Have you been to Biggenden in Queensland?
We stopped at this small rural town which is on the way to the Gayndah area where we had decided to explore for the day.
Luckily for us at present we are not in lockdown but we have been watching with trepidation with what has been happening in NSW and Vic during recent weeks. We are like so many other travelers and itching to get out and travel when we feel it is safe to hook up and go. So this week we did the next best thing and took a very long drive and ventured into the Gayndah area which is on the banks of the Burnett River south west from Bundaberg.
Lake Gregory
On the way our first stop was Lake Gregory. It’s located about half-way between Bundaberg and Childers. Graeme had mentioned that he wanted to check it out and I wondered why and then realized ‘it’s a fishing lake’ – of course. But we just had a quick look. The dam is stocked with Australian Bass, Silver Perch and Saratoga. Like other impoundments that are stocked with fish in Qld you will need a fishing permit.
Biggenden
Next, we drove towards the small rural town of Biggenden which lies below the granite cliffs of Mount Walsh and makes an awesome backdrop to the town. This town is so welcoming and well worth a stop. The streets are wide and has some very interesting steel artwork of which one is a Boab tree which you can’t miss as you drive along the town’s main street. The tree is at the entrance to the old railway station and RV stopover.
The $5 per night per vehicle donation RV stopover has plenty of room for all.
Maximum stay 72hrs
Telstra and TV reception
Pet friendly
If you are looking for a mid-day stop over there are BBQs with picnic tables and public toilets situated in the beautifully maintained park adjacent to the RV donation stopping area.
The town has all you need, pub, pharmacy, post office, IGA and of course the bakery which Graeme suggested we sample their pies. That we did and they were delicious. There are also a few really interesting knick-knacks stores.
Biggenden Mine
There is a lot to explore around this town and our next stop was Biggenden Mine located approximately 8km out of town. As we drove in, we had no idea if we could take a look as there are no signs to say it’s open for viewing and a large sign instructing all visitors to report to the site office. We managed to speak with the very enthusiastic Tasha who was more than happy to give us a running commentary of the history of the mine. Mt Biggenden Mine operated intermittently between 1890 and 1912 and most gold was mined underground in this period. Besides gold, from 1888 until 1915, Mt Biggenden Mine produced 50% of Queensland’s bismuth, which is a medicinal ingredient used to treat upset stomach, heartburn and nausea. The mine has also produced many ‘rare minerals’ during its time. It’s still a working mine and from what we were told by Tasha today it’s mainly used for collecting blue metal for road surfaces.
The Chowey Bridge
If you want to experience the quietness of the bush well look no further. The Chowey Bridge is located 18km north west of Biggenden via the Gooroolba-Biggenden Road. To be honest it was getting a little late in the day and we only turned off the main road to the bridge because Graeme had read about the location. When we saw the sign, we thought ‘well why not’! The road into the bridge is about 4km along an average gravel dusty road. When we reached the end of the road, we found what the hype is about. The bridge which was built in 1905. It is very impressive with its 27m main concrete arch combined with other smaller archers. The history of the construction can be read on the information board that is adjacent to the picnic table. The bridge in itself is a really special part of the Queensland rail history and it’s great to see it being held with respect for future enthusiasts.
It may be a bit off the beaten track and it was good to see they have a picnic table beside the site, but quite honestly, I wouldn’t go out of my way to travel to this spot for a picnic unless you like to see original and exclusive structural railway bridges. The bridge and rail line has been bounded by a security type fence and there is a sign that says ‘No Camping’.
Below are a list of others places we have visited that may be of interest to you:
-
- Alice Springs NT to Broken Hill NSW
- Broken Hill to Sawtell – NSW
- Crossing the Nullarbor
- Free Camps – Broken Hill to Cobar -NSW
- NSW – Free camps, Donation camps, Showgrounds and Caravan Parks 2019
- Northern Territory – Free camps, Donation camps and Caravan Parks 2018/2019
- Queensland Road Trip 2017/2018
- South Australia to Western Australia 2019
- South Australia trip 2017/2018
- Victoria 2017/2018
- Western Australia Coastal Trip 2018
- WA’s Got the Lot 2019
Cheers
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Happy Aussie Caravanning Lifestyle
Dixie and Graeme