The Peak Downs highway starts just north of Clermont and continues in a north
westerly direction to the "city gates" immediately south of Mackay. It is
sealed and dual lane. There is often a lot of mine related traffic over the
section from Moranbah to Mackay .. both equipment & personnel, and wide loads.
In my opinion, there are a high number of accidents on this road, often fatal,
so care should be exercised.
NOTE .. distance incorrect east of Coppabella .. this means totals are also incorrect.
0 km (239.0 km) JUNCTION 7.4 km north of Clermont roundabout. Junction of Gregory
Highway from Emerald and Gregory Development Road north to Charters Towers.
* PARKING .. northern side of junction. Gravel pit close to corner. There is a track
cutting the corner north of gravel pit area. North of this track are a number
tracks in the bush .. these are suggested for parking.
Class 3. 22° 44.280'S 147° 38.037'E. Hema map 8, G 6.
No facilities, OK big rigs with care, 60m max. from highway.
[6.5 km]
6.5 km (232.5 km) and points north .. LLOYDS TABLELAND .. large flat top mountain visible
in the distance to the east.
[23.8 km]
30.3 km (208.7 km) WOLFANG PEAK .. remarkable peak close to highway.
[59.2 km]
89.5 km (149.5 km) PEAK DOWNS mine turn off on eastern side. That sealed road
continues to Dysart and beyond and provides an alternative route south to
Capella or Middlemount and beyond.
[1.4 km]
90.9 km (148.1 km) MORANBAH turn off and roadhouse. Roadhouse was motorhome
friendly to Mackay CMCA chapter and opened a paddock to the immediate north
for parking. Normal parking area appears a little small .. suggest you
enquire and patronise roadhouse. Fuel is reported to be a few cents a litre
cheaper in Moranbah town.
------------------------------
0 km Junction .. turn west for Moranbah.
11 km REST AREA north side .. large "drag line" bucket displayed.
Class 2. 22° 00.873'S 148° 02.703'E Hema map 8, F 6.
Toilets, tables, 100m max. from road, OK big rigs as large area .. some
grass, some dust!
12.2 km MORANBAH .. town, turn north (right) .. all facilities.
It is possible to continue on ahead via a series of mines to Burton Downs at a
spot close to Lake Elphingstone (Class 1 parking) on the Mt. Coolon Rd.
------------------------------
CLERMONT TO MACKAY .. continued.
6.8 km]
97.7 km (141.3 km) ISAAC RIVER REST AREA .. turn east 100m north of bridge.
Class 2. 22° 02.954'S 148° 07.806'E Hema map 8, E 7.
Tables, shade, BBQ, 60m max. from road, OK big rigs as circular area.
[31.4 km]
129.1 km (109.9 km) COPPABELLA turn north .. Coppabella, a railway town, is just
off the highway. Not investigated, but rest area signposted.
[1.8 km] NOTE .. this distance is incorrect .. it's a lot further. Also around 2003, the road
and railway line were diverted to the south around the southern border of a new coal mine
development thus making the distance even further. This WILL UPSET the total distances.
130.9 km (108.1 km) DINGO turn south. Mt Flora to Dingo road .. also known as
Fitzroy Development Rd. An alternative completely sealed route south to
Middlemount & Capricornia Hwy., was single lane, now widened to dual lane.
[5.3 km]
136.2 km (102.8 km) OXFORD DOWNS turn off east .. sealed road across to the
old inland Marlbrough Sarina Road. About 25% is still single lane .. provides a
short cut to the Marlborough to Sarina Rd., Sarina and the Bruce Hwy.
[14.0 km]
150.2 km (88.8 km) NEBO .. most town facilities. Have heard of motorhomes
parking overnight .. past hotel, turn left, ? near creek.
[6.0 km]
156.2 km (82.8 km) GLENDEN turn off to west. Have known motorhomes to park overnight,
with permission, near servo on corner. Big rigs OK. Also, quite a number of tracks/roads
with ? overnight possibilities around complexes just along the road to Glenden.
[22.0 km]
178.2 km (60.8 km) RETREAT HOTEL north west side, paved parking either side of road
leading to hotel .. fuel available, public phone.
Class 3 ?. 21° 28.745'S. 148° 48.674'E. Hema map 9, D 8.
Tables, some shade, 120 m max from highway, big rigs OK.
[17.2 km]
195.4 km (43.6 km) BLUE MOUNTAIN Road to south east. 26 km gravel road to Marlborough
to Sarina Rodd.
[6.6 km]
202.0 km (36.9 km) TOP OF EATON RANGE. Very small parking area both sides of
highway.
[10.9 km]
212.9 km (26.1 km) HOMEBUSH ROAD south east side .. also short cut to Sarina .. some
sealed but some single lane.
------------------------------
0 km turn off for Homebush / Sarina.
[1.5 km]
1.5 km Gravel pit / road entrance ..east side .. medium size level area.
Class 3. 21° 16.401'S 148° 58.744'E. Hema map 9, D 8.
No facilities, 25m max from 100 kph road, OK big rigs with care.
[9.0 km]
10.5 km Homebush turn off .. turn right for Sarina, straight ahead for Homebush.
[26.6 km]
37.1 km Gravel pit .. north side .. large level area, in view of Bruce Highway to the south.
Class 3. 21° 24.154'S. 149° 12.529'E. Hema map 9, D 8.
No facilities, no shade, 80m max from Homebush Road, 200m from Bruce Highway,
little noise, OK big rigs.
[0.1 km]
37.2 km Bruce Highway junction .. just north of Sarina.
------------------------------
PEAK DOWNS HIGHWAY .. continued.
[0.7 km]
213.6 km (25.4 km) MIRANI and MARIAN roads turn north. After about 1 km turn right
for sealed road via North Eton to Marian .. about 10 km. Straight ahead for
gravel road to Mirani .. about 20 km total, 50% gravel.
[0.4 km]
214.0 km (25.0 km) ETON SPORTS COMPLEX .. north side .. turn opposite hotel.
Follow track around past toilets, suggest parking adjacent to fence on right.
Class 3. 21° 15.725'S 148° 58.469'E. Hema map 9, D 8.
Toilets, water, rubbish bins, some shade, BBQ western end near tennis courts.
100m max from highway, OK big rigs with care.
[15.8 km]
229.8 km (9.2 km) WALKERSTON town.
[2.7 km]
232.5 km (6.5 km) EUNGELLA ROAD to north. Described seperately.
[4.5 km]
237.0 km (2.0
km) RACECOURSE (sugar) MILL, north side.
[2.0 km]
239.0 km (0 km) BRUCE HIGHWAY junction .. also know as (Mackay) City Gates.
NOTE. The highway has since been moved east of Coppabella .. distance to the east is incorrect.
Thus total distances to the east of Coppabella are incorrect.
To send an e-mail to Ron, use the "Back to RONS HOMEPAGE" facility below.
There is a "Send an e-mail to Ron" link at the bottom of that hOMEPAGE.
There is a "Send an e-mail to Ron" link at the bottom of that hOMEPAGE.
Back to Rons home page.