Peter Gordon email: petergo@netspace.net.au

Rathdowney - Maroon - Lake Moogerah - Mt Alford - Rathdowney

Description

This is a hard two day ride. There are long sections of gravel road of variable quality. Also, there are steep descents on loose gravel roads. The return route through Bunburra is a dry weather road only. It is one of the more scenic rides in S.E. Queensland, with good views of the lakes and mountains of the scenic rim.

Getting There

By Bike
Rathdowney is located on most of the described bicycle routes between Sydney and Brisbane. If the alternative Lions Rd route is used, it is 3 km off the route. The route to Lake Moogerah is a longer and harder alternative to the direct route between Rathdowney, but is much better from a scenic viewpoint. The day ride description of the Boonah - Mt Alford - Kalbar - Boonah gives details for either riding from Lake Moogerah to Boonah or for riding directly towards Ipswich through Kalbar. The Ipswich - Kalbar - Boonah - Ipswich day ride gives details of a route between Kalbar and Ipswich.
By Car
Rathdowney is on the Mt Lindsay Highway and is approximately a one and a half hour drive from Brisbane.

Route Details

Rathdowney has a small general store which sells takeaway food, a hotel, a butcher and a caravan park.

There is only 2km of gravel between Rathdowney and Maroon. The Maroon school has an accessible sports oval where water can be obtained. This section is undulating. The first few kilometres along the Burnett Creek road is easy, but becomes hilly near Maroon Dam. There is a hard climb for a loaded touring bike up to the Carneys Creek road. After this, the route to Lake Moogerah is mostly undulating with a few good hills. The caravan park at Lake Moogerah has a small shop. It sells a very limited range of takeaway food. Between Lake Moogerah and Mt Alford, the Teviot Range is crossed. It is a long rather than steep climb. Mt Alford has a small general store, a hotel and a park with toilets and drinking water. After crossing the Boonah - Rathdowney road, the riding is reasonably easy until the end of the sealed road. After this, there is a steep climb onto the top of a range which is then followed until a steep descent back onto the Boonah - Rathdowney road.

Shire Map

The Boonah Shire has a free Visitor Information Map which is far superior to the commercial maps. Except, for the first 17 km out of Rathdowney, it displays all of the route. The map is available from the Boonah Tourist Information Centre which is located on the Boonah - Fassifern Rd or from tourist type outlets within the Shire. Boonah is a good location for touring cyclists, and this map can be used for many other rides within the Shire.

Map and Cue Sheet

Map and Cue Sheet