Alpha Jericho Barcaldine Aramac Muttaburra Communities of the Barcaldine Regional Council ery munt co Co ian les ert A Wto BA Wherebecomes every momenta memory REGIONRCALDINE AL COUNCIL me co Country eelsian Art Wto Situated in the heart of central western Queensland, our region offers visitors a warm, outback welcome and experience. This friendly country hospitality comes naturally to us as our five towns - Alpha, Jericho, Barcaldine, Aramac and Muttaburra - all retain and share those good, old fashioned, small town values and charm. Since the late 1800s our main industries have been sheep and cattle production. While we continue to produce high quality wool and beef, we’ve developed a thriving tourism industry to showcase the beauty and diversity of our region. Our rich heritage, indigenous culture, natural landscapes, variety of fauna and flora, lakes and rivers, arts attractions, events and festivals ensure there is something for everyone. There is so much to do and see here and every one of us invites you to spend some time in the region we love and call home. Please feel free to stop and chat and most importantly - make yourself at home. BARCALDINE REGIONAL COUNCIL 2 Aramac - Lake Dunn Jericho - Crystal Trumpeters Barcaldine - Tree of Knowledge Alpha - murals f contents le o Muttaburrasaurus! tab WELCOME 2 EVENTS 4 INFORMATION CENTRES 5 HOW TO GET HERE 6 TRAVEL TIPS 7 MAP & DISTANCES 8 SELF DRIVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ITINERARIES 10 SIX DAY ITINERARY 12 OUTBACK MATES 13 GEOCACHING 13 BIRD WATCHING AND WILDFLOWERS 13 ALPHA 14 JERICH0 18 BARCALDINE 22 ARAMAC 30 MUTTABURRA 35 THE GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN BACK Communities of the Barcaldine Regional Council Alpha Jericho Barcaldine Aramac Muttaburra 3 NTS EVE JANUARY REGULAR ACTIVITIES All towns - Australia Day - Alpha ICPA Cricket Match • Markets are held in Barcaldine, Jericho (third Saturday) and Alpha monthly from FEBRUARY March to October. - Alpha 4B’s Rodeo • Bingo is held in Barcaldine monthly from March to November MARCH • Movies at the Jericho Drive Inn on the third Barcaldine - Races Saturday of the month. - Barcaldine Clay Target Shoot • Catholic Church Mass in Jericho on the Barcaldine - Golf Open third Saturday of the month. - Jericho Markets • Barcaldine Clay Target Club Shoot fourth All towns - Clean Up Australia Day Saturday of the month. APRIL All towns - Anzac Day WEEKLY ACTIVITIES Barcaldine - Races BARCALDINE • - 9am to 12noon Monday MAY Men’s Shed & Wednesday Aramac - Races • - 6pm Tuesday Barcaldine - Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Tennis Festival • Golf - 3pm Thursday, 12noon Sunday • at the Radio Theatre -7pm Friday Barcaldine - P H & A Show Movies & Sunday Alpha - Show • Muttaburra - Golf Open Barcaldine Cultural Association Craft Days - 9:30am Wednesday • - 8am Friday JUNE Croquet • - 10am Tuesday Muttaburra - Landsborough Flock Ewe Show QCWA Craft Day • - 9am Thursday Alpha - Races Tai Chi • - 5:30pm Friday, 9:30am Barcaldine - Races Lawn Bowls Sunday AUGUST ALPHA Muttaburra - Races • - 6pm Tuesday Barcaldine - Art Competition Touch Football Alpha - Golf Open MUTTABURRA • - 8:30am Sunday SEPTEMBER Golf Aramac - Ballyneety Rodeo and Campdraft Barcaldine - Westech Field Days (every 3 years) OCTOBER Alpha - Campdraft NOVEMBER Barcaldine - Catholic Fair Barcaldine - Races DECEMBER Aramac - Christmas Tree Barcaldine - Barcy Bucks Shop Locally Campaign Alpha - Christmas Tree Jericho - Christmas Tree 4 INFORMATION CENTRES ALPHA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Rowley Roberts Information Centre 43-45 Shakespeare Street Ph: 07 4985 1050 Email: [email protected] Open: Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 12.30pm. Closed weekends. JERICHO TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Jericho Information Centre and Library Jericho Post Office 8 Darwin Street Ph: 07 4651 4129 Open: Monday to Friday: 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 4pm. Closed weekends. BARCALDINE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE Barcaldine Visitor Information Centre 149 Oak Street Ph: 07 4651 1724 Email: [email protected] Open: March to October: 7 days a week. 8:15am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. November to February: Week days 8:15am to 4.30pm Weekends 9am to 2pm ARAMAC INFORMATION CENTRE Aramac Information Centre Barcaldine Regional Council 35 Gordon Street BA Ph: 07 4652 9999 BA Open: Week days 8am to 4.30pm. Closed weekends. REGIONRCALDINECALDINE MUTTABURRA INFORMATION CENTRE Muttaburra Postal Agency AL COUNCIL16 Sword Street AL COUNCILPh: 07 4658 7147 Open: Monday to Friday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Saturday: 9am to 11am. Closed Sunday. Communities of the Barcaldine Regional Council 55 HERE O GET W T HO ROAD AIR TRAVEL You can reach Barcaldine Regional QantasLink flies directly into Barcaldine Council area via the Capricorn, Matilda from Brisbane Tuesday, Thursday and or Landsborough Highways and also Saturday. Travel time is approximately from the North, the Torrens Creek Road. two hours. The Torrens Creek Road has 30km of On alternate days QantasLink has unsealed pavement at the Torrens Creek flights from Brisbane into Longreach or end. Blackall and car hire can be obtained from Budget or Avis car hire. Longreach Car Hire: 07 4658 0300 BARCALDINE NEWS RAIL AND TRAVEL Queensland Rail operates twice weekly trips from Brisbane to Alpha, Jericho and Agents for QantasLink, Queensland Rail, Barcaldine aboard the Spirit of the Greyhound and Bus Queensland. Outback passenger train. Enjoy the Phone: 07 4651 1104 relaxing and peaceful tranquillity of train travel. Provision can be made to transport your car onboard the train. Queensland Rail Reservations: 13 22 32 COACH TRAVEL The Greyhound coach service operates to and from Rockhampton and Barcaldine on Tuesdays and Saturdays. You travel in air-conditioned coaches with on board movies and meal breaks along the way. Greyhound reservations: 1300 473 946 Bus Queensland run a daily service between Brisbane and Barcaldine. Bus Queensland reservations: 1300 287 537 6 again after you drive through or, if the gate is open when you arrive, leave it open. As you travel through Travel Tips private properties, please respect the privacy of the property owners – don’t litter or leave the designated One reason travellers choose to visit the road area. Barcaldine Region is to enjoy the charm and friendliness of our small towns. While we have RUBBISH: Littering in the outback is strictly all the facilities and services you need, in some prohibited; please dispose of litter in the appropriate towns availability may be limited. We have put manner. together these travel tips to help you enjoy your visit to our region. BE PREPARED: Always carry water and a first- aid kit and ensure that your spare tyre is at the PLAN AND CHECK: Forward planning is correct pressure. essential. Travel and road conditions can vary, depending on the weather. Never assume - always ROADS: Always check road and weather check before commencing your journey. conditions before travelling into remote areas. FOOD AND FUEL: Some of our service PHONE COVERAGE: Mobile coverage is stations have restricted opening hours, so plan available in all our towns. However, even a short ahead and stock up on food and fuel. It's also distance outside the towns, there is limited or no important to note that LPG is not available in all mobile coverage. Do not rely on your mobile as a regional areas. It is advisable to contact the Visitor means of communication particularly in an Information Centres or Barcaldine Regional Council emergency. A satellite phone or UHF radio might be when planning your journey to ensure you know the something worth thinking about (they can be rented) location and availability of food and fuel supplies. We if you are planning on being in remote areas for any recommend that you fill up the tank at every length of time. opportunity. If you break down in the All our towns have bank facilities, but BREAKDOWNS: BANKING: outback - stay with the vehicle until help arrives. EFTPOS or credit facilities may not be available in all local businesses. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Outback summers are hot but much less humid than on the Many of our roads have stock or wild ANIMALS: coast and more bearable. Most facilities and animals near the road. Dawn and dusk are the times transport are air-conditioned. Storms and heavy rains when animals are most prevalent, so try not to travel can occur during summer and minor flooding can at these times. Please slow down - they have a habit cause some towns to become cut off for a few days, of behaving unpredictably and crossing in front of but this is all part of the adventure. The most you. temperate weather occurs between the beginning of April and the end of October. Wearing a broad When meeting large HEAVY VEHICLES: brimmed hat and sunscreen is recommended for all vehicles on narrow roads, slow right down and move seasons. off to the left. In wet conditions the edges tend to be soft and/or slippery, so when pulling off to the left you When travelling to remote areas always should always keep your right wheels on the bitumen SAFETY: check the road conditions before travelling. Advise and keep moving slowly to avoid getting bogged. the police or some other responsible person of your intended itinerary and report back on your arrival. To overtake road trains you ROAD TRAINS: Ensure that your vehicle is mechanically sound and should be able to see at least 1 kilometre of clear carry ample water and spare parts such as tyres, road ahead. Be prepared for them to move a little BA radiator hoses and fan belts along with a good from side to side as you overtake. If a road train is tool kit. approaching to overtake you, move over as far as possible to the left and stop if necessary to allow it to R Make sure you have enough medical overtake. MEDICAL: REGIONCALDINEsupplies for your trip. Our local pharmacies may not stock your special requirements.