Turn right onto Wivenhoe Somerset Rd over the Stanley River. Spring Bluff 51 km Lake Wivenhoe 245 km (If you reach Somerset Dam, you have gone to far.), Spring Bluff Railway Station is a heritage listed site located on the Swing south to the Northbrook Parkway. main railway line between Ipswich and Toowoomba. Its Crows Nest, Lake Perseverance, Northbrook Parkway, Fernvale, significance stems from 150 years of railway history and the Lake Clarendon, Spring Bluff, Crows Nest attraction of its beautiful landscaped gardens. Brisbane's water supply and flood mitigation for the Brisbane River. Northbrook Parkway 89 km There is a café and toilets. An old open-sided dance floor was built Check out the hydroelectricity power station on the eastern side. in 1907, and was a popular destination by train from Toowoomba Northbrook Parkway climbs the D'Aguilar Range to Mt Glorious. in early years. Continue south on the Wivenhoe Somerset Rd past Splityard In 1942 the Darling Downs 25th Battalion left Cabarlah barracks at 2am and marched down the steep Range to the siding at Spring Creek Dam and the Wivenhoe Power Station. Bluff Railway Station. The soldiers boarded trains bound for the Water is pumped from Wivenhoe Dam into Splityard Creek Dam. Brisbane Exhibition Grounds, Townsville and eventually Milne Bay. During peak demand, water is released from Splityard Creek Dam Continue up the Range to meet the New England Hwy. Turn right through tunnels to the turbines that drive the generators. In this way, Wivenhoe Power Station works like a giant rechargeable for Crows Nest. battery. Crows Nest 42 km Continue to the Brisbane Valley Hwy. Grand Old Crow Hotel- motorcycle friendly Pub. Meals daily Turn left towards Fernvale. Cross the Brisbane River to Fernvale 12noon-2pm. 6pm-8pm. Accommodation. The Nest Café. Coffee, take away, meals, cake, fresh smoothies, Fernvale 20 km all day breakfast menus The Old Fernvale Bakery has won more national awards in the Accommodation available at Caravan Park, Motel, Pub and nearby Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition than any other pie shop in B & Bs. Queensland. Try one! Visit the Fernvale Futures Complex or the Sunday Markets Crows Nest Return north and turn left past the school onto Forest Hill More Information Fuel up at Crows Nest Fuel Supplies. Fernvale Rd. Information about other tours, where to eat, where to stay and Head south on the New England Hwy (A3) towards Toowoomba. At the T junction, turn left to remain on the Forest Hill Fernvale other things to do in the Crows Nest District can be found on the Rd. website: Turn left into Charles St and follow the signs to Lake Perseverance. At the crossroads, turn right onto Lake Clarendon Way. https://crowsnest.info/ Lake Perseverance 9 km Lake Clarendon 35 km You may see Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies on the rocks at the base of the dam wall. The lookout over the Lake is half a kilometre north along the Main Green Swamp Rd. Water is pumped up to the crest of the range at Grapetree. From here it runs downhill to Toowoomba. Continue past Lake Clarendon and turn left onto the Gatton Esk Rd. Continue to Esk Hampton Rd. Turn left down the range to Esk. Travel a kilometre south to join the Warrego Hwy toward In Esk, pass the the Esk Sport and Recreation Reserve which has Toowoomba. toilets. Turn right onto Murphys Creek Rd. Travel through Murphys At the Brisbane Valley Hwy, turn left towards Toogoolawah Creek to Spring Bluff (The Esk Visitor Information Centre is to the right,a bit further south opposite Lions Park.) The short-cut via Postmans Ridge Rd will be blocked in 2017 by the The Second Range Crossing. From here on you will see much 4 km north, turn right onto Esk Kilcoy Rd towards Somerset Dam construction work for TSRC. Cross the Brisbane River at O’Shea’s Crossing Rest Area.