• Resting the feet.
    Resting the feet.
  • The sad remains of the wreck.
    The sad remains of the wreck.
  • Side of The Mast, part of the Steamers.
    Side of The Mast, part of the Steamers.
  • It's a sign!
    It's a sign!
  • The Lincoln Bomber's final resting place since 1955.
    The Lincoln Bomber's final resting place since 1955.
  • The view from the Stern.
    The view from the Stern.
  • Climbing the Stern.
    Climbing the Stern.
  • Mast view from base of the Stern, part of the Steamers.
    Mast view from base of the Stern, part of the Steamers.
  • Ribbons show the way.
    Ribbons show the way.
  • The Mount Superbus Topo map (1:25000).
    The Mount Superbus Topo map (1:25000).
  • You need good navigation skills to find the wreck.
    You need good navigation skills to find the wreck.
  • Thick bush.
    Thick bush.
  • The Stern.
    The Stern.
  • The strewn wreck lays 80m from the top of Mount Superbus.
    The strewn wreck lays 80m from the top of Mount Superbus.
  • The wreck's fuselage.
    The wreck's fuselage.
  • The base of the Stern, part of the Steamers.
    The base of the Stern, part of the Steamers.
Close×

Mount Superbus hike reveals dramatic plane wreckage

23 March 2021
Comments Comments

Great Walks explores two challenging SE Qld hikes, the track up Mount Superbus to the wreck of a WWII Bomber and the ancient rocks formation of The Steamers.

Some say the hike up Mount Superbus to reach the wreck of a Lincoln Bomber is haunted. It's certainly a difficult trek and there's an eerie feeling being surrounded by the thick vines and near impenetrable forest.

The mountain seems to place obstacles every time a new hiker sets out to look for the wreck. We tried, we searched, we found it and we think some of those beliefs may be true.

The hollow fuselage of the plane dominates the landscape. Twisted metal remains strung in trees and litters the forest floor, becoming one with the mountainside amid moss and fallen leaves.

It's as if the mountain is protecting the wreck by hugging the remains with its vines and overgrown trees, stopping it from sliding any further down the 60º incline.

Mystery still surrounds the unfortunate events of that day which claimed six lives of what was supposed to be a medical saving mission and the crash sight doesn't giveaway many clue but the walk up to it is as dramtic as the story of the wreck itself.

We hiked the 12km round trip from the end of Emu Vale Road, up the very steep mountain, in fact, 3 times, the first we ran out of daylight and had to turn back, the second attempt was cancelled due to extremely bad weather, and finally we found the wreck on the third.

It was a weird feeling reaching the wreck, as you want to be happy and celebrate reaching the summit, but realise quickly that the place you are visiting and standing in is more of a memorial site.

We did see a lot of signed names carved and etched into the fuselage remains, which we would love to believe is a form of respect to visit rather than vandalism, we didn’t leave our names. There is a memorial plaque placed on a stone boulder to the side of the wreck and still many parts scattered around the area including two engines, or what’s left of them.

For the full story of this walk and the walk up the nearby Steamers get yourself a copy of the Great Walks Feb-Mar issue.

Words and photos_Beth Lagos

comments powered by Disqus