A touring drive through the Western Downs may lead you to the town of Chinchilla, about 3 hours from Brisbane.
Chinchilla is best known as the ‘melon capital’ of Australia – with the district’s farms supplying a hefty slice of the country’s watermelon supplies. That fact is celebrated, every second year, at Chinchilla’s colourful “Melon Fest”.
But there’s another famous “red” that brings folks to Chinchilla. The area is renowned for a very special kind of petrified wood, which features deep red and ruby hues. “Chinchilla Red” is highly prized and there’s a wonderful collection to inspect at the Chinchilla Museum. You can also try your hand at finding your own piece of petrified wood by heading to one of two designated fossicking fields just outside of town. First port of call should be to the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre where you can pick up a fossicking permit and map.
Far from prehistoric, but with equally enduring appeal, is the recycled timber that features in the guest cabins at “The Laurels” of Chinchilla. This gorgeous getaway on the banks of Charley’s Creek is the creation of talented couple, Shara and Greg Spencer. The pair revamped an existing guest homestead and added private cabins, fashioned with the philosophy that “everything old is new again”. A stay includes a buffet breakfast on the homestead veranda and candle-lit dinners can be arranged by appointment.
“The Laurels” of Chinchilla
4669 1021
Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre
4660 7291
