Sundown National Park 5-7 May 2012

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

Our long weekend was much anticipated. We were all desperate to get away from the rat race and hit some dirt road and listen to nothing but kids playing and birds chirping.

We left around 8:30 from Brisbane and made our way to Boonah. A quick check of the Dirty Weekends book showed us that we needed to do the trip in reverse to do the river crossings. Was a bit of a shame as I really wanted to see Queen Mary Falls, but we'll go back there for sure!

Our guide for the track was our daughters red panda, Miesha


We found the track


On the way was this gorgeous waterfall (does anyone know what it's called??)


The Toyota Patrol on one of the crossings


The river was fairly shallow, maybe 1/2 a tyre high. Took us about 30-45 minutes to get through the river crossings (if that), the last crossing which is a causeway, had no water in it. We stopped in Killarney for lunch and then began the black road leg of the trip to Ballandean in preparation for the 2 hour drive through Sundown National Park to our campsite.....

cont.

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

We got to the entrance of the national park around 3ish and were greeted by some roo's


The track was rough, as I was driving there are no photo's of us driving in and apart from Jeff not being great with a camera, we were feeling a little out of our depth with the track condition and our ability as 4wd'ers. Never-the-less I pressed on and made it to the campsite with only a few clunks and scrapes from the underside of the car. I'm actually amazed I didn't bend a sidestep or lose a mudflap as the size of some of the rocks were huge! Lucky we had gone on the Ormeau trip only recently, it was kind of reminiscent of that outing, just on a very extended level.

We got to the campsite at Burrows Waterhole about 5:30ish and set up for the night. Great campsite, right next to the Severn River, very quiet curteous campers and lots of prado's (none with PP stickers tho)!!!

It was kinda cold on Sunday morning (0.4 degrees according to weatherzone at Ballandean)


The plants were cold


The river was cold


But the clouds were awesome!!


cont.

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

After we had defrosted on Sunday, we thought we'd have a look at the Rat's Castle circuit. We reached the entrance to the track and were treated to some impressive wombat holes on one side, and a rocky slope with huge boulders sticking out of the middle just waiting to rip something important out from underneath an uncaring vehicle, on the other side.

After much deliberation, we chose to go down the wombat holes.






Wasn't too much of a drama really, slow and steady got Jeff down safely.


Bit of a tripod


Actually, I was a nervous wreck after that though, and after almost seeing a car roll at the bottom as well I decided that we wouldn't be pressing on. Our friends with the patrol continued and had a few minor sticky situations, however they were able to winch themselves out and safely joined us back at camp a few hours later.

Reflecting back I would really like to go back and try this track again, as soon as we've added a few things to our vehicle, like new tyres, a lift, bullbar and winch and I would even like to say that we'd have diff lockers. As an inexperienced 4wd'er I'm glad we didn't continue, but part of me will always wonder if we could have made the rest.

cont.

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

All in all it was a nice time away, you definately need a long weekend but it's a peaceful spot.

A few piccies on the way out. The track following the top of the ridge line


On top of the world


She needs a bath!


Red Rock Gorge was just beautiful!


We were treated to this amazing sunset on our way home.


We would love it if anyone was interested in doing this trip in the future. Would be great to go with a group with lots of experience. After we've done more mods of course

Celeste (and Jeff)

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Great Trip report guys. Haven't been to Sundown before but is now on my list! The Waterfall in your first post is mentioned on Note 36 of the Scenic Rim and Cambanoora Gorge trip in the Dirty Weekends.

Teviot Lookout - View takes in Teviot falls (98m) Mt Bell in the foreground and behind, Southern Qlds hightest peak 1381m Mt Superbus (Surperb-us)

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Guys great trip report, the funny thing is that with 25 years of 4WD's we still haven't done Sundown and Giraween! It's high on our to do list so as Craig said we are in as well, maybe a spring trip for those of us that are heart broken we can't make the 2012 GTG.
See ya on the tracks, Richo.


Sent from Richos iPhone using Tapatalk

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Great report!! It's places like that gorge and unspoiled sunset that makes owning a 4WD so special.
When family life finally gets back to normal after our recent arrival I'd definitely be up for a weekend out there.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Great trip report.....

I was down there midweek in at the beginning of Sept and was great. It had been 15+yrs since I had been down there and it was great to finally see a lot of water in the Severn River and to how the river had changed after all the floods of the past couple of years. The river x-ing to get to see was up a fair bit a running a bit fast and as we where down there by ourselves I decided not tempt fate..... Would love to head back down and explore on the other side of the river

[prh Member Find all posts View Profile Close prh]

Any point attempting Sundown as a day trip from Girraween? General advice seems to suggest driving in a group.

Thoughts?

Paul

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Any point attempting Sundown as a day trip from Girraween? General advice seems to suggest driving in a group.

Thoughts?

Paul

If u were camped at Girraween, then I reckon u could do it as a daytrip if u left early in the morning..... The drive from the edge ofthe park to the camping area along the severn river could take u anything up to 2hrs to travel, depending on various things.....

rob

[Fozzy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fozzy]

PRH,

When my wife and I did the trip a couple of years ago we were staying at Stanthorpe and did the run as a day trip, as mentioned it can be slow but start early enough and anything is possible!

Like Jeff & Cel that first run was pre lift, standard grand treks etc it will be good to repeat the run now that I have a little more clearance (and experience for that matter).

Cheers

Dave

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

PRH,

When my wife and I did the trip a couple of years ago we were staying at Stanthorpe and did the run as a day trip, as mentioned it can be slow but start early enough and anything is possible!

Like Jeff & Cel that first run was pre lift, standard grand treks etc it will be good to repeat the run now that I have a little more clearance (and experience for that matter).

Cheers

Dave

Hey Fozzy

Your on hols in the US what are you doing trolling Pradopoint?

See ya on the Aussie tracks, Richo.

[Jeff and Cel 120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff and Cel 120]

Thanks everyone it was a great trip, really!! We're still deciding if we will head down to the GTG in September or not, at this stage we can't quite get our holidays to work, so maybe a trip to Sundown NP would fit in nicely. We're hoping to get a lift, bullbar/winch and tyres in July (if the tax man is kind) so it would be perfect to try out the new gear

[Fozzy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fozzy]

Richo,
This is the land of the 12" lift, seen plenty of awesome FJ's and Jeeps so it's only natural my thoughts turn to Pradopoint particularly like now 3:30 am and still jet lagged, sleep is impossible so might as well do something to pass the time!
Dave