Why this ride
On the way it passes Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve, Gambubal State Forest, Goomburra State Forest and back through Gambubal State Forest. Long stretches are under trees.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
'Palen Creek' State Forest and Goomburra State Forest
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 464 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 11 h 59
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. 'Palen Creek' State Forest
State forests in Queensland do not always sound romantic, but Palen Creek earns a second look. It sits in the hills south of Rathdowney in the Scenic Rim, between the Logan River country and the border ranges, a mix of eucalypt forest, old timber land and gullies of rainforest that run up toward the New South Wales border. The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, which are listed by UNESCO, begin a few ridges away, and the wildlife does not care much about the boundary.
Read the complete 'Palen Creek' State Forest write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
'Palen Creek' State Forest is where the day begins. Next is Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve.
2. Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve
Nothofagus is the botanical name of the southern beech, and the name of this reserve gives away its treasure: stands of Antarctic beech growing high on the McPherson Range along the Queensland–New South Wales border. These gnarled, moss-covered trees, some of them centuries old and sprouting from root systems far older still, are living relics of the forests that covered Gondwana before Australia drifted away from Antarctica.
Read the complete Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve comes up about 51 km into the recorded legs. Next is Gambubal State Forest.
3. Gambubal State Forest
Gambubal State Forest clings to the western side of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, close to the New South Wales border, in country that drops from rainforest-clad ridges down to the grazing land around Killarney and Warwick. The forest adjoins Main Range National Park and belongs to the wider belt of subtropical and temperate rainforest protected as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. Hoop pine, ancient Antarctic beech on the highest ridges, tree ferns and strangler figs give it a feel of deep time, and it is one of the cooler corners of Queensland in summer.
Read the complete Gambubal State Forest write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 135 km into the recorded legs you reach Gambubal State Forest. Next is Goomburra State Forest.
4. Goomburra State Forest
Goomburra is the northern gateway to Main Range National Park, a section of the Great Dividing Range west of Brisbane where the mountains rise steeply from the Darling Downs and the Fassifern valley. Like its neighbours on the range it belongs to the Gondwana Rainforests, and it is a place of mountain forest, rainforest gullies and dramatic lookouts. Dalrymple Creek flows through the valley, lined with tall eucalypts and rainforest, and the camping area beside it is a favourite of families and walkers.
Read the complete Goomburra State Forest write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Goomburra State Forest, about halfway. Next is back through Gambubal State Forest.
5. back through Gambubal State Forest
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Gambubal State Forest write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Gambubal State Forest sits at 131 km, about halfway. Next is back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve.
6. back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve comes up about 411 km into the recorded legs. Next is 'Palen Creek' State Forest.
7. 'Palen Creek' State Forest
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete 'Palen Creek' State Forest write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
'Palen Creek' State Forest closes the day.
Leg by leg
'Palen Creek' State Forest to Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve
'Palen Creek' State Forest → Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve is 51 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve to Gambubal State Forest
Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve → Gambubal State Forest is 84 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Gambubal State Forest to Goomburra State Forest
Gambubal State Forest → Goomburra State Forest is 92 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Goomburra State Forest to back through Gambubal State Forest
Goomburra State Forest → back through Gambubal State Forest is 102 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Gambubal State Forest to back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve
back through Gambubal State Forest → back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve is 82 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve to 'Palen Creek' State Forest
back through Mount Nothofagus Flora Reserve → 'Palen Creek' State Forest is 53 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.