C ARAVANNING & adventure
If you haven’t been there already put the dinosaur trails on your destination wish list as it’s fun for the whole family.
Mini Queensland lap – dinosaur trails
W
ESTERN Queensland is known for many things including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, the Qantas Founders Museum, all in Longreach, and the Tree of Knowledge, sheep shearing and more recently the site of the discovery of several dinosaur bones. In fact, Queensland has one of the largest and best collections of dinosaur fossils in the world. All of these attractions make western Queensland a place well worth visiting. After leaving the
Exploring Queensland - Part 3 by BEN COLLINS
Gemfields, our next stop was at a property just outside Barcaldine, a town renown for the Tree of Knowledge memorial. The camp did not have any power or water – apart from the hot artesian spring that could be pumped into a large bath-style container, which was why this particular spot was chosen. Relaxing in the hot spring as the sun set painted a truly spectacular picture. Unfortunately, we
Page 84 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2021
were a little late getting to the spot – it wasn’t exactly signed well – so the solar-run pump only had a small amount of sun left to pump the bath full. At least the kids had a nice hot bath, though maybe next time we’ll visit without the kids, so mum and dad can have a bit of rest and relaxation. The late-night dip was still very enjoyable, with the flat dusty country providing a fantastic backdrop for the myriad of stars.
Throw in a large sprinkling of cows and we felt we were in the middle nowhere. Anyone who has travelled the outback during rainfall will appreciate how boggy the black soil can get. Thankfully, we managed to get back on the highway and were heading west before the heavens opened. It was awesome and the area had a good drenching, and while we know how precious water is especially in the outback, the unseasonal rain continued for a few days which meant we were held up in Longreach. We had planned and
booked to go on a paddle steamer and see a show, however this was cancelled as we were unable to get to the departure point. Despite the rain, we managed a visit to the Qantas Founders Museum and the Longreach School of the Air. Both excursions were enjoyed by the kids and the adults and are well worth doing. When planning the trip, it was decided not to visit the Hall of Fame – as much I still want to do it, we felt it would be too much for the kids. If you are visiting, make sure to book well * continued P85
www.bnbfishing.com. au
