Rural Getaway
548KM WARIALDA | MUNDUBBERA
This is the quiet alternative tourist route between Queensland and New South Wales. Stretching from the Fossickers Way at Warialda in New South Wales and joining with the Country Way at Mundubbera in Queensland, the Rural Getaway provides the most direct route from Tamworth to Rockhampton. Leaving the busy highways gives travellers the opportunity to experience rural communities at a more leisurely country pace. Take the time to chat with locals while enjoying a counter lunch at the local pub, a glass of wine at a winery or a round of golf at one of the delightful country courses.
Join in with the celebrations and events that are often unique and exciting. Explore the diverse nature of the route by taking scenic walks, bird-watching or enjoy the view from the lookouts which many of the towns along the way have established. These areas have fascinating histories that have been documented and displayed in their museums and information centres. Much can be gleaned from locals or simply by walking or driving around to view landmarks and local heritage displays. Friendly country people you’ll meet on the way will make it easy to relax and unwind.
Travel the Rural Getaway, the quiet alternative and experience the best that rural communities have to offer, and most importantly of all… enjoy the journey!
WARIALDA TO TEXAS
WARIALDA TO TEXAS 308 KM | 3 hours 30 min
Start your trip out in Warialda, “the place of honey”. It is a friendly town nestled on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Situated on the Gwydir Highway, it is the southern gateway to the Rural Getaway tourist route and the northern gateway to the Fossickers Way tourist route. Looking for things to do while you’re there? Try the Cranky Rock Nature Reserve – a popular picnic and camping spot, great for photography, bird-watching and bushwalking. Wanting some more culture? Check out the Heritage Centre, including the Wells Gem and Mineral Collection. Be sure to also check out the Carinda House Arts and Crafts to look at some local art pieces.
Passing through Coolatai and Yetman to get to Texas, these two towns are worth the stop. Just north of Warialda is Coolatai, a small friendly rural community with a hotel that provides a great opportunity to mix with the locals. Yetman is situated on the banks of the Macintyre River, is a popular destination for keen cod fish anglers. Once you have caught a couple of cod for dinner, get back on the backroads to head to Texas where you can stay overnight and have a cook up on the free BBQ amenities.
TEXAS TO DALBY
TEXAS TO DALBY 211 KM | 2 hours 20 min
Texas is in Queensland, just north of the State border. The trees in Pecan Park were donated and planted by the people of Texas USA as a bicentennial gift and a reminder of the link between the two far flung namesakes. Before heading to your camping site with free hot showers, ensure to check out the local attractions. Dumaresq River and Bonshaw Weir are great fishing locations. You can get a great view nearby at Beacon Lookout where you can enjoy views of the Dumaresq Valley. A trip to Texas isn’t complete without visiting the famous Riverside Freezing Works and Rabbit Factory, where the history of Australia during the Great Depression is kept. One thing you may not know about Texas, is the award-winning wineries with cellar door outlets.
On the way to Millmerran you will pass through Inglewood. Inglewood and Texas have reminders of the once thriving tobacco industry with old tobacco drying barns scattered about the countryside. Museums in both towns provide a history of the industry. Olive trees have been planted in the area, take home some olives or olive oil.
Millmerran. The biennial Australian Camp Oven Festival is a great reason to visit, but there’s so much more to this little town on the western fringe of the Darling Downs. To get your bearings and a little local history lesson, take in the panoramic views from Commodore Peak Lookout. A series of larger than life murals here depict the district’s history and how the town developed.
Consecrated in 1887, the National Trust-listed All Saints Anglican Church in Yandilla is the oldest building in the district and believed to be the second oldest church in Queensland. Its classic design features superb stained-glass windows made in memory of Reverend William Francis Gore. There’s a firm nod to the past at Millmerran Museum. Don’t miss its prized “water baby” – a 28-foot steam vessel which was made at Yandilla Station in 1878.
DALBY TO MUNDUBBERA
DALBY TO MUNDUBBERA 211 KM | 2 hours 20 min
Dalby is a thriving community of over 10,000 residents. The town’s size, position and agricultural, mining, and industry base leads it to be a major centre for regional Queensland. Accommodation options include camping and caravan facilities to pubs and modern motel suites. While in this bustling town, ensure to visit the Pioneer Park Museum, which houses an extensive collection of farm machinery and memorabilia. The must do in this region is of course the Bunya Mountains National Park is an ideal spot to enjoy a picnic, and enjoy a whole day.
Jimbour is famous as the home of heritage-listed Jimbour House which remains a private residence with its interior open only for special events. Visitors are welcome to tour the grounds and magnificent gardens which are open daily for a donation upon entry. The garden entry donation includes access to the “Living History Walk” – an experience of historical plaques, sights and sounds that bring a rich and colourful heritage to life See the world’s longest man-made structure – the Dingo Barrier Fence at Jandowie. 80 km north of Jandowie is Boondoomba Homestead, open to the public for a small fee. Turn off at Boondoomba for the 22 km run to Lake Boondoomba which is ideal for fishing for Golden Perch (yellow belly), Silver Perch and Australian Bass. A caravan park caters for visitors with caravan and camping sites and cabins. Mundubbera is 80 km past Boondoomba. Keep an eye out for the side trip to Auburn River National Park where the scenic Auburn River flows through a steep-sided gorge, tumbling over massive, water-sculpted, salmon-coloured granite boulders. The Rural Getaway joins Australia’s Country Way at Mundubbera, the meeting place for the Boyne, Burnett and Auburn Rivers. Call into the information centre to find out about fishing, town walks, history and the citrus industry.