From Gayndah to Toowoomba – Taking the Scenic Route
After spending the night in Gayndah, it was time to saddle up the Mazda MX-5 and point ourselves in the general direction of Toowoomba. No motorcycles today, just four wheels, a roof over our heads and considerably less room for luggage than we were used to. Every vehicle has its compromises, I suppose!
Our route would take us through Goomeri, Nanango, Yarraman, Cooyar and Crows Nest. A lovely stretch of Queensland country, with plenty of opportunities to discover something interesting along the way.
Our first stop was the historic Chowey Bridge at Didcot. Old railway bridges have a certain charm about them, and this one was well worth pulling over for a closer look. After all, you can’t just drive past every interesting bit of history and expect the photos to magically appear on the camera!
We had no strict itinerary for the day, no list of must-see attractions and certainly no tour guide cracking the whip. The plan was simple: drive along, keep our eyes open and stop whenever something caught our fancy.
In other words, we were winging it — which, if we’re honest, is often when some of the best travel memories happen!
The photos below show the places that caught our attention. They might not be on everyone’s must-see list, but that’s the beauty of travelling without a rigid schedule. Sometimes the little discoveries are just as enjoyable as the big-ticket attractions.
Our next stop was an old railway station that is lovingly maintained by Queensland Rail. The station also gets to enjoy a special bit of railway nostalgia each year, with a steam train making the trip to Toowoomba for the famous Carnival of Flowers.
There’s something special about seeing these old railway locations kept in good condition. They offer a little glimpse into the days when trains were an essential part of connecting country towns, long before we all jumped into our cars and complained about the price of fuel!
This was our final sightseeing stop before continuing on to Toowoomba, where we’d be spending the afternoon and night at the Federal Hotel — giving us the chance to put our feet up after another day of exploring.
And naturally, after a day on the road, finding somewhere to enjoy a cold beverage wouldn’t be too much of a hardship. After all, touring is thirsty work! 🍻
