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Post Info TOPIC: Avoiding the Toowoomba Range Qld
Beth54


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Avoiding the Toowoomba Range Qld
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I've spoken about the Gatton-Clifton Road before, but I thought I'd make it a topic.

It's a much easier route if you want to come to the eastern side of the range, without using the Pacific Hwy etc. There's also the Esk-Hampton Road, but I haven't been that way for along time, and not with the van, so I can't comment.

The Gatton-Clifton Road is a bit rough in parts. Some roadworks have been done, and there's still more going on. But in my opinion, this is still a much less stressful route than the range. And a lot more scenic too.

The section where it follows along the creek in a gap in the mountains, is particularly scenic. I wish I could have stopped to take photos but there's just nowhere to pull over. It's quite windy in parts, but it's an easy climb east to west.

There's a nice park at Heifer Creek where you can free camp, and there's a toilet there. There's also a shop/café at Ma Ma Creek, but I've never stopped there so have no opinion of it.

The eastern side runs through the flat farming area of the Lockyer region, where there are often stalls selling pumpkins etc. The western side is farming land too, but mainly grain crops.

There's so much to see between Toowoomba and Brisbane, so don't let the range put you off exploring the Lockyer region.

http://www.discoverlockyer.com.au/pages/great-trails/

 

 

 

 



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Beth, now living on the Redcliffe Peninsula, SEQ.

 

 
jules47


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Good idea posting that info Beth - especially after our experience on the Toowoomba Range last week!!!!! Sc ary stuff. Truck lost traction going up on diesel spill, skidding all over the road, and people (or should I say idiots) were passing him on the left hand side!!!!!

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sandsmere


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Yeah !  It's a pleasant drive Beth .

We had a coffee and pie at MaMa café . pretty good .

And we stayed at Heifer creek . 4 other rigs there , and we had a very pleasant happy hour ( or 2 ) .



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Cupie


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I  think that I've been down there but not sure if I had the van on.

What's the pull up the range like for a 21'6" van?

 

 



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Beth54


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I can't answer that one cupid. Maybe someone else can.

I know when I went up the range a little over a week ago, I was in 2nd gear towards the top.

I just think the range is terribly dangerous until they get the 4 lanes open again.



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landy


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Cupie  we pulled our 23. 5 foot van up there last year and it was no fun 2nd gear every thing geting hot and no where to stop.

    Landy



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sandsmere


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G'day Cupie ,

Our van is a 21ft 6in Retreat . All-up weight about 2800 kilos . Land Cruiser had no trouble with it .

Easily the best route to cross the range around Toowoomba I reckon .



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Cupie


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sandsmere wrote:

G'day Cupie ,

Our van is a 21ft 6in Retreat . All-up weight about 2800 kilos . Land Cruiser had no trouble with it .

Easily the best route to cross the range around Toowoomba I reckon .

 Thanks all for the advice ...  I reckon that the 4.2 EFI Patrol will do the job.



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Rabbit


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Beth,

Use the Esk to Hampton road all the time including towing the caravan. Good way to get to and from Toowoomba. Easier to get up and down the range then one big pull at the end.
Also great little camp with toilets at the small Hampton Visitor centre (Camps 7 - 465). Another free camp at Ravensbourne (Camps 7 - 466) on the road between Esk and Hampton.

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Beth54


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Thanks for that info Rabbit. I might try that route next time.

And welcome to the forum. smile



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Recoup


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We were in Toowoomba on the 25-5 , no problems coming in from the north or south. 

As for the weather the two days we stayed there, it was bl....y cold, the politican we run into had his hand in his own pocket.

 

Hans



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Beth54


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Recoup wrote:

We were in Toowoomba on the 25-5 , no problems coming in from the north or south. 

As for the weather the two days we stayed there, it was bl....y cold, the politican we run into had his hand in his own pocket.

 

Hans

 Oh sure, no problems with the New England Highway. 

I was meaning the Warrego Highway. Going up or down the range itself that's the problem. They've been working on it since the tragic 2011 floods which devastated Grantham, Murphys Creek etc.

And yes, Toowoomba can get VERY cold! It's probably one of the few places in Qld that can actually have the four seasons. Spring and Autumn are beautiful.



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