Mt Joyce Escape Recreation Park

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Posted 2013-07-01 by Sharon Higson ⇒ follow

Mt. Joyce Escape Recreation Park

Has it been one of those crazy weeks, one that leaves you wanting someplace peaceful, where you can just sit and relax and listen to the birds, hear yourself think for a few hours or just let the kids burn off some steam?

Well, aptly named is the Mt. Joyce Escape Recreation Park at Wyaralong Dam, just 85 kilometres southwest of Brisbane.

There are a number of ways to get there from Brisbane as well as the Gold Coast. For our purpose, we will be leaving Brisbane by way of Ipswich onto the Cunningham highway for a short distance. Turn south and head towards Boonah on the #93 . You will come to Coulson where you will turn east onto the highway carrying on towards Beaudesert. Keep an eye out for the sign on the left for the Wyaralong Dam and Mt. Joyce Escape Recreation Area, roughly 16 kilometers or so.

Of course, you will want to stop along the way and take photos. With the sprawling country side of the Scenic Rim, the cows love to watch you as you stop, safely of course, along the way and take their photos. The colours are numerous with the red and gold of the many grasses, wild flowers blooming and the odd tree in full flower. Be it a blue sky or a cloud covered one the interesting photos you can take give you pause to survey the area and take a breath.

Upon entering the Mt. Joyce Escape you realise it is quite a vast area. And notice how quiet it is! It does a body good to get out of the city and away from everything, if only for a few hours.

You can fill those hours by hiking, be prepared for lots of hill walking, certainly worth the effort. You can gently slide your kayak or canoe into the still water of the dam and glide for hours, watching the birds and peeling off a few thoughts.

If you are feeling more energetic there is quite a network of trails for mountain biking and horseback riding. Photo opportunities abound yet again in the lovely Queensland setting.

Maybe you are just looking for a new picnic spot. There are barbecues, tabled areas to while away the hours chatting, paths to stroll and even a playground for the youngsters.

Nothing seems to have been left out here. Camping is available if you want to extend your time. Go here to find out more. Download the trail map for hiking or you take the risk of wandering around as we did though there were no disappointments.