CONDAMINE’S 14 RIVER CROSSINGS
KINGS OFF THE ROAD seen the BT-50 catch the eye of caravanners and tradies alike. The cabin is spacious so it’s no surprise this truck has the potential to be the family car of choice. The interior is a modern blend of practicality with comfort. Seats are wide and supportive (XTR comes with fabric seats), while surfaces are nicely textured and hard wearing. The XTR 4x4 freestyle cab is available in six-speed manual or automatic and puts you in full control. It comes fitted with 17-inch alloys, fog lamps, chrome door handles, powered chrome mirrors, a chrome rear bumper and side steps. Inside features dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped gear shift knob and steering, on-board satnav, Bluetooth and cruise and audio controls easily accessible via the wheel-mounted controls. From the outside, the BT-50 sports a sleek, athletic design. A twoinch lift kit and reverse camera or sensors would make this vehicle hard to beat in terms or performance and appearance. The tray is the compromise for four doors, measuring just short of the width of a standard Australian pallet.
The BT-50 trumps its twin-under-the-skin, the Ford Ranger, on the basis of a superior value proposition at $4500 less for the blue-badge equivalent. This truck is fun to drive – a test drive won’t disappoint. The vehicle was provided by Ian Boettcher Mazda SPECIFICATIONS Model: Mazda BT-50 XTR Details: Four-door 4WD ute Transmission: Six-speed auto or manual Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder inline DOHC intercooled turbo diesel Power: Maximum of 147kW at 3000rpm and peak torque470Nm between 1750-2500rpm Consumption: 8.9l/100km (manual) Bottom line: $50,000 on the road Warranty: Three years/100,000km, or two years/unlimited warranty for customers who do high kilometres
1-2. The first and second crossings are about 100m apart. There’s some small ravines and tracks to play with in between. 3. Double Crossing: Here you cross the river twice. This one rarely dries up due to a mountain spring-fed creek entering upstream from the crossing. 4. Mawhirt’s Crossing: This was the deepest crossing, reaching the doors. The road climbs a further 1.5km before the next crossing. The grassy area near here is called Dinner Camp – here we dropped the tray and had a picnic for lunch. 5. Bullocky Crossing was the traditional rest stop for drovers on their route through Cambonoora Gorge. 6. Flaggie Crossing. There is a lovely picnic spot under the arched tree. The flat stones on the bed of the river at Flaggie Crossing are often slippery with algae. 7. About 400m along, Rocky Crossing has a deep swimming hole and is another perfect spot for a picnic spot. 8. Mill Crossing refers to a mill that once operated near this location. There are commercial plantations of softwood and paulownia trees along this part of the trek. 9. Continue on 200m to Reis’ Crossing. Remnants of the fruit grove that was once here still remain today. 10. A further 600m will bring you to Heywood’s Crossing. Heywood’s Crossing was named after Billy John Dagg’s daughter, who married into the Heywood family. 11. Billy John Dagg’s Crossing. Established pine trees mark the original Wynola school site. 12. About 800m along is Andrew Evan’s Crossing, named after a man who drowned here while attempting to cross his team of bullocks through the flooded creek. 13. Long Crossing is a further 1.2km along. 14. Finally Watson’s Crossing, 300m down, was once the deepest of all the crossings, but now has a cement causeway. The track takes about half an hour to complete. Keep driving a few kilometres and you’ll find yourself in Killarney. Another 11km is Queen Mary Falls and Dagg Falls. Page 5