Walks in the Spicers Gap Section of Main Range National Park, QLD.

View of Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock from Mt Mathieson.

Mt Mathieson Trail: 
To Mt Mathieson and return to the Spicers Gap Campground is 3.6 km, Class 4. The full circuit including the Mt Mathieson Trail, Heritage Trail, Governors Chair and Spicers Gap Road is over 8 km. However, the section from Mt Mathieson towards the remains of the timber jinker is an ungraded track for experience hikers only.

Map of the full Mt Mathieson Circuit.

The trail-head for the Mt Mathieson Trail is across the road from Spicers Gap Campground. At the start of the walk we could clearly see gum trees damaged by Bell Miners. This damage can also be seen along the Heritage Trail.

Damaged gum trees caused by Bell Miners.

The walk gradually ascends Mt Mathieson where there are good views over the Cunningham Highway and the Fassifern Valley. We have done this walk before but this time we were particularly taken by the views towards Mt Cordeaux as we had recently walked to Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock. The marked track stops at this point. We continued on but the track is indistinct in places and runs along a narrow ridge line with sharp drop offs and some scrambling is required.

View of Mt Cordeaux and Bare Rock from Mt Mathieson.

Distant view of the Fassifern Valley and the emergency truck ramp on the Cunningham HWY.

The challenging section of the walk emerges into a shady forest section which in turn leads to an open grassy section. Previously, we encountered wild pigs in the grassy section but all was quite this time round.

Tranquil forest section of the walk.

Open grassland section of the walk.

The trail goes past the remains of an old timber jinker before emerging at a car park on the 4WD section of Spicers Gap Road which connects to the Cunningham Highway at Tregony. 

Remains of an old timber jinker.

It used to be possible to drive from Cunninghams Highway to the Governors Chair but to protect the historic cobblestone section of Spicers Gap Road from damage the middle section is now gated. However, it is a pleasant walk from here to the Governors Chair Lookout.

Heritage Trail: Class 4, 1.6 km one way.
The old road is of historic significance and is signposted with information along the trail.

Protected section of  Spicers Gap Road.

Now that there is no 4WD access to the protected section of Spicers Gap Road we noticed that the stones are becoming overgrown and fungus was growing on the road when we were there this time.

The cobblestone section of Spicers Gap Road.

Spicers Peak.

We walked past a glimpse of Spicers Peak and startled a carpet python basking on the road before it quickly hid on the bank. We also saw a Grey Goshawk in a tree. When we were at Bare Rock we saw Grey Goshawks patrolling the ridges so they seem to like the general area.

Carpet Python.

Grey Goshawk.

Governors Chair. Caution: unfenced rock platform.
We arrived at the Governors Chair car park and took the short walk to the lookout. There are picnic tables at the car park but the rock platform at Governors Chair is an outstanding place to sit and contemplation the universe. Extreme caution required, especially with children, as this is a natural lookout with no barriers. At first, we didn't notice that we were sharing the lookout with a Lace Monitor basking in the sun.

Governors Chair Lookout.

Lace Monitor.

From the Governors Chair we descended two kilometers to Spicers Gap Campground via Spicers Gap Road.