Distance: 20km
Just before 9am I walked into Quilpie – the caravan park is only a block from the highway and a block from the town centre. I was going to see all the attractions.
First stop – Mural Park. Yes, it has a Mural!
Next door was the Railway Museum – once they had a railway.
A very short walk further on I came across the Quilpie Military History Museum.
Called into the Offshear’s Bakery for a fairly decent hot pie then it was down one of the wide side streets to find St Finbarr’s Church and its Opal Altar. Actually St Mathew’s on the other side of the road was a more interesting building, St Finbarr’s was a modern nondescript construction but it has the alter that is ‘famous’.
The streets in a way show how old the town is, they are very wide – the usual reason given for these wide streets in Australian country towns is that they allow enough room for a bullock team to turn round without being unharnessed.
Further down the street and round the corner was the Powerhouse Museum with one remaining diesel engine.
Following these visits I strolled round town before walking back to the caravan park for a cup of tea, a sandwich and a rest before the afternoon’s adventures.
Early afternoon I set off in the car back to Baldy Top lookout, where I parked and wandered up the path to the top. It wasn’t a long climb but it was definitely rough and very steep in places but I made it to the top safely and enjoyed the view.
Back into town for a flat white coffee at one of the coffee bars the town offers then returned to the caravan park for a shower and a chance to read my book.
Just after 5pm decided to stroll up the road to the Quilpie Bowling Club for a meal, it was almost deserted when I arrived but the girl behind the bar told me that the bistro was open so I got a beer and looked at the menu. Ended up choosing a rump steak and chips (I always forgo the veggies or salad). Tuned out to be a nicely cooked meal the chips were excellent and the steak was cooked just how I like it so I celebrated with a couple more schooners before returning to the caravan park.
I enjoyed my day in Quilpie.
OZ Camper Travels 