Brown sign hunting is a never-ending endeavour. There are more we are unaware of than we have ever been to, heard of, or plan to visit. Overall it has been a quieter year in terms of getting out to destinations but there have been a lot of things happening behind the scenes.
The introduction of a membership system brought with it the addition of unvisited destinations. The locations themselves are available to anyone, however, members can view unvisited destinations on a map of Australia and of individual Australian states.
One of our big additions is Carnarvon Gorge 
, a place I have personally been trying to get to for around 15 years. Work had gotten in the way on four previous attempts, once having to cancel on the night before leaving. This year we made it there and has already been listed. I would love to see it included in a future top 10 list, however, Carnarvon Gorge is a well-covered destination, so time will tell.
1. 7 Mile Diggings
7 Mile Diggings continues to remain in first place. Of the top 10, 7 Mile Diggings has over 24% of the views, distancing itself further than last year. Open for visiting and looking at the historical diggings site, and with a permit camping, the once popular 4wd destination has long been closed for 4wd access. Will it ever lose it’s top spot in this list?
2. Churchbank Weir Reserve
Moving up from 6th place in 2022, Churchbank Weir Reserve maintains its inclusion in the top 10 list. Churchbank Weir Reserve is a free camp not too far from Brisbane, especially if you are on the south side. The weir is downstream from the reserve, so the water in the creek beside the camping area is plentiful. We had planned to visit Churchbank Weir Reserve in 2023 and bring our standup paddleboard, but time didn’t allow us to get there. Perhaps 2024 will be different.
3. 26th Parallel Leaving The North West
The top few destinations are regulars, and another is the 26th Parallel. The 26th Parallel is at the border of South Australia and Northern Territory , although this location is further west near the coast of Western Australia. It is 330km south of the Tropic of Capricorn, between Carnarvon and Geraldton near the Gladstone National Park. There is a brown sign for both directions with a slight difference. The other sign says “Entering The North West”.
4. Big Pipis
The first top 10 destination that wasn’t in the 2022 list, The Big Pipis on North Stradbroke Island represents one of big things on the Brown Signs website. The Big Pipis sits at the start of the Gorge Walk at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).
5. Maclean Tartan Poles
Moved from 10th to 5th,
The tartan poles started in 2000 for the Olympic Torch to be carried passed through Maclean. The original plan of 6 painted poles with Scottish tartans. Now there are now well over 200 poles with family tartan designs painted on them. The poles have extended from the centre of Maclean to Harwood Bridge in the north and to Ferry Park in the south. Likewise, the interest grows on the Brown Signs website, jumping from 10th in last year’s list to 5th in the 2023 list.
6. Windmill Museum
Moved up from 7th to 6th
A second big thing in the top 10 list is at the Windmill Museum, moving up one place from 7th last year and doubling the number of big things in the top 10 list. The museum has number of windmills on display, located off the highway so you need to drive passed the local shop. It is located outdoors so it can be seen operating at any time of the day. It is also the location of the Big Windmill, commonly called ‘Bruce’ or ‘Big Bruce’, and is one of only 15 windmills with 35-foot fans. Big Bruce was a special order with larger than standard fans making it the biggest.
7. Yuraygir National Park Brooms Head
Dropped from 3rd to 7th
Yuraygir National Park has multiple points to access the park, with this brown sign having the most interest on Brown Signs. It has dropped from 3rd place but still managed to stay in the top 10. Accessing Yuraygir National Park via Brooms Head actually takes you to two parts. A set of camping spots just a few kilometres before reaching Brooms Head, and another part accessed from a dirt road turning off a little closer to Brooms Head to go to the Sandon campgrounds next to the Sandon River.
8. Lake Perseverance Active Recreation Centre
I didn’t expect Lake Perseverance Active Recreation Centre to appear in last year’s top 10 list, however, here it is at the same position for the second year in a row. Lake Perseverance Active Recreation Centre is operated by the Queensland Government Department of Justice and Attorney General, to provide youth-oriented adventure-based learning activities. It isn’t open for general access, primarily for youths referred to attend. It is also available to the Perseverance Aquatic Club and to schools and groups. It has access to accommodation, conference room, outdoor court (sporting), sports oval, canoes, and archery.
9. Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive
A new type of entry in the top 10 list is the tourist drive. Towards the end of the top 10 list, the Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive is the first of what I expect to be more common in coming years. Brown Signs didn’t focus too much on the tourist drives in the earlier years but the interest in them is high and we’re increasing the number of included drives. We are based near the Northern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive so I’d like to see it appearing in a future list.
Located on the southern side of Brisbane and following the shoreline of the beautiful Moreton Bay, there are many destinations to see on this tourist drive.
10. Fraser Coast Tourist Drive 12
Another indicator of how tourist drives are increasing in popularity on the Brown Signs website is a second and final entry to the 2023 top ten list. The Fraser Coast tourist drive 12 begins near Maryborough, taking you through Hervey Bay and finishing in Howard.
