Sommerville Valley / Stanthorpe

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Well we've decided to head out to Sommerville Valley Tourist Park this Easter long weekend which adjoins King Storm Dam near Stanthorpe.

We havnt been there before but the park was chosen as its dog friendly, however this may hinder doing some decent 4wding over the weekend. Apart from Sundown National Park, which as we have the dog with us means we are unable to traverse can anyone recommend some places we can go 4wding (with dog) in the stanthorpe region?

Thanks in advance

[Wazza2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza2]

Fabes where did u end up exploring?

We camped with friends who know a property owner on the river/dam probably not far from where you were. Headed into Sundown on Sat which was good fun. I'll post a short report later. Luckily we survived the rain yesterday - even managed to cook a massive camp oven roast for 4 families during the worst of it!

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

We went to Sundown National Park 29-12-2013 and drove to Burrows Campground for a peaceful lunch stop. Didn't camp here this time as we where on a private farm near Applethorpe. After lunch the three cars 150, 120 and a Hilux did the challenging Rats Castle track. I have done this several times over the last 20 years but what angered me was the people camped at Rats Castle decided to bring their dogs in the National Park. Also was the guy from The Springs 4wd Park and a friend in a pootrol climbing the larger of the hills and making a absolute mess. The amount of track damage from the pootrol was enough for me to wonder when this area would be closed to all of us. This track should be one way only to stop fools like this chewing the tracks up so badly. To his credit his Jeep recovered the twin diff locked pootrol with ease towing him up this hill in reverse. We continued down this hill with the cross member of all three cars crunching over the damaged area of the track. The last climb out of Rats to the main access track is also one that has been badly damaged over the years. The Hilux needed the rear diff lock and both Prado's made good use of the traction control.
Overall a great days drive in a park with great views and some challenging driving. Allow at least 5 hours to do the entire park with a short lunch stop.
The mine sites have been locked up to stop people falling down the shafts and to keep away from the Arsenic piles.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

should open up some of the arsenic piles to some of these weekend hero's, might cull a few idiots out for us