BRIBIE ISLAND, QLD, AUS. Part 1- BONGAREE to WOORIM via Welsby

Bribie Island looking over the Pumistone Channel to the Glasshouse Mountains. 

When I saw the above panorama I immediately knew that I had made the right decision to cycle around Bribie Island and in this post I am covering the route from Bongaree to Woorim Beach via White Patch and beyond, which is at the extremity of the north end of the island  still traffic able on a hybrid bike. Past this point and you would be advised to use a mountain bike with wide tyres due to the the amount of loose sand to be negotiated.

 

Such a pretty island. So much to see. So much to do. I've been here before of course but this is the first time I have ridden my bike and I can tell you quite genuinely, it is definitely the only way to see it properly.
 

This little group of shops included a convenience store and cafe and was directly opposite where we parked our vehicle.

On crossing the bridge from Sandstone Point on the mainland, we turned left and found plenty of parking areas near the bike path. Finding an outlet for coffee wasn't difficult either. As a matter of fact, if time had allowed, it would have been nice sipping on a coffee whilst gazing across the Channel. Oh well! perhaps on another occasion.

 

A fair indication of the quality of paths travelled.

By far the biggest part of the ride was on shared paths. We did however, have to use roads on occasion but the traffic was minimal, apart from two main roads. This may well be different on weekends.



A bespoke retaining wall

Even the retaining walls show a line of thinking outside the square which is something unique in a country hell bent on making everything beige and boring.

 

View taken from the western side of the island looking towards the Glasshouse Mountains 

There is something very special and  spiritual about the Glasshouse Mountains as seen in the above photograph. A group of mountains, not all that high as mountains go but they seem to command a certain presence, something majestic in their appearance. I do have it on my list to ride and when I do I will bring you a post on it.

 

I can understand why Bribie Island is a haven for retirees as it has such a laid back lifestyle, excellent amenities and reasonable land prices including blocks with canal frontages. If there is a negative, then it has to be the distance from the City of Brisbane but I can't really see why that would bother anybody not having to work there.

 

If you are travelling on a hybrid bike, the entrance to the Bribie Island National Park  is as far as you will want to go. I have read reports that the above track to the far northern end of the island is a hard slog even for a mountain bike. Riding on loose sand is never easy.

The ride back was uneventful until we reached Goodwin Road where the rise in vehicular traffic was noticeable and this continued when turning left into First Avenue which took us to Woorim on the Eastern side of the island.

 

Northern end of Woorim Beach

Northern end of Woorim Beach with Moreton Island in the background.

Northern end of Woorim Beach with Moreton Island in the background.

Although these three photos show a deserted beach, this is not the case on weekends and public holidays when the population increases with day trippers, as this is the closest surf beach to the northern suburbs of Brisbane.

 

In my next post, I will continue this ride through to Buckleys Hole on the south western tip of the island and return along the western side to where we started.

Useful Information:
Always use a good map or a trusty GPS.
Distance: 27 km.
Surface: Sealed
Bike: Suitable to all bikes
Fitness: This is not a difficult ride.

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

CYCLING ST. LUCIA TO NORMAN PARK, QLD. AUS. via Storey Bridge

Sir Fred Schonnel Drive, St. Lucia.

                                       

University of Queensland

St. Lucia, apart from being a lovely leafy suburb in which to reside, is also home to our premier university. It is easily accessible through good bus and ferry services, close to the city of Brisbane, it's very own Eleanor Schonell Bridge spanning the Brisbane River catering for buses, cyclists and pedestrian traffic only and a dedicated bike path to the city and beyond.

St. Lucia Golf Links

The St. Lucia Golf Links has a great open air cafe overlooking the course, where cyclists are very welcome.

 

 

Bicentennial Cycleway



Bicentennial Cycleway

 

Riding along the banks of the Brisbane River on the Bicentennial Cycleway is sublime. If only all cycleways were as good as this, commuters would be leaving their cars at home and riding to work. This is as good as it gets. Stress free and after initial costs of buying a bike, the running costs are far, far less than running a car or using public transport and then there is the added health benefits.

Brisbane City Botanical Gardens

The next point of interest is the Queensland University of Technology, Garden Point Campus, where you can either elect to ride through the campus, continuing on through the City Botanical Gardens and exiting back onto the cycleway/shared pathway at the junction of Alice Street and Edward Street or you can continue on the cycleway/shared pathway on the riverside of the gardens.

 

 

The City of Brisbane. 

 

The shared path /cycleway continues along the river with the CBD in the background. There are numerous outlets selling beverages and snacks in this vicinity. If you feel a caffeine deficiency or sugar drop coming on, the only reason you won't be able to sate either is because you left your wallet at home.

The Storey Bridge

Section - Storey Bridge to Dockside.

We follow the pathway along the river until we reach the northern entrance to the Storey Bridge. Crossing this bridge by bike can be a lot of fun as the views of the Brisbane River and surrounds are truly superb.

A colourful piece of artwork you will pass on the way.

Another view of Brisbane City

Dockside

Dockside

As you exit on the southern side of the bridge, turn left and follow the path. This ride follows the river past Dockside which is an upmarket residential complex at Kangaroo Point. I could think of worse places to live.

 

 

Entrance to Mowbray Park, East Brisbane.

Section - Dockside to Normn Park Station.

 

The last section of the ride takes you through a series of side streets which are cyclist friendly, through Mowbray Park (all of the major parks in Brisbane have toilets and fresh water faucets). You will exit Mowbray Park onto Laidlaw Parade which is a narrow street but light on vehicular traffic. As this leads into busy Wynnum Road, stay on the footpath, cross Norman Creek and turn right at Norman Avenue necessitating the crossing of Wynnum Road at the lights. As you can see by the above map section that it is now an easy ride on road to Norman Park Station and the end of our ride.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information:
Always use a good map or a trusty GPS.
Distance: 19 km.
Surface: Sealed
Bike: Suitable to all bikes
Fitness: This is not a difficult ride.

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

CYCLING CLIFTON LOOP, QLD. AUS. via Victoria Hill and Allora.

 

Clifton, Qld.

As we moved out of Clifton on the way to Ryeford, we couldn't help but notice the trees in this particular section were stripped of their leaves due to a severe hail storm which cut a swathe through the area destroying a number of crops as it went.

 

Imagine what would have happened if the hail storm had cut a path through these two crops. One can only imagine the complete and utter devastation a farmer and his family would feel to see crops such as these destroyed in a matter of minutes. A whole season's income destroyed in a flash.

 

The above photograph is typical of the Australian bush, gum trees (Eucalypts), bloody gum trees, miles of them. It is also the type of country favoured by kangaroos and wallabies and this whole scene can change in an instant, especially at dawn and sunset when they're on the move. This was not the case on this ride however, as the dense bush gave way to open fields planted with sorghum, maize and sunflowers, beautiful vistas as far as the eye can see.

Victoria Hill, Qld.

Victoria Hill

Country halls are the lifeblood of farming families and have been used for all types of social occasions such as dances, indoor sporting facilities etc., keeping the fabric of rural social life alive.

 

Add caption

Roads as smooth as the one depicted here, help to make cycling a breeze and is pretty much what you can expect when riding in these two districts.



Wildflowers outside Allora, Qld.

The town of Allora, Qld.

Allora is typical of the towns dotted throughout the Darling Downs servicing the rural communities. In this case, it has a rather topical claim to fame in that it is the location in which the author P.L. Travers wrote her very successful series of childrens books titled "Mary Poppins" starting in 1934. It is topical in that the stage musical has been touring Australia and the Walt Disney movie "Saving Mr.Banks" starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, about the making of the 1964 movie "Mary Poppins"  was released in 2013 and more recently here in Queensland.
 

 

If you are visiting the area and would like to see the house (now a private residence) it is on the northern end of the main street of Allora in Queensland.

A nice view of Clifton taken from Mt. Moller

The ride from Allora to Clifton is 18 km of mild undulating road and is a great way to finish another fine ride on the Darling Downs of Queensland.

Clifton loop via Victoria Hill and Allora

Useful Information:
Always use a good map or a trusty GPS.
Distance: 62 km.
Surface: Sealed
Bike: Suitable to all bikes
Fitness: This is not a difficult ride.

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

CYCLING MURRARIE TO SANDGATE, QLD. AUS. 

This ride takes you through the following suburbs: Murrarie, Hamilton, Ascot, Hendra, Toombul, Nunda, Northgate, Boondall, Deagon, Shorncliffe , Sandgate and Brighton.

 

No sooner had we left Murrarie Railway Station, then we had to make a short, sharp climb along Queensport Road until reaching the lights at the junction with Lytton Road. Keeping to the path and crossing onto the overpass lead us to the entrance of  the Sir Leo Hilscher Bridge (Gateway Bridge) cycleway.

 



Gateway Bridge

The Gateway Bridge spans the Brisbane River from Queensport on the south side to Eagle Farm on the north side. As you can see in the above picture, there is quite a climb to the summit of the bridge but if you are reasonably fit and take your time there shouldn't be a problem. The ride down the other side is  exhilarating.

 

I have included the above map because once the northern side of the bridge has been exited, it can be a little tricky navigating your way to the bike way running along Schultz Canal and the Kedron Brook flood way.**

 



Albert Bishop Park, Nundah



 This is where the interesting part of the ride begins. The pathway is wide enough to accommodate both road and hybrid bikes but please, if you are an hybrid rider practise a bit of courtesy and stay on your side of the path and be vigilant of other riders as nothing irritates roadies more and with good reason, a slow bike veering to the wrong side of the path in front of them.

 



Schultz Canal



Recreational riding is all about enjoying the scenery around you and this ride has plenty to offer. It is the one chance you get to really mix it with nature. Close enough to the hustle and bustle of the city but also far enough away to appreciate the natural calming aspects of the ride.

  

The Boondall wetlands is home to a whole array of diversified indigenous birds as well as some migratory species which arrive each year to nest and fatten up before heading back to the distant lands of their origin.

 

 

When I see a pond of water with a lot of dead wood I wonder what it was that killed these plants.....was it natural or was it used as a chemical residue dump in years past. The birds wading and feeding in the foreground don't seem to mind so it would suggest that whatever it was that caused this damage has over the years self repaired.....to a degree anyway.

You can see by looking at the above collage of photos, that this area, known as the Boondall Wetlands is an enchanting place to ride.

If you are into water sports such as sailing, kayaking or perhaps a spot of fishing Shorncliffe is the northern bay side suburb you should be heading for. At weekends, these waterways are packed with people having fun in the sun.

Once you have reached Sandgate you may elect to either turn around and retrace your ride back to Nundah or if you still have the legs you may wish to continue the ride over the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge to the Redcliffe Peninsula, another worthwhile picturesque ride.

** Directions for navigating your way from Gateway Bridge to the bike way: Once you have come off the bridge, ride under the Gateway Motorway turning right into Harvey Street and a quick left into Cullen Avenue before turning right into Links Avenue North running onto the Schneider Road overpass. Just over the overpass, turn sharp left into Terminal Drive/Lamington Avenue, left into Nudgee Road and immediately right into Lancaster Avenue, past the gates leading into Eagle Farm Racecourse, rigt into Kitchener Road/Zillman Road, left into Gellibrand, immediately right into Widdop Street leading under the East West Arterial Road and across Schultz Canal and finally right onto the bikeway.


Useful Information:
Always use a good map or a trusty GPS.
Distance: 37 km.
Surface: Mainly paths but with a small amount of on road riding.
Bike: Suitable to all bikes
Fitness: This is not a difficult ride.

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee