Quaid Road: The Road to Nowhere in Queensland
Australia, oceania
32 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Wanna explore a hidden gem in Far North Queensland? The Quaid Road (aka Southedge-Wangetti Road Corridor) is a 32-kilometer (20 mi) stretch connecting the Captain Cook Highway near Wangetti, just north of Cairns, to the Mulligan Highway at Southedge, south of Mount Molloy.
Nestled within the Macalister Range Forest Reserve in the northernmost part of Queensland, this road was originally built as a private access route with the potential to be a supplementary route to the Atherton Tableland and the Mulligan Highway.
Keep in mind, this road has been a bit of a local saga. While it dramatically cuts travel time from Cairns to Mount Molloy – down to under an hour from nearly two – it's currently closed to the public with locked gates. You'll need a permit from the Wet Tropics Management Authority to access it, as it winds through sensitive rainforest areas that became part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
This road has been at the center of discussions, especially after Cyclone Larry in 2006 when Cairns was isolated. The idea of using it for evacuations and supplies has been floated, but it remains a controversial topic!
Where is it?
Quaid Road: The Road to Nowhere in Queensland is located in Australia (oceania). Coordinates: -26.6782, 135.6047
Road Details
- Country
- Australia
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 32 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -26.6782, 135.6047
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