Travelling over the Toowoomba range to Canarvon.
Submitted: Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:04
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Native
Hi,
I am travelling from
Brisbane to
Carnarvon Gorge in an older 1985 Toyota 2 litre camper van, automatic. [quite heavy with fit out].
I am not too concerned about climbing the
Toowoomba range but a little concerned about travelling down it on the way back to
Brisbane because of the steep descent. The camper is automatic.
Any suggestions for a alternative route on the way back or should I be okay descending the range?
Much appreciated,
Annette
Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:22
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:22
You should be able to select a low gear even in an automatic and just take it easy going down. Don't worry about going slow and holding up traffic because it is 2 lanes and there are plenty of slow trucks going down.
Not sure how steep other routes are, but you have to go down the range somewhere.
AnswerID:
416096
Follow Up By: Native - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:25
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:25
Thanks Rod. Might take a trip up and down the range in my regular vehicle just to experience the drive
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686170
Reply By: Rockape - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 12:24
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 12:24
Annette,
when you are decending the range, pump your brakes rather than riding them. Slow the vehicle gently then let it roll with your foot off the brakes, as you start to speed up slow it again, this will stop your brakes from overheating and fading.
You will be fine if you use low in the auto and go steady, steady.
Have a good trip, enjoy
Carnarvon and Takarakka, make sure you have comfortable shoes as you will need them.
AnswerID:
416107
Reply By: brushmarx - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:20
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:20
I don't think you would have much trouble if you pick a lower gear, but there is a less steep route that uses the
New England Hwy out of
Toowoomba towards
Warwick, and winds down through
Heifer Creek Rd and back around short of Gatton.
It is a bit narrow in
places, a couple of single lane bridges with current roadworks, a bit twisty, but overall, a nice drive.
I dragged a 18' van up there last friday
Brisbane to
Roma), and enjoyed the trip. Nice scenery, and a few good picnic areas.
I'm guessing it added about 30 to 40km to the normal trip, but nowhere near as steep.
Cheers
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416115
Follow Up By: brushmarx - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:31
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:31
Taking this route through Clifton, heading towards
Toowoomba, I think I saw a
sign to Cecil Plains? There are also signs from out past
Oakey turning South towards Cecil Plains.
I assume this may mean that you don't have to go through
Toowoomba if you didn't have any need for it, which could lessen the time to go through all the heavy traffic in town.
It may be possible to go from
Oakey (or further west towards
Dalby) through to Cecil Plains, Clifton and through to Gatton.
Maybe someone more local or experienced could confirm or deny this, or more research may be necessary.
Cheers
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686186
Follow Up By: Member - Alan H (QLD) - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 16:34
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 16:34
Yes! there is bitumen road from Clifton - Leyburn - Cecil Plains and comes out at
Dalby. Less traffic and not so steep.
The
Heifer Creek road from Gatton to Clifton has most of the road works completed and as stated is a very scenic drive.
Alan
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686207
Reply By: Merl57 - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:22
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 13:22
Hi Annette,
We recently travelled from
Brisbane via
Toowoomba to Carnarvan
Gorge. Instead of towing the van up the range we turned off the highway and went through Gatton, and took the road to Clifton. This then leads to the Warwich/
Toowoomba Highway and you come out in
Toowoomba.
It takes a bit longer and there are some hills but nothing steep. Also quite a nice drive.
Merl
AnswerID:
416116
Reply By:- Monday, May 10, 2010 at 17:43
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 17:43
Gidday Annette,
you could always head further north from
Carnarvon Gorge - upto
Emerald, then head to the Coast -
Rockhampton and head south from there - make more of a circuit out of your trip so you don't see the same roads twice. Alternatively, if you don't have enough time, you could cut the corner and just totally
Gorge yourself - go from
Carnarvon Gorge to Cania
Gorge, then back to
Brisbane from there.
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416137
Reply By: D200Dug- Monday, May 10, 2010 at 19:26
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 19:26
From memory there are also a few rest stops on the downhill road.
It would be worth making a stop and letting everything cool down for a while.
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Reply By: KyleF250 - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 20:12
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 20:12
there's a rest stop/
camp area at heifer ck on gatton to clifton road which is nice .
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