Outback attractions

Longreach might be a small outback town but surprisingly it has some big attractions on offer. The Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame is a dedicated museum that pays tribute to pioneers of the Australian Outback. Bazflyers had no difficulty spending the best part of a full day here.

The Australian Stockman

Of course for anyone interested in aviation Longreach was the birth place of Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services Pty Ltd or QANTAS as it became known. The QANTAS Founders Museum located at the airport pays tribute to the founders of this great airline and has many unique exhibits commemorating the company's early history. To do justice a full day is needed.

Bazflyer2 standing in a QANTAS Boeing 747 engine nacelle.

Long before aircraft and trains the Australian outback depended greatly on river transport. Longreach sits on the Thomson River along which river boats provided valuable connections and the means of transporting wool and other goods. Unfortunately, frequent droughts and floods interferred with river transport which eventually gave way to more reliable rail and road. The Bazflyers were able to briefly capture the romantic atmosphere of those river boats on a sunset paddle-wheel cruise on the Thomson.

Sunset on the Thomson River

Road transport played a major role in opening up the Outback and when it came to 4-wheels there was nothing bigger across the land than Cobb & Co horse coaches. Only in Longreach can you experience the sight, feel and sound of riding in a replica Cobb & Co coach drawn by a team of four horses at the gallop doing 40 kph. A very unique outback experience.

Cobb & Co coach at the gallop

Longreach

Australia is one BIG country. After a pleasant Easter break back home in New Zealand the Bazflyers returned to Brisbane. Less than three hours after landing at Brisbane airport BAZ was settled in at 8500 feet heading north-west on route to Longreach.

Longreach is a small town in Central Queensland and approximately 1,000 km from Brisbane. In cruise configuration BAZ zips through the air at 300 km per hour which in simple mathematics means the flight time to out to Longreach equals a bit over three hours. However, add a moderate headwind and an on route dog leg to avoid military airspace, our flight to Longreach was a total of 3 hrs 45 mins. 

The afternoon sky out west was near perfect. No cloud and a pleasant 10 degrees C at our cruising altitude. Top of descent into Longreach was initiated with 100 km left to run. During descent the Bazflyers looked ahead for the town and airport and when sighted we were somewhat amazed at the small footprint Longreach made on the surrounding landscape. Yes, the Australian outback is certainly a big landscape.

On the way to Longreach

Bazflyers have wanted to visit Longreach for quite some time and now we are here. Small as the town might be it has some big attractions. For aviators this is the birth place of QANTAS and home to the QANTAS Founders Museam. For lovers of the outback, there is the legendary Stockman's Hall of Fame. 

Even the trucks are big....this one has 62 wheels

Bazflyers look forward to taking you with us as we visit these attractions and other local sights.