Longreach lies on the Tropic of Capricorn in the exact centre of Queensland. It’s a few killometres from the Thomson River, a rare permanent water source in this dry, brown land. Any visit should include a dusk cruise on the Thomson followed by an open air dinner and entertainment – a night of real country hospitality. In some ways Longreach is like a pioneering theme park with major historical displays and activities to entertain and educate. Pride of place is the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, a quite stunning museum telling the story of the role of the stockmen, their horses and dogs, and cattle and sheep in the development of the outback. It includes a live stockman show complete with cracking whips, a mob of sheep and some pretty clever horses. Rivaling this is the QANTAS Founders Museum. Far from just a collection of aircraft, it features pioneers of the Australian aviation industry telling their own stories – very much a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants adventure! GH
(Click on images to enlarge)
