Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

[prh Member Find all posts View Profile Close prh]

Hi all.

I'm planning a family driving tour to Longreach in June/July next year. Departing Brisbane.

Will go out via Toowoomba then up through the Darling Downs. Could also head up to Winton. We'll either return the same way, or maybe cross to Rocky and follow the coast home.

I'm interested in suggestions for places of interest, side trips, anything to avoid, etc.

Cheers. Paul

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Hi Paul

Went September last year with family of four towing a Kimberly Kamper:

BNE - Roma
Roma - Blackall
Blackall - Winton - 2 nights
Winton - Longreach - 2 nights
Longreach - Rubyvale
Rubyvale - supposed to be Canarvan Gorge but was flooded in so went via coast to 1770
1770 - Brisbane - 3 nights

Personal highlights were staying on a property at Winton for a couple of nights (name escapes me) - that's where I really got the felling of remoteness.
Winton is a cool little town and the Waltzing Matilda centre was wort the trip.
We did the dinosaur place just out of Winton - unl;ess your a dino nerd I would n't get too excited by it.

Longreach was great - it's kind of like the Gold Coast in the outback. By that i mean that there is plenty of tourist stuff - but they do do it well.
Apart from the usual - QANTAS, Stockmans (a bit ho-hum) - I highly recommend a cruise on the Thompson River (the one with the paddle steamer, camp oven dinner, and bush poet), as well as a ride on the Cobb+Co and the show that follows.
We also had a chopper ride which was pretty cheap and a great experience.

I also enjoyed the travel - heading through towns like Blackall and crossing the Barcoo, the Tree of Knowledge in Barcy - and the nothingness of Tambo and Augathella etc.

Clearly I could speak for hours on this - it was a great trip and has opened the door for more remote travel - let me know if you have any more specific questions.

Trev

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

We did most of what Trev says above which are well worth doing but we also did a one day trip out of Barcaldine with a bloke named Tom Lockie who takes you north in his bus to Aramac and onto some private properties. You get to see some of the old settlements and he does not draw breath while he gives you the story of the early days in the area.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Hi Paul

The trip up the Matilda Highway is a great one, if you have time take some detours off the main road there are some fantastic state and national parks. We spent 3 days in Longreach and did the same things as Trev. There is plenty of information available from Qld Tourism. We always make a point of calling into the Info site and or the pub for some local knowledge.

Regards, Richard.

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Me again

We booked the Longreach stuff through these guys: http://www.longreachtravelcentre.com.au/Home.htm
They were very helpful.

The station at Winton was called Windemere - they is also Carisbrook?

[prh Member Find all posts View Profile Close prh]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Thanks everyone.

The info and links are really helpful!

My kids (bless 'em) are such that we have to run them ragged during waking hours, so the more options, the better..

Paul

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Paul, we did the trip in '03 I believe, over the Easter long weekend. Drove from the GC to Charleville and spent the night there. The Cosmos Centre was the highlight of Charleville. The next day we headed to Longreach and spent 2 days there before heading back home via Springsure. If I did it again, I'd spend a few days at Canarvon National Park.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

Hi Paul
Stayed in Longreach July last year enroute to the Cape.
It had been a long time ambition to visit the town and to spend time at the Stockmans Hall of Fame. We enjoyed the town and its people greatly.
Take in the stockmans show at the SHOF. really well presented.
Also make a stop at Kinnon & Co. in the main street this is a step back in time, and they offer some beautiful products from leather goods to cappuccinos. A family run enterprise which also consist of the Cobb & Co. Stage Coach, Paddle boats on the Tompson and more.
The QUANTAS museum was interesting but wouldn't return to see it again.
Could have spent more time in and around Longreach, lots to see and do.

Winton is a mere 180km from Longreach and offers The Matilda museum, Opals, Dinosaur Trackways, Australian dinosaur center and a great caravan park that has cheap home style meals and entertainment nightly.
You and your family will enjoy the Trip.
Cheers Troy

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

Re: Planning trip to Longreach. Places of interest?

While in Roma go to "Chapters", a great little coffee shop and book store. Also Ace Drapery, where you will see everything and anything, check out the ailses that are blocked from so much stuff they have. I'm sure some people have gone in there and got trapped!!

If you can overnight in Charleville the Cosmos Centre is a great place to view the night sky using their telescopes, but you will have to book in advance.

In Longreach do the Thompson River cruise and the Cobb and Co coach ride.

Enjoy, the outback is great.