Bunya Mountains
April 10th 2024: Impromptu overnight visit to Bunya Mountains.
This was a special time with my son (Julian). Despite still on his learners, he had developed road sense over the previous 4 months driving his Mum’s 981 Cayman PDK (Auto). The trip was more than just a drive, it was a chance to bond with my son! Always special.
Our car of choice was a 2001 986.1 Boxster S (6-speed.) Julian’s Boxster (986.2) was waiting for parts and was on stands. The trip was a perfect opportunity for him to hone his manual driving skills on a 5- hour, 400 km plus road trip. The PDK 981 was a perfect introduction to driving, mastering a manual car is arguably a must for any young driver.
Knowing it would be cold, we packed for the occasion, perhaps overpacked! Storage space (Front & rear) in a Boxster 986 is phenomenal. Filled the little Boxster to the brim. We wanted for nothing: healthy food, water (Montville Mist), warm clothes, books, coolant, oil & tools (Just in case), laptops and phone chargers!
The journey began mid-morning with the top down, adding to the excitement. Our plan was to arrive at Bunya mid-afternoon, a journey that would take approximately 2 1/2 hours. The anticipation of the road ahead, was high!
The Route
10.30 am: Left Tanawha (Sunshine Coast), ultimately merging onto M1 toward Beerwah, once there, followed the signs to Woodford. Lots of fun via a favourite mountain pass (many curves) as we motored toward Peachester.
Julian thoroughly enjoyed playing with the gears, modulating throttle & brake, and mastering curves whilst enjoying the stunning vistas!
More curves (sweeping & tight) as we motored toward what we call the “Long Woodford stretch” and D’Aguilar Hwy. Right turn at a T-section (end of long stretch), another 70 km. Toward New England Hwy. Being Julian’s first experience on a country road, it was full concentration! Road surfaces changed constantly, and potholes and the odd reckless driver were enough to keep him alert! Me too!
We travelled another 60 km from New England toward Bunya Mountain Road and another 3 km to arrive at Bunya Mountains Tavern & Accommodation. The journey was epic. The breathtaking beauty of Bunya Mountains is real. A truly great drive.
The Boxster never missed a beat! It was a real joy sitting alongside Julian, watching his confidence build and listening to instruction when required. He has a natural flare for the curves. Learning to drive in mid-engine cars was a plus. Sadly, the Boxster had been fitted with a poor-quality after-market short shifter, a modification that made gear changes quite difficult to use but manageable. Now fixed!
The only surprise was a stretch of unsealed (dirt) road that runs from Kingaroy–Cooyar Road in Maidenwell to Bunya Mountains Road. The unsealed section is about 2 km. The climb/descent is steep and relatively narrow. Despite driving slowly, we scratched one of the original 18-inch alloys. All part of the journey.
Bunya Walking Trails
Bunya Mountains is quite a distance from anywhere. The roads and vistas are so unique, the effort was well rewarded. It was late afternoon on our first day, so we decided to stretch the legs and explore the National Park trail—one of dozens! This trail was walking distance from the motel. The pictures below tell the story. Extraordinary.
Dinner
We had a truly unforgettable dinner at the Bunya Tavern, a charming British-style pub run by Brits. Our meal was a delightful grilled salmon over mashed sweet potatoes, topped with a generous serving of garlic butter. A perfect treat for hungry souls!
More banter at the motel, then sleep.
Early Morning
April 11th: We kicked off our Thursday with an early start, ready to explore the nearby driving roads. The heavy forest, abundant with Bunya Trees, and the enchanting overgrowths that created tunnel-like paths, made for a thrilling driving experience. We savoured every moment of our top-down motoring, bundled up in our beanies and warm jackets!
Breakfast & Drive Home
Poppies on the Hill. Walking distance from Bunya Mountains Tavern and adjacent to the National Park (Most popular trails) …. Another highlight was checking out the 70’s motorcycles parked outside—the riders for the most elderly. Bikes included a BMW 900S, Suzuki 750 Water Bus (Iconic 3 Cylinder water cooled, that I had purchased new, back in 76), various Triumphs, BSA & Norton’s. 20-30 in total. Brought back some memories, mostly good!
To avoid the unsealed section from the previous day, Julian suggested we take the Bunya Mountains Road toward Kingaroy. Steep & scenic descent down a narrow road, it was fun! Bypassed Kingaroy via Coolabunia turnoff toward Nanango & Yarraman (A3) … worked our way back to Kilcoy- Beerwah Road (The long Woodford straight), Maleny Stanley River Road (A favourite), bypassing Maleny and motored toward Landsborough, link up on Steve Irwin Way, back on the M1, arriving home (Tanawha) early afternoon. Super day!
Summary
Whenever you get a chance for on a one-on-one road trip with you son or daughter, seize it! These are the moments that create lifelong memories and strengthens the relationship.
Boxsters are fabulous touring cars, comfortable, plenty of luggage space, such wonderful steering and handling, and make the right noises. They are real Porsches!
Peter
