Duck Creek Road winds from the Kerry Valley south of Beaudesert, up the range to O'Reilly's and Lamington N.P.. This do-it-yourself road was built by community volunteers from 1980 to 1988. A unique attraction of the road is the historic sites along the way such as Cecily Flanagan's Rock, Jack & Maisie's Glade, Wangerriburra Place, Herb's Dream Place and Barram's Lookout, commemorating pioneers of the district. These spots were purchased by private citizens to help finance the road construction.
Duck Creek Road begins at Kerry as it branches to the left off Kerry Road just 2 kms past the Kerry Valley Church. It winds through the narrow Duck Creek Vallley, passing the Dunn's homestead before beginning the climb to Franklin Brothers' Lookout half way up the road. At Shephard's Lookout the traveller is greeted with a scenic panorama that sweeps across the valley, on to the Jinbroken Range and the jagged horizon of the Great Dividing Range and MacPherson Range beyond the volcanic plugs of Mt Barney and Mt Lindsay.
 A journey up this 4WD route is an unique experience. As you wind up the mountain through Gum Topped Box and Yellow Box, watch out for Glossy Black Cockatoos in the Forest Oaks on the way. Once on top, the road follows the ridge south through Stringy Bark and Kangaroo Grass country with tall Tallow wood and Dunne's White Gum near the edge of the rainforest. Abruptly, the eucalypt forest gives way to complex sub-tropical rainforest for the rest of the journey to O'Reilly's.
Download a map showing Duck Creek Road.
Acknowledgement: The text has been reproduced from the publication "Duck Creek Road: Do it yourself road to O'Reilly's" by Beaudesert Community Arts & Information Centre Assoc. Inc. Photography supplied courtesy of Rob Packer - Landscape Photographer.
Note: The Wangerriburra People lived on the land bounded by Birnam Range in the west, the MacPherson's in the south, Cedar Creek in the north and east to the headwaters of the Nerang River. |
