2 DAY/1 NIGHT QUILPIE STATIONS & DINOSAURS GETAWAY
DAY 1: Local Favourites and Outback Station Stay
11:30AM
Plan for an early lunch-time arrival in Quilpie for a double dose of Aussie flavour. You’ll no doubt be looking to stretch your legs, so park at the Visitor Information Centre and amble down to a local favourite, Offshears Bakery. Their traditionally made meat pies are legendary. Especially given they are baked by a World Champion Women’s Shearer! Take advantage of the free picnic area at the Visitor Information Centre to enjoy a relaxed lunch and to check out the local artwork.
- Local tip: Try eating your pie ‘Quilpie style’ by pulling the lid off and dunking it in the delicious thick gravy.
1:00PM
Did someone say ‘catch and cook’ was on the menu tonight? Freshwater yabbies are easy to trap (just ask a country kid) and they taste absolutely delicious when cooked over the campfire. Preparation is key, so head on over to Paulsen Bros Friendly Grocer to stock up on BBQ dinner supplies plus a yabby trap from the Quilpie Hardware, essential for catching your entrée!
Just eight minutes down the road, adventure awaits at The Lake, Quilpie. This 2500-acre property is home to Merino sheep, beef cattle, and more recently, Kalahari red goats. The big attraction is most certainly Lake Houdraman, AKA ‘The Lake’, popular for swimming, fishing, BYO kayaking and yabbying. Set up your self-contained campsite on the banks of this gorgeous Lake and let the fun begin. Don’t forget to set your yabby trap!
- Local tip: Word on the street says that Yabbies love liver pieces from the local butcher. Grab a Yabbying Fact Sheet from the Visitor Information Centre.
4:30PM (check local sunset times)
The golden hour before sunset is perfect for exploring the many caves and crevasses of Baldy Top Lookout. This ancient boulder formation is just 7.4km from town with approximately 2km unsealed. Walk or pushbike around the base then scramble to the top for a spectacular 360-degree sunset vista.
6:00PM
Head back into town for the start of the Quilpie Night Show screened under the stars Tuesday & Thursday nights. Virtual host, Q the Curlew is the star of this engaging tell-all story of how Quilpie came to be – the struggles, the triumphs and the multi-generational pioneering dynasties.
7:00PM
Back at your station campsite, settle in for a relaxed BBQ dinner, hopefully with that freshly caught yabby entrée. Then, gather your crew around the campfire for starwatching and marshmallow toasting ……then let the dark outback skies work their magic for a blissful night’s rest.
DAY 2: Nature, Opals & Dinosaurs
6:30AM
Treat yourself to an early morning stroll along the Bulloo River Walk. Get in the know with the handy native plant interpretive signs dotted along the 1.5km trail. Keep an eye out for our feathered friends too. Perhaps spy a silvery grey brolga performing its elaborate, wing flapping dance or marvel at a graceful Pelican gliding serenely along the watercourse.
7:30AM
Return to your campsite for a hearty brekky cook-up of your bought and caught supplies! Join farmer Dan on a 4WD tour of the property to spot his prized Kalahari red goats (subject to availability and advance booking) or explore the lake surrounds by BYO pushbike.
10.00AM
Check out of your campsite and bid farewell to The Lake, Quilpie.
For a killer brewed coffee and wholefood treats (including gluten free) call into one of the coolest horse floats turned coffee bars in the west. You’ll find Unstable Coffee parked in Quilpie’s main street and it’s definitely your ‘go to’ for today’s smoko and yummy treats for later.
Now for some old-fashioned treasure hunting…..opal hunting to be specific. There’s a free opal fossicking area just 1.5km from town and fossicking kits can be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre for under $10. Quilpie is the largest producer of opal in the world, so you never know…lady luck may be on your side! While in town, take a peek at the incredible opal altar in St Finbarr’s Church.
- Local Tip: To fully appreciate the opal colours, splash some water on them after you find them.
11:30AM
Fuel up the car at the Old Empire Café. While there, we recommend you purchase some of their freshly made chicken and salad wraps for the road. They’re a town favourite!
Drive 106km along the fully sealed Diamantina Development Road to Eromanga dubbed the furthest town from the sea. This is where Cooper, the mega of all Australian dinosaurs once roamed and the Eromanga Natural History Museum has the bones to prove it. Make sure you’ve booked in advance for the 1.00pm Family Fossil Preparation program which includes the popular Australian Dinosaur Giants tour. There’s also a state-of-the-art theatre, interpretative corridor and café with a view.
3:00PM
What you do next is up to you. You have the option to extend your stay in the Quilpie shire by treating the family to an overnight at the museum’s onsite accommodation, Cooper’s Country Lodge. Or …. you may continue your road trip to your next Outback Queensland destination. Remember its roughly 2.5 hours to the next town.
Whatever your plans, please be sure to chat to the Quilpie Visitor Information Centre team for the latest on roads and safe driving tips.
Thanks for visiting!
