It’s the end of the road for radio star Ian Skippen

A good mate of mine, when talking about the stock market, says: “Don’t be too greedy – always leave some for somebody else”. On a recent road trip along Australia’s Country Way, I felt the same. There was plenty to tingle the taste buds, but plenty of experiences to come back to another time.

We woke up on day three of our Queensland odyssey at Deshons Retreat in Kingaroy, a country retreat overlooking a lovely valley. There was just time for brekky at Glendon Street Cafe (top Eggs Benedict) before we hit the road early (anything before 8am is early for my wife, the navigator). Cania Gorge was keyed into the sat-nav.

The last big road trip that I did was in the black-and-white days. We’re talking pre- sat-nav and Siri. No iTunes, just singing along to the car radio. All together now: “Didn’t we have a luuuuverrrly time the day we went to…” well, in this case, it was Biloela.

About 230km down the road we hit Gayndah, a rural town on the Burnett River. It’s the ‘citrus capital of Queensland’ and is home to a unique town clock in the shape of a citrus tree and ‘Gayndah’s Big Orange’ at the edge of town. Another oddity is the antiquated ‘cash register’ in Mellors Drapery Store – it’s actually a ‘flying fox’ that whizzes back and forth with canisters containing money, change and receipts etc. We didn’t get to see it on this trip, but hey, as I said – you’ve got to leave wanting more, so we’ll be back to check it out another time.

From the Big Orange we made it to the ‘Beef Capital of the Burnett’, Eidsvold, and the RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre. How appropriate that this salute to the Aussie bush legend is on the Australia’s Country Way? Here we met local, Natalie Chapman, who’s been spreading the RM gospel for eight years and learnt about RM’s contribution to the area. He rests in his beloved slice of Australia, just outside of Eidsvold.

You know there are some days when you’ve just got to stop and smell the gum trees? This wasn’t one of them. I think the Mulgildie Bunyip, which we passed outside of Eidsvold, was grabbing us by the tail. We’d already been on the road a couple of hours and a bush walk in the magnificent Cania Gorge National Park (thanks for the suggestions, Travel at 60 peeps) was still a way off – but we got there in the end.

FYI, ’Cania’ is pronounced, according to local legend, like the ‘cane’ in sugarcane (or what, in the black-and-white days, we used to get for playing up in school).

So how was Cania, you ask? Did you love it? A national park full of forests, caves, soaring cliffs and a crystal-clear lake, how could you not? With more time, we could have taken on one of the eight walking tracks, leading to places like Dripping Rock, Fern Tree Pool, Dragon Cave, Giant’s Chair Lookout and the old Shamrock gold mine. But, sticking to the theme of the day, we had to leave wanting more of an explore.

We did manage a quick trot along Three Moon Creek. If you’re time poor it’s an easy circuit from the rest area car park. The majestic bluffs and sandstone cliffs provide a great backdrop, hiding those caves we’ll explore another day. There are plenty of options for longer walks. The cleansing dip in Cania Dam was just the shot, as it was hot, hot hot, and Biloela was around the corner (not, not, not).

Biloela was, in fact, an hour or so away. Lake Callide Retreat, renowned for its redclaw crayfish, was to be our home for the night. Before that, at the Queensland Heritage Park, Cindy Cooper showed off the historic farm machinery and memorabilia from the black and white days. I wonder if they also had redclaw in the black and white days? I was looking forward to some of that crustacean and a beer later that night – another stop on the way to Rockhampton, at the end of Australia’s Country Way. Well it is thirsty work, this road trippin’. 

To plan a journey along Australia’s Country Way or other Queensland Drive routes, check out the free eBook or visit Queensland.com/Drive.