Longreach-part 1

 Thursday 15th July

After a leisurely start to our morning, with our northern friends enjoying the much warmer weather, Libby and I took our binoculars out to the STP. Unsurprisingly there were no other tourists there and we spent a pleasant hour scouring the ponds for birdlife. We managed to find a few new species, including the Hoary-headed Grebe, bringing the current Bird count for this trip to 137, a very respectable tally.

While we were out exploring the boys decided on some ‘town time’ and by the time we headed back they were ready for the morning coffee so we caught up in a very pleasant cafe.


We were all operating at a slow pace today but after lunch we stirred ourselves to head out. This time the boys headed for the Qantas Founders Museum. It is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to telling the story of Qantas from its beginnings in Outback Queensland to the present day.

The story of Qantas’s beginning is a tribute to the resilience and determination of the 4 original creators. The building makes a striking welcome to Longreach. Michael was a little disappointed to miss out on the tour that goes inside some of the planes but things are so busy out here everything needs to be booked well in advanced. 

While the boys were getting their history fix Libby and I visited the Arts and Craft Centre which is housed upstairs above what was the ambulance station. The downstairs area is now used as a workspace by local artists.


For my birthday Duncan and Bianca had given me dinner for 2 at Smith’s Outback Dinner and Show tonight. We were able to arrange a pickup service and we had a most enjoyable night under the stars. We shared our table with Bob and Frances from Brisbane. Turned out Bob was a keen birdwatcher too so we had plenty to chat about. Entertainment was provided by Owen Blundell who even gave us a rendition of I’d love to Have a Beer with Duncan!






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