I discovered, much to my amused horror, that I have morphed into a photographic maniac. The last nearly two weeks have been spent editing a seemingly never-ending set of snaps that I have merrily taken without any consideration for the time required for their viewing and alteration. Hence, I have not written a single word on my blog and find myself trying to remember the best moments in Longreach from my fading memories of the Queensland outback. I shall now attempt some Total Recall.
Having been unable to find a temporary home in any caravan park, we resorted to staying in the Longreach Private Apartments, which were close to both the Qantas Museum and the Stockman's Hall of Fame. These were detached villas that had been fully and delightfully renovated a couple of years previously and we were happily satisfied with the private end villa next to the now disused night cart track.
We began our Longreach experience with the fabulous Powerhouse Museum, housed in the old Longreach powerhouse. Only open for fairly short hours with a lunch break, we were pleased we made the effort to enter for the afternoon session. I had initially thought that I would not be as enthused as Michael, but surprisingly, I was quite fascinated by this quirky and entertaining museum. We spent the entirety of the afternoon session poking about inside and out, thoroughly enamored with this attraction that provided so much more than the workings of an old industrial site.
Next on the agency was the Qantas Museum. We chose both the airpark tour and the museum after lunch. To walk on the tarmac around and under a DC 3, a 707, a Constellation and a 747 Jumbo was amazing. To then climb inside these giants of the sky was even more awe inspiring. The tour was a two hour extravaganza , after which we gratefully stopped for lunch and a browse in the gift shop. After our hunger and thirst was satiated, we launched forth into the main museum, plus the added bonus of the Catalina flying boat and the original hanger on display outside.
We staggered out into the late afternoon sun after a mammoth session reminiscing the foundation and history of Qantas. We returned to our digs to sleep soundly before our next excursion to the Stockman's Hall of Fame. Michael was a bit ambivalent about the live show, but I persisted with wanting to attend and we enjoyed the horsemanship, the dogs, a bit of music and a witty commentary very much indeed. There was also a small gallery to peruse and attractive gardens. We then followed our usual routine of lunch prior to entering the Museum. Once again, we were enthralled by the depth and variety of exhibits.
Longreach is not a big place. This town of around three thousand is the administrative centre for the surrounding cattle and sheep industries. Tourism is extremely important and Longreach belies its size with a bustling main drag with all amenities, including hip cafes and bars, along with its big attractions. We also visited the wonderful Station Store, which was like stepping into a treasure trove of original gift ideas, along with some stagecoaches on display.
Another gem in this fascinating outback town.
We will return to Longreach and spend longer in the town. Three nights was nowhere near enough time to enjoy all the features and we barely scratched the surface of what this amazing place has to offer. We reluctantly pulled out of Longreach to travel further eastwards - to Sapphire for a briefish stay in the Queensland Gemfields.
Stay tuned.
