This was a great ride with some great stops, and it had a job to do.
Shaneo has put together a cracking ride for the Gasoline Alley HOG chapter, and this was the reccie: a chance to run the whole thing start to finish and make sure it was safe, flowed well, and stacked up for the chapter. Best job going, really. Somebody has to ride 377 km of Scenic Rim backroads to check they’re good enough. Tough gig.
We rolled off from Manly and ran down to Starbucks at Yatala - the official start of the chapter ride. Perfect spot for it: fuel in the tanks, a coffee in hand, and room for everyone to muster up before the real riding starts.
From there it was out along Stanmore Road onto the Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road to Tamborine, past the Bearded Dragon Hotel, through the roundabout and a left onto Mundoolan Road heading for Canungra. Before we hit Canungra we took a sneaky right and ran the back way towards Biddaddaba, then on into Beaudesert.
Through town and out past the golf course towards Kerry, rolling past some beautiful creekside camping spots - the kind of country that makes you want to come back with a swag.
Next we climbed up over the range at Hillview, and what a spectacular view it is from the top. Down the other side to Christmas Creek, then just up the road to the Oaky Creek Farm & Harvest Cafe - a cosy little coffee shed sitting up on the hill in the middle of a working farm. Good choice, Shaneo.
A quick break for a coffee and a caramel slice, and then we were off again, back onto the quiet roads heading for Rathdowney.
Just after Rathy we turned left onto the Boonah-Rathdowney Road, and this is where it really comes alive. Great corners, beautiful country, the road running alongside Burnett Creek and past Lake Maroon, then onto Carneys Creek Road and the Boonah-Lake Moogerah Road, sweeping past Lake Moogerah sitting there under the range.
From there it was more farmland, through the little township of Kalbar, and on to lunch.
Lunch was the Royal Hotel at Harrisville - a beautiful old pub and a cracking spot to pull up the bikes for a feed. They’ve even got camping out the back for the weekend riders.
The third leg after lunch headed back past Lake Wyaralong and a couple of the Wander tiny-house retreats tucked into the hills. We turned right before Beaudesert and ran out the back past Bromelton House and into the back of Flagstone for the final goodbye stop.
From there it was home to Manly via the Logan Motorway and the Gateway, racing the rain the whole way back.
A truly scenic ride on some rarely-used back roads, and a ride the chapter is going to love. Thanks, Shaneo.
Ride Stats
Reccie done, and it passed with flying colours. Some of the best country riding in South East Queensland, all on roads most people never touch.