Day 12 Jundah to Longreach

 We did have intentions of staying in Stonehenge on the way to Longreach but when we realised it was only another 60k from our last stop , it was a quick phone call to our park in Longreach to add another night and keep going.

Road was pretty quiet and we arrived round  midday to check in . Plenty of room but we ended up with a drive thru ensuite site as most of the normal powered sites were booked. 

We have a few things to do in Longreach and all had been pre booked . Would advise you do that as it is still pretty busy here. We had arranged to do The Stockman's Hall of Fame including the live show, Qantas Founders Museum and a trip on the Thomson River on a paddle steamer. 

There are lots of other activities to choose from - it depends how much of a country experience you want to have.

First stop was the Stockman's Hall of Fame which pays tribute to the contribution made by them - English, aboriginal, afghan and tells their stories and the services that developed from their experiences on the land. 

Included in this was the live show . It featured stock and quarter horses ( very well trained ones)  , dogs and some very nervous sheep. My favourite was the big old Braham bull that turned up towards the end. Very docile and tolerant of the attention. Very educational for those who don't know much about the bush .

Next day started at the Qantas Founders Museum . This concentrates on the founders themselves and the evolution of Qantas from its early years as a western air service to what it is today. Lots of information about its founders and their background as well as lots of displays including many planes. 

You can do a variety of tours from the basic museum and add on tours on and around the plains and even do wing walk on the big girls . 

First Class Lounge 707 

First ever toilet on a plane - looks comfy !!

We finished off our visit to Longreach with the Starlight River Cruise on the Thomson River run by Outback Pioneers which is the Kinnon family who are local cattle people.. All of them seem to be involved from their pub in town . their shop and the multiple cruises and dinners they run on the Thomson River. 

The one we chose was a paddle steamer cruise on the river followed by a camp oven dinner . sound and light experience and finished off with some fresh damper and tea. It was BYO if you liked . 

Once we had finished dinner, Scottie entertained us with some very funny bush poetry and jokes. A real character who had not worn any shoes for years. Turns out he had an accident on a horse at 16, was concussed and has suffered from vertigo ever since. If he puts shoes on he can't keep his balance. talk about tough feet!

The sound and like experience was all about Captain Starlight who was a local hero/cattle rustler who managed to pinch 1200 head of cattle and drive them from Longreach to South Australia. He came undone as he took a prize white bull and that's how they caught him. Because he was so popular with the local town folk a jury found him "not guilty" so he got away with it!!!

I must say girls that we do a pretty good job with our camp ovens - they dished up a delicious beef stew. mashed potato and bread . Easy to go back for seconds if you want to. 

Like so many of these tours, it is about introducing people to a day in the life of a drover and how they all worked . 

It was a great night .