22 Destinations SHELLEY ROSS

After a three week safari in September, Shelley Ross reckons that the secret to keeping everybody happy is to mix up the viewing. After low level croc spotting at Cooktown to postcard coral reef cruising, she’s most drawn to an unlikely candidate ... the outback town of Longreach. Outback Drawcard

t’s pretty unusual to be able to call from those non-pilot passengers prop missing, languishing in thigh- Getting there any town an aviator’s paradise. of yours too. high grass in some stricken paddock Well, actually, that’s not entirely See, when you’re planning way west of nowhere. Take loads With a crew of seven, we’d taken true if I’m being honest. Any town a flying itinerary, it’s all about of time telling them its extensive a week to fly a C172 and a GA8 beyond a comfortable driving balance. As much as I love pretty history over a stale muesli bar and Airvan up the western side distance–which for me is about an much everywhere I visit because they’ll sign up on the spot for way of Queensland to Cape York, hour–calls for serious consideration I’ve actually managed to find it and more of this action. then flew down the east coast, as a flying destination. But to find survive the landing, you can’t expect So let’s try and think about stopping for a couple of nights a struggling, bone dry outback the Princess or the Earthbound incorporating destinations that each at Cooktown, Cairns, Shute Itown like Longreach in central Bloke in your life to get excited about everybody is going to enjoy. The Harbour and Rockhampton. In Queensland that embraces its rich the next invitation into that right- way I see it, 37,000 visitors a year a word – spectacular. Seriously, aviation history and shares it so hand seat if all you offer them are to Longreach can’t be wrong, and if you haven’t done this coastal impressively with visitors, is surely spooky aero clubs with nobody home after spending two nights here, I can flight, have a think about a no-brainer for a pilot’s wish list. and last month’s milk in the fridge. vouch for its attraction. Since it’s slap planning it. I’m only sorry we And I’m happy to go out on a limb Whacko, I bet they can’t wait for the bang in the middle of the sunshine didn’t have time to go visit any here and suggest that this place is next stop – maybe you can take them state, you can approach it from any of the Whitsunday islands. even going to get the thumbs-up to see a decrepit old warbird with its angle you like. Next time.

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Don’t miss a visit to Longreach’s Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.

You’ll find Class C, D and military The Old Station your own front lawn, then parking Capricorn cruising airspace along the route, but with delivers again your aeroplane ten steps from your some dedicated homework, it’s all bed, the bar and usually a piece of From The Old Station, we set the straightforward and so worth the So after a week of warm salty air magnificent home grown beef. compass west, and followed the effort. You’ve seen all the Queensland and sea breezes, we thought we’d The Creeds hold an annual fly- Capricorn Highway virtually all tourism ads, you don’t need me to tell head inland after Rocky to pay a in and heritage show at The Old the way, overhead the wonderfully you the Coral Sea coast looks even visit to the Creed family on The Old Station over the last weekend every diverse farmland around regional better from 1000 feet over the beach. Station at Raglan. I didn’t really May, in an effort to raise money for centres like Blackwater, Emerald and If you’re apprehensive about your think things could get much better the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Barcaldine. The east-west railway line route through unfamiliar territory, at this place, but every time I bring Service. So if you don’t mind bedding also follows this route, so navigation remember you can always do as we new people here, I see nothing but down in a swag under the wing, is stress free, even for me. did and request a Flight Following massive smiles and hear nothing but it’s a fantastic weekend for a mini The new terminal at Emerald service. It will be dependent on genuine raving about the magnificent flyaway. See creedgrazing.com.au. dishes up a very decent coffee, easy ATC’s workload at the time but we setting and the Creed’s unique bush It’s their 25th anniversary in 2016, access to avgas, and a well-used boot requested this between Townsville hospitality. There’s just something so have a think about sharing in the cleaner at the front door. Yep, this and Rockhampton and they were memorable about landing on a bush celebrations with them. You would is coal mining country, so there’ll happy to provide the service. strip that’s maintained better than be more than welcome. be no filthy boots coming onboard

January – February 2016 AUSTRALIAN FLYING 24 Destinations australianflying.com.au

ABOVE: Lofty ladies in waiting at Longreach airport. LEFT: Thousands of acres of red dirt on our path are interrupted occasionally by a precious patch of green grass around a homestead. “ ... you’ll find treasures galore BELOW: Meandering rivers and lush green landscape are the once you step inside.” rewards for some nice low flying south of Cooktown. Croc-spotting competitions are mandatory.

these aerial services, thank you very head into their fourth failed wet can see for miles on approach. You can take a guided tour much. From coal mining to cotton to season, I’m all for trying to get bums The first thing you’ll see is a huge through both of the jets, go for a citrus farms, the landscape is always on seats to visit these outback towns mother of a tail, in some familiar wing walk on the 747 if you want, changing and is hands-down the and pour in some tourism dollars. red and white livery, attached to then take your time checking out the reason I so love touring this country of As far as a tourism attraction goes, one of several now-famous residents PBY Catalina and the DC-3 and do ours by air. It’s not all postcard stuff; I’m here to report that our destination parked at the airport. With its 60 not miss the heritage-listed indeed there are miles and miles where today, Longreach, has absolutely m wingspan, long-retired Boeing hangar where the de Havilland DH- the land is bare, brown and dusty and nailed it. I hadn’t been for several years 747-200 jumbo jet VH-EBQ sits 50 and DH-61 are housed, along for those lucky enough to have grass, it so I figured it was time for another proudly alongside its little sister, with their fascinating history. is a tiny cherished patch around their visit. What a good idea that was. VH-XBA, Qantas’ In 1921 when it all began, the isolated homestead. first Boeing aircraft. These two old Qantas fleet consisted of two Testament to the quality of Marinating broads are arguably the leading act biplanes: an Avro 504K and a Royal sunshine in the area, there are in the outdoor display but you’ll find Aircraft Factory BE2E. Two replicas plans in place to install a massive in history treasures galore once you step inside. of the Avro were constructed in 80,000 panel solar farm just outside Even if good navigation is not your Welcome to the Qantas Founders 1985. One occupies centre stage Barcaldine. Lord knows all these best suit, you’d be hard pressed Museum (qfom.com.au), custodian of in this museum; the other one is regional towns crippled by the to mistake Longreach airport for some of the most significant Qantas displayed in the Qantas domestic current drought would welcome new anywhere else. Up here in the middle aircraft ever built and a seriously terminal at Mascot in Sydney. job opportunities and any economic of the Queensland outback, there are outstanding collection of Australian You can spend hours here, easily, but stimulus they can get. And as they a couple of dead giveaways that you aviation memorabilia. save some time to wander across the

AUSTRALIAN FLYING January – February 2016 26 Destinations australianflying.com.au

WardAir C172 takes off from road to the Australian Stockman’s tried. And it seems everyone else but the beautifully maintained Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage me has done and loved the sunset river airstrip at the Old Station. Centre. It’s staggering to see such a cruise. Next time I go, I want three brilliant exhibition out here in the nights here, just to get it all covered. middle of the outback. If you decide to start planning a visit to Longreach, put the nearby towns of Essentials Charleville, Winton and Windorah on the list too. Pete, the refueller and We stayed in town this time and cafe boss at , is found some great eateries on the definitely a man you’re going to want main street: Harry’s restaurant at to meet – arguably the most helpful the Longreach Motor Inn, CCD for and hospitable I’ve come across, so a great curry and the Marino Bakery I give a big thumbs-up to calling in for everything you told yourself you there for fuel, or else stay a day or two were cutting down on during this and have a look around. There’s some trip. For once in my life, the pubs pilot-friendly accommodation available didn’t do it for me, but that was the near the airport with Graham and Deb only disappointment. I located three Reid at charlevillecaravanpark.com.au. in town, and found none of them the Well, that’s it for another year of slightest bit appealing – no history, touring around this big old island of no charm, no original front bars. But ours. Thanks for coming along for that’s OK, I’m told it’s apparently the ride and I hope I occasionally give not a vital ingredient to a successful you a little incentive to grab some Pearly Shores stopover. Really? friends and go see what the people As far as accommodation goes, and lifestyle are like in regional As we go to print, I’ve been alerted to a new destination there are a handful of places to stay . At the time of writing, where the owners want me to pass on an invitation to touring across the road from the airport, Rossy and I are just back from a 24 pilots. The Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is on the tip of the Dampier which is great news for those of day safari over to south-west WA Peninsula, north of Broome. It’s 50 miles from the famous us without ground transport. The with four other aircraft. So, Happy Horizontal Waterfalls and 10 miles from Cape Leveque and it Jumbuck and the Albert Park Motor Christmas and see you next issue, has its own airstrip. First one to try it – write and give me your Inn are firm favourites with pilots, when I’ll share with you the first of impressions. See cygnetbaypearls.com.au and now there’s the new Kinnon & a string of fantastic pilot-friendly Co Outback Lodges, which I haven’t destinations we found over there.

The coastal flight southbound past Port Douglas and into Cairns needs to be on that bucket list.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING January – February 2016