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2008 Lightning Ridge Police Bush Safari. DAY 1. Sunday 28th SeptemberLightning Ridge to Eulo, via Goodooga, Cunnamulla. The Eulo Queen Hotel
The centrepiece of the town is the Eulo Queen Hotel in the main street. It was named after Isabel MacIntosh who became known as the Opal Queen of Eulo. She had arrived in Australia in 1876, worked as a governess on a station near Bourke, and married a man called MacIntosh who, at the time, was the overseer on the station. The couple later ran the store near Cunnamulla where the Cobb & Co. coaches stopped. With the profits from this venture they bought the hotel at Eulo. It was here that the opal miners came to drink and it was through this connection that Isabel accumulated a collection of opals which were reputedly worth over £4000. Throughout the far west of Queensland she became known as the 'Eulo Queen'. DAY 2. Monday 29th September Eulo to Noccundra via Thargomindah Noccundra Hotel
The hotel has been listed by the National Trust as it is one of the oldest buildings standing in south west Queensland and it has interesting stylistic similarities to buildings in South Australia. It is a single storey stone hotel with an iron clad roof and was built, probably in 1870. The hotel offers cabin-style accommodation and has powered sites for Caravans DAY 3. Tuesday 30th SeptemberNoccundra to InnaminckaThe Dig Tree
Beyond Noccundra Hotel, is the road to Innaminka in South Australia. On this road, near the South Australian border, is the famous 'Dig Tree' where William Brahe, left in command of Camp LXV by Burke and Wills, buried supplies and carved 'Dig' on 21 April 1861. The irony was that Brahe, after waiting for months for Burke and Wills to return from their expedition to the Gulf, left the camp the day the starving and exhausted explorers returned.InnaminckaInnamincka is a tiny outback settlement with a general store, a pub, some fuel pumps, the ruins of the old Royal Flying Doctor Base (which was closed down in 1951) There are a number of important Burke and Wills sites in the area. There is a monument to the two explorers, about 25 km west of the town is Wills grave The local publican happily provides detailed information on how to get to all the Burke and Wills sites.Callamurra Waterhole
To the northeast of the town is the oasis known as Callamurra Waterhole, a beautiful stretch of water which has not dried up since it was first seen by Sturt. At the upper end of the waterhole are some remarkable examples of the art of the local Aborigines - abstract shapes carved into the rocks. DAY 4. Wednesday 1st SeptemberInnaminca to Birdsville. BIRDSVILLE: Birdsville, between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibber plains of Sturt's Stony Desert. Birdsville began life as 'Diamantina Crossing' in 1881 and was given its present name in 1885. It is said that one Robert Frew, a local identity, gave the name as a compliment to the birdlife of the area. Another theory on the town's name is that locals wanted to name it Burtsville after a popular settler named J. Burt. Burt declined the offer and the name Birdsville was used as a compromise. The Diamantina River, to the east of the town, was named in 1866 by explorer William Landsborough DAY 5. Thursday 2nd OctoberREST DAY Suggest visit to the Birdsville working museum, and “ Big Red” 38 kms west.For those adventurous Poeppel’s corner 166 kms west. 150 sand dunes to traverse or catch a Scenic Flight of the area.Catch and kill your own tucker.Blue Poles Café.Birdsville Bakery.Birdsville Hotel. DAY 6. Friday 3rd OctoberBirdsville to Boulia via Bedourie 80 Km north of Birdsville is the Carcory Homestead Ruins an example of the rich history of the Diamantina. The building was built in the 1870s from local limestone. It was abandoned by Sir Sydney Kidman after battling extreme drought in the early 1900s. Today it is part of Roseberth Station and serves as a reminder of early settlement in the area. BedourieBedourie's Artesian Spa and Swimming Pool Complex has a 22 person Therapeutic Spa, which is one of the favourite for locals and visitors alike. The crystal clear water comes directly from the artesian bore in town and the 25 metre swimming pool is beautifully cool after your time in the spa. Destination BouliaA range of accommodation is available in the Boulia Shire including motel, hotel, caravan park and station stay. The Dangi Pub offers hotel style accommodation and the camping grounds are free of charge. Good fishing and bird watching spots can be found along the Georgina River DAY 7. Saturday 4th OctoberBoulia to Kynuna via McKinlay MckinlayPaul Hogan's great film, "Crocodlie Dundee" made this tiny town famous, but there are other reasons to visit McKinlay. Take a break from the road, relax at the Walkabout Creek Hotel, fuel up at McKinlay Roadhouse, and learn some of the history of the explorer John McKinlay after whom the town was named. KynunaKynuna has just one hotel, the famous Blue Heeler Hotel. Kynuna is most famous for its links with Banjo Paterson and the 'Waltzing Matilda' poem. Folklore has it that Bob MacPherson (owner of Dagworth Station) told Banjo the story of the suicide of Samuel Hoffmeister beside the Combo Waterhole, 13 kilometres upstream of the Diamantina River, in September 1894. DAY 8. Sunday 5th OctoberKynuna to Winton The Waltzing Matilda Centre incorporates, an interactive and technical displays in the 'Home of the Legend' room and an innovative light and sound show in the magnificent Billabong Courtyard as well as an outback gallery, which exhibits wonderful artworks and photographic works. Be inspired by the story of the swaggie. Lark Quarry Conservation Park is situated 110kms southwest of Winton. A Station Manager of a nearby property first discovered the Dinosaur TrackwaysThe majority of the road from Winton to Lark Quarry Conservation Park is unsealed DAY 9. Monday 6th OctoberWinton to Illfracome via Longreach Ilfracombe Machinery and Heritage Museum
The Museum, situated on the northern side of the main road, provides an insight into it’s past. Wellshot Hotel Dating from 1890, the front section remains unaltered, though the accommodation wing to the rear was rebuilt in 1956. The interior contains memorabilia from the height of the wool-station era. DAY 10. Tuesday 7th OctoberRest Day Suggest visit to Longreach. Longreach is the largest town in central Queensland, which is situated on the Thomson River. Longreach is the home of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame. In recent times the $12.5 million 'Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame' has generated a level of tourist activity which has made Longreach the premier destination in central Queensland. It is easy to be cynical about the Stockman's Hall of Fame but, in spite of its high prices and its carefully created commercialism, it really is worth visiting. Qantas in Longreach - The first commercial flight by Qantas in an Avro 504K took off from Longreach on 7 February 1921 at 10.30 am and took 3 hours and 10 minutes to reach WintonJacksons Weapons Museum
There are a number of other tourist attractions in the area including the Jacksons Weapons Museum in Cassowary Street which is really a war memorabilia museum. It is open from 2 pm to 8 pm daily and is free although donations are appreciated.Catch and kill your own tucker. DAY 11. Wednesday 8th OctoberIllfracome to ‘Thurlby’ Station Charleville via Isisford and Blackall IsisfordA sense of the history of Isisford can be gleaned from a visit to the town's small museum which is located behind the Shire Hall in the main street.20 km south of Isisford is a working property and there are no facilities or staff to show people around. The cause of interest is the huge shearing shed on the property. Semi-circular in shape it was prefabricated in England, shipped to Australia, and erected on Isis Downs in 1911. It was the first electrified shearing shed in Australia and the old steam engines and equipment are still in evidence although, obviously, they are not being used and have not been put on display. It is still the largest shearing shed in Australia.Today 'Isis Downs', is owned by Kerry Packer who owns a number (at least three) of properties in the Isisford ShireBlackall Jackie Howe Statue
Perhaps the most famous event in Blackall's history was the remarkable shearing achievement of Jackie Howe in 1892. The inscription on the plaque explains why Howe is still so admired in western Queensland: 'World Champion Blade Shearer Jackie Howe (John Robert Howe) 1861-1920. Blade shore 321 sheep in 7 hours 40 minutes at 'Alice Downs' Blackall on Monday 10 October 1892'. It was a world record which was not beaten until 1950 when electric shears were introduced. CharlevilleStaying on ‘Thurlby’ a working cattle station DAY 12. Thursday 9th OctoberThurlby’ Station Charleville to Bollon On the banks of Wallam Creek Bollon is the habitat of a large koala population which thrives on the abundant Red River Gums in the area. More than 110 species of birds have been recorded in the area. We will set up camp on Wallam Creek and enjoy the wildlife. DAY 13. Return to Lightning Ridge
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