. We also love the expansive views towards the island dotted coastline and Great Barrier Reef beyond from Slade Point. If you want breakfast with a different, pack a little picnic and head to Cape Hillsborough Beach. Feel the sand between your toes as you take in an incredible east coast sunrise and find yourself among families of wallabies that descend to the beach each morning like clockwork. Eungella National Park is an easy 1 hour and 15 minute drive exactly west of Mackay. Rising 800 metres above sea level, Eungella means ‘a land in the clouds’. Its peaks are
inevitably kissing the clouds and cooling the mountains, making for stunning vistas and beautiful bushwalking. Stop by Finch Hatton Gorge on your way back to Mackay, just 35 minutes’ drive back east. The gorge features cascading waterfalls surrounded by ancient rainforest. This area is also an incredible river and dam fishing destination in its own right. The Pioneer River, Teemburra Dam and Eungella Dam are all popular fishing spots. Find out more on page 49. Back in the city, dive into something new at the Wake House Australia Wake Park where you can learn to cable wakeboard or kneeboard in a safe controlled environment. If you don’t feel like getting wet, but still want something that will make your heart pump grab a fishing rod and try pulling in one of the region’s hard-hitting pelagic fish. This itinerary has a little something for everyone and endless ways to explore the very best Central Queensland has to offer.
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THE BEACHES IN BETWEEN In between Mackay and Proserpine, there is a stretch of coastline where golden sands are kissed by shimmering seas. Each beach is only 20-30 minutes apart, making a trail of sunshine that you’ll talk about for years to come.
NORTHERN BEACHES
ST HELENS
Just 20 minutes from the heart of Mackay, is a collection of beaches known simply as Northern Beaches. Blacks Beach is the longest beach in the region, a 6 kilometre stretch of golden sands that is popular with walkers, dogowners and fishermen.
This beach offers plenty to feast the eye on. A 2.3 kilometre long low, rocky, mangrove-fringe point adorns the northern boundary of the beach, while the southern end is home to the conical Skull Knob. The waters are protected by both two small rock groynes and Rabbit Island.
Eimeo Beach is a sheltered bay of powdery white sands with safe, patrolled swimming during summer. Visitors often head to Mango Avenue, its 80 year-old mango trees shading the street’s houses. At low tide, you can walk from Eimeo Beach to the neighbouring Dolphin Heads. Named for its unique shape that is similar to two dolphin heads, this rocky and sandy headland is one place where you won’t want to forget your camera. All these beaches offer easy access to the area’s many pubs, restaurants and cafes that make the most of their beachfront settings.
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SEAFORTH Seaforth is a quaint, beachfront town. Seaforth Beach is 5 kilometres long. It faces north at the mouth of Plantation Creek then curves gently south to Finlayson Point. There is a swimming enclosure, public toilets, a boat ramp and a caravan and camping area directly on the beach, giving you plenty of excuses to stay a little bit longer.
CAPE HILLSBOROUGH This natural paradise includes the celebrated Cape Hillsborough National Park, but the beach itself has a special place in the heart of locals and visitors alike. Visit at sunrise to meet friendly wallabies feasting at the water’s edge. Nearby walking tracks offer the chance to see the vivid Ulysses butterfly and step back into local Aboriginal history on the Yuibera Plant Trail.
PROSERPINE Named after Proserpina, the goddess of grain and harvest, Proserpine is a 1 hour and 30 minute drive through the sugar cane fields from Mackay. The town’s story began in the 1800’s. You’ll find chapters of history alive and well in the art deco buildings of the main street, country-style hotels and the oldfashioned courtesies of the proud locals. Get the heart pumping on the Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. Search the calm waters of Proserpine River for wild estuarine crocodiles. The tour also includes a tractor-drawn wagon train ride through the Goorganga Plains and a barbeque lunch served with traditional Aussie billy tea and damper. The kids will love the Proserpine Waterpark and community pool. Or take your exploration inside at the Proserpine Museum. Beautifully maintained and loved by passionate locals who are
a wealth of local stories, the Museum team will make sure you have answers to all your questions. Take your trip to the water with a short 20 minute trip east to Cedar Creek Falls. A tranquil stopover, the falls themselves are just a short walk from the carpark. Dive into the natural pool where water splashes down after cascading over the rocks. Or head to the huge Peter Faust Dam, Lake Proserpine for some gorgeous scenery, great water sports territory and incredible fishing. If you want to take advantage of a little local knowledge, then head out with Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters. The team routinely pulls in monster barramundi that are more than a metre in length. If you fall in love with this spot, like we have, then stay awhile. You’re going to be talking about this trip for years to come.
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INLAND WONDERS. INLAND MACKAY, SHORT TRIPS TO NEBO, GLENDEN AND EUNGELLA
Good old-fashioned pub grub on sprawling verandahs, natural wonders millions of years in the making and the home of the platypus – these short trips inland from Mackay are worth every minute.
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EUNGELLA
MACKAY
GLENDEN
NEBO
Peak Downs Hwy / State Route 70 Total distance 92-166km
WHO WILL LOVE IT? Nature lovers Fishing nuts History buffs
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THE LOCALS’ FAVOURITE INLAND FISHING TRAIL The region’s streets are full of trucks towing boats, tackle shops and mates exchanging stories that inevitably include the phrase, “It was this big” with hands held wide. In between Mackay and Eungella, there is a fishing trail that is both a local favourite and a pilgrimage that keeps visitors coming back.
PIONEER RIVER Welcome to 120 kilometres of fish highway! If you don’t have a boat cast near either the new fishing pier at Old Hospital Bridge or Ron Camm Bridge right in the centre of Mackay. This is a popular kayak fishing location, with anglers pulling fish in even on larger tides. In the upper reaches of the river you’ll find plenty of mangrove jack and excellent crabbing territory. Kinchant Dam, 41km west of Mackay, can be reached within an easy 40 minute drive past the sugar cane fields of North Eton. A lovely park area overlooks the dam, with barbeque and toilet facilities available. Bring your mountain bike, as Kinchant Dam is home to one of the best downhill circuits in Queensland. The dam is stocked by local fishing authorities to keep fish numbers plentiful. Drop a line and try your luck to catch sooty grunter, sleepy cod and barramundi. A concrete boat ramp is available and water sports such as skiing, biscuiting and jet skiing are popular. A stocked impoundment permit is required to fish here. Wildlife is active and varied around the shore, with bush
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turkeys and peacocks regularly visiting, as well as wallabies and waterfowl. A large camping area provides a variety of accommodation options, from tent and caravan sites through to cabins.
TEEMBURRA DAM Teemburra, 50km west of Mackay, has a well-earned reputation for barramundi and sooty grunter. Hunt for them in beds of water lillies, bays of standing timber and flooded paddocks. This place was made for barramundi. The dam is stocked by a local fish stocking group MAFSA with sooty grunter and barramundi, who have also set up their own community hatchery to breed Sooty Grunter. A 25 horsepower limit applies to all boats here with no water skiing allowed. A single lane concrete ramp is provided. There is no camping allowed at the dam, however accommodation can be found in Finch Hatton Gorge, Eungella National Park and Kinchant Dam. A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish at Teemburra Dam.
EUNGELLA DAM Eungella Dam is about 2 hours west of Mackay via Eungella. Take the Peak Downs Highway from Mackay and follow for about 8km till the sign to Eungella Dam (Eungella Dam Road) and follow this for about 70km to the township of Eungella. From the township of Eungella, take the Eungella Dam Road past Broken River. The last portion of the drive is unsealed, where the landscape turns from rainforest into high country farms. Beware of wandering stock as cows roam free along this road. The road out to the dam is signed on the southern end of town and about another 24km.
The dam is stocked with sooty grunter, saratoga, sleepy cod and barramundi and is reowned for producing oversized sooty grunter. There are no boating restrictions for the dam and small boats can be launched from the boat ramp. Camping is permitted in the area with facilities available such as cold showers, toilets, barbeques and picnic tables. A second block of public toilets and more picnic tables can be found across the other side of the water, near the dam itself. Access is by normal vehicle, some dirt road.
THE PIONEER VALLEY A wonderland of waterfalls, lush flora and volcanic boulder formations contrast against a tapestry of sugar cane fields as you head through The Pioneer Valley and Eungella National Park. Apart from being one of the richest sugar cane growing areas in Australia, this valley is by far one of the most picturesque in Australia, encompassing many rural townships where warm hospitality and delicious food can be enjoyed. Small towns to stop in along the way include Marian, Mirani, Pinnacle, Finch Hatton and finally, Eungella. Marian, the gateway to the valley, is home to the region’s largest sugar mill. Call into Melba House, an accredited Visitor Information Centre on the banks of the Pioneer River, to discover the house of famous Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. Stop in at the popular swimming hole, Platypus Beach, just past Mirani. A trip to Finch Hatton Gorge is a must-do. Walk the well-formed tracks to Araluen Cascades and the Wheel of Fire Waterfalls and swim in clear rock pools as water cascades from above. Change pace and take in the whole picture from above as you zip line over the rainforest canopy.
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EUNGELLA Drive 1 hour and 10 minutes west of Mackay and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the magnificent views of Eungella. Aside from sprawling panoramas of the Pioneer Valley, Eungella has more than 20 kilometres of bush walking tracks and is home to one of the best places in Australia to spot the elusive platypus. Eungella National Park is only 10 minutes drive from the centre of town. It is a mist-shrouded, forest-clad mountain refuge with 860 plant species. In fact, it is Australia’s longest stretch of subtropical rainforest.
Enjoy a stunning rainforest walk along the banks of Broken River. Have your camera at the ready because Broken River is home to a troop of platypus that you can spot swimming and diving for food. Broken River is a great stopover on the way to Eungella Dam, a scenic lake fringed by rainforest. Aside from the dam being a hot spot for fishermen, its expansive waters call to water sports enthusiasts just as strongly. Water skiing and jet skiing are both popular. There are no boating restrictions on this dam. With a boat ramp, public toilets and
picnic tables, it’s easy to stop over for lunch. Eungella has plenty to offer as a day trip or could be the beginning of a legendary adventure. The Mackay Highlands Great Walk begins in Eungella. The 62 kilometre walk takes between 3 and 5 days and moves through rainforest and palm groves before reaching Mt Britton. Day trip or unforgettable trek? The choice is yours.
NEBO An easy 1 hour and 6 minute drive south west from Mackay, Nebo is an interesting day trip full of history and epic pub grub. It’s also a great stopover on the way to Glenden. Originally named Fort Cooper, the town took on the name Nebo in 1923. At the time it operated largely as a crossroads of intersecting highways servicing cattle and coal traffic. Today the tree-lined main street and simple country hospitality makes it easy to imagine this small community of people
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building a home they were proud of in the days of explorers and pioneers. The local Nebo Museum is a great place to experience both the early history of the town, but also the passion of the local community. The exhibits were almost entirely put together from donations by the local community. If photography is more your style, definitely don’t miss the Pioneer Tracks of Queensland Gallery. Also celebrating the early settlement years, the gallery is housed in the Marley
Accommodation Centre just outside Nebo. You’ll also find snapshots of significant moments in Australian history commemorated in 260 metres of murals throughout the town. When your stomach starts to grumble, head to one of our favourite Central Queensland pubs. The heritage-listed Nebo Hotel has tremendous character that hasn’t really changed much since being built in 1862. Enjoy a beer and a meal on the expansive balcony.
GLENDEN Glenden is a modern mining town built in 1981. It’s a 1 hour 50 minute drive from Mackay, or if you’ve stopped in Nebo it’s another 54 minutes from there. Nature lovers should consider stopping at Homevale National Park, just 30 minutes north of Nebo. You’ll find yourself surrounded by 30-millionyear-old cliffs and peaks. The park is home to a diverse array of landscapes including grassy open woodlands, vine forests and towering eucalyptus trees. Scientists have also found important fossil deposits dating back to 280 million years ago. Glenden is also within easy reach of another
important natural attraction – Lake Elphinstone. The natural permanent waterbody was an important food and water source for Aboriginal people and a meeting point for the Jangga, Barada Barna and Wiri people. You can still find rock art at nearby Burton Downs. If you don’t feel like driving back to Mackay that day, Lake Elphinstone is a great place to set up camp and take advantage of an early morning fish or kayak the next day. Discover Mr Britton in Homevale National Park, visit the old town site and camp under the starts. Stay a few nights - it’s free.
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VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES Biloela Tourist Information Centre Callide Street, Biloela Qld 4715 P: (07) 4992 2405 Blackwater International Coal Centre Capricorn Highway, Blackwater Qld 4717 P: (07) 4982 7755 E: manager@bicc.com.au Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre Scenic Hwy, Yeppoon Qld 4703 P: 1800 675 785 E: yeppoon@capricorntourism.com.au Capricorn Spire Visitor Information Centre 176 Gladstone Road, Rockhampton Qld 4700 P: (07) 4936 8000 Central Queensland Highlands Visitor Information Centre 3 Clermont Street, Emerald Qld 4720 P: (07) 4982 4142 E: emerald@chdc.com.au Clermont Visitor Information Centre Clermont Historical Centre 15855 Gregory Highway, Clermont Qld 4721 P: (07) 4983 3311 Duaringa Historical and Tourism Centre Mackenzie Park, Duaringa Qld 4712 P: (07) 4935 7077
Moura Administration, Tourism Visitor Information Centre 43 Gillespie Street, Moura Qld 4718 P: (07) 4992 9500 E: enquiries@banana.qld.gov.au Rural Hinterland Visitor Information Centre 11 Exhibition Street, Biloela Qld 4715 P: (07) 4992 5400 Springsure Federation Woolshed Information Centre Gregory Highway, Springsure Qld 4722 P: (07) 4984 1961 Taroom Visitor Information Centre 10 Yaldwyn Street, Taroom Qld 4420 Open: Mon–Fri 10am–2pm (Dec–Feb) Mon–Fri 9am–4pm (Mar–Nov) P: (07) 4628 6113 E: hottaroom@hotmail.com Theodore Visitor Information Centre 55a The Blvd, Theodore Qld 4719 P: (07) 4993 1900 E: theodoreinfocentre@gmail.com ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL OFFICES Clermont Office Corner Karmoo and Daintree Streets Clermont Qld 4721
Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre Sarina Field Of Dreams, 1 Railway Square Sarina Qld 4737 P: (07) 4837 1228 E: bookings@mackayregion.com
Dysart Office Shannon Crescent, Dysart Qld 4745
Mackay Visitor Information Kiosk Bluewater Lagoon, Mackay Qld 4740 P: (07) 4837 1228 E: bookings@mackayregion.com
Middlemount Office Shopping Centre, Middlemount Qld 4746
Melba House Visitor Information Centre Melba House, Eungella Road, Marian Qld 4753 P: (07) 4954 4299 E: pvtda@pioneervalley.com.au Mount Morgan Railway Museum And Visitor Information Centre 1 Railway Parade, Mount Morgan Qld 4714 Open: 9am - 4pm Daily P: (07) 4938 2312 W: mountmorgan.org.au
Glenden Office Ewan Drive, Glenden Qld 4743
Moranbah Office Grosvenor Complex, Batchelor Parade Moranbah Qld 4744 Nebo Office 10 Reynolds Street, Nebo Qld 4742 St Lawrence Office 36 Macartney Street, St Lawrence Qld 4707 Queensland Government corporate identity guidelines 2018
