QUEENSLAND-PLACES TO SEE


Townsville
Townsville is Australia's largest tropical city that is full of life and has a style all of its own. You can get orientated in Townsville by going to the top of rocky-red Castle Hill to experience the breathtaking views across the city and Cleveland Bay.

 

Townsville offers a choice of two types of holiday or a combination of both.You can take one that offers excitement such as white water rafting , roller coasters or extreme  skydiving or just relax by taking a trip on the Barrier reef where you can dive or snorkel or you can just chill on one of the many golden beaches.

 

Located in North Queensland's 'dry tropics', Townsville and Magnetic Island have an average of around 300 days of sunshine each year and when you combine this glorious sunshine with a relaxed lifestyle and a whole array of attractions, Townsville is the perfect choice if you want to experience North Queensland.

Like many of the cities of Australia, Townsville and it’s precincts are continually evolving and being developed. Discover the latest redevelopment along Flinders Street East - a mix of funky nightclubs, bars and restaurants and built within beautiful heritage buildings.

Dining is a seriously big business in Townsville. Take a stroll down Palmer Street and find restaurants that offer dishes from around the world and all prepared using fresh local seafood and produce.For example there is the historic heritage Australian Hotel which features a coutyard alfresco style restaurant and public bar. It was established in 1888 and has recently been magnificently restored. Other establishments on and around Palmer Street include Benny’s Hot Wok Café, Cactus Jack’s Bar & Grill and the Rhino Bar which is a funky bar offering a menu of steaks and tapas and is the premier bar in Townsville. The Roux Blond Restaurant & Bar on Cannon Park is recognised as Townsvilles best restaurant and has recently won several major awards.

The city is the perfect stepping-off point from where to experience the wonders of the region. Wonders such as the outback, rainforests, magnificent waterfalls, tropical islands and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Adrenalin Dive specialises in day trips to the wreck of the S.S. Yongala. The S.S. Yongala is a national historic site and lies within the beautiful Great Barrier Reef Marine Park just off Townsville.The relics, marine life and various types of coral that cover the wreck are indeed impressive. This is truly Australia's best dive and an experience that you will never forget. Trips depart daily from Townsville and Magnetic Island and, ecause of their commitment to protecting their natural environment, the Yongala Day Trip is Eco Certified by Ecotourism Australia.

Townsville's many attractions include the world's largest living coral reef aquarium, an Australian native wildlife sanctuary, art galleries, museums, parks, restaurants and the spectacular Strand beachfront promenade.
The Strand is a fabulous promenade in a beachfront location and is custom-built for evryone’s enjoyment. It has it’s own jetty and long this palm tree dotted promenade are bike and rollerblade paths, safe swimming beaches, picnic spots, a water park and stylish restaurants and bars with absolutely stunning views across the water.It is open 7 days, 24 hours a day and access for the disabled.

The scenic area of Great Green Way is filled with spectacular beaches and rainforests. You can take a drive along this route and see some of the best this region has to offer such as mountainous rain forests, sugar cane fields and wonderful views over the Coral Sea. Within the area you can visit many of Queensland’s National Parks such as:

 

The Edmund Kennedy National Park is located four kilometres north of the town of Cardwell (one and a half hours drive north of the city of Townsville). Within this park are areas of low coastal rainforest, eucalyptus trees, melaleuca(paperbark) woodland, swamps of sedge and extensive mangroves. Many of the mangrove species known to be found in Australia can be found in the park. There is much nocturnal wildlife in the Edmund Kennedy National Park  though there is a varity of birdlife and reptiles to be seen during the day.

Footpaths take you through coastal rainforest, and woodland before eventually coming to the beach. Saltwater crocodiles are present in creeks in this area and therefore the crossing of the main creeks can be dangerous as is swimming.. The surrounding waters of Edmund Kennedy National Park are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Picnic areas with barbeques and toilets are available at the beach front. Bring your own drinking water. You are not, however, allowed to camp on the beach.

  

If you visit Charters Towers and Ravenswood you will find evidence of the 1880’s Gold Rush era. You can also explore the towns of Ayr and Home Hill which are in Australia’s largest sugar cane producing region called the Burdekin. Charters Towers is situated 135 km south-west of Townsville and, with an altitude of over 300 metres, ensures an excellent climate with comfortable cool nights. Mostly known for its heritage and gold mining history, this city once had a population of almost 30,000 and had the only Stock Exchange in Australia which took three calls a day.

The main industries today are mining(mine tours are available), education (five excellent, world recognised boarding schools) and tourism .
Charters Towers possesses a friendly atmosphere and is a perfect example of what the real Australia is about with beautifully orange and red coloured sunsets. The heritage within it’s streets add to Charters Towers’ inimitable appeal.

 

Many peaceful water holes and hidden lava caves promise interesting walks and excellent camping, whilst one of the best ways to appreciate the history, and the many grand colonial buildings that adorn the streets of Charters Towers is by taking an organised walking excursion.

 

Don’t leave without having seen the Stock Exchange building which was linked up with the world by telegraph in 1890. Another don't miss is the Venus Gold Battery on the outskirts of town which is where gold was processed for 100 years from 1872 until 1972, and a guided tour relates the innovation and hard work, which were part of the golden days of Charters. It’s distance from Brisbane is approximately1,200 km.

 

Ravenswood is located 1450 km northwest of Brisbane and 90 km east of Charters Towers, and was once a flourishing gold mining town. Today it is nearly a ghost town with a population of  maybe 100 who service the surrounding area and cater for the growing tourism. In its halcyon days, Ravenswood boasted over 50 pubs (of course many of them were nothing more than tents for selling booze) and had a population of over 4000.

Pastoralists who had moved northwards looking for new lands, settled in the area in the 1860’s. establishing two properties along the Elphinstone and Connolly Creeks. At the point where the Elphinstone met the Burdekin, Merri Merriwa station was established and further upstream,  Ravenswood station(named after a town in Scotland) which had been popularised by the well known nineteenth century novelist, Sir Walter Scott in his novel The Bride of Lammermoor.

In 1868 gold was discovered in the area, and in the following year about 140 prospectors and fossickers had been lured to these new fields. Three men, by the names of Jessop, Buchanan and Crane, found good alluvial gold near the present site of Ravenswood and with that news, ensued a gold rush.

After the initial spell of fossicking, prospectors were faced with the task of extracting the gold from seams using a complex chemical process which involved blasting and crushing. In 1870 a crushing mill was built by the government at Burnt Point and the results from the first lot of crushed ore were so good that it started a further rush on the area and 5 more crushing mills were built. The success of the mine was short lived and by 1872 it had become extremely difficult to extract the ore and many of the miners then moved on to Charters Towers.

 

However some determined miners stayed on, and continued to extract about 300 kg of gold each year from the area. This continuing operation, plus the discovery of silver, led to the building of a railway from Cunningham to Ravenswood.

By the early 1890s the mines were once again nearly idle, and Archibald Lawrence Wilson, a mine manager,took up an option and managed to interest English investors in the field. Such was Wilsons success in finding backers for the mines, that it was during a 12 year period, starting in1900 that the town prospered and Wilson became known as 'the uncrowned king of Ravenswood'.

 

During this ‘golden’ period the population of the Ravenswood area reached about 5000 and there was about 12,500 kg of gold extracted. The mines were becoming exhausted and finally ground to a halt in 1917 since when, the town has slowly declined. Today it is a true ghost town with a tiny population and a large number of interesting buildings.

 

Things to see:
How to see the town
The town is now classified by the Australian National Trust. There is an excellent brochure called Gold'n Ravenswood which is produced by the Queensland Department of Mines and the Dalrymple Shire Council. It provides a map and brief descriptions of all the buildings of interest in Ravenswood. Tours of the town are also on offer from the local Heritage Cottage.
Courthouse Museum
This museum is located in Macrossan Street, and features displays relating to the town's history, its people, and mining. It is open every day except Tuesday from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., tel: (07) 4770 2047.

Other Buildings
The highlight of Ravenswood is the superb Imperial Hotel, a colourful Edwardian building (1902) with multicoloured brickwork, wonderful balconies, and a charming Edwardian interior. Other buildings sighted as being of particular interest are the front stairway of Brownes Hotel which is just over the road from Thorps Building in Macrossan Street.

At the Charters Towers end of the main street, are the ruins of the Mabel Mill, which once boasted 30 stamper headsand to the south of the town there are no fewer than six chimney stacks. In Raven Street there are the ruins (no more than the front stairs) of A. L. Wilson's house, and behind the Imperial Hotel, is St Patrick's Church which has been converted from a Catholic Church, into an interdenominational community church to serve the town's small population.

 

The Railway Hotel (1902), has recently been restored and the School (1870s) is still in use.
Ayr is situated on the northern approach to the Burdekin Bridge, 85 kilometres south of Townsville and, with in excess of 300 wonderful sunny days each year, the district is known as the winterless north.

 

The natural beauty of the rivers and creeks, estuaries lined with unspoiled mangrove, and miles of sandy beaches make the area a mecca for fishing, crabbing, windsurfing and water skiing.

Said to be 'built on liquid gold', as it is situated on a vast natural underground spring, which is artificially replenished with water from the Burdekin Falls Dam. The district is Australia's richest sugar producing area and also the mango and melon capital. It is a bird watcher's paradise with 280 species of birds recorded. The best vantage points from which to view the farmlands and wetlands of the Burdekin district are from the lookouts of Mount Inkerman and Mount Kelly.

The stunning Burdekin Bridge is known as the silver link and was the longest bridge in Australia for many years. It is the best known landmark in the district.

There is a diversity of sporting, cultural and tourist facilities so be sure to visit the Ayr Nature Display, the Burdekin Theatre and to go and see the mighty Burdekin River Irrigation Area.

 

Home Hill
Home Hill is situated at the southern approach of the Burdekin Bridge and was originally part of the Inkerman Downs Cattle Station. The town is very tourist friendly as it has most amenities to cater for the traveller. For those with sporting interests, there is a golf club and a pistol shooting club. This is also the gateway to the popular Groper Creek fishing and crabbing spot.

It is home to the famous Ashworth's Tourist Centre, where,under one roof, is Ashworth's Jewellers, Rock Shop and the amazing Treasures of the Earth Display. See the murals that depict the district's rural life and visit the Lion's Diorama, a tribute to the pioneers and the history of the Burdekin Irrigation Scheme. The Home Hill Harvest Festival is held the first week in November.

 

Townsville is also one of Queensland's premier event destinations, with an exciting annual line up of sporting, aquatic, historical and cultural events.

Using Townsville as a holiday base, visitors can experience the natural wonders of the diverse North Queensland region through day tours, cruises or adventure excursions - all operating out of the city.

 

The Outback of Queensland is enormous and you need to have special driving skills, survival skills and an awareness of what different conditions you can expect to experience. Remote wilderness areas have very few towns and facilities and are usually many kilometres apart. It is therefore essential in this part of Australia that your trip is properly planned and every eventuality considered. 

 

You should inform family and friends and/or the local police of your travel plans. Make sure your vehicle is top working order and has had a recent service. Always carry a spare tyre (and brace & jack), extra fuel, tools, food and plenty of water.

 

The home to the National Carriage Collection, Australia's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles, is the Cobb & Co Museum. Included in this collection are three Cobb & Co. coaches on permanent display, including the last of the operational coach on the Yuleba-Surat run in 1924.

Highlights of the displays of Toowoomba and Darling Downs are the natural environment of the Escarpment of the Great Dividing Range. Personal stories linked to Toowoomba's icons and multicultural traditions, 'Binangar', the Aboriginal language centre, with traditional and contemporary native displays, and 'The Coach Stop' rated by visitors as the best children's activity centre.

 

Cobb & Co Museum's Gift Shop contains a library of Cobb & Co research publications, maps and photographic reproductions, children's books, and good Australian-made gifts and souvenirs.The Museum has air-conditioning and is fully accessible by wheelchair. The only dogs allowed inside are guide dogs, and parking for coaches is at the entrance to the Museum.

If you think that fossils are something that only paleontologists and university professors would be interested in, then you haven't seen this tremendous Riversleigh Fossil Centre and Visitor Information Centre. This purpose built fossil centre is part of the new 12 million dollar Outback at Isa complex in Mount Isa.

It’s like being moved to a bygone world when you come face-to-face with the prehistoric inhabitants of Outback Australia. Far removed from the latter-day realities of technological advancement and space travel, the Riversleigh Fossil Centre reconstructs the world as it was millions of years ago.  Guided tours of the laboratory are available, where you can see the Outback, and Isa's resident paleontologist and trained staff free fossil bones of extinct creatures from limestone and put together the broken pieces of their lives.

The 2004 Outback Tourism Award was won by Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond. Inside Kronosaurus Korner is the only museum in Australia dedicated above all to displaying marine reptiles, as well as one very special dinosaur. Minmi, with impressions of its fossilised skin, is thought of as Australia's best-preserved dinosaur skeleton. It is positioned alongside the Richmond Pliosaur (Australia' best vertebrate fossil and one of the world's best Pliosaur skeletons.) This fossil, found in 1989, is quite unbelievable.
More than 400 fossil specimens dating back to the Cretaceous Period, 98 - 114 million years ago can be found at Kronosaurus Korner. In this period Richmond was part of the inland sea. If you prefer to walk round at your own pace rather than with a guide, hand-held audio guides are available.The Kronosaurus Korner landscaping also features a life-size 12.2 metre replica of Kronosaurus Queenslandicus, discovered by American scientists near Richmond in the 1930s. Kronosaurus Korner is situated on the Overlander's Way (Flinders Highway) at Richmond, 500 kilometres west of Townsville and 400 kilometres east of Mount Isa. Courtesy transfers from some airports can be arranged prior to arrival.

 

Qantas Founders Outback Museum
The Qantas Founders Outback Museum is next to the restored historic 1922 Qantas hangar and both are now part of the Queensland Heritage Trails Network.
The complex houses the museum, theatrette and exhibition hall, visitor information centre and restaurant and the Founders Store. Old photographs, collective material and multi-media interactive displays tell moving inspirational stories of overcoming the problems of long distance travel in Outback Australia.
The world's second oldest airline, Qantas was registered on 16 November 1920  under the name Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service Ltd. While Winton was the official birthplace of Qantas, the company and operational headquarters were moved to Longreach in February 1921.
The original Qantas maintenance hangar, preserved as part of the museum, is one of Australia's earliest hangars. It is a clear reminder of the pioneering days of commercial flight in Australia, and the era of biplanes with open canopies landing in dirt paddocks.
The hangar was at the centre of the airline's operations during the 20s when it was used for repairing and building aircraft until the administration moved to Brisbane in June 1930.

You will find the Qantas Founders Outback Museum at the Longreach Airport on the Landsborough Highway about three and a half kilometres from the centre of town. The complex is adjacent to the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and is within walking distance from nearby accommodation.
Queensland Rail's Spirit of the Outback leaves Brisbane every Tuesday and Saturday night, and arrives in Longreach the following day. Qantas Link operates daily return flights between Brisbane and Longreach whilst McCafferty's operates daily services from the north and south.

To see the best example of dinosaur tracks in the world you must visit the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways.The world’s only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede can be found here. These Trackways features over 3,000 footprints, made by almost 200 dinosaurs, and tell a story of a few fateful moments, 95 million years ago. During the Cretaceous Period, 95 million years ago, this area was a temperate rainforest surrounding a lake used as a waterhole for many of the wildlife. It is believed that the Coelurosaurs and Ornithopods were at the lake until disturbed by a large Carnosaur when possibly it was coming for a drink but discovered a meal instead. The fossilised footprints then show how the Carnosaur stalked for its meal and then grabbed one whilst the other dinosaurs began to flee in panic. It can be seen how they fled because some footprints are embedded on previous footprints of the Carnosaur. The Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways are set in the most mouth gaping landscape amidst the red earth, spinifex and jump up country. Tours are available on a frequent basis from Winton from April through to September. Carisbrooke Tours run the full day tours whereas Matilda Country Tours run the half day tours. Tours do run in other months but are dependant on numbers. There is no shop on site, but there are toilets, limited water and picnic facilities. You are advised to take food, extra water, hats and sunscreen with you as you must remember that this is the outback!

Access to Lake Quarry Conservation Park in wet weather is not easy. Please note that all plants, animals and features of the landscape must not be disturbed and you must not walk on the dinosaur trackway surface as it can be damaged very easily.When you leave please take your rubbish with you. Camping is not allowed in the park area and no animals are allowed inside.

Lark Quarry Conservation Park was originally thought of to protect this extraordinary part of natural history and its wonderful setting of red earth, majestic gullies, flat topped mesas and spinifex. A sheltered roof was put up afterwards to protect the Trackways but it still wasn’t sufficient to slow down their deterioration caused by huge temperature and humidity fluctuations, water run-off, dust, wildlife and people. Regarded as an important and irreplaceable part of  Australia’s cultural heritage, an award winning, ecologically sustainable designed building was built in 2002 to protect the Trackways for future generations to enjoy.

The Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways was one of the first three places to be listed on Australia's National Heritage List in July 2004 and is referred to as the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument on their website.
Lark Quarry is situated 110 kilometres south west of Winton, Outback Queensland. Approximately 30 kilometres of this road are sealed and the remainder is on a  maintained all weather road, which is suitable for normal conventional vehicles. Please check road conditions before travelling and allow around one and a half hours drive time. For self-drive guests, depart Winton and travel on the Winton-Jundah Road following all marked road signs. Road maps can be bought at the Winton Visitor Information Centre.

Entrance tickets can be purchased at either Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways or at the Winton Visitor Information Centre (Waltzing Matilda Centre). An Attraction Pass, (called a Gold Shinplaster), is also available for Single or Family which entitles the holder entry into the Dinosaur Trackways, the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the Dinosaur Display in Corfield and Fitzmaurice building, the Opal Walk and Open Air Theatre Museum.