Bicentennial National Trail; Rosevale to Allan Cunninghams Historical Campsite

Guidebook 6 of the Bicentennial National Trail (now out of print and available only in draft form and, as an ‘e-guide’) covers the Blackbutt to Killarney section. According to the Guidebook, none of this sections ~357kms' are particularly difficult for the cyclist. The route mostly follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range passing just to the east of Toowoomba however, the range must be climbed just south of Toowoomba and again near the border. The Trail passes through a mixture of rough bushland and settled grazing/agricultural areas and makes use of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail as it leaves Blackbutt. It is worth mentioning that significant sections of the Trail in this region were destroyed in the 2011 and 2013 floods. As a result, there has been some major re-routing of the trail to deal not only with flood damage but also land access issues. Thus, Guidebook 6 is available only in draft form at the present time. Despite this, the Guidebook is complete in that it provides maps and route notes for the entire section

Follow up post to;  http://thenorrisfiles.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/bicentennial-national-trail-thornton-to.html

Guidebook 6 Map 14; Rosevale to Allan Cunninghams Historical Campsite (~21km) 

From the Rosevale Pub, the trail heads briefly east before turning south, following the bitumen through open farmland before the gravel is once again reached along the Moorang Wildlife Corridor. Sadly, there was more roadkill than actual wildlife visible as I past through the corridor on this day. The views are limited along this section as the bush crowds the road, but once the corridor ends, the bush opens up and the views along the eastern edge of the Great Dividing Range are breathtaking. From this vantage point, and until you reach Allan Cunninghams Historical Campsite, the steep eastern escarpments of the Main Range are your panoramic accompaniment while the ramparts of Mt Castle loom large, defending the trails route down the Bremer Valley. Simply put, the last 8-10km of this section of the trail, offers scenery that is nothing short of stunning.

At the 21km point, Allan Cunninghmans Historical Campsite is reached. Here, on the 24th and 25th of August 1828, Cunningham camped during his expedition to find a route over the Great Dividing Range to the fertile western plains of the Darling Downs. On the morning of the 25th of August, 1828, Cunningham, from this camp, departed on a 13 hour 'trek' that culminated in him locating a pass over the Range and visualising, from the northern summit of Mt Mitchell, the Darling Downs, 'the beautiful tract of country' that he had explored the previous year. Arriving back at the campsite, that today, is commemorated by a stone monument and plaque, Cunninghman experienced a late evening storm that he claimed to be 'as awful, at the same time as grand, as any that are to be witnessed'. His journal, eloquently captures the atmosphere and beauty of the surrounding landscape;

With unabated violence the tempest continued until after midnight, when, as if suddenly exhausted, the wind moderated, the clouds broke, gradually sinking down towards the horizon; and a bright moon, just past the full, now burst forth with many a brilliant star, to assure us, by affording light to observe the extreme pinnacles of the mountains perfectly divested of clouds, that at length calm, serene and settled weather was again restored to us.

 A short, easy section of the Bicentennial National Trail that, in the latter half of the route, offers some impressive scenery. I rode this as an out and back ride however, it would be more practical to combine this section with adjoining sections of the trail or, as part of a multi-day ride around the region.








 

   

  
















Tracklog; http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=5123061

Bicentennial National Trail; Thornton to Rosevale

           
Guidebook 6 of the Bicentennial National Trail (now out of print and available only in draft form and, as an ‘e-guide’) covers the Blackbutt to Killarney section. According to the Guidebook, none of this sections ~357kms' are particularly difficult for the cyclist. The route mostly follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range passing just to the east of Toowoomba however, the range must be climbed just south of Toowoomba and again near the border. The Trail passes through a mixture of rough bushland and settled grazing/agricultural areas and makes use of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail as it leaves Blackbutt. It is worth mentioning that significant sections of the Trail in this region were destroyed in the 2011 and 2013 floods. As a result, there has been some major re-routing of the trail to deal not only with flood damage but also land access issues. Thus, Guidebook 6 is available only in draft form at the present time. Despite this, the Guidebook is complete in that it provides maps and route notes for the entire section

Guidebook 6 Map 13; Thornton to Rosevale (~33.60km) 

The trail now leaves the camping facilities at Thornton, a small township nestling under the shadows of the Main Range. Briefly heading north along the fertile plains of the Laidley Valley the trail is bordered by the Mistake Mountain Range to the west and the Little Liverpool Range to the East. Turning eastward, the Guidebook offers two options for crossing the Little Liverpool Range, either over Edwards Gap or, the 'softer' option for cyclists at Red Gap. The climb over Red Gap is steep but relatively short and the track for the most part can be ridden however, the odd section briefly deteriorates into a rocky track with steep gutters. This section of the trail, in reverse, is used for the annual mountain biking event the Flight Centre Cycle Epic. At the top of the Little Liverpool Range there are panoramic views down into the Bremer Valley and over old grazing country to Rosevale and Mt Walker. Further distant, the peaks of Mt Barney and Mt Maroon rise through a blue haze.


The descent from Red Gap is fast then, turning south and under the ever present gaze of Mt Walker,  a combination of gravel and bitumen rural roads are followed, through mixed grazing and agricultural properties until Queenslands oldest hotel building is reached, the Historical Rosevale Retreat Hotel. Built in 1852, shaded by century old Elm Trees and offering clear views of the nearby Little Liverpool Range the pub boasts a fascinating history. Originally located one mile away on the banks of Black Gully Creek, it was moved by two bullock teams to its present site after the 1893 great flood deemed the original site unsuitable. During the five days that it took to complete the relocation, trading at the Hotel never ceased.

I rode this section of the trail  as an out and back route. The options for short loop rides are limited as the southern end of the Laidley Valley is blocked by the Main Range and Mt Castle which stands like a fortress and can be seen for kilometres. However, the options for extended day rides or multi day rides in this region are endless and only limited by ones imagination. In short, a pleasant, relatively flat ride at lower elevations, other than the climb over the Little Liverpool Range, with the bonus of lunch at a wonderful old country pub!



 
 

 

 

 

















 



Tracklog; http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=5086194 (Note; the track has been reversed for some reason ((Rosevale to Thornton)).

 

Bicentennial National Trail; Munchow's Crossing to Teviot Brook Campsite

 

Guidebook 6 of the Bicentennial National Trail (now out of print and available only in draft form and, as an ‘e-guide’) covers the Blackbutt to Killarney section. According to the Guidebook, none of this sections ~357kms' are particularly difficult for the cyclist. The route mostly follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range passing just to the east of Toowoomba however, the range must be climbed just south of Toowoomba and again near the border. The Trail passes through a mixture of rough bushland and settled grazing/agricultural areas and makes use of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail as it leaves Blackbutt. It is worth mentioning that significant sections of the Trail in this region were destroyed in the 2011 and 2013 floods. As a result, there has been some major re-routing of the trail to deal not only with flood damage but also land access issues. Thus, Guidebook 6 is available only in draft form at the present time. Despite this, the Guidebook is complete in that it provides maps and route notes for the entire section


Guidebook 6 Map 16; Munchow's Crossing to Teviot Brook Campsite (~21.40km)

This section of the Bicentennial Trail is quite spectacular and can be considered the viewing gallery of the scenic rim and Main Range National Park. The Trail generally heads in a southerly direction, along the eastern foothills of the Great Dividing Range before climbing steadily towards the pass over the Main Range National Park and on towards the headwaters of the Condamine River.

Commencing just a stones throw from Mt Greville, at Muchlows Crossing Campsite, beside Reynolds Creek, the trail crosses the creek the and follows the gravel along the delightful Croftby Lake Moogerah Road. This road is sandwiched between the imposing spectacle of the Great Dividing Range and the smaller, but still impressive Moogerah Peaks National Park. Familiar landmarks such as Cunninghams Gap, Mt Cordeuax, Mt Mathesion, Spicers Peak, Mt Roberts and Lizards Head envelope your western horizon as the Trail follows its undulating course towards Carney Creek Road. Here, the dirt ends and the bitumen starts however, on a week day, the traffic is generally light and courteous.

Approximately 5km later a right turn is taken onto The Head Road, a notoriously, steep, winding, narrow road that offers stunning views as it climbs over the Range, towards the Condamine Gorge and eventually the township of Killarney. The Head Road has been closed since January of this year due to flooding and the swathe of destruction the water has cut through the lower slopes of the valley is a testament to the amount of rain the area received during that period. The road is purported to be reopening next week however, the road over the lower slopes is still in poor repair.

This section of the Trail ends at Teviot Brook Campsite on the foothills of the Main Range immediately before the steep climb over the Range commences. I rode this section as an out and back ride but the options for longer loop rides or multi-day rides, incorporating Boonah, Moogerah, Killarney, Spring Creek, the Condamine Gorge and the Acacia Plateau are endless. The majority of the route is on bitumen, along roads that are quiet on a week day but carry increased tourist traffic on the weekends. In summary, a very scenic ride, particularly along the unpaved Croftby Lake Moogerah Road.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Tracklog; http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=5042041

 

Mt Mitchell

The Mt Mitchell track starts on the southern side of the Crest Carpark (Cunninghams Gap) opposite the (now closed) Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock Track. The track has been closed since January of this year but has recently being reopened and it is now in the best condition that it has been in for sometime. The entire trail has been cleared, sections have been re-benched, drains re-built. and access over the recent, and impressive landslips have been created.

It is a simple return walk of less than three hours, first climbing through rainforest, then eucalyptus forest and masses of grass trees before reentering a small patch of rainforest. Leaving the rainforest behind the track emerges on the northern side of the west peak of Mt Mitchell before climbing to an exposed saddle and along an avenue of ancient grass tress before arriving on a razor back ridge  which offers superb views in all directions. 

 































Tracklog; http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=4987963