Jandowae to Yarraman (116Km)
Part 10 of our 2021Adventure
Hervey Bay to Yarraman 1813km
Accommodation Yarraman Caravan Park
Our Rating:
Cost: $3200 per night Powered Grass Site
Camp Fires: Allowed
Image Gallery for: Yarraman
Travelling with: Fiona Ellis
The accommodation
Yarraman Caravan Park & Cabins is a great base to stay while you take in the sights of the South Burnett and Northern Down regions, including the Bunya Mountains and Palms National Parks, forest walks and oof road expereinces, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, wineries, historic sites and the Great South East
After a relaxing night's sleep in the chilly 0-degree weather, we packed up our camp and headed to Yarraman. We chose to stay at this location because we wanted to have a campfire, and couldn't find any closer places to Narangba that allowed them.
We were advised to take the road leading towards Kingaroy, which would take us through the Coopers Gap Wind Farm. This wind farm consists of approximately 125 wind turbines and has a capacity of 453 MW, producing around 1,510,000 MWh of renewable energy. This is enough to power around 264,000 average Australian homes.
The Coopers Gap Wind Farm is situated 250 km northwest of Brisbane near Cooranga North, between Dalby and Kingaroy. The land on which the site is located is mainly used for cattle grazing and other farming activities. It was surprising to discover that we lived so close to this site yet were unaware of its existence.
We came to Yarraman with the intention of visiting the Narangba markets, but upon our arrival, we were informed that the markets had been closed due to COVID-19. We then considered going down to Blackbutt for a bike trail, but the lady at the caravan park advised against it, as it was in the lockdown zone. We quickly set up camp and explored Yarraman, checking out the Head of the Rail trail and the old Yarraman station. We were told about a 4WD track through Pidna State Forest, but it led us nowhere, and we eventually reached a locked gate just 20m from the highway. We did a quick nine-point turn and headed to Yarraman State Forest, where we explored a track by foot, which led us to the car park. We then did some 4x4 around the state park, encountering some steep hill climbs and a rutted-out climb that Kat struggled with.
Headed back to camp to set up for dinner and a camp fire, and to plan the Saturdays adventure...
Saturday 7th August
Today, we are planning to explore the Bunya Mountains. None of us have ever been there, so everything will be new and exciting for us. We started our journey from Yarraman, and our first stop was going to be Coomba Falls, located just outside Maidenwell. It was stunning, a true paradise. I could only imagine how amazing it would be for a swim in summer or after some rain.
We stopped by at McCoys Cafe in Cooyar for a morning tea, where we were fortunate to meet Garry McCoy, an Australian former professional motorcycle racer. He is a legendary figure who has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is known for his unique oversteering style of riding, which earned him the nickname "The Slide King". Garry personally made us some delicious coffee and served us amazing food. If you're in the area, we definitely recommend stopping by McCoys Cafe.
During our trip, we made a stop at Muntapa Railway Tunnel. This tunnel was constructed for an old railway branch line that used to run between Oakey and Cooyar from 1913 to 1964. It is the longest straight railway tunnel in Queensland at 287 meters long. It is also the only tunnel in Australia that connects two different water catchment areas, crossing between the inland and coastal sides of the Great Dividing Range. The tunnel was bored through for about 13 months, and the families of the workers lived on site at Muntapa during the construction. The government even established a school on site to provide education for their children, as most of them lived in tents.
We drove up to the Bunya Mountains from the western side, through beautiful country. Suddenly, we reached the base of the range, where there were signs warning that the roads were not suitable for trucks and vans. Luckily, we had left ours behind. The climb was very steep, and the views back towards Dalby were amazing. The ranges rise very steeply from the surrounding plains, reaching up to 1100m above sea level.
Our first stop was Munros Camp, where we took a short walk to Carbines Cgute. The walk, which is about 2 km return, starts at Munro's Camp along the Bunya Mountains Road. It takes you to the top of one of the old logging chutes. Although there is nothing left of the chutes that were constructed to lower logs down to the valley, the location offers a nice view.
From there, we went across to Fishers Lookout. It is an amazing place to take in the breathtaking views of the Bunya Mountains, offering almost a 360-degree view. Our next stop was for lunch, which we had at Poppies on the Hill. It is located in Mowbullan, which is the hub of the Bunya Mountain. It felt like we were in the Alps of the Snowies, and I think in the middle of winter, it could snow.
We had been recommended to visit Poppies on the Hill by the lady at the Yarraman caravan park. She really gave us some great places to see and eat.
We made our way back down to Yarraman despite the sign indicating that trucks and caravans were not allowed. However, some were parked in the free camp area in the middle of the town. Personally, I would prefer a cozy chalet up here during the winter season.
Well this is it, our FINAL night of our trip.... 1 last fire, the final sleep in the van, and 1 more shower in our lil van, before we get home.........
