DISCOVER the beauties of the bush on a byway adventure. From Gladstone, you can take a trip that largely follows the Dawson Highway west then returns to the Bruce Highway along the Capricorn Highway.
National parks which give panoramic views of the Great Dividing Range can be holidays in themselves or day visits. Kroombit Tops National Park has fantastic escarpment views that will take your breath away. Between Monto and Biloela is the Cania Gorge National Park, with rainforest, sandstone cliffs, a magnificent gorge and kilometres of bushwalking trials.
Then it’s on to Biloela which is the largest town in the Banana Shire, a coal mining region that also produces wheat, cotton, beef, pork and lucerne.
One of the natural wonders of the area is Mt Scoria about 16km from town. See the unusual basalt columns that are known as singing rocks because of the ringing sound they make when struck by metal objects.
From Biloela, you pass through Banana, Moura, Bauhinia, Rolleston and Springsure which is not far from Minerva Hills National Park. At Springsure, you can turn south to the Carnarvon National Park and its aboriginal art, shadowed gorge and glorious walks or head northward towards Emerald.
In the vicinity of Emerald, you’ll find everything from the lovely Lake Maraboon to the sapphire gemfields of the Central Queensland Highlands and the town of Capella, known for its horse sports.
Heading back towards the coast doesn’t have to be a straightforward trip along the Capricorn Highway. Stop in Blackwater, known as the coal capital of Queensland, to see its lovely Japanese Gardens and the huge flag display at the Lions Park.
Leave the highway to see the Blackdown Tableland National Park’s caves, sandstone gorges and waterfalls.
Another side trip takes you to the old gold mining town of Mount Morgan. And drop in to Mt Hay at Wycarbah to look for thundereggs on your way through to Rockhampton.
