Scenic Drive From Bundaberg - Boolboonda Tunnel

 

Scenic Drive From Bundaberg

Bundaberg is a river town just minutes from the coast, home to a rare colony of nesting turtles and the southernmost gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. There is quite a few scenic drives available throughout the North Burnett.  The bonus is some drives are four-wheel drive accessible only.

 

While holidaying in Bundaberg we took a peaceful drive north of Bundaberg to Gin Gin, nestled on the Bruce Highway. Halfway between Bundaberg and Gin Gin is Australia's most baffling phenomenon, Mystery Craters, which is a journey of discovery since their discovery in 1971. The origins of the 35 oddly shaped craters have remained the subject of controversy. The mottled mixture of sandstone and ochre stain has been the subject of many investigations and various theories have been offered. 

We didn’t stop and shortly arrived in Gin Gin. Lovely gardens divide the wide streets and the historic buildings are a reminder of Queensland’s pioneering past. Visitors can explore the natural rural countryside and fields of sugarcane with vineyards and olive groves emerging as new horticultural industries. Gin Gin’s main street is peaceful and picturesque but drive a little further, we explored a little more and there was an adventure to be had at the end of a small dirt road tucked away at the back of Gin Gin and approximately 11km north-west of Mount Perry you’ll stumble across an unlined and unsupported hard granite rock historic tunnel.

 

Marvel at the man-made Boolboonda Tunnel, built in 1883 for the railway line between Bundaberg and Mount Perry to service the copper mines. It extends 192m through solid rock, making it one of the longest unsupported tunnels in the Southern Hemisphere at the time of construction. Today it’s home to a colony of bent-winged bats and used to access residential properties.

 

From Gin Gin head north on the Bruce Hwy and shortly turn left into Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd at the green sign towards Mount Perry. Follow Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd for 30.9km and turn left onto Tunnel Rd, with a brown sign 500m before it. Continue on Tunnel Rd for about 2.1km to reach the information area and picnic table just before the entrance of Boolboonda Tunnel.

 

We also checked out The Normanby Lookout, whcih is located on Normanby Range Road off Towns Creek Road from the Gin Gin Mount Perry Road. From here you overlook the Mount Perry Township and the surrounding countryside. There are picnic tables and a Directional Dial for you to get your bearings.

 

Directions To The Tunnel

From Mount Perry head north on Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd. After about 18km turn right onto Tunnel Rd, with a brown sign 500m before it. Continue on Tunnel Rd for about 2.1km to reach the information area and picnic table just before the entrance of Boolboonda Tunnel.

 

The directions are to the eastern end of the tunnel as this is where the information boards are. If you want to approach from the other side of the tunnel, turn into Tunnel Rd off Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd 7.3km west from the eastern turnoff, 38.6km from Bruce Hwy or 10.7km from Mount Perry. There is no brown sign for Boolboonda Tunnel, but there is a small Tourist Route 6 sign and a road sign for Tunnel Rd.