2011 Trip: Winton and Longreach

Sunday 7th August
This morning we left Mt Isa heading through Cloncurry. After a brief coffee stop we turned right onto the Landsborough Highway. This proved to be a bitumen goat track all the way through to Dalby. What a shocker.

At Winton we camped overnight at the Long Waterhole (QLD Camp 361 in CAW 6). This was quite nice, if a little dry. It's man made and the south side was pretty full with other vans so we drove over the levy bank to the north side. Much quieter.

The next morning we re-located to the back of the North Gregory Hotel. A $10 note at registration time with the publican was handed back at the bar later that afternoon and spent on beer. How civilised.

We spent an enjoyable few hours at the Matilda Centre (http://www.matildacentre.com.au/). The history of the song, Waltzing Matilda, is interesting and the Nth Gregory Hotel played a part. So did a brass band in Victoria.

Tuesday 9th August
We drove through Longreach to set up at the Ilfracombe caravan park, 25 kms east. This park is very pleasant, not cramped and has a good Happy Hour each evening.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (the morning of our departure eastwards) we went into Longreach and visited various places including the Qantas Centre. Winton and Longreach both claim Qantas as their own and Longreach has a terrific Qantas Founders' Museum.
http://www.qfom.com.au/
It has a Boeing 747 and a 707 0n display. We went through both, and Robyn had the obligatory engine and cockpit photos taken.

One of the best things we did in Longreach was go to the LSODE, the Longreach School of Distance Education, or School of the Air (http://longreacsde.eq.edu.au/wcms/). What a fascinating tour, conducted by a staff member who obviously loves her work. This facility, one of a few around the country, provides lessons to kids who live in remote parts of QLD. It used to be done with HF radios. These are still part of a backup system but now it is primarily by computers and some very clever software.

What a group of dedicated educators. We all came away very, very impressed. Highly recommended when you visit Longreach.

We also visited the Stockman's Hall of Fame (http://www.outbackheritage.com.au/) and enjoyed a live one-man, several bullocks, show out the back. Some of his jokes were a bit corny but I am one of those people who likes corny jokes. It was a good show.

There is an authentic Cobb & Co coach available for rides and we were up on the back seat, facing backwards. It could do with a suspension upgrade, believe me.
We were taken out to the town Common where the horses were allowed a gallop. I would rather have faced forwards, I think. Then we did a trot up and down the main street of Longreach. Great advertising.

Later, on Thursday evening we went out to the Thomson River for a cruise, dinner and a bush poet recital. All pretty good.

The Cobb coach and river cruise were put on by Kinnon & Co (http://www.kinnonandco.com.au/). The Kinnon family had to diversify into tourism in order to keep the family cattle properties afloat and are doing a pretty good job. They all take part, including the kids, and provide a very entertaining day out.

The three towns we visited this week were interesting. Cloncurry is an iconic outback name but is withering on the vine a little, unfortunately. Winton was nice. Plenty of activity and things to see. Longreach was very enjoyable. A bigger place with a lot on offer for visitors.