You’ll often hear people refer to Longreach as the unofficial “capital of the outback.” And if you’ve always wanted to visit the wild west, it is the ideal place to start your adventure. 12,000 kilometres from Brisbane and 700 kilometers west of Rockhampton, you can choose to drive, fly or rail in to Longreach.
There are few different ways to get a glimpse of the town’s rich history.
The Longreach Powerhouse for starters… It’s the largest preserved power station in the southern hemisphere. Longreach relied on the power station for 65 years, right up until 1985.
Also on site is Nogo Cottage. The original 1860s cottage has been perfectly preserved to show visitors like me a real snapshot of the town’s past… and according to John, it’s pretty authentic!
The Powerhouse is one of many great institutions devoted to the town’s heritage.
The Qantas Founders Museum to name another – but after dark, The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame is where you’ll want to pull up a stump. The Stockman’s Hall of Fame is proud to present the Outback Stockman’s Show in their Cattleman’s Bar and Grill.
Ilfracombe is only twenty minutes away. It’s home to machinery mile, which runs the length of town. The display of old-fashioned farm equipment is pretty colourful!
Ilfracombe also has one of those quintessential outback pubs. The Wellshot is a great watering hole. They also have a tradition of throwing money on the roof.
During tourist season, you can also head to the backyard to watch a play, The Sheep’s Back.
Smithy’s Outback Aussie Tours are a great way to see the region. His station tours are a great way to meet farmers, and graziers, like Maree Pearce and learn the stories of what’s it’s like to live through drought.
Special offer for Queensland Weekender viewers:
An outback holiday should begin and end with a ride on The Spirit of the Outback… And Queensland Rail Travel have some excellent deals coming up, including a two for one Summer fare.
Rail travel is a wonderful alternative to driving, travelling by coach or flying when heading to or from Outback Queensland so head to the Queensland Rail Travel website or give them a call to claim the two for one bargain, and see all of the holiday packages that they have on offer.
Queenslandrailtravel.com.au
1300 660 390
