I wouldn’t really describe us as serious four-wheel drivers but we do like to get off-road whenever we can. We recently had a couple of days to spare and decided to head to Queen Mary Falls so we could drive the Condamine River 4WD track.
This track runs alongside the Condamine River in the picturesque Cambanoora Gorge. Its biggest appeal is without doubt the 14 river crossings you experience as you drive along the track.
Condamine River LOCATION
The Condamine River 4WD track is located in the Scenic Rim region of South East Queensland. It is about a two-hour drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. You can drive the track from north to south or south to north. Or as it is not an overly long track, you can do both as we did!
The Condamine River Road is about 20 kilometres long, and depending on road conditions and water levels should take you between 40 and 50 minutes to cover.
It is recommended that you have a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle to tackle this track.
The nearest town is Killarney, which is located a few k’s from the southern end of the track.
DRIVING THE CONDAMINE RIVER 4WD TRACK
All of the Condamine River Road is gravel, which is in excellent condition in most places, but there are a few spots that have wash-outs and large potholes. Some of these were full of murky water so be wary of those. The speed limit along the track is 30 kph, so this gives you an idea of what conditions can be like.
Our first water crossing was Watson’s Crossing and it is actually a concrete causeway. It had a small amount of water flowing over it so wasn’t a problem. The second crossing, known as Long Crossing, was a bit of a different story. It was, as its name suggests a lot longer than the first one and had a rough, rocky bottom that required a little bit of care whilst crossing.
The one thing about all the crossings along the Condamine River track was that the water was really clear, so we could easily see what we were about to drive over.
SPOTS TO STOP on the track
The Condamine River Road runs through lots of private property. Most of this is fenced off or clearly sign-posted. But there are a few lovely shady spots to pull up for some lunch or even a quick swim. We pulled off the track just on the northern side of First Crossing for lunch. It was so quiet and peaceful and we only saw a couple of other vehicles.
There are plenty of other spots to stop and take a few pics along the way as well.
MEL’S TURN TO DRIVE
Once we had finished lunch, it was my turn to have a drive. We both think it’s really important for anyone travelling to have someone else that can drive and tow in any condition. I couldn’t wait to jump in and have a go at the track myself and with a little guidance from Brenden I had no problems navigating the crossings.
The main thing I learned was to stop for a few moments and assess the crossing before continuing through. Look for large rocks or deep holes. Also, look at the other side of the crossing to determine the best way to come out of the water.
SUMMARY
We had an absolute blast driving this track. If you haven’t had a lot of experience driving on rough roads or with water crossings I would highly recommend this track as a starting point. We are planning another trip soon, but this time taking the kids to give them some experience in different conditions.
We chose to stay at the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park but there is also accommodation available in the nearby towns of Killarney or Boonah.
If you want to see what the track is really like before venturing out that way, you can check out this video we put together.
Since writing this post we have driven the track again, this time with lots more water in the crossings. With the recent rains in the Scenic Rim (Feb 2020) expect the crossings to have larger volumes of water which is murky and swift flowing and expect some of the crossings to be badly washed out.
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Do you need to lower your psi for this track?
You would have to assess the condition of the track on the day you visit and adjust your tyres as necessary to drive to the conditions.
Hi, I have a new LDV T60 ute with ATs fitted. Never been offroad before and looking for my 1st experience. Would this track suit? Would you say chances of bog are low?
If it’s your first time 4wding we recommend going off road with friends or family who has some off road experience. Like any 4wd track, it’s always best to check the road conditions and drive to those conditions.
I am unsure if the track is open however you could drive a normal car through the crossings however any off-road is a better option. It is not extreme off roading
I agree. Especially, since some of the beautiful natural crossings have been replaced with concrete and bitumen this is not really a 4WD destination anymore.
That’s such a shame
Your 4wd is more than capable off using this track
Hi, I have a standard toyota land cruiser (LC300) with standard road tyres. You think this should be ok fo rthis track? We don’t have much 4WD experience though. Thanks.
We couldn’t see why not with LC and using the appropriate settings/gears for your 4wd. Always check the conditions before heading off tho as it states it is a dry weather track only.
Hi there,
I have a Mitsubishi Pajero Sports 4×4. Can this vehicle handle this track? I really appreciate any help you can provide.
If you have been off-road prior in your Pajero we couldn’t see why not. Always check the conditions before heading off tho as it states it is a dry weather track only.
Hey All? Can we take our puppy for the drive through these tracks?
It’s a public road so I can’t see any reason why not. Just be aware that there is farming country along much of it so you might need to keep him secure.
Would a Suzuki Grand Vitara handle this track with road tyres in the tracks current condition?
Hi Casey….we haven’t been along it in a long time so can’t answer that question for you. I don’t think your vehicle would handle the deeper crossings.
Thinking of doing the track in 2 weeks time in a Triton, would this be a suitable car to do this in. We are not 4 wheel drive people
Hi Stuart…..not sure of track conditions at the moment but you shouldn’t have any issues in a Triton. Just stop and assess each crossing and take it slow and you should be fine. It’s lots of fun!
Thanks for the review. Great detail. Thoughts on whether my Subaru Forester would have enough clearance to get through this?
Thanks
We would have to say no. A couple of the crossings get pretty deep when we’ve had a bit of rain like we have recently. There are a couple of deep holes and big rocks in a couple of the crossings. If it had been dry for awhile, and you can see the bottom clearly you might be okay.
Great post guys. Very informative cheers!
Thank you…one of our favourite spots.
would a small 4×4 aka land rover freelander 2 do this track
Hi Kieren, yes, a Freelander should handle the track. If it has been wet for a few days a couple of the crossings can get a bit deep, but at the moment it would do it easily. It is a great day out, the area has some amazing lookouts, waterfalls and walking tracks. Have fun.
Can I take an off road camper trailer on this road
If it’s full off-road and you are experienced at towing it, especially through water crossings then I think you would be fine.
Where can we get a map of the Condamine 4×4 river track. Where we cross the river 14 times
Any of the National Parks offices out that way have maps. It’s well sign posted from both ends so not hard to find. Google maps also shows it clearly as well.