Longreach - 2-8-2023

Longreach is the heart of the Queensland Outback and is known for its history and rich heritage. Traditional industry drivers in the Longreach Region include agriculture (sheep and cattle) and tourism. As a matter of fact, we found out that one family (more or less one clever business woman) runs the whole place and benefits from anything you do in town.

As we were strolling down the street, we saw a very unique and quaint U-shaped building and yard with old carriages and wagons displayed in front of the many doors it had. A lady met us as we were looking around and suggested to us to have a closer look as this was a motel decorated in the 1900s style. She offered to show us their rooms, which I must admit were something like we’ve never seen before. I felt like back at my grandmother’s house. From the wooden floorboards to the bedspreads, the pitcher and bowl washbasin to the dim lights in the room, everything was authentic and made you feel you have been beamed back onto the 19th century.

Obviously, there were amenities such as a fridge, microwave etc. but as they were all black, they blended in perfectly. The price for staying a night in The Stables is A$250, which is not too bad considering this unique experience.

What the lady also told us was that all the decoration (pitcher & bowl, tin mugs, and any other utensils) that are in the room to use during ones stay, can be purchased in their shop on the main road! can be purchased in their shop on the main road! As it is a one-road town, the shop is easy to find. Clever business women......

We decided to stay in the caravan and save $250 :)

We went down the road where the ‘touristy’ adventures were sold (all owned by the same business) and besides lots of smaller tours and experiences, there was the ‘Starlights Cruise’, a 4-hour evening cruise on the Thomson River and the Cobb & Co Stagecoach experience which was also 4-hour long including a 45-minute stagecoach ride on a real Cobb & Co stagecoach with 6 horses. As we had done cruises in the past, we tried to book the stagecoach experience, however, they only had one more spot left on the stagecoach, so we booked anyway and Bulla was happy for just me to do the ride on the coach – yeay!