Hughenden is home to a variety of outdoor adventures, spectacular scenery, and unique cultural attractions that will leave you awestruck.
One of the must-visit attractions in Hughenden is the Porcupine Gorge National Park, approx. 73km from town. Known as the "Grand Canyon of Queensland," the park boasts breathtaking views of the deep gorge that has been carved out by the Porcupine Creek over millions of years. Visitors can take a scenic walk along the edge of the gorge, or hike down to the base to explore the creek and the surrounding bushland. The lookout offers spectacular views of the rugged landscape and the endless blue skies, which makes for a perfect backdrop for your photos.
It got its name due to the spear grass in the area (looks like the spikes on an echidna) plus there are lots of echidnas in the area.
Yes, the road to the gorge is sealed bitumen all the way.
Set your tripmeter to 0 at the Flinders Discovery Centre and look out for these points of interest along the way:
"The whistling bore sounds like a kettle being boiled and is very spooky when there are no other sounds."
Another highlight of Hughenden is the Walker's Lookout, which is located 10 kilometres outside of town. This lookout is perched atop Mount Walker and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. From here, you can see the vast expanse of the Flinders River, the scenic beauty of Porcupine Gorge, and the nearby dinosaur fossils. The lookout is an excellent spot to watch the sunset or the sunrise, as the sun paints the sky in a vivid display of colours. There are six different viewpoints and each one as stunning as the next.
Speaking of dinosaurs, Hughenden is famous for its rich fossil deposits. The Flinders Discovery Centre is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in dinosaurs or fossils. The centre houses an impressive collection of fossils, including the Muttaburrasaurus, which was first discovered in the area in the 1960s. Visitors can also take part in guided tours to some of the nearby fossil sites, where they can see the remains of dinosaurs that roamed the area millions of years ago.
Finally, the endless skies of Hughenden are a sight to behold. With little light pollution and wide-open spaces, the night sky is simply breathtaking. Visitors can take a guided tour of the stars and learn about the constellations, planets, and galaxies that are visible in the southern hemisphere. Alternatively, you can simply lay back and enjoy the serenity of the night sky, as the Milky Way twinkles above you.
In conclusion, Hughenden is a destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or a stargazer, there's plenty to see and do in this outback town. From the rugged beauty of Porcupine Gorge to the spectacular views of Walker's Lookout, to the dinosaur fossils and the endless skies, the man-made lake and beach, Hughenden is a must-visit destination that will leave you awe-inspired. There is so much for families to discover over a weekend or few days.
If you are travelling to Hughenden during April/May you might like the Festival of Outback Skies blog post
https://maggie-ohara.myshopify.com/admin/articles/559927197858
Telstra Next G and Optus networks
There are four fuel stations that carry unleaded, diesel and 98% Octane.
Sat - 9am – 12pm Sat
Sun- Closed
Foodworks are open 7am – 7pm – 7 days
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The festival kicked off with the heart-pumping excitement of bull riding, as competitors faced off against one of the toughest rodeo animals. The crowd held their breath as they waited for the eight-second timer to buzz, cheering loudly when riders made time. The dust and smell took us back to our childhood, reminding us of the thrill of the rodeo. Boys and girls of all ages running around in their jeans and cowboy hats having a great time.
But the fun didn't stop there; participants had the chance to build rafts and race against friends, or witness the excitement of duck racing. Our ducks were too busy looking at the beautiful views to win the race, but they enjoyed the journey.
There were workshops for both kids and adults on various topics like lino printing, clay animal sculpture, writing affirmations, clay vases, drawing animals, lantern making, watercolour and painting workshops, resin board, stained glass creations, writers workshops, mosaic madness and tie dyeing. There really was something for everyone.
The art trail, a new installation for the small town attracted some great entries to their sculpture competition which had a significant prize pool of $13,000. The entrants were encouraged to draw inspiration from the beautiful and diverse outback landscapes of the Flinders Shire, which served as the backdrop for the works of art. The pieces looked great in the daytime but really came to life after dark, being back lit with red lights. The winning entry a crowd favourite with new details to discover each time you look at it.
The evening brought a dinner under the stars, where friends met and new friends were made. The sparkling fairy lights taking the place of the real stars that where playing hide and seek behind the clouds. There’s nothing like dinning under the night sky with 200+ people. Laughter, good food, amazing band, and great company. What more could we ask for?
As the sun set over the lake on the final night, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the market stalls came alive with vendors from all over, both local and from Townsville.
As the night went on, the crowds grew for the finale of the lights on the lake. Children burning off excess energy by rolling down the grassy hill and playing chase.
"No one was bored or on their electronic devices. (except for taking photos). Kids were having fun, and parents enjoying themselves."
The lantern parade was a mesmerising sight, with adults and children participating with their handmade lanterns that they have made over the weekend, walking around the edge of the lake coming closer and walking right past where we have a stall set up. The children waving and beaming with pride.
The finale!
The crowds have built in anticipation and are ready to be amazed by the sight of tiny floating lanterns illuminating the waters, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere.
Small coloured lights appear from nowhere in the middle of the lake and float closer towards us. The sight of floating lanterns illuminating the waters and changing colours created a magical and enchanting atmosphere. As the last of the bio-degradable lanterns were collected and the stall holders packed up, we celebrated the success of this beautiful adventure weekend in a friendly and accommodating outback town.
Add the 'Festival of Outback Skies' to your travel bucket list for 2024 and indulge in your sense of adventure while embracing the beauty of nature. It’s a festival that successfully blends traditional rodeo events with art and craft workshops, sightseeing, and fun events such as the raft and duck races.
If you would like to see what else to do on your trip to Hughenden have a look at this blog post.
"Unleash Your Inner Explorer: A Weekend of Sunset’s, history and mesmerising views”
https://maggie-ohara.myshopify.com/admin/articles/559927197858
]]>We are a family of adventurers who love exploring new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people. We believe that travel is not only a great way to learn about the world, but also about ourselves. Our goal is to inspire other families to get out there and see all the amazing things the world has to offer.
On our blog, you'll find a mix of travel tips, destination guides, personal stories about our own travels and interviews with kids along the way.
We believe that travel should be accessible to everyone, regardless of budget or travel style, so we try to provide information that is helpful to the everyday traveller.
Follow along with Maggie (Australian children's author, illustrator and author pen pal to various schools) and Elly Rose (her adventurous main character from the "The Elly Rose Adventure" series) as we explore the world with our tiny tourists!
]]>Our intention is to create a space for families who love to travel and explore the world together!
This blog is dedicated to helping parents plan unforgettable family vacations and create lifelong memories with their children exploring new cultures and viewing the world with different eyes.
Maggie is the creator, author and illustrator of the children's series "The Elly Rose Adventures" A series of six soft cover books about travel and learning new cultures.
Elly Rose is a quirky, cheeky adventurous character who loves to help others and goes on many adventures. She visits schools with Maggie and helps teach children about other countries and cultures. (along side Miss Marmalade, a little mouse who hides in the pages of the books)
As a children's adventure author and creator of the adventurous Elly Rose character I believe that travel has the power to broaden horizons, foster curiosity, and create lasting connections between people and cultures.
Elly Rose and I are passionate about inspiring families to embrace adventure, and to discover the wonders of our planet in a responsible and sustainable way.
We intend to journal our upcoming adventures through this blog so children can follow us from home or school. This blog has come about after being accepted as an Author Pen Pal for two regional schools in NSW and Queensland and finding a way to share fun and interesting information with children and their families about travel and the importance of embracing new cultures.
As an Author Pen Pal ambassador for multiple schools we wanted to find a way to document our travels so the students could follow us on our adventures and add fun facts about places, interview other kids, and share what we learn as we continue our adventures.
I left Australia and backpacked solo with my girls aged 8 and 10 for a couple of months in Denmark. Now as adults if you ask them what their favourite childhood memories with me are, they will both answer "The time we went to Denmark!" We travelled freely learning new languages, and embracing new cultures.
Different modes of travel and experiences became their classroom, they learnt geography, currency conversion, communication skills, different cultures, problem solving and fostered a love of travelling on their own.
" Deciding not to travel with kids because they won't remember, is like not reading them books because they won't remember the stories you read them."
Elly Rose and I will be interview kids along the way as we go on new and exciting adventures, finding tips and tricks for parents when travelling and finding the kid friendly zones in places we go.