Brisbane To Mackay by Inland Route

Peter Gordon email: petergo@netspace.net.au

PURPOSE
Provide information about a better alternative to the Bruce Highway for riding between Brisbane and Mackay
RESOURCES
Sunmap Tourist Map - Queensland. Readily available in Queensland or from:
Sunmap Centre
P. O. Box 40, Brisbane 4102.
FAX: (07) 3896 3562
The cost is about $AUD7. Credit cards are accepted.
ENVIRONMENT
In May and September, the average minimum temperature is about 8 C, with some mornings of 0 C. The average maximum is about 25 C, with some days of up to 30 C. June, July and August are about 4 C colder. Prevailing wind is south east. Average monthly rainfall is about 40 mm with an average of about 5 rainy days per month.
ROAD
The entire route is sealed and has been engineered for trucks, thus gradients generally don't exceed 5%. Except for the climbs noted, the topography is undulating to flat.
FACILITIES ON ROUTE
Towns/Overnight Stops Distance Hardness rating Food/Water Points
Ipswich - Fernvale(25) - Esk 65 Easy
Esk - Blackbutt(68) - Yarraman 85 Hard Toogoolawah(17), Harlin(32), Colinton(40), Moore(46), Benarkin(63)
Yarraman - Nanango(23) - Goomeri 82 Medium
Goomeri - Gayndah 104 Medium/Hard Tansey(18) water only, Booubyjan(35), Ban Ban Springs(76)
Gayndah - Mundubbera(47) - Eidsvold 85 Medium Binjour(25)
Eidsvold - Monto 75 Easy Roadside reserve(11) water & camping, Mulgildie(62)
Monto - Biloela 94 Hard Lawgi(65) water only, Thangool(83)
Biloela - Moura 66 Easy Banana(66)
Moura - Bauhenia Roadhouse 76 Medium Van Park being roadhouse
Bauhenia - Rolleston 77 Medium
Rolleston - Springsure 72 Medium
Springsure - Emerald 70 Medium Fernless(30) water only
Emerald - Capella 54 Easy
Capella - Clermont 58 Easy
Clermont - Roadhouse 104 Hard Rough camping behind roadhouse
Roadhouse - Junction Roadhouse 106 Hard Copabella(37), Nebo(95)
Junction Roadhouse - Mackay 87 Medium Retreat Hotel(23)

All the towns except Rolleston and Capella have caravan parks, hotels, motels, good general stores, butchers, and at least a pharmacy and a general practitioner. Some have hospitals.
Capella has a van park, hotel, good general store, butcher.
Rolleston has a van park, hotel/motel, small general store.
Banks: Ipswich, Toogoolawah, Nanango, Gayndah, Mundubbera, Monto, Biloela, Rockhampton, Moura, Springsure, Emerald, Clermont, Mackay.
Other hotels: Toogoolawah, Harlin, Ban Ban Springs, Mulgildie, Thangool, Jambin, Dululu, Coppabella, Nebo, Retreat Hotel (30 km north east of Nebo).
Supermarkets: Biloela, Emerald, Clermont, Rockhampton, Mackay
Bike Shops: Biloela, Emerald, Rockhampton, Mackay
Roadside Camping: Between Nanango and Nebo, camping would be possible in many places. On the remainder of the route, the population density is too high for roadside camping.

NOTEWORTHY CLIMBS
  1. Blackbutt range, about 5 km west of Moore.
  2. Hills/low range between 57 71 km north of Goomeri.
  3. Binjour Plateau, 15 km north west of Gayndah.
  4. Coominglah Range, 13 km north of Monto.
  5. Mt Morgan Range east of Mt Morgan. (Enroute to Rockhampton)
  6. Expedition Range, 11 km west of Bauhenia.
  7. Springsure Range, 52 km west of Rolleston.
  8. Low range 70 km north east of Clermont.
Note: None of the climbs are greater than 500 metres, but should be noted as they increase water consumption and influence the distance which can be travelled in a day.
SCENERY
Farmland, agriculture, citrus orchards, and forests. Beef grazing is the most common. Dairy farming is also common, especially around Monto. The agriculture consists of cultivated river and creek flats growing cattle fodder, through to large grain and cotton farms around Biloela.

ROCKHAMPTON ALTERNATIVE
The route as far as Biloela is mainly northerly. After this, the route heads west into more isolated country and the semiarid zone. To avoid this, the coastal destination of Rockhampton can be chosen instead. Biloela to Rockhampton is one hard and one easy day's riding. Camping at Dululu should be possible to even out the daily distances. There are toilets and rain water beside the tennis court and it is unlikely that there would be objections to camping there. To extend the second day, a trip to Yeppoon is recommended. Yeppoon is a coastal holiday town with most facilities except a bike store.
Towns/Overnight Stops Distance Hardness rating Food/Water Points
Biloela - Mt Morgan 107 Hard Jambin(29), Dululu(75)
Mt Morgan - Rockhampton 38 Medium