The Borders River Tourist Drive 3 follows the Macintre River and Dumaresq River between Goondiwindi and Yelarbon. The Dumaresq River on of a number of rivers that form part of the Queensland and New South Wales state border.
The tourist drive is an alternative to following the Cunningham Highway. At 54 kilometres long, it is a similar distance (from the roundabout) and time, less than 5 kilometres longer and 5 minutes more, excluding stops and detours along the way.
There are several places with fishing spots. Note that the rivers on the border of Queensland and New South Wales require a New South Wales Fishing Permit, even if you are fishing from the Queensland banks. During September, October and November, any Murray Cod caught must be returned to the river.
From Goondiwindi to Yelarbon
The Hinterland Tourist Drive 28 starts at Kildonan Road off the Newell Highway, at a roundabout just north of the border.
Start of Tourist Drive
From Newell Highway, head east from the roundabout on Kildonan Road.
Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park
Right at the start is the first detour from the Border Rivers Tourist Drive, with the brown sign for the water park is displayed together with the tourist drive sign. Immediately after the roundabout, turn left into Johnston Road, then after 500m turn right.
A section of the Serpentine Creek has been converted to form the Natural Heritage & Water Park. Its primary purpose is for power boats and water skiing, although it has a swimming area and walking trails. Toilets, picnic tables, barbeques.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Follow Kildonan Road for approximately 17 kilometres to Rainbow Reserve on the right.
Rainbow Reserve
Rainbow Reserve is the first (or last depending on the direction you are heading) of several free camping spots along the Border Rivers Tourist Drive. The campground is basic with no facilities, which is the same as all of the other free camps. There are a few spots near the water, between 100 metres and 175 metres from Kildonan Road, although it is actually a lagoon rather than the Macintyre River.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Follow Kildonan Road for approximately 7.6 kilometres to Yellowbank Reserve on the right.
Yellowbank Reserve
Yellowbank Reserve is another free camping spot. It is located next to the Dumaresq River, around 5.5km upstream from where it joins the Macintyre River. It is further from the road, around 300 metres in a straight line, over 400 metres along the track. Because it is the river, the water flows here, at least when there has been enough rain to allow it to flow. Yellowbank Reserve is also a free camping area.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Follow Kildonan Road for approximately 3.9 kilometres to Lees Camping Reserve on the right.
Lees Camping Reserve
Lees Camping Reserve is also on the Dumaresq River, another free camping area. Lots of small camping spots near the river and above there is space suitable for larger vans. There are no facilities, the same as the other free camp sites, but there is a large bin for rubbish near the entrance. The camping sites are around 1 kilometre from the road.
The river has a rock ledge in the river that creates a sort of weir with a gap towards the centre for a small waterfall the water flows through.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Follow Kildonan Road for approximately 3.7 kilometres to Bengalla Reserve on the right.
Bengalla Reserve
There is no shortage of free camp areas on the Border Rivers Tourist Drive 3. Bengalla Reserve is the closest to Yelarbon and similar to Lees Camping Reserve with a longer access track and a number of spots to choose to camp. There is a large sandy area on a bend in the river.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Follow Kildonan Road for approximately 12.9 kilometres to reach the turnoff to historic bridge at Keetah Border Crossing.
Keetah Border Crossing & Historic Bridge
There was once a brown sign to the Keetah Border Crossing but it no longer exists. The reserves were also brown signs, replaced with blue signs, but the Keetah Border Crossing sign has been changed to a green sign.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Kildonan Road and turn right. Kildonan Road becomes Yelarbon Keetah Road, follow for approximately 8.4 kilometres to reach the end of the Border Rivers Tourist Drive 3 at Yelarbon.
Dingo Fence
The Dingo Fence is across the railway line from where the Border Rivers Tourist Drive ends (or begins, depending on the direction you drive it). At the end of the drive, turn left onto Cunningham Highway, then the first right after crossing the railway line. The monument to the Dingo Fence is almost immediately on the left.
Yelarbon Silo Art
Silo art has become a popular tourist trap, and the Yelarbon silos have their own brown sign. The Silo Viewing Area is on the eastern end of Yelarbon. It’s easy to spot, the silos stand out in the small town. The viewing area is on the opposite side of the highway.
Desert Jewels Walk
Close to the silo art viewing area is a brown sign we missed spotting when travelling through. It says it is a 500-metre circuit walk but the sign near the gate says to walk 250 metres to the start.
