Scenic Rim part 1: Port Douglas to Girraween NP

12/02/202126/02/2022

4 weeks off , we decided to go to the Scenic Rim which is close to Gold coast. The Scenic Rim has many national parks and amazing waterfalls. Its a popular destination for Brisbane and Gold coast. Lucky we got there in the off season. Our friend told us its easier to go through the outback.

Charters towers

The first day we made it to charters towers which is 624km from Port Douglas. The outback was very green for a change because they had a lot of rain it was beautiful. We saw some emus on the way. The outback was very hot , it was 38 degrees during the day time, so we didn’t want to camp in the tent. sometimes you really need air-con. Charter towers was busy with cattle traders, it took us a bit of time to find a hotel. We found a room in the pub (commercial hotel). Very basic tiny room with box air-con. We tried to stay outside but it was so hot even at night still 33 degrees.

Emerald

The next day, we had a quick breakfast and get back in the car with”air-con”. From charters towers to Emerald was 477km .On the way we stopped for lunch at Capella Lions park. This town has beautiful rest area and park, Winding walking tracks through a park and bottle trees beside the highway.

Emerald is historical townships in the Central Highlands. we decided to go to the information center looking for some advice for place to stay . The lady was very nice and gives us a few tips. Outside the information center had beautiful garden and a few old cabins and a massive copy of Van Gogh Sunflower Painting. The 25m high superstructure is the world’s largest painting on an easel and celebrates the Central Highland’s reputation as a major sunflower producer.

we decided not to stay in Emerald (was too hot 40 degree) and keep going to next town. From there we followed A4 and A3 highway through Blackwater, Dingo and Gogango to Biloela. we did 790 km in a day. Biloela caravan park was very average and people were strange but at least it had a nice pool and we only here for one night stayed. Biloela was a lot cooler then the outback towns (still 28 degree at night).

Monto

We were leaving in the early morning at 5:30 am. We found a bakery in town was quit nice, real country feeling to it. Okay!! time to go further south. We are sick of the heat!! On the way we stop at Monto. We didn’t expect much from this little town but Monto has an amazing silo art trail. They painted these huge silos, on a water tower,on the street ,houses and inside the building . Spend a bit time and lunch in this little town was worth it.

check out Monto The Silo Art Trail

Toowoomba

After that we drove all the way down to Toowoomba, 500 Km. we stayed at Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park. Toowoomba is a big city compared to what we had seen for a few days. We only stayed here for one night and did some “bank job” haha….

Girraween National Park

Early in the morning left Toowoomba, we drove all the way to Girraween NP which only 180kms. And WOW….what a beautiful National Park. and it`s a information center there, with some ranges which is we never seen in any National parks in QLD. We were camping at Castle Rock camping area.

Girraween, meaning “place of flowers”. The park has huge granite boulders everywhere and hiking trails( Guess enough hiking for a month). At the National Park we saw a lots of wild life such as insects,kangaroos, Lizard and birds and wild flowers. Of course we met some great people too.

First day, We tried an easy track ,The Junction. This walking trail was very easy just follow the creek. Creeks was very dry but beautiful views. We see some wild flowers and had fun with massive balanced rocks.

Day 2, we challenged the most famous hiking track, The pyramid. Which is super steep all the way to the top. You can only walk here when its dry. You need a very good shoes to grip from the rock because there is nothing else to hold on. Lilia thought it was too steep so she stayed at the half way, she did really good job!! while I went up to the top there`s amazing view which is 360 degree views and some balanced boulders, not so easy to get down through.

On the way back to camping ground,we went on the other trail, Granite Arch.

Day 3, In the early morning 6am we did another hiking, Castle Rock. which ended up with another steep climb rock, any thing with high and no secure Lilia will have trouble. but this one, we met a old man 74 years old, he is local, hiking every weekend. he helped Lilia to pushed through it and made it to the top. What a achievement!!