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On location, hunting for dinosaurs! While waiting for a massive Sauropod to wander across the barren...
Destinations > On Your Marks
On Your Marks
It's the eve of Race Day 1 and there's a crowd bidding for last year's memorabilia. I have sand in my mouth and dust up my nostrils but I've made it. This shared experience of crossing the desert helps form the friendly camaraderie amongst race goers over the next two days.
Normie Rowe is performing this evening, there's a film crew from Top Gear who drove an Audi up the Birdsville Track, the original Birdsville mailman Tom Kruse is in town, Peter who sells chips from a mobile van and a man whose been selling badges at the races for 20 years.
I step over the beer cans piled ankle high in the gutter and go in for a pint. Who should be standing at the bar already with beers in hand but my Dulacca mates. We toast our epic adventure getting here even though the races and the real fun are yet to begin...
THINGS TO DO
When the horses aren't thundering up the turf check out Birdsville's local attractions. Go to the Birdsville Working Museum to marvel at John Menzies's amazing collection of stirrups, coaches, signs, telephones and potions. The Blue Poles Gallery is a good way to get acquainted with resident artist Wolfgang John's fabulous works highlighting the local environment. Two good gastronomic stops are at the bakery for pizza, coffee or camel pies and the hotel for a pint. Wander down to the Burke and Wills tree at the river where the famous Australian explorers carved their names or enjoy sunset atop the Simpson Desert's largest sand dune Big Red (40km west).
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GETTING THERE
A 4WD is recommended for the final access roads to Birdsville. Most routes are remote and require bush camping so you should be self-sufficient and have reasonable mechanical knowledge. Ring RACQ (1300 130 595) for road updates.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel/motel and caravan park accommodation is available along the Warrego Highway and Channel Country Byway. There is free camping behind some pubs/roadhouses.
Dulacca Hotel: Cnr Bell St & Glynn Ave, Dulacca
07 4627 6101
Bailey Bar Caravan Park: King St, Charleville
07 4654 1744
www.charlevillebaileybar.com.au
Windorah Caravan Park: 1 Albert St
07 4656 3163
Cooper Cabins: 11 Edward St, Windorah
07 4656 3101
Birdsville Caravan Park, Florence St
07 4656 3214
Birdsville Hotel
07 4656 3244
Camping is permitted on paddocks outside the town common.
Normie Rowe is performing this evening, there's a film crew from Top Gear who drove an Audi up the Birdsville Track, the original Birdsville mailman Tom Kruse is in town, Peter who sells chips from a mobile van and a man whose been selling badges at the races for 20 years.
I step over the beer cans piled ankle high in the gutter and go in for a pint. Who should be standing at the bar already with beers in hand but my Dulacca mates. We toast our epic adventure getting here even though the races and the real fun are yet to begin...
THINGS TO DO
When the horses aren't thundering up the turf check out Birdsville's local attractions. Go to the Birdsville Working Museum to marvel at John Menzies's amazing collection of stirrups, coaches, signs, telephones and potions. The Blue Poles Gallery is a good way to get acquainted with resident artist Wolfgang John's fabulous works highlighting the local environment. Two good gastronomic stops are at the bakery for pizza, coffee or camel pies and the hotel for a pint. Wander down to the Burke and Wills tree at the river where the famous Australian explorers carved their names or enjoy sunset atop the Simpson Desert's largest sand dune Big Red (40km west).
read on below advertisement
GETTING THERE
A 4WD is recommended for the final access roads to Birdsville. Most routes are remote and require bush camping so you should be self-sufficient and have reasonable mechanical knowledge. Ring RACQ (1300 130 595) for road updates.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel/motel and caravan park accommodation is available along the Warrego Highway and Channel Country Byway. There is free camping behind some pubs/roadhouses.
Dulacca Hotel: Cnr Bell St & Glynn Ave, Dulacca
07 4627 6101
Bailey Bar Caravan Park: King St, Charleville
07 4654 1744
www.charlevillebaileybar.com.au
Windorah Caravan Park: 1 Albert St
07 4656 3163
Cooper Cabins: 11 Edward St, Windorah
07 4656 3101
Birdsville Caravan Park, Florence St
07 4656 3214
Birdsville Hotel
07 4656 3244
Camping is permitted on paddocks outside the town common.
