Kroombit Tops 4WD Guide gladstoneregion.info Kroombit Tops 4WD Guide A four wheel drive day trip is a fantastic way to experience the natural and rural beauty of the Gladstone Hinterland. Each trail carries you through the incredible Kroombit Tops National Park, an 800 metre high sandstone plateau overlooking surrounding farmlands. The inspiring landscape will capture your imagination with panoramic views, sweeping gorges and peaceful creeks. Among the subtropical rainforests you’ll even find the crash site memorial to a WW2 B-24D Liberator Bomber aircraft that went missing in 1945 and finally discovered in 1994. Discover the varying features of the hinterland in your own way, in your own time. Experience the 4WD routes as a full day trip or stay overnight for a more leisurely journey. Try bush camping in the National Park and Boyne Valley, or rest in comfortable accommodation in Gladstone City, Biloela, Monto, Agnes Water/1770 and surrounding towns. Inside this brochure you’ll find a map and detailed directions, suggestions for planning your trip and guidelines for driving in the area. Your Gladstone Hinterland adventure begins now… Gladstone TOURING Routes 1 1 GLADSTONE - KROOMBIT 351.9 km (circuit) - 7 ¾ hrs drive 2 Dan Dan National Park Futter Creek Castle Tower 1770 National Park 2 BILOELA - KROOMBIT Conservation Park Agnes Water 362.3 km (circuit) - 7 ¼ hrs drive 4 Wietalaba National Park MONTO - KROOMBIT Kroombit Tops 3 National Park 290.2 km (circuit) - 7 hrs drive Biloela Bulburin National Park Dawes AGNES WATER - KROOMBIT Cania Gorge National Park 4 National Park 432.2 km (circuit) - 8 ¾ hrs drive 3 Monto PRE-TRIP Planning It is important to familiarise yourself with the road and www.131940.qld.gov.au Finally, leave trip details with someone so that they can weather conditions and what facilities and amenities are www.northburnett.qld.gov.au contact Police Search and Rescue if your party is overdue. available on the route you plan to take (especially drinking www.gladstone.qld.gov.au Make sure you notify this person when you return. water). If possible, travel with another vehicle if you are www.racq.com.au going to remote places. If you are unsure, obtain more www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks Track Condition information from one of the organisations listed in the As a general guide, all four routes require a moderate Links and Contacts section below. Equipment level of 4WD skill and experience. The routes are suitable All of the 4WD routes involve long distances from services for medium clearance vehicles with dual range. The Access and Road Reports and amenities. It is recommended that travellers bring: majority of routes are on sealed or well-formed unsealed Rain and other events including bush fires, construction • Maps and guidebooks. roads with minor gradients. All routes include tracks works, flooding and erosion can affect road conditions • An adequate vehicle recovery kit for the type of terrain with some steep and/or rocky/slippery/sandy sections, making some roads impassable during certain times of you are likely to encounter. and several shallow water crossings. Previous 4WD the year. In addition, some sections of National Parks are • Tyre pressure gauge and a pump to reinflate tyres. experience or training is recommended. Some tracks can closed for short periods of time for park management • First-aid kit. become extremely slippery after rain, and more difficult to purposes. Please enquire about the condition of the • A mobile phone or other communication equipment. negotiate safely. route you plan to take before travelling. Information • Adequate drinking water. on road conditions is available from: • Sufficient fuel (and be aware of where you can refuel). Gladstone-Kroombit 4WD Touring Route 351 KM Gladstone 1 T o B ROUTE SUMMARY R r o u c c k e h H 351.9 km (circuit) a igh Boyne Island m wa p y t 7 ¼ hrs to drive (circuit, no stops) o Tannum Sands n Camping 2 Highways, narrow sealed roads, unsealed roads. Benaraby 4WD essential for complete trail. Calliope Start and finish: Gladstone d a way o igh R Includes 4WD trails. Dry weather only. n H Accom o ws d Lake Turkey Beach Da n a l Awoonga e l Dan Dan b a National Park T HIGHLIGHTS G l Futter Creek a Castle Tower d s 1 Conservation Park t National Park Gladstone o Agnes Water n 11 D e 2 Calliope River Historical Village i - g M lu ad o Bororen o 3 m n l R Kroombit Tops National Park t il o H R R d o n 4 o The Barracks & Park orientation shelter a u Emergency services d a o T d 5 Bomber crash site o Miriam Vale R D u Callide 3 C Wietalaba l l 6 u i T The Wall f ab lu Dam 4 t Nagoorin l o National Park ela Kroombit Tops n nd 7 The Lookout R Ro 7 Cedarvale ad ad National Park oa Ro Ro 8 d ad Gap supplies Rainforest Walk 10Ubobo an 8 Biloela ckm B a r & l B u 9 Mahoon Creek Kroombit c ra Bulburin e ou 10 o M Dam H Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre T National Park ig Food 5 h 6 9 11 w Lake Awoonga Lookout and picnic area Thangool a y Dawes Builyan National Park Many Mt Scoria Cania Gorge C Peaks lo Conservation Park National Park n Cania m e l Dam B R ur o To Bundaberg Public toilets n e a To Gin Gin t d t H ig h w Kalpowar a y K alp Petrol Mungungo ow ar Moonford Road Bancroft Monto LEGEND: To Mundubbera GLADSTONE TO KROOMBIT TOPS THE BARRACKS AND LOOKOUT MAHOON CREEK AND LAKE AWOONGA NATIONAL PARK From The Barracks, head south east 8.2 km to the Turn right onto Mahoon Ck Rd and follow the road 20.5 Start from Gladstone 1 , the global industrial centre of 4WD Loop Road (signed).There are several points of km though a picturesque gorge system, across pastures, Queensland. Stock up with supplies, and drop into the interest on this loop track, so allow 2 to 3 hours for this, and shallow creek crossings 9 . You will come across Gladstone Visitor Information Centre to find out more including stops. Turn right at the intersection and continue several gates which may be open or closed. Please about the attractions and facilities around the city and 17.7 km along the Loop Road. Turn left at the marked leave them as you found them. Mahoon Ck Rd will join region. Head south 20.2 km along the Dawson Hwy to the T-intersection and travel 2.0 km to the Bomber crash Clonmel Rd. Continue south 14.9 km to the intersection intersection with the Bruce Highway at Calliope. Nearby site 5 parking area. The crash site includes an easy 30 with Rocky Creek Rd. Turn left and continue 7.0 km along (just off the Bruce Highway) is the Calliope River Historical minute interpretive walking trail. It is a moving experience. Rocky Ck Rd to the T-intersection. Turn right into Monal Village 2 – stop in during your stay in Gladstone and learn Leaving the Bomber crash site, head east for 2.0 km to the Rd and continue south 14.6 km to the small township of about the region’s early history as you walk amongst the intersection. Turn right to return on the track you arrived Mungungo. Turn left into the Gladstone-Monto Rd and collection of restored heritage buildings. Stop in Calliope on (it is easier than the one-way track back via The Wall). head east to Bancroft (8.2 km), then north to the forestry for refreshments, fuel and supplies, since it will be several If you are a confident 4WD-er, continue straight ahead 0.6 town of Kalpowar (15.5 km) and Many Peaks (24.9 km). hours before you come to the next township. Continue along km to the intersection to The Wall 6 , turn left and proceed If you are camping nearby, enquire about the Child’s Rd the Dawson Hwy 6.7 km and turn left onto the Gladstone- 0.4 km slowly down the steep track to Annie Creek and track to the old copper smelters at Glassford Creek and Monto Rd. Just 1.5 km along the Gladstone-Monto Rd is the striking sandstone wall - perfect spot for a picnic historic gold stamper, goldfields and cemetery at Monal – a the intersection with Tableland Rd – and sign to Kroombit (caution – the one-way return track includes steep and/or scenic half day loop track for experienced 4WD-ers. From Tops National Park. Turn right onto Tableland Rd and look rocky/slippery/sandy sections - previous 4WD experience Many Peaks, continue north along the Gladstone-Monto for the green national park sign advising if Kroombit Tops is or training is recommended). From The Wall, continue north Rd, along the scenic Boyne Valley, to Builyan (2.3 km). If open or closed. Continuing along Tableland Rd you will enter east 14.8 km - travel slowly and carefully. Catch glimpses you are camping in the area, there is an enjoyable half-day Dan Dan State Forest and cross Double and Futter Creeks. of the spectacular views north across Kroombit Ck gorge. 4WD circuit along Bulburin Rd into Bulburin National Park Continue along Tableland Rd (watch for cattle on the road!) At the intersection turn right onto the park’s main road, travel – including the rugged high country of the Many Peaks, which begins to climb to the signed entrance of Kroombit 4.7 km until you reach The Lookout 7 , where you will find Dawes and Bobby Ranges, and the largest subtropical Tops National Park 3 (50.3 km).