FINCH HATTON | TINY TOWN – BIG ADVENTURE! MTB | RAINFOREST | PLATYPUS | WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES

FINCH HATTON | TINY TOWN – BIG ADVENTURE! MTB | RAINFOREST | PLATYPUS | WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES

Tucked away in Queensland’s Pioneer Valley, Finch Hatton might just look like another tiny Aussie town. But don’t let its size fool you. Out here, the adventure is anything but small. With epic mountain biking trails, crystal clearar swimming holes, lush rainforest hikes, and a whole lot of heart, Finch Hatton is quietly becoming one of Australia’s bestkept secrets. When we came out here, we thought it would be all about the riding, but there is a whole lot more to explore out here. This place is the definition of tiny town big adventure. We based ourselves at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds just across the road from the trails. $25 a night unpowered, 30 if you want power. And there’s a peaceful little river that runs behind the campground. It’s quiet, easy, and the location couldn’t be better. From where we’re parked up here in the showgrounds, it’s just a quick walk through the trees into town. You can literally roll out of bed right onto the trails. Our bikes travel up front in a lockable box on the van’s draw bar, and they slide out for easy setup. Keeps them safe, dry, and out of the way. Chris gets them trail ready. Wheels on, pedals on, tires pumped up, and then we’re good to go. We’re about to hit the Finch Hatton mountain biking trails. But if you’re here for waterfalls, hikes, or platypus spotting, don’t go anywhere. That’s all coming up right after we go riding. I used to act kind of normal. I couldn’t complain. Now it’s never the same. I found myself picking pieces of my brain of what you done to me. My insanity. Oh baby. Hey, I wish that I was in my baby. [Music] The trails here are seriously fun. Fast flowing single track through the rainforest built for riders of all levels. And this is just the beginning. There’s a big expansion plan for this whole region. This is the trail head here. We got an epic pump track. This is a sign with all the trails on there. We have easy, we have intermediate, and we have obviously the difficulty, which is the blacks, which I’m going on. I think we need to motor and get up that hill, eh? All righty. Here we go. We’re making the climb up now. You good for it? Always good for it. Now, these are a world-class trail. They’ve been built um to perfection by the guys at World Trails. Um all levels of riding up here, so don’t be frightened to get up there with the family. It is epic. We also have um shuttles that run to the top if you don’t want to pedal up. But we got the ebikes now. And um Are you going to hit me or something? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. So, let’s get to the top and then we’ll uh film coming back down. Hey, cuz that’s where all the fun is. Woo! Sweet trails. This way. [Music] All right, another section of climbing. So, we’ve uh just passed the middle point. Now, we’re taking the top section up. As I said before, um you can get a shuttle to the top if you’re just on analog bikes. So, we’re on ebike, so [Music] we are at the top, I think. Oh, check this out, by the way. Here we go. Got an ebike supercharger. Oh, that’s so cool. All right, so where are we now? So, we are at the top. Yeah, we’re here. So, which trail do you want to do first? Well, it’s your uh The thing is it’s a very long climb back up. Well, we can do that one. What’s this one called? And I’ll do the blue section. And you can do the green. We can meet you down at the reservoir junction. Okay. Yeah, we’ll do that. We’ll do the last lot. I’ll do the last lot at blue. And then Yeah. Green whistle, you go first. I’m going to flow with you nice and neat and then I’m going to jump into the blue. So, let’s go. Nice and controlled. Oh, look at those birds. [Music] [Applause] Follow the BM. Don’t cut it. So, I’ll see you at the junction. later. Bye. Bye. Oh, what’s this? Yeah. Yep. Yep. H. Oh, whoops. Oh, I didn’t see that. That was cool. That’s what this place is about. [Music] Here she is. She did a good job on her own. I’m stoked. Yeah, babe. I’m stoked. Great job. And you didn’t bin it. No dirt. No. No dirt on the elbows. Let’s get back up. What do you think? Was it good? Yeah. Yeah. Super flowy. Yeah. Super flowy. Oh, so flowy, isn’t it? The BMS are just huge and manicured. The jumps are sick. There’s a heap of jumps there I’d like to hit again. I should insert footage of what I used to be like on the BMS. I used to get yelled at and I used to slide in and I used to fall off. Ran into me. Oh, she’s in front of me now. So, we got to get in front of her. No, probably not. [Applause] Here we go. What do we got here? What do we got here? Oh, here’s Tasty Fig. Oh, no. So, we got Tasty Fig here. That’s what we have to do, I think. Oh, Tasty Fig it is. Oh, nice. Nice already. Yeah. Yeah. So flowy, man. [Applause] Oh, what’s this coming? Little bit away from everything. All right, keep going. Nice and flowy. Sorry. Woo! Oh, damn it. Yeah. So sick. Place is sick. These have to be some of the best trails I’ve ridden in Queensland. Insane. I’m so stoked for Miam. She is riding so good. Here she comes over the big Buddha. Oh, you didn’t do the Buddha. You didn’t do the big Buddha. Congratulations, Tony. That was a sick blue that you just nailed. What do you have to say? Come on. Yeah, that actually really, really flowy. And if you stay out of the leaves, it’s all good. Stay out of the leaves. Stay out of the leaves. All right, we’re going toh see if we can find a few more trails. Stay tuned for this. We’ve just come across a good little jump trail down the bottom. Let’s give it a shot. Hey, let’s go. [Music] First jump up. Second jump. Oh, could have gone a little bit faster. Crap. Oh, am I going to make this big one? Done. We’re going to go back up to the top. See if we can find that new trail that everyone’s been raving about. They reckon it’s pretty good. I don’t know if this is it. Please proceed with caution. Must be it. Let’s do it. So, I think they just cut this trail for the MTV race that’s on this weekend. So, I’m assuming. Let’s give it a shot. Oh, bit of a rock garden. rocket. A bit of a drop. Yeah, it’s a bit doughy. Needs to be run in properly. Pretty thick trail. Oh, more rock garden. Hey, what’s that? Push yourself through without your cooked. Your dreams forget. Even if you can’t forget, take a quick look. Oh, little whoop. What an epic ride. Vince happened to eat your heart out. If you’re up for a bit of a climb, head west off and make your way up the Clark Range to Yungala National Park. The drive alone is spectacular, but what’s waiting at the top is even better. Close your eyes. Hear the voice within. Calling this heavy load got under your skin. Holling. You got the wide knuckles holding on a tight. Keeping your feelings bottled up inside. Heading for collision. And now to really live, you got to sky window gives you a panoramic view back down over the entire Pioneer Valley. And it really puts into perspective how wild and beautiful this region is. Sky window lookout. Wow. Check that out for amazing views over the Pioneer Valley. This is stunning. It’s basically like a big U-shaped range. This is Yingala or Ingala. Angala National Park. Beautiful. Right at the top of the range. short drive from down um down the bottom there at Finch Hatton. So, we’ve had enough of the lookout. I reckon we get to Ingala Chalet just up the road, get some coffee and maybe a vanilla slice or something. What do you reckon? Well, that was a short little 250 m walk to that lookout in the back of the car park. [Music] After soaking up those views at Sky Window, we headed straight to the chalet. An absolute must do when you’re up here. The food’s solid, the coffee’s good, and that view over the valley. Unreal. Right, food time. Got the breakfast menu. What are we going to get? Bacon, tomato, steak. What did you order? Crumb steak. Half a crumb steak. What did you order me? A BLT. BLT and chips. I think it comes with chips. Sweet. All right. How’s the views, though? Pretty amazing from up here. I have a question for you. You know how good I am with directions, right? Did we just drive along that valley and up here? You sure did. That’s Pioneer Valley. That’s Pine Valley. So, is Finch Hatton down there? Can you see it from here? It is. It’s down the bottom there. [Music] From mountain bike trails and waterfalls to national parks and these views, this place really does pack it all in. Thank you. And it’s the perfect size cuz it’s a half serve. Want chip? No, it isn’t a BLT. All right, time to eat. like that when the kids are. Just a few minutes from the chalet is Broken River, one of the best places in Australia and the entire world to spot a platypus in the wild. [Music] Even if you don’t spot one straight away, the walk along the river and the beauty of the area makes it worth the stop. [Music] We spotted a couple ducking and diving through the water. It’s such a surreal moment when they pop up and definitely one for the buck at least. [Music] Well, I didn’t think that was going to be that exciting, but it was actually pretty cool. How cute were they? Yeah, there was stacks of them. If you just sat there for ages and watched, you got a few. And I captured some really good ones on the 200 mil. So, yeah, pretty cool. Pretty cool little spot. Now, time to go get a nice warm coffee. [Music] So, it turns out the information center is having a photo shoot today and that’s why they’re open on a Thursday. Normally they’re not, but they’re making us a coffee and a hot chocolate, so got to be happy with that. Well, no. Brekie is not serving food, so I just got a coffee. But as they say, mate, a cup of coffee is like a breakfast in a cup. So, is that what they say? Well, that’s what I’m saying. Okay. As they say, as always, just a short drive from town is Finch Hatton Gorge, home to some of the clearest swimming holes you’ll find. [Music] Here we go. We just turned up at Finch Hatton and old uh old Miriam thinks she’s going to go swimming. I don’t think she realizes how cold it’s going to be. I think it’s going to be a little cold. Hey, well, you can get in if you want, but I think we should just see you in there. I figure if I put them on, you’re going to make me get in. Actually, maybe I shouldn’t put them on. I think it just has to be done, you know, as there’s a good old saying, and I’m sure everyone is aware of it when in Rome. So, I’m just going to have to do it. I’m not in Rome. No, we’re having to pitch. You do what you got to do. Ah, now a little privacy, please. It’s a 3.6 km return hike as you weave your way past granite boulders through lush rainforest to reach emerald pools and tumbling cascades. [Music] [Music] [Music] How far away are we? Well, it says swimming up there. Wheel of Fire. Was that closed? Yes, it is closed. Mhm. So, we have to go that way then. Look how cool that tree is. Oh, it goes all the way out. Yeah. Getting pretty close now. We can hear the water. [Music] So, you going to get in? I don’t have a choice, do I? No, you don’t. Hurry up. Come on. I got my swimmers on. Oh, that’s really cold. It’s fresh. Are you coming in? Are you coming in? Maybe. Go in. You go. Crazy. That is cold. How’s that? That was refreshing and it was lovely, but I think that was enough. This is what North Queensland is about. Swimming holes in winter. The town itself is small. Think classic Aussie pub, post office, bike shop, corner store, a few smaller shops, and friendly locals. But it’s the gateway to so much. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, mountain bike trails, or just want to chill by the river, it’s all right here. It’s great to see towns like this getting a second life thanks to mountain biking. And even if you’re not a rider, Finch Hatton’s still got plenty to offer. Sometimes it’s the tiny towns that surprise you the most. And Finch Hatton is one of those places off the radar, full of big adventures. [Applause] Thanks so much for watching and if you’re enjoying the ride, please make sure you hit subscribe. We’ve got plenty more Aussie adventures coming your way. Catch you next time. [Music]

Finch Hatton Video

Who knew one of QLD’s tiniest towns could pack in this much adventure? From world class MTB trails to waterfalls, rainforest, sugar cane, wildlife & local favourites—Finch Hatton has it all.

In this episode, we’re camped right across from the new(ish) MTB trails at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds. We take you through everything this small town in the Pioneer Valley has to offer—riding epic MTB trails with unreal views, hiking & into & swimming in stunning (cold!) swimming holes, brunching with a view at The Eungella Chalet, spotting wild platypus at Broken River, and soaking up the peace of Eungella National Park.

Whether you’re here for mountain biking, chasing waterfalls, or just exploring small-town Australia—this one’s for you.

Don’t forget to subscribe & follow along as we explore more of Australia in our Sunland LTD off-road caravan & Chevy Silverado HD.

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✅ CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro – Tiny Town, Big Adventure
0:55 MTB bike setup
1:54 Riding Finch Hatton MTB Trails
13:08 Clarke Range Finch Hatton Gorge hikes & swimming holes
13:24 Sky Window Lookout – Eungella National Park
14:41 Brunch at Eungella Chalet
15:59 Platypus spotting at Broken River
18:11 Finch Hatton Gorge
20:19 Araluen waterfall
21:28 Finch Hatton – the town

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GEAR & RIG
Sunland LTD off-road caravan
2024 GMSV Chevy Silverado HD
Bike box mounted to van drawbar
eMTB’s: Chris rides the 2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Pro, and I’m on the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp SL

Find it on the map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gpHaZAsHUYDMoJw56
Camped at: Finch Hatton Showgrounds – $25 unpowered / $30 powered

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