Is The Lions Road Open Yet? Unknown, Queensland, Australia
By MattyRx on 19-Aug-22. Tour GT19

In 1969, when the NSW government rejected the building of a connection road between NSW and QLD north of Kyogle, the local community, under the auspice of the local Lions Club, decided to do it themeselves. A world class scenic drive is the result.

Since 1932, people of the Northern Rivers of NSW had been endeavouring to have the direct route to Brisbane via the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range constructed.

It is 30km shorter than the Summerland Way - Mount Lindsay Highway route.

When it was finally rejected by the NSW Government in 1969, the Lions Club of Kyogle became involved in promoting the building of the road, as a community development project.

After two years of investigating options for the route, a decision was made in 1971 to build the road across the McPherson Range connecting with the existing Shire Roads on Gradys Creek in NSW and Running Creek in QLD.

The project captured in the imagination of the local community which contributed massive support in money, man hours and equipment time.

Finally, the road was opened on 15th December, 1970.

The road is known for is common closures - bridgework, bushfires, Covid-19 Pandemic and Floods have all contributed to lengthy closures over the last few years, and it seems that the road is actually closed more often than it is opened. So much so that there's a facebook page dedicated to it's status and even T-Shirts printed to poke fun at how often this road is not driveable. However, when this road is opened - it has to be one of the most speectacular tourist drives in the area. These caches will take you to some of the interesting places along the route. 

Geocaches