Road Conditions on the A7 Gregory Development Road

[StinkyPete]

I'm doing some planning for a trip to FNQ in May.   What are the road conditions like on  the A7 "Gregroy Developmental Road" between Charters Towers and Clermont?   

[Me_3]

I took that road when heading to the national rally last year, and will be again this year.. Was a good road, only one fuel stop between Charters & Claremont who like to price gouge, but not an issue with an ST since you won't need it unless your towing a trailer in which case just put in enough to get to charters.

I'm also heading that way to this years national rally (in the dark most likely) so can give you an updated condition report then. 

[StinkyPete]

Bewdy! The "A7" looks like it will be included on our route.   We plan on traveling from Tennant Creek to Cloncurry, Longreach for a couple of days, Emerald, Clermont, Charters Towers and on the the coast.   I'll post our entire proposed journey under Ride Reports fairly soon.

[Down Under]

I used the stretch of road mentioned last September and was surprised at just how good the road surface was.  It's really good between CT and Beyando Crossing but deteriorates a bit on the southern end but nothing to really complain about.   

[Wild Rose]

Pete
I will be doing that stretch of road next Monday 02-03-15
I fly to Townsville on Monday 1st to drive home with my Daughter who is moving back to Toowoomba
I hope to leave Townsville at 4am and be back in Toowoomba that night
So I will let you know on the latest condition of the road

[StinkyPete]

Pete
I will be doing that stretch of road next Monday 02-03-15
I fly to Townsville on Monday 1st to drive home with my Daughter who is moving back to Toowoomba
I hope to leave Townsville at 4am and be back in Toowoomba that night
So I will let you know on the latest condition of the road

Thanks Leo.   Keep in mind that two of the bikes that are doing the trip are Harleys (including Fish).   

[Sicman]

Thanks Leo.   Keep in mind that two of the bikes that are doing the trip are Harleys (including Fish).   

You mean they managed to put Fishes Harley back together again - Miracles do happen 

[StinkyPete]

Thanks Leo.   Keep in mind that two of the bikes that are doing the trip are Harleys (including Fish).   

You mean they managed to put Fishes Harley back together again - Miracles do happen 

Yep!   A major repair is usually required after every major trip.   

[Bikebear]

It's a good road. I have done it quite a number of times alone and in company of Harleys and had no trouble.

[Biggles]

It's a good road. I have done it quite a number of times alone and in company of Harleys and had no trouble.

Have you ever been on the road from Nebo up the Suttor Development Road to Eungella the back way?  I'm looking at an alternative route for the FarRide in May.  Google Streetview hasn't been there, and you can never be sure from Google Satellite.

[Old Steve]

Haven't done the Nebo/Eungella road myself but two of my workmates have in 4WDs and it's unsealed all the way passed Eungella dam.  I'd recommend dropping down on the Peak Downs Highway from Nebo to Eton, then cutting across to Marian and then up through Marani to Pinnacle if you wanted to go up the pioneer valley.  The rise up the front of the coastal range to Eungella is very steep and has steel grids set into the road to help drainage.  I won't take my bike up there, and the pub and café at Pinnacle are much better than those up at Eungella anyway.

There is a nice road to ride between Marani in the Pioneer valley and the Bruce Highway north of Mackay, it turns off north about 1 km west of Marani and is called the Marani/Mt Ossa Rd.  About 30 to 40 km in all, towards the end there's a right hand turn to stay on the tarmac but it's well marked as the way to Mt Ossa - don't go straight ahead to Cullan.  Also the road between Marian and the Bruce Highway is a nice, though short, ride, turn north from Marian over the bridge opposite the new shopping centre.

[Biggles]

Haven't done the Nebo/Eungella road myself but two of my workmates have in 4WDs and it's unsealed all the way passed Eungella dam.  I'd recommend dropping down on the Peak Downs Highway from Nebo to Eton, then cutting across to Marian and then up through Marani to Pinnacle if you wanted to go up the pioneer valley.  The rise up the front of the coastal range to Eungella is very steep and has steel grids set into the road to help drainage.  I won't take my bike up there, and the pub and café at Pinnacle are much better than those up at Eungella anyway.

There is a nice road to ride between Marani in the Pioneer valley and the Bruce Highway north of Mackay, it turns off north about 1 km west of Marani and is called the Marani/Mt Ossa Rd.  About 30 to 40 km in all, towards the end there's a right hand turn to stay on the tarmac but it's well marked as the way to Mt Ossa - don't go straight ahead to Cullan.  Also the road between Marian and the Bruce Highway is a nice, though short, ride, turn north from Marian over the bridge opposite the new shopping centre.

Many thanks for the detail, Steve.  I can cope with a bit of gravel so long as it's not corrugated or deeply wheel-tracked and not too much more than 20 kays.  I've done the front of the Eungella climb and descent and agree it's steep and the grids on the hairpins are a challenge, but manageable if you take it easy.  I needed the inland route to make the run exceed 1200 kays for an FR12Gold, and to escape the wretched Bruce Hwy which is probably at its worst since the cyclone went through.

[Old Steve]

Biggles, I don't think you should do it.  You come up to the Eungella Dam from the west and it's way more than 20 km of gravel and is pretty circuitous.  I think the road leaves from the Mt Suttor Development Road and goes up through the Homevale reserve, Hail Creek and on to the Eungella Dam.  It's 4WD territory, my workmates have told me not to try it in my intermittent 4WD Captiva.

To accumulate miles you'd be better to drop down the Peak Downs Highway from Nebo to Eton and cut across to the Eungella Rd at Marion (or Marani) and go on up the Pioneer Valley as far as you needed to click up your distance.  Nebo to Eton is about 60 km, and Eton to Pinnacle is about 40 km.  Good pub pies at the Pinnacle Pub!

[Biggles]

Biggles, I don't think you should do it.  You come up to the Eungella Dam from the west and it's way more than 20 km of gravel and is pretty circuitous.  I think the road leaves from the Mt Suttor Development Road and goes up through the Homevale reserve, Hail Creek and on to the Eungella Dam.  It's 4WD territory, my workmates have told me not to try it in my intermittent 4WD Captiva.

To accumulate miles you'd be better to drop down the Peak Downs Highway from Nebo to Eton and cut across to the Eungella Rd at Marion (or Marani) and go on up the Pioneer Valley as far as you needed to click up your distance.  Nebo to Eton is about 60 km, and Eton to Pinnacle is about 40 km.  Good pub pies at the Pinnacle Pub!

Yep- looked at your suggestion on Google maps and it's only a few kays further and estimated to be a couple of hours quicker.
Believe me, I don't relish gravel, but take it on if it's worth the effort.  After having the leads on the cruise control rear wheel pick-up shaken off and the headlight alignment shaken out of whack by the corrugations on the Tenterfield to Woodenbong road, I'll choose the long way around whenever practical.
The FarRide destination is the Eungella Chalet, as it was for my first FarRide in 2011 (ref my avatar pic).

[Old Steve]

Pinnacle to Eungella Chalet is only 26 km.  Once in Eungella, take a ride 5 km further along the road to the Broken River bridge.  Nice walks under the bridge and down the river a couple of hundred metres and you might even see a platypus.

All the best on your ride Biggles.

[Wild Rose]

Pete
I will be doing that stretch of road next Monday 02-03-15
I fly to Townsville on Monday 1st to drive home with my Daughter who is moving back to Toowoomba
I hope to leave Townsville at 4am and be back in Toowoomba that night
So I will let you know on the latest condition of the road

Pete
I drove over the A7 Gregory Development Yesterday, a little rough in places but overall very good no narrow bits like the last time I rode over it

[StinkyPete]

Thanks for the road report Leo.   I'll see you soon in Toowoomba.   

[Wild Rose]

Thanks for the road report Leo.   I'll see you soon in Toowoomba.   

No worries mate  Only 17 days to go