TRAVEL PLANNER

YOU could make it a day trip, but you’d miss an awful lot. Coming from Brisbane, travel through Beaudesert and Rathdowney on the Mt Lindesay Highway and cut through Woodenbong and Urbenville. From Urbenville head out of town on Tooloom Road, then turn left into Upper Tooloom Road.

If you get to the Paddy’s Flat Bridge you have to backtrack 8km. If you’re coming from the south end, turn off the Bruxner Highway onto Paddy’s Flat Road just west of Tabulam, and then follow it 8km past Paddy’s Flat.

This is not called a Wilderness Lodge without reason. It’s remote, so this means you have to come in fully provisioned and fuelled. Tabulam to the south or Urbenville to the north are the last places to top up with fuel. There is a swap-and-go gas exchange available on-site, though.

For a number of reasons fishing isn’t permitted near the campsite, but there are plenty of other things to do. As mentioned there is no lack of wildlife, both in the water and out of it. Fire pits are provided, so sitting around a fire at night is something to look forward to. Wood is available at the office.

Ring before you leave so Steve and Sharon can let you know about the road conditions and the state of the river. You can bring your camper trailer or off-road caravan – in fact, many people bring their new off-road ’van in before taking it to the outback, just make sure the 4WD tow vehicle is powerful enough to get the ’van up some of the steeper grades. When you see the track, you’ll see why.

CONTACT CLARENCE RIVER WILDERNESS LODGE Phone: (02) 6665 1337 Website: www.clarenceriver.com