Rocky/Mackay Ride, then return to Bris via Emerald

Topics

Rocky/Mackay Ride, then return to Bris via Emerald

1/2

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

Hi All

Planning a ride late July from Bris to Rocky {stay a night or two} then off to Mackay for a day or so, then head west to Emerald [via Nebo/Coppabella] to overnight/s!

My question is; Heading back from Emerald to Brisbane:

a] Any heads up on the condition of the road south through Springsure to Roma?

b] Or head back further East towards Biloela, then south?

Appreciate any comments and/or Pubs worth visiting along the way!

S

Drac
6 years ago

I might be interested in that Stevo
I usually ride to mackay about this time every year but have been on hold because of a job change. I will keep in touch.
Cheers Drac

Jetta
6 years ago

Road from Emerald to Springsure and over to Moura is sealed but rough...
Moura to Theadore is ok. No worst then the Highway north of Gympie...
Theadore to Roma im unsure of.
Road South of Roma is good. But typical of Queensland roads..
If I was doing that loop.
I would go via plan A
Plan B from Biloela South is also Sealed but bad...

Benno
6 years ago

You guys thinking of doing the swag thing or motels Pretty brisk out there at the moment.

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

Drac, Benno

Def. the motel thing, have a tentative booking for one in Rocky with undercover parking!

No issue with Swags, but your right, not this time of year...cant beat a morning hot-shower before setting off I say!

Still in the planning stages [too many reds tonight to give it any further thought atm]...lol

Be good to catch up for a beer with any Central Qld riders along the way???

Benno
6 years ago

Stevo, I'd like to join in, hopefully the schedule permits, see how your trip/dates line up, good idea to give the swags a side step this time of year.

spacewolf
6 years ago

Quoting Jetta on 15 Jun 2018 10:30 PM
Road from Emerald to Springsure and over to Moura is sealed but rough...
Moura to Theadore is ok. No worst then the Highway north of Gympie...
Theadore to Roma im unsure of.
Road South of Roma is good. But typical of Queensland roads..
If I was doing that loop.
I would go via plan A
Plan B from Biloela South is also Sealed but bad...

As above. These roads are rough, but also narrow. And you'll come across a few wide loads in the Rocky/Mackay/Nebo/Moura/Theodroe area for mines, and probably a few cattle trucks. Try and go the farthest side of the road with the cattle trucks and you may dodge some of the shit and piss that sprays on you.
Otherwise they are great rides. Bumpy, the road conditions are ordinary, but some very good scenery.

Benno
6 years ago

Quoting Jetta on 15 Jun 2018 10:30 PM
Road from Emerald to Springsure and over to Moura is sealed but rough...
Moura to Theadore is ok. No worst then the Highway north of Gympie...
Theadore to Roma im unsure of.
Road South of Roma is good. But typical of Queensland roads..
If I was doing that loop.
I would go via plan A
Plan B from Biloela South is also Sealed but bad...

Quoting spacewolf on 18 Jun 2018 10:57 PM
As above. These roads are rough, but also narrow. And you'll come across a few wide loads in the Rocky/Mackay/Nebo/Moura/Theodroe area for mines, and probably a few cattle trucks. Try and go the farthest side of the road with the cattle trucks and you may dodge some of the shit and piss that sprays on you.
Otherwise they are great rides. Bumpy, the road conditions are ordinary, but some very good scenery.

Spayed with 'Shit and Piss", crappy, bumpy, narrow roads, jeez, you guys sure you want to do that route.

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

Packing Rain Gear...but not for that reason!...lol
Word is head from Emerald back toward Rocky, take a right before Westwood onto the (A3) to Dululu, Biolea, Monto, Mundubbera. Then the choice is to continue S'East on the (A3)
to Kingaroy/BNE or Hwy 75 S'West to Dalby-TBA-BNE?????

Anyways, south out of Emerald is now well off the table "thanks for the heads up!

spacewolf
6 years ago

The road to Dululu is good. After Dululu to Bilo it's a bit bouncy, but it's wide enough to drift around and miss most of the bumps. Bilo has a great pub to stop for lunch if you're inclined (Hotel Settlers).
Pretty much from Bilo on it's not bad roads - I think you've made the right decision diverting your route.

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

For those interested!
My Go Date is Saturday 21 July, doing Bris. to Rocky same day [Accom booked for two nights in Rocky]...want to explore Emu Park/Yepoon on Sunday, grew up there as a kid!
Mon 23rd too Mackay [day or two], like to be in Emerald by Thurs 26th....maybe go further west?

Targeting the 28/29th to start the return journey!...Could be a few days longer depending on the pubs!

Cheers and Beers

Stevo

spacewolf
6 years ago

Steve,
I grew up in Emu Park and Yeppoon also. Happy to take you around on the Sunday.

Bear in mind Statue Bay has changed pretty dramatically, you can't go round the bluff anymore as they are (still) fixing it up so there's a detour in place. EP has changed a lot, Bundesen's shop is gone and a big IGA is there now. The Piney is still there.

Yeppoon has changed a fair bot too, the old pub on the corner near the old westpac burnt down a few years ago. The kavlon is still there but it's a clothes shop now, and the Strand has changed a lot. Yeppoon foreshore is finished, so you're in for a surprise there.

How long has it been since you've been back that way?

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

Hi SW

Thanks for the reply, been 20+ years since I last did a drive by!

Finished grade 1 at the state school then moved south!

Born in Rocky, just thought I'd cover old ground on a trip north.

Appreciate the offer, guided tour sounds like the answer! PM me and we'll exchange details!

Cheers and Beers

Steve

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

** Go date Pushed Back till Tuesday 24th July **

Will be in Emu Park Wed 25th, then off to Mackay on the 26th..heading North and then west after that!

Cheers
S

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

All ready to go!

Benno
6 years ago

Enjoy the trip Stevo, sorry I can't join in, work schedule has not allowed, post up some pics and let us know the state of the roads.
Benno.

stevo fxsb
6 years ago

Well after 3243klms, I made it back!

Did Brisbane to Rockhampton, same day. Visited Emu Park/Yepoon the next [pic attached], yes both places have changed since I was a kid!

Next stop Mackay, same day, decent ride except for an encounter with Plod that cost me 3 points! [Half Sleeve Half Beard young P**k!].

Spent a couple of days there, did the Northern Beaches [pic attached..love the tractors towing the tinnies], Proserpine and Arlie Beach!

West from Mackay to Emerald via Nebo. Whilst I'd seen some road kill, that section had me "shitting bricks". lots of road kill and not much clearance between the road and the bush [ pic attached]. And plenty of oncoming trucks!

O/Night in Emerald, the off south to Springsure [organised the bike to stay indoors] whilst I visited Uncle and Cousin on a Cattle property some 1.5 hours west!

4 Days of complete bliss, no phone service, clear blue sky's and star studded ink black cold nights...and the silence "wow"!

Made a mistake, headed back to Emerald then toward Rocky, then turned off prior to Rocky toward Biloea, overnight ed in Monto, then single run back to Bris!

Should have went south and come back via Dalby! Could have saved 200 odd k's and a couple of hours!

In all, a great 2 weeks!

Cheers and Beers

Stevo

Fuel note: Most major brands Caltex/BP etc in the very small towns, dont offer 98. Having said that, all Puma branded servo's I encountered offer 98???
Couple of times had to run the bike on 95 but no issues!

Road Conditions: As a general rule I'd say Fair to Good, worst part was the roadworks south of Rockhampton, sure some shitty parts hear and there but no different to riding here!

Biggest surprise: Riding through fog, ranges west of Mackay, wiping the visor on the lid every 15sec.

Closest call: Bird strike near road kill [just managed to duck under an eagle before it connected with lid]!

New Best Friend: Dotti the cattle dog!

steelo
6 years ago

Good pics Steve. Thx for posting. 3 and a half thousand k's is a good innings. Glad you're home safe but sorry you came to grief with the local constabulary. Takes a bit of the shine off the journey. Speed?

brucefxdl
6 years ago

thanks for the story and pics steve,sounds good.2 sons live in mackay and work in the mines west of there,driving over the ranges is an experience ,especially at night.roos every where.and as you said nothing between the road and the bush. cheers.

JFE
6 years ago

Nice write-up and pics mate, thanks for the read.

Topics

1/2

Rocky/Mackay Ride, then return to Bris via Emerald

Rocky/Mackay Ride, then return to Bris via Emerald

stevo fxsb

Drac

Jetta

Benno

stevo fxsb

Benno

spacewolf

Benno

stevo fxsb

spacewolf

stevo fxsb

spacewolf

stevo fxsb

stevo fxsb

stevo fxsb

Benno

stevo fxsb

steelo

brucefxdl

JFE