In the Scenic Rim, southwest of Brisbane, Burnett Creek runs down from the slopes of the Main Range toward the farmland around Boonah, and the state forest that bears its name covers a stretch of steep, wooded hills where eucalypt forest gives way, in the moister gullies, to subtropical rainforest. This is the edge of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, a UNESCO-listed collection of rainforest reserves along the Great Dividing Range in Queensland and New South Wales, including the Border Ranges and the Main Range national parks. The rainforests here are remnants of the forests that covered the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, and they shelter plants and animals with lineages going back tens of millions of years.
The landscape around Burnett Creek is a mix of cattle country, small farms and forest, with the volcanic peaks of Mount Barney and Mount Maroon rising dramatically to the south. The area is rich in wildlife: kangaroos and wallabies graze at the forest edge, koalas live in the gum trees, and the birdlife is spectacular, from king parrots and lyrebirds to kookaburras laughing at dawn. Settlement came in the nineteenth century, with timber cutters and cattle farmers moving into the valleys, and some old homesteads and timber bridges remain.
The roads in the Scenic Rim are among the best motorcycle routes in southeast Queensland. From Boonah, roads lead west and south through farmland toward the mountains, with good surfaces, light traffic and plenty of curves. The road up to Carneys Creek and the Head, and over the range toward Killarney, offers tight bends, steep gradients and spectacular views. Further roads near the border can be narrow and sometimes gravel. Watch out for wildlife, especially kangaroos at dawn and dusk, and for cattle on unfenced stretches. Summer is hot and humid with storms; autumn and winter are cool and clear, ideal for riding.
There are no services in the forest. Boonah, about thirty kilometres away, is the nearest town, with fuel, cafés, a pub and shops, and Kalbar and Rathdowney offer smaller options. Carry water and snacks, because distances are longer than they look on the map. Pull over at a lookout or by a creek, listen to the birds, and enjoy the mountain air. It is a gorgeous corner of Queensland, and the riding is the kind you remember.