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Scenic Motorbike Rides
"Motorcycle Perfection"
Leaving Rathdowney, southbound on the Mt Lindesay Highway, turn right into Boonah- Rathdowney Road, a gate way to the rugged peaks and valleys of the McPherson Range. The largest of these peaks is Mt Barney, the second-highest, and most significant in southern Queensland. It is a very popular destination for bushwalking clubs and experienced walkers.
MT BARNEY
After driving 7kms along Boonah-Rathdowney Road, you turn left into Upper Logan Road. Mt Barney National Park is accessed from the end of this road. You will drive past the turn-off to Bigriggen Park, a popular camping ground on the Logan River. Continue along a high ridge top with the mountains offering spectacular scenery to the west. Even better views are obtained from Barney View Road which
veers to the left. At the T-junction the gravel road to the right leads to Flanagan’s Reserve, another camping ground and popular swimming destination with the locals. Turn left here.
Continue along to Seidenspinner Road, on your right. This road leads to the car park at the start of the Lower Portals walk where the QNPWS has developed a 3.7km track into the National Park. Also on this road is Barney Creek Cottage and Tree Nursery.
Continuing along Upper Logan Road you reach the entrance to Mt Barney National Park which encompasses the rugged peaks of Mt Barney, Ernest and Lindesay. The start of the walks is at one end of Yellowpinch Reserve. You drive past the entrance to Mt Barney Lodge Country Retreat and camping ground, also on the Logan River.
To return to the Mt Lindesay Highway go back to Mt Barney Road and follow this road back to Rathdowney.
MT MAROON
Instead of turning into Upper Logan Road, continue along Boonah-Rathdowney Road, crossing the Logan River at Todd’s Bridge. Forest Home Road is about 3kms along, on the left. Forest Home, a self-contained cabin which is the restored gaol from the ‘Lightning Jack’ movie set, is situated on this road.
Continue on the main road, across a short section of gravel, until you reach Cotswold Road, on the left. Turn left into this gravel road to access the climbing track for Mt Maroon from the parking area at the end of the road. Mt Maroon is renowned for its wildflowers, particularly in autumn, the broad flat top and open southern slopes are ideal for native flowering plants.
MT MAY
After passing through the small town of Maroon, a trip along Burnett Creek Road, on your left, gives excellent views of the rainforest gullies of Mt Barney National Park, which resulted in its World Heritage listing in 1995. In spring the translucent pink leaf-tips of the cedar trees give a wonderful display in the early morning or late afternoon sun. Early cedar getters used this method to
pinpoint the cedar trees. Newman’s Road leads off Burnett Creek Road giving access to Cleared Ridge Lookout and to the car park at the start of the Upper Portals walk. (Recommended 4WD only past Waterfall Creek).
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