experience longreach region

Extend your stay to experience the true outback; Longreach, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Emmet and Yaraka.

Day One

LONGREACH SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

Your guided tour includes an overview of distance education in the bush and beyond. You’ll meet students, see them on-air and find out about their lives. You’ll catch an on-air lesson with teachers based at the school and have time to explore the school grounds, student and other information displays and meet school staff.

AUSTRALIAN STOCKMAN’S HALL OF FAME

The story of the Great Brown Land, its people, its landscapes, its animals and its environment. That is our story, a moment captured, a time remembered, a people and place that is like no other. Indigenous, pastoralists, explorers, men, women and children, animals and environment co-existing, succeeding, failing, living and dying, they all have a story to tell. Their stories can be found here in the Museum Galleries –Legends & Pioneers tribute, Live stockman’s show and Cinematic Experience.

Thomson River Cruise

Heighten your sunset experience with a river cruise and authentic outback entertainment. Choose to glide the waterway in old world style aboard a paddle wheeler before a traditional campfire dinner and old-time sound and light picture show. Or, relax on the top deck of a fully licensed catamaran as it cruises to Sunset Bend. Top it off with a two-course camp oven dinner and live entertainment on the river stage. But why should you choose? Experience the best of both worlds and do them all!

Day Two

COBB & CO.

STAGECOACH EXPERIENCE

You clamber aboard the old stagecoach, just as a pioneer would have done, while the team of horses wait patiently. Then it’s off with creaks and rattles to the old Longreach-Windorah mail route. There you’ll travel along the bush track, before a short gallop to ‘outrun the storm’. This is the only place in Australia you can gallop in a stagecoach! The experience also includes a delicious outback smoko (morning tea), a classic bush movie in the old theatrette and the Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show.

DOWNTOWN

• Lunch and/or coffee at your choice of great cafés

• Explore the great range of stores and local products

Day Three Station Tour

You rarely feel closer to the iconic Australian life than when you are on an outback station. Take a tour of one of the local stations where the hosts will keep you enthralled with tales of station life, past and present. Explore outback station life with fully guided tours including bus transfers.

POWERHOUSE & HISTORY MUSEUM

This museum is unique in that it houses an electrical industry collection second to none and of National significance. The generating complex is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and the site on the Register of the National Estate and is nearly completely intact from when is closed. The Historical Museum holds a collection of objects and memorabilia that gives a snapshot of the history of Longreach, the Nogo Boundary riders cottage, farm machinery and original swimming baths.

ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTRE

Visit the historic heritage-listed old Ambulance building and check out the local arts and crafts. There is also a small display all about the history of the building. Lots of lovely handcrafted art, craftwork for sale and your viewing pleasure, and you can even join in workshops or crafts days.

Day Four

Qantas Founders Museum

Experience the Qantas story of Australia’s national airline, from its early days in Outback Queensland to present day. Characters of the early Qantas days, their pioneering spirit and the impact the airline had for all Australians, is brought to life through life size exhibits, historical artifacts and interactive displays including the National Heritage-listed Qantas Hangar. Guided tours of the Boeing 707, Boeing 747, Super Constellation and DC-3 in the Museum’s Airpark Enclosure and in the evening guests can enjoy our Luminescent Longreach light and sound experience designed to delight, entertain, inform and move.

CHOOSE YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS

Get out and about and enjoy the wide open spaces and our local history

• Botanical walkway, Iningai Nature Reserve and the Thomson River Floodplain walking track

• Self Guided Town History walk or Self Guided Cemetery tour

• Follow the winding curve of the Thomson River or capture the golden glow of a perfect outback sunset from the air with Queensland Helicopters

DAY FIVE – ILFRACOMBE (27KM FROM LONGREACH)

HISTORIC HUB & WELLSHOT STORY

• Wellshot Centre – tells the story of one of Australia’s greatest sheep stations, Wellshot Station. The centre traces the history and development of the station from its early settlement, how it was formed and how people lived and worked there.

• Machinery Mile – Lynn Cameron Machinery Mile hosts a range of equipment from standing engines to earthmoving machinery. A wonderful display of machinery, some of it very rare and almost all collected within 100 miles of the town, can be seen.

• History Precinct – The Folk Museum, a replica of an early station residence, also situated within the museum complex is Oakhampton Cottage which offers a tangible glimpse into early outback households and Romani Hall, a memorial to the young men of the district who answered ‘the call to arms’ and is dedicated to Australia’s Light Horsemen.

• Jackson’s Collections – is the lifetime collections of two brothers, Hilton and Ike Jackson. Prepare to be thoroughly intrigued by the many other interesting items on display; hubcaps, buttons, drill bits, rabbit traps and scissors are just some of the quirky collections.

• Wellshot Hotel – found its permanent home in Ilfracombe in 1890, after being relocated several times by bullock and cart along the railway line to where it stands today and being named the ‘Wellshot Hotel’. Have a look at the early photographs and many other fascinating artifacts like the unique old-time timber wool press. Learn also about the hat collection and the money on the roof. Why it’s there and how it gets up there? Come in and try it yourself.

• Artesian Spa, Pool, Picnic Park and Playground – Feel the benefits as you soak your travel weary muscles as you step in and immerse yourself in the rejuvenating mineral waters of this artesian spa. The artesian spa is located in the Ilfracombe Memorial Park which also has a swimming pool.

• Stone Pitching – a reservoir created by selecting and laying thousands of flagstones so that, in an area prone to savage droughts, a leak-proof reservoir was developed. It was built by hand around 1890 and subsequently used as a watering stop for sheep and cattle, a Cobb & Co change station, and it became so important that the Royal Mail Hotel was built to service the drovers and coach drivers.

Local Tips

• Uncover the Hidden Gem –Longreach Powerhouse & Historical Museum comprises the generating complex that houses an electrical industry collection of national significance. On display is a growing local history collection, the 1921 swimming baths and road maintenance machinery used in the development of the Central West.

• Soak in the mineral rich waters of the Great Artesian Basin at Ilfracombe’s Artesian Spa.

• Delve into the Barcoo – Oma Waterhole and the Barcoo Weir are favourite recreation spots for lovers of camping, fishing and most things water related.

• Amplify the Awesomeness – The 360 degree outlook from Mount Slowcombe is a great place to take your nibbles and drinks for a spectacular sunset.

DAY SIX – ISISFORD (89KM FROM ILFRACOMBE)

CAMPING, SCIENCE AND FOLKLORE

• Explorer Mitchell’s cairn and The Big Yellowbelly

• Outer Barcoo Interpretation Centre – A museum depicting the evolution of nature from 100 million years ago to the present. The feature attraction is a life size replica model of Isisfordia Duncani, who lived around 98 million years ago and was the evolutionary ancestor of all crocodilians that live on earth today. There are displays of local fauna, flora, reptiles, birds and fossils that have lived in this region and general history of the Isisford area.

• Yuranigh’s Pond – Fancy a picnic by a tranquil pond just six kilometres out of town on Emmet Road? The pond was named after Yuranigh, an Aboriginal Australian from Molong in New South Wales. Yuranigh worked as a guide for Sir Thomas Mitchell, safely guiding his expedition team through vast unpopulated country.

• Whitman’s Museum – If you are interested in stories of how places came to be by default, then pay a visit to the Whitman’s Museum. Put quite simply, a couple of brothers broke an axel while attempting to cross the Barcoo. They decided to settle on the banks of the river and proceeded to establish a hotel, butcher’s shop, store and saddlery to service surrounding stations.

• Wander the historic town – Isisford, on the banks of the Barcoo, was settled in the mid 1800s and the architecture reflects its humble beginnings. Wander the main street and see an old store, butchers, bakers and hotel.

• Whitman’s Hospital Museum – This 124-year-old historic building has been built for maximum air flow with large verandahs and breeze way to keep the patients cool, and gives you an idea what people had to put up with in the bush with no air conditioning. The old Isisford Hospital was opened in 1892, while the building dated back to 1908, the museum now houses memorabilia from the 1890s.

• Find a spot to camp on the Barcoo Weir or Oma Waterhole, stay at the Golden West Hotel caravan park or hotel rooms. We recommend a minimum stay of 1-2 nights.

DAY SEVEN – YARAKA (102KM FROM ISISFORD)

Unforgettable Scenery And Rail History

• Emmet – approximately half way between Isisford and Yaraka, was once a fully functional town with an operating railway station and a large number of residential housing. Situated on the railway line running from Blackall to Yaraka, it was the main depot for neighbouring properties to pick up their supplies, stores and mail. Check out the Railway Museum and Emmet Store Museum.

• Scenic Mount Slowcombe Lookout –The 360-degree views from the top of this mesa hill leave every visitor shaking their heads in disbelief that so few people have discovered this spectacular Outback gem. Visitors compare Mount Slowcombe to being Queensland’s equivalent of the Northern Territory’s Kakadu.

• End of Line Museum – housed in the original railway station. While there, you’ll find out all about the Great Western Rail project and how it impacted Yaraka. If you love stories about trains and the railway, then you won’t want to miss this attraction. Along with the stories, there are some really interesting artifacts and mementos from Yaraka’s days as a railway town.

• Magee’s Shanty (4WD) – Visit the historic site of the shanty immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s poem ‘A Bush Christening’. McGee’s Shanty is within an easy drive of Yaraka

• Magoffin’s Grave (4WD) – is the lonely grave of gold miner Richard Magoffin. This grave is on the clay pan where Magoffin collapsed and perished from thirst. Sadly he was only a few hundred metres from the tree-lined course of the Barcoo River; so close yet so far for Magoffin.

• Stay at the Yaraka Caravan Park or the Yaraka Hotel and explore the area. Speak with the locals on the best place to catch a fish or take a tour with the Yaraka Hotel to the top of Mount Slowcombe to watch the sunset over open plains with the Ylang Ylang ranges in the background. We recommend a minimum of 1-2 nights’ stay in Yaraka.

• Idalia National Park (4WD) can be accessed from the Yaraka Blackall Road or the Barcoo Way.

Powerhouse Museum

The Powerhouse and Historical Museum houses an electrical industry collection of National significance. It is an initiative of the Longreach Regional Council, preserving the history of electricity production in the central west and a growing collection of local history. The complex building is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and the site is on the Register of the National Estate.

The Museum Has Three Main Sections

The former Longreach Power House Generating Complex;

A local history collection including the 1921 swimming baths and Nogo Cottage;

Displays of agricultural and road maintenance machinery used in the development of the central west.

Longreach Powerhouse Generating Complex

The Generating Complex comprises a series of large interconnected galvanised iron sheds housing 10 massive engines installed between 1948 and 1971 and a unique gas production system that was a first for Australia and later incorporated elsewhere in the Australian electrical industry.

The delivery of power to the town and eventually the outlaying areas was a local initiative of the Shire Council and run under the Longreach Electric Authority. Power was first generated from this site in 1921. The operation was taken over in 1966 by the Central West Regional Electricity Board. The station ceased to operate in September 1985 when this area was linked to the State-wide grid.

LOCAL HISTORY, SWIMMING BATHS AND NOGO COTTAGE

A growing collection of local history is housed in the former Office of the Central West Regional Electricity Board built in 1966. The collection contains memorabilia from the early settlement of the region and the remains of the School of Arts Museum, a collection of office equipment from local business houses and a memorable stroll back to early school days.

Outside you will find the original swimming baths of the town installed in 1921 and filled at first with water from the adjacent bore (sunk in 1897). They operated until 1964 and were then used as cooling ponds for the power station.

To the back of the complex is Nogo Cottage. The cottage is part of the original homestead of Nogo Station built in 1918. A portion was relocated to the eastern boundary of the property with the intention of using it as a boundary riders cottage. A downturn in the rural economy meant the cottage was never used. Today it depicts family living conditions in Western Queensland circa 1938-1950.

OuTBaCK PIOnEErS

Outback Pioneers in Longreach is where the pioneer past and outback present come together in authentic and entertaining experiences. Come and live the stories of the region!

Make the Outback Pioneers booking office (128 Eagle Street) your starting point for booking your adventures in Longreach and Winton. Plan for a few days here to do them all!

Unique accommodation in the heritage heart of town is also part of the Outback Pioneers story. Stay in The Stables or Coach Inn rooms at The Staging Post for 4-star pioneer-inspired comfort (open year-round).

Outback Pioneers experiences run during the winter season (April – October).

Unleash your pioneering spirit on the Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience – the only place in Australia you can gallop in a stagecoach on an old mail route! Your half-day experience includes smoko (morning tea), a bush movie and the Old Time Tent Show.

Travel to the heart of station life on the Nogo Station Experience. Hosted by the Kinnon family, you’ll be immersed in the merino wool story, experience an outback station water run and meet the animals before enjoying a saddlebag lunch under the gum trees.

In the evening, enjoy Starlight’s Cruise Experience – a leisurely sunset cruise on the historic Pride of the Murray or Thomson Belle paddle wheelers before a traditional stockman’s dinner with entertainment around the campfire.

Another evening option is the Sunset Stagecoach Experience – an evocative journey into the bush, celebrating the stagecoach driver Ned Devine and his team of all-grey horses. Enjoy traditional refreshments at sunset before returning to The Welcome Home for a 2-course dinner with Ned Devine.

The Welcome Home, a 1920s building in the heritage heart of Longreach, is your favourite destination (April – October) for huge country buffet breakfasts, a Stonegrill Dining Experience or Country Classics evening (check which days of the week).

Finally, don’t miss The Station Store – to shop pioneer style in a traditional outback emporium.

Visit www.outbackpioneers.com.au or phone 07 4658 1776 for bookings, details and opening hours.

Education in the Outback

Longreach School of the Air welcomes you to come share the story of our students, staff and families and visit one of the world’s largest classrooms.

Twice daily from Monday to Friday, March through to October (excluding public holidays), you can get an insight into how we overcome distance and bring school and learning alive for our students who are spread throughout Western Queensland, Australia and internationally.

Our experienced tour guides will give you a glimpse into the history of distance education and the evolution of lesson delivery and learning over time, sharing a few genuine recollections of their days in the schoolroom.

We’d love to share the vastness of our classrooms with you and show you firsthand what learning looks like for our staff, through a purpose-built glass walled studio, and for our families, in their homes, school rooms and paddocks across the outback. You’ll hear from our students and get an insight into what their lives are like and revel in its uniqueness and their achievements, talents and creativity. You will experience a teacher’s perspective and find out what makes our school so special and why the connections between home and school are legendary. Here’s what some of our visitors have to say about this ‘mustdo’ Longreach experience:

‘This tour was a highlight of our trip to north-west Queensland. As a retired teacher it was encouraging to see the students actively engaging with the lesson materials and their teachers. This was an excellent example of the use of technology to provide a high-quality education to children who would otherwise be relying on their families. The whole experience was inspirational.’

‘This was a great tour. Kids and adults both enjoyed it. What fabulous teachers, kids, families and community. You should be so proud.’

‘Great facility and a really fascinating tour. Thank you for allowing us to see and learn how the school works.’

For more information or to book a tour visit www.lsodetours.com.au. Come see our great school for yourself; we look forward to welcoming you.

 Luminescent Longreach show

 National Heritage Listed Qantas Hangar

 Aircraft tours of the Boeing 747, 707, DC3 and Super Constellation

 747 Wing Walk

 McGinness’ Restaurant

 Founders Gift Store

 Kids Trail

 Interactive Displays... and much more

4658 3737 info@qfom.com.au Online bookings are essential

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OPENING HOURS: The Museum is open daily from 9am to 4pm April to October and 9am to 3pm November to March. Special opening hours are available to groups and charters by prior arrangement. Tours operate daily and combination tour packages are also available. Please check our website www.qfom.com.au for museum closures.

Qantas Founders Museum

On 16 November 1920 a small airline was established; Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service or QANTAS. The founders had a vision for the airline to service and connect the remote and isolated parts of Outback Queensland and the Northern Territory. From a dream to reality, little did the founders know just how much this small airline would grow – becoming Australia’s national icon everyone knows of today.

Qantas Founders Museum is a worldclass organisation telling the story of Australia’s national airline, from its early days in Outback Queensland to present day. Characters of the early Qantas days, their pioneering spirit and the impact the airline had for all Australians, is brought to life through life size exhibits, historical artifacts and interactive displays including the National Heritage-listed Qantas Hangar.

Visitors can enjoy informative guided tours of the Boeing 707, Boeing 747, Super Constellation and DC-3 in the Museum’s Airpark Enclosure. Our museum also has a restaurant for guests to enjoy a meal or refreshment and a Founders Store to buy a souvenir for themselves or a loved one. In the evening our guests can enjoy our Luminescent Longreach light and sound experience designed to delight, entertain, inform and move.

As you approach Longreach from the east, you are welcomed by the airpark roof above the Boeing 747, Boeing 707, Super Constellation and DC-3. The airpark roof enclosure shelters the priceless artifacts, protecting them, and our guests on tour, from the harsh outback sun. Then at night the airpark transforms for the spectacular world-class sound and light show, Luminescent Longreach.

Tours are available daily and provide an inside glimpse to the many secrets and stories of the aircraft situated under the airpark roof. If you are after a little more, there are exclusive tours which offer the chance for guests to sit in the cockpit and walk out on the wing of the Boeing 747. Bookings are essential as tour spaces are limited.

If a tour is not for you, the main exhibition hall takes you on a journey from early Qantas history and the 1920s era through to modern interactive displays, aircraft and engine exhibits, and documentary films. While visiting do not forget to explore the wonders of the 1922 National Heritagelisted Qantas Hangar where you can take a step back in time and learn the history and significance of the Qantas Hangar.

Don’t forget the award-winning McGinness’ Restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and is one of the most popular eateries in Longreach with locals and visitors alike. Choose from a selection of meals to suit everyone’s needs. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere with aviation themed views over the Catalina display and Longreach airport runway!

Keep up to date by visiting the Qantas Founders Museum website www.qfom.com.au. Bookings can be made at the Longreach Region Explore Centre on 07 4658 4141 or 07 4658 4142 or online at www.qfom.com.au

TOWN MAP DISCLAIMER:

The information contained in this map is indicative only. Please enquire at Visitor Information Centres for further details.

Accommodation

Muddy Duck Tourist Park

Apex Park (Bush Camping)

Longreach Caravan Park

The Staging Post

Central Motel

Mitchell Grass

Longreach Motor Inn

Longreach Private Apartments

Kangaroo Paw Cottage

Outback Oasis

Relax & Unwind on

Walks

Thomson River Flood Plain Walk from Town to the Old Bridge. This four and a half kilometre one way track features a diverse range of plants and animals, best viewed in the early morning or late evening.

Iningai Nature Reserve There are three nature walksone is the Coolibah Loop which is 3.7km long and is an easy 1 and a half hour walk.

Linear Botanical Gardens Walk This walk features a diverse range of plants, mostly native, which makes for a beautiful early morning or late evening walk.

The Cemetery Ask about the self-guided brochure produced by the Longreach Archival & Historical Group.

The Little Batt House

Abajaz Motor Inn Stays on Sunbird

Amenities

Ambulance

Boat Ramp Clubs:

RSL Club

Bowls Club

Doctors Surgery

Fuel

Golf Course Hospital

Waste Dump Point

Police Station

Post Office

QPWS: Queensland Parks & Wildlife Services

RACQ

Supermarkets:

Foodworks / IGA

Toilets

Visitor Information Centre

Water Point

Parking

Hiking

Bird Watching

Outback Aussie Tours

After clocking up 35 years of providing unforgettable travel experiences for visitors, it’s fair to say that Outback Aussie Tours knows a thing or two about showcasing the best Outback Queensland offers. Owners Alan (Smithy) and Sue Smith love the Outback and share a passion for its strong sense of community and the environment. For over three decades, this passion has translated into many truly memorable touring adventures and valued friendships for their guests.

Their tours attract visitors from all over the world, eager to take advantage of OAT’s valuable local connections, exclusive Outback experiences and down-to-earth Outback hospitality. Based at the historic Longreach Railway Station, the Outback Aussie Tours booking office is within an easy stroll of Longreach town centre.

The friendly reservation team offer a full booking service for station tours, river cruises and extended holiday tours. Bookings can also be made online or through the Longreach Region Explore Centre. Outback Aussie Tours are a proud Eco Certified Nature Tourism Operator, committed to best practice environmental sustainability and supporting their local outback communities. In-depth interpretation of the natural and cultural stories is guaranteed when touring with this multi-award-winning Savannah Guides Operator.

Day tour options include Smithy’s Morning Cruise, Smithy’s Arvo Cruise and the award-winning Drover’s Sunset Cruise on the beautiful Thomson River. Then enjoy an Outback dining experience under the stars with Smithy’s Outback Dinner and Show. Meet local graziers and enjoy their warm hospitality on the Camden Park Station Lunch Tour or you can climb aboard a 1970’s silver bullet railmotor for their new Outback Rail Adventure and enjoy the local landscapes by rail. Visitors looking to explore more of Outback Queensland will love the selection of guided holiday tours ranging from 6 to 14 days. These fully inclusive tours explore the outback bucket-list destinations of Birdsville, Corner Country, Gulf Savannah and Cape York. Tours are packaged with connecting rail and air by our professional reservation team. Guests travel in customised vehicles designed for maximum comfort in the Outback and stay in comfortable ensuite accommodation. According to ‘Smithy’, once visitors have had a taste of Outback Queensland, they usually come back for more. Over the years, many repeat customers have become life-long friends. It’s probably no surprise that Smithy and the team think they have the best job in the world!

For more information, visit www.outbackaussietours.com.au

the australian stockman’s hall of fame

An epic $15 million transformation has captured the imagination of travellers to Longreach who are looking for an authentic and meaningful Outback heritage experience.

The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame takes you on an immersive journey through the ‘Long Paddock’, exploring key themes, characters and events that have shaped Australia’s Outback heritage.

Bringing to life the rugged landscape of the Outback, the Stockman’s Hall of Fame reveals the incredible and often unknown stories of the everyday people who are at its heart – the unsung heroes.

Once your journey begins, weave your way through a cultural institution that fuses the value of antiquity and cultural representation.

Three floors, 11 exhibit spaces, 400 stories and 30 soundtracks converge in an environment that exquisitely immerses you into the time and place the stories were born.

For kids, young and old, we have a digital treasure hunt and interactive projected ‘Welcome Wall’. Their digital tour begins when they meet Coil the Kelpie, who will help them find the necessary Outback survival objects located around the museum and form part of the object displays. Coil will challenge them with a riddle related to an object.

Bring your Stockman’s experience to life at the Stockman’s LIVE Show! Hear the stories and see the skills that define what it means to be a Stockman. Understand their connection to the land and the livestock they care for as you experience the action of a live muster.

There is so much more on offer – enjoy the cinematic experience, a journey for your senses featuring the birth of our nation through the eyes of a Stockman. You can’t go past some retail therapy in our gift shop or enjoy breakfast, morning tea or lunch in our fully licensed café. Wander through the Hall of Fame gardens and view the sculptures and plaques along the paths.

Botanic Walkway

The Longreach Botanic Walkway, a 2.5km linear garden between the town centre and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, was designed by landscape architect Lawrie Smith, with inspiration drawn from the natural environment of the region. The garden displays and interprets the native plants of the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion and demonstrates the potential of local dryland species for use in landscape and horticulture in the town parks, streets and home gardens in the region.

A particular feature of the garden is a focus on water-wise techniques for maintaining the plantings in the often hot and dry conditions of western Queensland. The garden not only showcases native plant species but provides a landscape with a regional ‘sense of place’. Soil, rocks and plant material from surrounding areas were brought into Longreach to create the garden. The first section from Rotary Park to Bower Road was commenced in 1989 and the second section from Bower Road to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame was completed in 1994. A network of botanic gardens across Australia displays the plant species that are suited to the climate and soils of particular bioregions. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Longreach garden.

There are several key themes which recur throughout the garden which can be applied in the home garden too:

• Creating a vegetation structure which is similar to a natural system is important, both for the plants themselves but also for the creatures (birds, insects and reptiles) which depend upon the plants.

• Plants which grow well are those which are adapted to local climate and soil conditions – choosing plants from the local bioregion and the land types within it ensures success.

• Thoughtful garden design saves water and reduces the time spent on garden maintenance.

Iningai Nature Reserve

Iningai Nature Reserve is named after the Iningai Traditional Owners who lived along the Thomson River from the Stonehenge surroundings to Muttaburra prior to European occupation. The park is part of the Longreach Town Common and includes sections of floodplain and waterholes. The regeneration of this park was due to some passionate and forward thinking locals whose idea was for the land to be saved as a nature reserve for future generations to come to enjoy. The landscape has changed from a dusty wasteland that was heavily grazed by the local town goats, horses and cattle to the vibrant ecosystem that it is today.

The reserve includes three walking loops; the Coolibah Loop, Wilga Loop and Gidgee Loop, do one or do all three. Each of these walks offers something different and there is one that suits all ages and levels of fitness. The landscape is part of the Mitchell Grass Downs region – one of the most extensive natural grassland ecosystems in the world. The clay soil formed is from sediment that accumulated on the bottom of the ancient lakes and seabeds during the Cretaceous period, 100 million years ago.

Ecosystems range from Coolibah-fringed waterholes to the adjacent, flat and sparsely vegetated cracking-clay floodplains and surrounding low open gidgee woodlands. Records to date show at least 13 mammals, 10 fish, 2 crustaceans, 130 birds, 11 frogs, 22 reptiles and 166 plant species occur in the various habitats, some of which are seasonal. These species are highly adapted to the arid climate and like the Stripe-faced Dunnart, many live in the cracks in the clay soils. Floods are highly variable and larger floods can occur every two to three years breaking out from Thomson River and associated creeks spreading to the fringes of town. Wildlife seize on this opportunity to breed and make use of the bountiful floodplain wetlands.

A place where there is nothing but you and nature, a birdwatchers and bushwalkers paradise. Take the kids on a path of discovery and see the landscapes through their eyes.