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For a very long time I've wanted to get out to Flinders Peak. From afar, I would see them each day when riding to work. Local area maps revealed very little about the area, the trails within or the history...until recently. Ipswich and Boonah Shire councils have worked together open up and promote the are and its trails - most importantly the Ipswich-Boonah Trail.

I had an Audax offroad night ride at Peaks Crossing, so this was the perfect timing I needed to stage a bikepacking overnighter in the area. Seeing as I was supposed to be in NZ for the Kiwi Brevet and had a bit of form to spare, it was only fitting that I make it a door to door micro-adventure. So, loaded up the Fargo, set course and got truckin'!

From Daisy Hill, headed out via Greenbank, Springfield, then to Yamanto via the Centenary hway. Dropped into the Maccas drivethrough for some dinner. The Centenary hway stretch was bliss - smooth hotmix, wide shoulder and gentle rollers.

Afternoon view of the peaks in the distance from the Centenary hwy.

Dinner en route - chicken wrap and choc thickshake

The audax night ride was 35k (mostly) offroad loop, under a full moon. A variety of bikes, from my ti Fargo, to hybrids, mtbs and even a few road bikes with 23s on. With paperwork and a quick briefing done, it was off into the night. We went along one trail that was bottomless blacksoil goop, sodden from the previous weeks rain, I found a C line through the grass beside the trail - story goes the road bikes didn't fare so well, one rider was running Speedplays and lost a LOT of time digging mud out of his cleats...

After the ride we shared stories and chatted about each others bikes. One rider was a recent (and many time rider) of PBP, he had some interesting stories about the bikes and riders of this years PBP. I headed off to make camp, somewhere around midnight I crawled into the Contrail. The mozzies were horrendous, big greys, every 10 seconds or so during setup I'd go off on a Peter Garret dance to shake them off - glad I decided on a screened tarp instead of the bivvy.



A quick brekky and onto the trail - a lot of vertical and a bit of walking. Be interesting to see what the trail is like with fresh legs, I need to rethink my shoes with hike-a-bike sections in mind, feet got cut up a bit with the walking and pushing up the steeper 30%+ sections, some reminded me of Filbert, Lombard and Divisadero streets in San Francisco.

To add to the terrain, you constantly need to scan the trail ahead for these guys - Golden Orb spider. They spin a thick, super sticky yellow web with a Kevlar-like silk, can grow with a leg span as big as your hand and cause a pucker moment when you hit the web on a descent. You do the Garret dance as you strip off helmet, pack etc and wonder where the spider is...



I remember years ago when the Chuck Norris quotes were popular, I recall one quote as going "Chuck Norris has no chin, underneath his beard is another fist". The terrain was a bit like that on this trail, you'd ascend a bit then turn a corner, and find another climb and another climb after that - just like that fist. There'd be a short steep descent into a ravine, then you walk out of it to another climb.



Pretty soon I came to the saddle of Mt Blaine, with views directly out to Flinders Peak and beyond. The descent to Flinders plum was 35%+, rocky but in good condition.



Down near Sandy creek the trail disappeared into the long grass, was really glad for the gaiters and sock protectors from Moxie Gear. They have a 5mm closed cell shin guard around the front of the gaiter, with just lycra on the back panels. Great for trail brush, but not confident with them for reptile protection...

Reached Flinders Plum, to find the trail had been temporarily closed . I was planning to navigate past the base of Flinders Peak, then exit to the south east and return via Undullah, Jimboomba and Logan Village, but this track closure forced me to return on the same road route via Springfield and Greenbank. Ah well, next time a bit furthur.

Nice one Troy!

I believe the 'temporary closure' has been temporary for the past 2-3 years.

great ride report, thanks for sharing.

Quote: PtZell

I believe the 'temporary closure' has been temporary for the past 2-3 years.

great ride report, thanks for sharing.

Sounds about right, there is a big yellow "area closed" sign at the Spowers Rd entrance to Flinders-Goolman Conservation Area, looks like it's been there a while.

The first time I explored around Flinders Plum, I rode down to Mount Flinders Rd via Ipswich-Boonah Rd, as I hit Flinders Plum it started raining, by the time I got to not far after that last pic was taken, it had been ***ing down rain and the trail kind of tries to take you left, this puts you in Sandy Creek.

Beyond Flinders Plum, so long as you stay to the right, you'll be fine.

There was a small lake forming down there, so I turned around and rode back home.

they are evil and I too have done the Peter Garret dance you speak of with much the amusement of a laughing hard Michae1 or Utty

HAHAHA It's still funny to this day!! Well so long as it was you and not me!

Here are some detailed topo maps of the trails - www.organisedgrime.com.au/additions.php - about half way down the page.

Take a look at the trail between Spowers Road and Mount Blaine, it's like it was designed to go up and down as much as possible for no good reason. The Boonah to Ipswich south from Flinders Plum is MUCH better, there's a heap of climb past Flinders but it's gradual and you only do it once.

The very permanent looking big yellow sign at the Spowers Road entrance shouldn't be there as those trails are most certainly open and there is no similar sign to be found at Hardings Paddock or Flinders Plum, which are the other relevant entrances. I think they just forgot to remove it when the trails were reopened in November 2011.

I visited Flinders Plum a few weeks ago with two little boys. We walked north up to the Blaine Saddle and I was glad I didn't take a bike because it wouldn't have been much use in either direction.

We found a big nasty Go Away sign south of Flinders Plum on the beginning of the Flinders Peak Track. This has been closed for some time because the rangers think it's too scary. This is not part of the Boonah to Ipswich trail - it's an out-and-back.

We didn't find any signage suggesting that the B2IT south from Flinders (Swampy Creek Trail) was closed.

Area54, I'm intrigued to know where you found the closure sign. Did you take a GPS with you?

Nole,

This is what I can tell you about the trail.

Firstly, all trails in the entire place are officially closed. It was closed following the rain that caused the floods last January. Not long ago there was that BBQ/opening function. The trails were ready and reopened a week prior to that. Within two days it bucketed rain and amazingly the trails were closed again after just being reopened. Whether you enter from Hardings Paddock or Wards Rd you can get in there and ride. The problem is that you don't know what you'll get. The trail from Flinders Plumb to Mt Elliott Rd has never been opened, but before the floods was in good condition. The Wild Pig Creek Rd / Washpool Rd bizzo is a total waste of time from the top of Mt Elliott Rd. Don't even bother.

From Mt Perry where Undullah Rd becomes Ripley Rd there is a gut buster / hike-a-bike which was followed by a single trail that became double track across the back of a farm and eventually becomes a fire trail withn the park. There are two turn offs to the Ipswich Boonah trail coming out south of Flinders Plumb and the fire trail itself comes on to the Ipswich Boonah trail not far before Mt Elliiott Rd. I last rode from Mt Perry to Mt Elliott Rd just after the floods and it was so overgrown I was getting wheel spin in some places.

The undulations between Hardings Paddock and Flinders Plumb are pretty extreme. A bit of practice and you'll ride them but it's no joke, particularly on a loaded tourer.

I watch the Castle Hill thread with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. It seems like there is some kind of war going on out there or a battle of wills or something that I can't seem to grasp propperly. But I can understand the desire to get away for the day and switch off from it. I'm just not sure this is the place at the moment, but you might like an out and back down Undullah Rd and Wild Pig Creek Rd. That is smooth and open as they are public roads with little trafic.

If you like you can PM me a land line number and I can phone you while I'm having lunch or 8pm if you want to ask me about any specifics. I certainly wouldn't say no to hearing the Castle Hill story.