Highfields East is an older suburb built on Highfields Village. Formerly part of the Crows Nest region, it is now managed by the Toowoomba council. The ride is along shared bike and walking paths. There is a fascinating variety of flora in both private and public gardens.
The video immediately below is a curated view created from a 360-degree video. The 360 version is near the end of this document. The 3D quality is dependent on your connection. For the best quality and control, click the paper plane and use the link provided to download a copy. Play it on any 360 software. One free one from Insta360 is ideal. As well as having a clear image, zoom and horizon correction are available. Scan through the images below if you don’t want to spend the time on a video. Use the time-stamp in either video if they subject interests you.
For more maps see the list of app connections at the end of this document.
0:01 Peacehaven Botanic Park
A donation by a Highfields resident, Stan Kuhl, has given the community a park that is a lot more than a park. It has a magic playground for the young at heart, green space, family areas, space for entertainment and a nursery of Australian flora that will keep the dendrophile entertained for hours. And, no, a dendrophile is not someone with dandruff.
0:13 Hotrods
I guess that, like me, the hot rod drivers have chosen Peacehaven as a starting point. Current consumer 360-degree cameras are pretty high resolution, but this must cover a sphere. The sky blue, red and black cars behind are hot rods.
0:48 Private Gardens
This ride is through the older residential streets of Highfields. Most properties are 3/4 of an acre or more in size with well-established gardens. The grass is green but sparse due to a drought that preceded the recent rains.
1:20 The Overhang Problem
I use a 360-degree camera. Since I am not into selfies, I mount the lenses on a pole for a comprehensive view. The downside comes when walking or riding under low-hanging branches.
1:39 Pets and Vets
I don’t know the ratio of dogs to humans is, but most walkers have canine companies. Another clue is the number of vets in the district. We ride past three. This vet moved to newer, larger premises a few months after the video was taken.
1:54 A Grave View
It is unusual to see a graveyard close to a church in Australia, no matter a suburban area. I suspect the church existed long before the area became suburban. The property on the left can be sure of quiet neighbours.
2:11 Highfields Road
The New England Highway follows the escarpment south to north. Highfields Road goes west down to the civic region and then to the more modern housing estates. I don’t ride these estates often. I like green.
2:56 Grass Grows, Mowers Mow
A lot of rain means a lot of mowing. Ride-on mowers are popular where most lots are 3/4 of an acre or more. Two seasons of continuous and often flooding rains followed the time of this photograph. It is not uncommon to see residents mowing two or three times a week. If I did that, I would never get a ride in. I have a cordless push mower.
3:17 Highfields Homestead
I think this is the original Highfields homestead, although I may have misunderstood. Not much to see from the road, given the overgrown nature of the property. As I ride on, we pass a lot of currently empty horse pastures.
3:40 Shopping and Services
The primary services area for Highfields is ahead – Woolworths and Aldis plus many specialties. It has increased in size in the four years I have been a resident. You can have an X-Ray and have your teeth cleaned as part of your weekly shopping trip.
3:49 A Sense of Community
Ahead to the left is the community centre, pool and sports facilities – all hidden by new library construction. I am riding on the only unsaved path on the ride. I don’t know why that is.
4:11 Country Fire Brigade
Fire is always a concern in a dry country with so much flora. There are a lot of eucalyptus trees around. In the drought, they drop branches and a lot of leaves. There needs to be a new term because evergreen does not cover it, yet they are not deciduous. Leaves cover many a roof. Eucalyptus leaves take a long time to break down. While we have never had a firestorm here, the thought is pretty scary.
4:34 Where Suburb meets Bush
Houses to the left of me, trees to the right – Here I am living in perfection with you. Natural bush diminishes as Highfields has turned from a village to a suburb. Fortunately, the large blocks and frequent parks go a long way to making up for it.
5:03 Hail
This part of Highfields was hit by hail a few days ago. No damage except to foliage. Hail is rare here and never of dangerous size, but we are on the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range.
5:38 Another Shopping Precinct
A second and older shopping centre exists on the northeastern corner of the current Highfields, not quite now as there is one of the new estates about 600 metres north – the type where blocks are all house and little extra land.
6:04 Roadwork
For the sake of consistency, I try to stick to paths. There is one, but I forgot and took my usual shortcut. Why do people take shortcuts when they are out for exercise?
6:38 Heave-ho
The path up to the highway feels like 10 degrees, but it is probably no more than 5. I had trouble until I converted to a mountain bike crankset and a larger lower gear on the cassette. Now it is a doddle.
6:53 The New England Highway
The main route north of Toowoomba passes through Highfields, Cabarlah, Hampton, Crows Nest and regions north. Over 17,000 cars a day pass through here. I wish they were all as quiet as my trike.
7:15 Highfields Green
Invisible from the road is the Highfields Village Green – a beautiful green space with views over the Great Divide. Good food and a peaceful environment. What more could you want for a quiet lunch out. The nachos are pretty good.
7:35 Highfields Road Tee
Highfields road starts here and makes a bee-line to Highfields Court and beyond. After passing through some new areas, the road degrades to classic country bitumen without paths. The edge is poor, and the road is too narrow to ride on – at least for the sane.
8:18 Petrol Havens
I have now passed three service stations on the highway, the fourth we have seen this ride – and we don’t need any of them – at least for local travel. I’ve heard of bucket lists, but this guy understands the term better than most. Watch the video on the main page – it is not too long.
8:26 Cawdor Road
We are now on Cawdor road heading west. It is a heavily used road during peak half-hour. You might have to even wait for 4 or 5 cars before you can pull out. You can also see by the narrow and coloured shared path that it is one of the older routes. Fortunately, there is grass to pull onto for passing. I try to be the first to pull over for both bikes and prams, but they almost always beat me to it. Am I that intimidating? Perhaps it is the helmet? On that note, why am I wearing a helmet? I am far less likely to fall over than a pedestrian.
8:47 Davidson Arboretum
Davidson Arboretum is to the right of the white gates, the entrance to the original Davidson house, now a unique but expensive B&B. The conservatory is one of a few special retreats donated to the area by residents. In this case, it is dedicated to testing whether northern hemisphere flora can thrive on the Darling Downs.
9:14 Kuhls Road
Stan Kuhl donated the land for Peacehaven Park. I imagine this was the road to his original property since the ground for his house is now part of the park.
9:34 Peacehaven Botanical Park
We are approaching Peacehaven Park again. Back to where we once began. Lunch in the park, anyone?
A 3D View
Download this file and use your favourite 3D viewer for a clearer image if your bandwidth is low. It will also allow you to zoom in and out as well as look around.
Other Views from Biking Apps
Conclusion
Suburban shared paths are not to be ignored. They are easy to ride and provide the opportunity for scenes best seen from the seat of a recumbent trike. There is no need to ride fast when there is so much to look at. Almost every house in Highfields East is different from the others. The rural past peeks through for those who look. The garden greenery is impressive. Visit this site and join my mailing list to see more interesting places, both suburban and country.