Capricorn Tourist Information
Capricorn Tourist Information
Rural Hinterland
Australia's most arable tract of land, Capricorn's rural hinterland, is best described as a colourful patchwork which showcases the diverse farming, cattle and mining industries. Biloela and Duaringa are the Hinterland's administrative and service centres, surrounded by the country townships of Blackwater, Baralaba, Banana, Moura, Theodore and Wowan.
Each township has its own unique identity - visit the Baralaba Historical Village, the Dawson Folk Museum at Theodore, the Greycliffe Homestead in Biloela or enjoy some aquatic sports at the Moura Way. A short drive south of Biloela takes visitors to the unique basalt formation at Mt Scoria. Walkers who brave the climb are rewarded with a panoramic view of the colourful Hinterland.
Although there are many ways to experience the outback, one of the most rewarding is to stay as a guest on a host cattle station. A number of different options are available in the Rural Hinterlands including Myella Farm Stay which offers budget accommodation for up to eight people in their guest house. Namoi Hills Cattle Station provides budget accommodation packages or a self-contained cottage and a selection of adventure tour packages. Cooper Downs Cattle Station features accommodation in a variety of restored historic buildings. All offer unique tailor-made farm holidays, giving you a valuable insight into life in the outback.
The Silo is Biloela's newest attraction devoted to the promotion of, and education about, primary industries. Housed in the huge Silo building fron Expo 88, the displays feature redclaw crayfish, cotton, landcare, grain growing, mining and power generation. Pioneer Place is a popular adjunct featuring a pictorial record of the history of the region. Have you ever seen an Ostrich Farm, visited a Power House, had a tour of a Cotton Ginnery - well here is your opportunity!
About 20km from Biloela is the Callide B Power Station, the Callide Lookout and the Callide Dam, which has a BBQ area and children's playground, providing a perfect spot for picnics, water sports or fishing for yellowbelly. Kroombit Tourist Park, adjacent to Kroombit Tops National Park, offers idyllic camping for motorhomes, caravans and tents, with group bunkhouse facilities and individual cabins also available. They offer 4WD tours, cattle drives, overnight camp-outs and guided tours of Kroombit Tops National Park.
For the more adventurous, Blackdown Tableland National Park is an undulating plateau of sandstone rising 600 metres above the surrounding area. Many spectacular lookouts are linked by walking tracks, with camping (by permit) available. The townships of Duaringa, Dingo and Blackwater make perfect bases and supply centres for the Blackdown Tableland. A popular walk is down to the magnificent Rainbow Falls, where a swim in the crystal clear water is guaranteed to invigorate.
But there is more to the Hinterland than its natural beauty. Underneath the fertile soil lie the rich coalfields of the Bowen Basin. Huge draglines, which can be seen for kilometres, are testimony to the riches of the land. The Rural Hinterland is an easy-going holiday destination for those people who want to see rural life and meet friendly people - so come and see traditional Australia at work!
