Charleville and Outback Qld
Mar 17th, 2008 | 06:23 AM
#1
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Charleville and Outback Qld
Problem 1:
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I've having trouble trying to decide where to stay. I'd like to stay on one of the cattle/sheep stations but our party is not willing to rough it in tents or camper vans.
Nardoo would be perfect but it's too far from Charleville. And the two stations near charleville don't have any acceptable accomodation.
Ideally this is what we'd like...
A cabin of some kind within about 30 Kms from Charleville town. Far enough away that the lights from the city won't inhibit star gazing and close enough that we can get into charleville during the day to visit the various attractions.
Problem 2
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I can't seem to find a tour operator that offers horseback trail riding. The closest I can find is an operator using camels. My party are into horses so that would be much prefered.
I'm looking for the kind of trail suitable for beginners and experienced riders and nothing that is going to keep us out overnight.
I'd be very greatfull for any help. We will be travelling in late June.
-----------------
I've having trouble trying to decide where to stay. I'd like to stay on one of the cattle/sheep stations but our party is not willing to rough it in tents or camper vans.
Nardoo would be perfect but it's too far from Charleville. And the two stations near charleville don't have any acceptable accomodation.
Ideally this is what we'd like...
A cabin of some kind within about 30 Kms from Charleville town. Far enough away that the lights from the city won't inhibit star gazing and close enough that we can get into charleville during the day to visit the various attractions.
Problem 2
----------------------
I can't seem to find a tour operator that offers horseback trail riding. The closest I can find is an operator using camels. My party are into horses so that would be much prefered.
I'm looking for the kind of trail suitable for beginners and experienced riders and nothing that is going to keep us out overnight.
I'd be very greatfull for any help. We will be travelling in late June.
Mar 18th, 2008 | 03:06 AM
#4
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Lots of reasons...
Firstly, It's a relatively short distance from Brisbane compared to other outback destinations. We're interested in Astronomy and Charleville has a cosmological centre open to the public.
IMO the best thing about the outback is the night sky... so charleville wins over longreach hands down in that respect (I'm not really interested in visiting the stockman's hall of fame).
Also, the others who will be travelling with me are not Australian. They are very interested in seeing things like the distance education centre and the royal flying doctor service (having grown up watching the tv shows like Skippy and the Flying doctors)... not to mention the landscape itself which would be awesome to view by horseback but we'll settle for walking trails if we must.
Secondary to us are attractions like the bilby reserve, the town itself, watching people sheer sheep and round up cattle... but they're all on our list.
Firstly, It's a relatively short distance from Brisbane compared to other outback destinations. We're interested in Astronomy and Charleville has a cosmological centre open to the public.
IMO the best thing about the outback is the night sky... so charleville wins over longreach hands down in that respect (I'm not really interested in visiting the stockman's hall of fame).
Also, the others who will be travelling with me are not Australian. They are very interested in seeing things like the distance education centre and the royal flying doctor service (having grown up watching the tv shows like Skippy and the Flying doctors)... not to mention the landscape itself which would be awesome to view by horseback but we'll settle for walking trails if we must.
Secondary to us are attractions like the bilby reserve, the town itself, watching people sheer sheep and round up cattle... but they're all on our list.
Mar 18th, 2008 | 01:06 PM
#5
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,544
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Jusst a wildcard: Why not contact the people at Myendetta http://www.myendettastation.com/
and ask whether they could recommend someone in the district.
Or, if they do the activities you want at Myendetta, perhaps they'd let you rent their shearers' huts, if they don't have accommodation (which it's not specific about on the website.)
and ask whether they could recommend someone in the district.
Or, if they do the activities you want at Myendetta, perhaps they'd let you rent their shearers' huts, if they don't have accommodation (which it's not specific about on the website.)
Mar 18th, 2008 | 04:56 PM
#7
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,544
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Hi again,
I'm so chuffed to find someone who wants to explore 'the road less travelled' and prepared to put the time & effort into doing it!
I've just spoken with a most helpful woman at the local Tourism Information centre.
She is going to contact a local property just out of town which has a cottage and does station tours.
How many are in your party and roughly when & how long will you be there?
I'm so chuffed to find someone who wants to explore 'the road less travelled' and prepared to put the time & effort into doing it!
I've just spoken with a most helpful woman at the local Tourism Information centre.
She is going to contact a local property just out of town which has a cottage and does station tours.
How many are in your party and roughly when & how long will you be there?
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Mar 18th, 2008 | 09:12 PM
#8
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,544
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Hi again,
I've had an email from Sandy at the tourist centre, which I hope may be of some help to you.
From: Kristy Rowland [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, 19 March 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: Americans coming to Charleville
After discussing accommodation with the owners of Evening Star Property, they decided that the cottage could accommodate 4 people in comfort or 6 with a little less privacy as it has only 2 bedrooms. The price per night for 4 or 6 is $80.00. When and if they want to come could you promptly let me know.
Cheers Sandy
I've thanked them & advised I would pass on the info to you, so if you could just let Sandy know, it would be much appreciated. She was most helpful and would be a good contact for you. Sorry, don't have her surname.
[email protected]
(I must have imagined you said your friends were from the US, so that's why it's in the subject)
Anyway - over to you. Good luck!
You probably have it - but if not, the Charleville Tourism site looks interesting.
http://www.charlevilletourism.com.au
I've had an email from Sandy at the tourist centre, which I hope may be of some help to you.
From: Kristy Rowland [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, 19 March 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: Americans coming to Charleville
After discussing accommodation with the owners of Evening Star Property, they decided that the cottage could accommodate 4 people in comfort or 6 with a little less privacy as it has only 2 bedrooms. The price per night for 4 or 6 is $80.00. When and if they want to come could you promptly let me know.
Cheers Sandy
I've thanked them & advised I would pass on the info to you, so if you could just let Sandy know, it would be much appreciated. She was most helpful and would be a good contact for you. Sorry, don't have her surname.
[email protected]
(I must have imagined you said your friends were from the US, so that's why it's in the subject)
Anyway - over to you. Good luck!
You probably have it - but if not, the Charleville Tourism site looks interesting.
http://www.charlevilletourism.com.au
Mar 19th, 2008 | 08:24 AM
#9
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Hi Bokhara2. Thanks very much for that. I actually did investigate Evening Star but none of the web sites I found mentioned anything about a cottage. They all said campsites powered and unpowered. That's why I didn't contact them. Well anyway, lesson learned. This site looks perfect for us. 9Kms from the town farm stay accomodation... no tents!
Mar 19th, 2008 | 03:39 PM
#12
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,544
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Aw shucks, thanks Margo. I just thought if an old country girl couldn't find a shearer's hut or somewhere for them with a couple of phone calls, there'd be something wrong with me!
AustZoo - re the riding. You may be able to find someone up there - maybe Bailey Bar caravan park. Sandy said they have a range of activities. Or the people at Evening Star. Sandy said Myendetta only do group tours, and I didn't notice a reference to riding on their website. I guess the thing is once you're there, just ask - often people will make a decision based on their assessment of the capabilities etc of the riders. Don't be offended - but in my experience, the vast majority of people exaggerate/overestimate their experience & level of expertise, so it's useful to be able to judge for yourself before you let them loose. Don't be disappointed though, if no-one is set up for the type of trail riding you're after. The issue will be, unless they're adequately insured for Public Liability, anyone would be insane to allow strangers, and particularly inexperienced riders, on their horses. If you're an Australian resident, you'll know the Liability insurance issues we've had in this country, due to the increasingly litigious society we've become over the last few years and the effect that's had on all sorts of activities.
As an aside, we once had a place called "Nardoo" - further out than Cunnamulla, though
AustZoo - re the riding. You may be able to find someone up there - maybe Bailey Bar caravan park. Sandy said they have a range of activities. Or the people at Evening Star. Sandy said Myendetta only do group tours, and I didn't notice a reference to riding on their website. I guess the thing is once you're there, just ask - often people will make a decision based on their assessment of the capabilities etc of the riders. Don't be offended - but in my experience, the vast majority of people exaggerate/overestimate their experience & level of expertise, so it's useful to be able to judge for yourself before you let them loose. Don't be disappointed though, if no-one is set up for the type of trail riding you're after. The issue will be, unless they're adequately insured for Public Liability, anyone would be insane to allow strangers, and particularly inexperienced riders, on their horses. If you're an Australian resident, you'll know the Liability insurance issues we've had in this country, due to the increasingly litigious society we've become over the last few years and the effect that's had on all sorts of activities.
As an aside, we once had a place called "Nardoo" - further out than Cunnamulla, though
Mar 20th, 2008 | 01:04 AM
#13
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Thanks again Bokhara. I certainly won't be offended if they don't want me riding their horses. The others with me however have owned horses up until fairly recently (in Ireland) and are into equestrian riding.
I on the other hand would probably need to be lead around.
The whole insurance blowout started just before I left Australia. We think we have it bad until we travel overseas to places like Ireland where an average family sedan can cost anything from AUD$2K-4K per annum to insure. But I take your point. I don't expect someone who is not set up for that purpose to let us go galavanting around. We'll settle for scenic drives and walking trails if we can't find an operator.
I did seriously consider Nardoo... it's just so remote that once we get bored with the farm activities we won't have much else to fill in the time. Plus there are specific things we want to do in Charleville which is more than 2 hours drive from cunamulla.
I on the other hand would probably need to be lead around.
The whole insurance blowout started just before I left Australia. We think we have it bad until we travel overseas to places like Ireland where an average family sedan can cost anything from AUD$2K-4K per annum to insure. But I take your point. I don't expect someone who is not set up for that purpose to let us go galavanting around. We'll settle for scenic drives and walking trails if we can't find an operator.
I did seriously consider Nardoo... it's just so remote that once we get bored with the farm activities we won't have much else to fill in the time. Plus there are specific things we want to do in Charleville which is more than 2 hours drive from cunamulla.
Mar 20th, 2008 | 03:53 AM
#14
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,544
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I think you're right ... Nardoo is 200km from Charleville. And, as you say, you've identified a lot that you can and would enjoy in & around Charleville. Hope the cottage at Evening Star works out for you.
It will be colder than you might expect out there at night & early mornings in June, so take a coat.
One of my friends judges show jumping & dressage in Qld, so could probably get you a schedule if your friends would like to see how we do it here. Might be something on where you are while they're visiting.
It will be colder than you might expect out there at night & early mornings in June, so take a coat.
One of my friends judges show jumping & dressage in Qld, so could probably get you a schedule if your friends would like to see how we do it here. Might be something on where you are while they're visiting.
Mar 20th, 2008 | 04:48 AM
#15
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Is there a web site for the show jumping/dressage etc in and around North Brisbane?
I checked out the climate reports for the area. I'm expecting an average max of about 20 degrees C during the day and an average min of about 4 degrees C at night.
I checked out the climate reports for the area. I'm expecting an average max of about 20 degrees C during the day and an average min of about 4 degrees C at night.
Mar 20th, 2008 | 12:41 PM
#16
Joined: Oct 2007
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