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Quick 4WD escape on the Gold Coast
We stayed at Flanagans reserve Saturday night after an agm with the 4wd club. Nice spot to camp $8 per adult with flushing toilets & hot showers looking out over Mt Maroon with a freshwater creek that would be very appealing in the warmer weather. Also open for day visitors to enjoy . Not a lot of grass though with the hot summers & frost in winters. Went for a drive on Sunday up to Waterfall creek road. Lovely green camping area with firepits & no amenities (booking thru council) and a track to the waterfall which we will have to go back to do. From the campground starts the 4x4 only track to the top of the mountain. A few kms up and some steep climbs but nothing extreme . Stock prados would be no worries. At the top there is a short walk up to the top of the walking track to the upper portals where you have fantastic views out over Maroon dam round to the Gold Coast . It was unbelievable but was a bit hazy and the iphone does not do it justice.
Then with access thru a closed gate pre-organised by the club , took a short drive thru tracks on private property to Mt Barney Retreat ( Bartopia) , a truly hidden gem to have a look. A clearing in the middle of nowhere where green grassy areas , 3 or 4 living cabins, communal kitchen with old school stove, communal hut with giant wood fired oven , campers and walking tracks. A beautiful spot & my highlight of the weekend. Exited down the other side of the mountain back to bitumen came out at white swamp and short drive past Maroon dam & back to camp. Usually prior arrangement needed to enter Bartopoia, but a nice drive to waterfall creek and would love to do the upper portal walking tracks sometime. Great family weekend.
Matt
We stayed at Flanagans reserve Saturday night after an agm with the 4wd club. Nice spot to camp $8 per adult with flushing toilets & hot showers looking out over Mt Maroon with a freshwater creek that would be very appealing in the warmer weather. Also open for day visitors to enjoy . Not a lot of grass though with the hot summers & frost in winters. Went for a drive on Sunday up to Waterfall creek road. Lovely green camping area with firepits & no amenities (booking thru council) and a track to the waterfall which we will have to go back to do. From the campground starts the 4x4 only track to the top of the mountain. A few kms up and some steep climbs but nothing extreme . Stock prados would be no worries. At the top there is a short walk up to the top of the walking track to the upper portals where you have fantastic views out over Maroon dam round to the Gold Coast . It was unbelievable but was a bit hazy and the iphone does not do it justice.
Then with access thru a closed gate pre-organised by the club , took a short drive thru tracks on private property to Mt Barney Retreat ( Bartopia) , a truly hidden gem to have a look. A clearing in the middle of nowhere where green grassy areas , 3 or 4 living cabins, communal kitchen with old school stove, communal hut with giant wood fired oven , campers and walking tracks. A beautiful spot & my highlight of the weekend. Exited down the other side of the mountain back to bitumen came out at white swamp and short drive past Maroon dam & back to camp. Usually prior arrangement needed to enter Bartopoia, but a nice drive to waterfall creek and would love to do the upper portal walking tracks sometime. Great family weekend.
Matt
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