Friday afternoon we left the city for the drive to the Janowen Hills 4WD Park in the beautiful Goomburra Valley. It's a good, relaxed drive about 2 hours west of Brisbane and, except for getting a little held up in heavy traffic on the Ipswich Motorway road works, we made pretty good time arriving just on dusk. Jo and I were experiencing a bit of dejavue heading through Aratula. We had stopped there almost ten years ago on our first camping trip together at Gordons Country. We didn't realise that where we were heading was only a km or so away from that camp site. We made good time over Cunninghams Gap and the GV handled the tow of the fully loaded camper and cabin really well (insert the sigh of relief here!).
Having had only one other attempt at putting up the trailer I was a bit nervous about trying to set up in the dark - but the trailer was quick and easy to put up and we just decided to leave the awning off till the next day. It really was a painless task to set it up even while running around wrangling three kids in the dark (including a two-year old!). Jo has decided that three different coloured glow-sticks pinned around each child may be a good idea next time, so that a quick glance can confirm that one hasn't wandered off in the dark!
We were in the lower camping ground at Janowen and our party were the only ones there. Having strategically chosen the weekend after Tough Tracks and before the Janowen Family weekend to ensure we missed the crowds. The camp site is a flat paddock style area which backs on to a fresh water creek that is easy access and great for a quick dip - but not too close for us to be forever worrying about the kids.
The facilities are relatively new and not yet finished but still quite well appointed with two token operated hot showers ($1 per 3min) in each bathroom. The new amenity shed has been set up with a shop on one end, a bar area and some benches with enough space to set up a few tables (or chairs for a video night perhaps?). The owners are relaxed and welcoming and allowed our group to turn up on the Friday afternoon - set up camp and then pay at the store the next day. There is also a second campsite higher up the hill but we didn't get a chance to check it out this trip.
I have to admit it was an early night that night - everyone was exhausted and it would be a big day tomorrow.
Driving in to the lower campsite.
Next day was our chance to hit the dirt. Janowen has a good range of well marked tracks which would be suitable for a variety of vehicles. Well marked mud maps are available at the store. In our group that day we had ourselves in our GV, a 2001 Pajero, a Toyota Troop Carrier (Troopie) and a 2005 Rav 4. With a car full of kids and a group of vehicles with a variety of abilities, it was a good opportunity just to cruise along the beginner tracks and enjoy the drive.
*to be continued*
