ACCESSIBLE ADVENTURE
Set your course for adventure and head to the Western Downs. Jane Hodges found great fishing, wineries, and a rich heritage make this a rewarding journey, just off the beaten track. If ‘getting there’ is your prime focus then belting along the highway is probably your goal, but you’ll miss exploring one of Queensland’s best-kept secrets! If you’re an explorer with a love of nature, fishing, fine wine and friendly locals, then pack up your rods and hitch up the van and prepare for one of the best road trips you’ll do! Five tourist highways dissect the region, the Great Inland Way, the Adventure Way and the Warrego, Gore and Leichhardt Highways. These give easy access to rich agricultural and mining country, meandering rivers, and unspoiled gorges, as well as top camping and caravanning destinations west of Toowoomba. The region takes in Millmerran Goodiwindi, Chinchilla, Miles, Wandoan and Taroom and extends as far as St George, Surat, Roma and Carnarvon Gorge. The idea is to take your time to explore the byways and back roads, meet the locals and soak up the rugged natural beauty and the fresh air. You can see a lot here in three or four days but to really immerse yourself in this amazing region take your time and extend your stay. Essential before you set out is a copy of the area’s Freshwater Fishing brochure. This free, glove-boxed size guide offers information including regulations such as size, take and possession limits. Local area information and maps are also included and details of noxious fish, permits, visitor information centres and fishing and restocking clubs. The real gold within its pages are the 79 top spots to throw in a line – supplied by locals! There are also two self-drive freshwater fishing tours detailed. The first is from Cecil Plains to Tara; the other, known as the North Western Fishing Circuit, is from Lake Cooby to Yuleba and Miles. Unusual spots include Lake Nuga Nuga near Carnarvon, Wallam Creek near Bollon and Flinton near Westmar. There are also numerous spots along the Great Inland Way from Hebel on the border through to Yuleba near Roma, another large group around Goondiwindi, as well as between Miles and Meandarra and Chinchilla through to Millmerran. The Murray Darling Basin, Maranoa Balonne River Catchment and Dawson Valley systems are the primary waterways in the region and home to the majority of these fishing spots. For a copy of the brochure call 1800 688 949, or visit www.westerndownsholidays.info.
What better way to enjoy your catch than with a bottle of local wine? Queensland's most western winery, Riversands Vineyards sits on the banks of the Balonne River at St George. You can spend a few hours tasting medal winning red, white, sweet and dry wines. Don’t miss the liqueur muscats or sipping the tawny port from the boots of Barnaby Joyce, National Party member for Queensland and St George local. You can also relax in the outdoor cafe and enjoy a wine, coffee or tea with a cheese platter, mudcake or scones. Fishing and drinking fine wines aren’t all you can do. As you travel through the Western Downs along the Warrego Highway, it's hard not to notice that just about every centre along the way, large or small, has its own museum or historical centre. Local pride and a strong sense of history are alive and well! Not to be missed is Chinchilla Historical Museum, with its substantial collection of farm machinery, a 1900 Steam Sawmill that looks like it processed some impressive logs in its time, a collection of steam, oil, petrol engines and tractors, and a number of restored motor and horse drawn vehicles. The buildings on site include the old Chinchilla Goal complete with charred sections from a fire lit by a disgruntled cell occupant; the first Chinchilla State School (built in 1883); a Blacksmiths Shop, Cream Dairy and slab cottage; a country dance hall; and Chinchillas original Railway Signal Box. The museum also incorporates the Kathleen Emmerson Library which houses a valuable collection of historical records, maps and books relevant to the region. It can only be accessed by special request. Miles Historical Village, the doyen of historical villages in the region is also a must. Opened in 1971, it is immaculately presented and contains more exhibits than can be named. It gives you the chance to take a step back in time to stroll down the main street of the village with its variety of stores including a post office (with old phone directories and the telephone exchange), a store, café, police station adorned with Wanted Posters, doctors rooms complete with archaic theatre equipment, hotel, school and blacksmiths shop. Annual Events to Plan For28 June - Injune in June. Be entertained by local artists with bush poetry and singing around the campfire at the Injune Caravan Park. 6th September - The Beef Bells & Bottle Tree Festival is a premiere event at the Miles Historical Village including cultural, heritage, fun & entertainment, education, sporting, agricultural & environmental appreciation. 13-14 September - Gourmet in Gundy is an annual food, wine and art festival held each year on the beautiful banks of the MacIntyre River. 4 - 5 October - Australian Camp Oven Festival, Millmerran. The Australian Camp Oven Festival is a weekend of great family fun that celebrates their cultural bush heritage. 2009 EventsFebruary - Chinchilla Melon Festival - held every two years Where to Stay:
More InformationFor more information or a copy of the Western Downs Touring Guide 7th Edition, freecall 1800 688 949 or visit www.westerndownsholidays.info. Join the Western Down’s Explorer Club to be the first to know what is happening in the Western Downs. Simply email enquiries@tgw.com.au – it’s free!
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