Cambanoora Gorge is located approximately 15 minutes drive from the historic township of Killarney Queensland, and just north of the Qld/NSW border. The Gorge is located approximately 30 minutes drive east of Warwick and is approximately 50 minutes from Boonah at the northern end of the Gorge. The Gorge forms part of the Bicentennial National Trail.
About 25 million years ago, this part of Australia was a plain, gently sloping towards the sea to the east, with a very wide river valley over old sandstones. Suddenly, volcanic eruptions started around the Bunya Mountains, in the Moogerah Dam area, and at Mount Warning.
Over the next 3 million years, huge amounts of volcanic lava, mainly cooling as basalt, spread to form large low-slope shield volcanoes. The volcanoes blocked the water flow to the East. Erosion by westward-flowing streams since then has cut down through the volcanic rocks, with the harder trachyte forming the cliffs of various waterfalls and gorges, such as Cambanoora. The gorge of Spring Creek with Queen Mary and Daggs Falls, is a less developed version of the Cambanoora Gorge.
Early settlers and white explorers were known to observe well worn and maintained indigenous pathways, the Cambanoora was one such track, used by Aboriginal people as a route to the mountains and beyond to the coastal plain. The Githabal people of the Killarney area, were a fine, tall, athletic race. The area abounded in wildlife for hunting. Cod, bream and perch were easily caught from the river.
Timber getting began in the area around 1850, with bullock teams taking logs to local mills at The Head, Wynola and Killarney. Logging reduced around the 1950’s, but farmers and diarymen along the Gorge continued to use the track as a service road to Killarney.
Amongst the ranges of South East Queensland, there are a number of deep, quiet gorges formed by rivers flowing westward down from the high mountains of the Great Dividing Range, to the fertile plains of the Darling Downs, or eastward towards the Coast.
Cambanoora Gorge, just north of the Qld/NSW Border contains the springs that give rise to the headwaters of the Condamine River, the beginning of Australia’s longest river system. The Condamine joins the Darling River and later, the mighty Murray River.
THE ROAD
Condamine River Road through the Gorge is a well maintained dirt road with a speed limit of 30km per hour. The speed limit through the crossings is 5km per hour. There are very good reasons for these speed limits. The road is narrow and contains blind corners. Cows and other wildlife such as koala, kangaroo, wallaby, snake, goanna, lizard etc cross the road to get to the river at various times of the day. Children often play near the road near the crossings. When you enter the Gorge you may still be in “city” mode. Once you cross the first cattle grid, please take the time to adjust your behaviour to “country” mode - slow down, open your window, breath the fresh air, look for wildlife and take in the magic of the Gorge, that will soothe your soul.
Please note: the Gorge is NOT a 4WD Track or a 4WD Adventure Park. This is a public road bordered mostly by Private Property. Camera surveillance is used throughout the Gorge. Activities such as hooning, mudding, driving up the river, driving through flooded crossings, trespassing on private property and driving at speed through the crossings, will not be tolerated.
THE CROSSINGS
Condamine River Road is dissected by the Condamine River at 14 points through the Gorge. From the Northern (Boonah) end of the Gorge heading to Killarney, the crossings are as follows:
First Crossing, Second Crossing, Double Crossing, Mawhirts Crossing, Bullocky Crossing, Flaggie Crossing, Rocky Crossing, Mill Crossing, Reis Crossing, Heywoods Crossing, Billy John Daggs Crossing, Andrew Evans Crossing, Long Crossing and Watsons Crossing (cement causeway).
Driver behaviour through the crossings is extremely important to maintaining a healthy river system. Keep your speed to 5km per hour as you maintain a slow forward momentum through the crossings. This will ensure that your vehicle does not get damaged by submerged rocks, that your vehicle does not stir up more silt than necessary and that your vehicle does not create a bow wave that forces water up onto the road as you exit the crossing. With over 500 vehicles per day travelling this road at times, it is crucial that we all do our best to ensure that this beautiful part of Queensland is preserved for our children and future generations.
IMPORTANT
The Gorge is not a National Park, the Gorge is a farming and residential area. Local residents, Bushcare, Land for Wildlife and other non-profit organisations work hard to regenerate the native habitat, remove weeds, keep rubbish out of the river, provide stopping / picnic areas for the public etc. There is no government funding, all the work done in the Gorge is by private individuals. There are no public toilets and no rubbish bins. It is vitally important that visitors to the Gorge take all rubbish with you and not use the Gorge as a toilet. The nearest public toilets are at Killarney (15 mins drive) or Boonah (50 mins drive).
TOGETHER we can all do our bit to ensure that the river, the trees, the plants and the animals that make the Gorge their home are nurtured and protected for the benefit of all.
