TASTE CHINCHILLA
Taste Chinchilla F
amous for its melons, as well as being a renowned spot for fishing, bushwalking, and camping, the colourful town of Chinchilla is an easy 81 kilometre drive west of Dalby, along the Warrego Highway. Having once produced 25% of the country’s watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons, Chinchilla is the undisputed melon capital of Australia. Chinchilla is a peaceful and pretty town, with a beautiful tree-lined main street, just off the highway. Make sure to stop for a selfie at The Big Melon and explore the Visitor Information Centre to pick up some
yummy local honey, jams, and other homemade goodies. Every second year in February the town hosts the Melon Festival featuring a full program of events and melon related activities. Another interesting fact about Chinchilla is its petrified wood which dates back to the Jurassic period. The types of trees in the area that are petrified include conifers, ferns, and cypress pines. Pick up a fossicking licence online or at the Visitor Information Centre; there is also a wonderful display telling this fascinating geological story at the Chinchilla Museum.
HISTORY:
The town name is a corruption of the Aboriginal word “tintinchilla” or “jinchilla” indicating cypress pine, possibly recorded by explorer and naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt.
WANDOAN
DULACCA
MILES
CHINCHILLA CONDAMINE
JANDOWAE BUNYA MOUNTAINS BELL
TARA
DALBY
BRISBANE → 290km 3hr 21mins
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TASTE WESTERN DOWNS
