For the first time on our trip, we had a day where we woke up and went to bed in the same location!
We are serious about the importance of building in some rest while on holidays. It’s impossible to keep going and going without the chance to recharge. Our road trip had started the day after school finished, so we had been on the go constantly, without even a day to re-set before heading off. Sitting in a car is somewhat physically ‘restful’, but not for the driver – and it’s still quite limited in terms of relaxation. For us, Day 4 was a day of local sightseeing, planned down time and laundry! Read on to hear about the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which is an Australian icon.
Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame
Our main plan for Day 4 was a trip to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. With COVID restrictions in place, we had to book a three-hour window for our visit, so we booked the first morning session. We could see the Hall of Fame from our accommodation at Saltbush Retreat. It was technically within walking distance, but we thought ahead and decided that the little feet which were so keen to walk to the destination at 9 am might not be so keen to walk back again three hours later, in the middle of the day, after a full morning of walking around exhibits. It was a good call, with our six-year-old certainly ready for a rest at the end of the morning.
Here’s a little bit of background on the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. It’s a museum in Longreach, with a focus on the Australian outback and the history of the nation, from the First Nations people, through European settlement and pioneer times, right up to the present day, when stockmen and women continue to show skill, bravery and courage in their work.
The design of the building is the feature most people recognise, and it is certainly unique. The building has recently undergone a massive refurbishment project and it feels less like a traditional ‘museum’ and more like a walk through time. The team has hit upon the perfect mix of historical artefacts and technology which brings the history to life.
Some of the highlights for our family included:
The 20-minute cinematic experience, which showed the history of stockmen in Australia. The presentation was beautifully done, with wide, sweeping landscape shots interspersed with stories, all told on a 16-metre wide screen.
The Royal Flying Doctor area, which included many video stories from people who had experienced the service first-hand. There were recordings of phone calls, medical kits and much more on display to help give the stories being told an even greater depth.
The exhibit focusing on women of the outback. It was inspiring to hear the little-known stories of pioneer women and the challenges they overcame to help build our nation.
A working Morse Code machine.
An area where many different types of saddles were set up on wooden racks like ‘horses’ for the children to test and try.
A section on convicts.
A real wagon, set up to show how it would have been used..
A full timber hut which could be viewed from all angles. It was set up inside and out, as if it was in use, full of interesting details.
An outdoor garden area including a pond, where the children could get some fresh air and explore.
These were just the highlights for us – there was SO MUCH more to see that we found three hours passed quickly.
We didn’t get to see the Stockman’s Show when we were there, but it gets rave reviews as well. It’s a show where many of the traditional and continuing skills in horsemanship, stock herding and whip cracking are demonstrated live.
There is a small but well-stocked café on site, and we had some pastries and coffee for morning tea. The Stockman’s Show comes with a dinner option, which is something we didn’t get to do on this trip, but something worth considering in the future.
Afternoon of Day 4 – REST!
We had no plans for the afternoon of Day 4, preferring instead to use the time to catch up on washing, let the kids hang out together at Saltbush and let the adults have a rest. Our washing plans were slowed down considerably by the fact that the staff were using the washing machines as well. We had to sit out on the verandah near our rooms so that we could be aware of when the machines were emptied. While it did slow us down, this wasn’t too inconvenient. Most of the rooms had nice little bar tables and stools set up outside them. We were able to sit and chat while waiting to do our washing, and the kids had the chance to use the rooms inside for their games.
Dinner
For dinner on Day 4, we headed to The Birdcage Hotel. Given the huge tourism interest in Longreach when we were there, the town was full and the hotel had to open an extra function room to cater for the dinner crowd. We were seated in the function room and quite enjoyed being in this smaller space. The kids could play cards at the table without bothering anybody! The food was excellent, with something for everyone. We’d highly recommend this as a family-friendly dinner option in Longreach.
Overall, Day 4 was one of the least intense days of our road trip. We managed to tick an important item off the bucket list – The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame – while also enjoying some down time.
Day 4 Outback Queensland Family Road Trip Summary
Start:
Longreach
End:
Longreach
Driving:
Local destinations only
Accommodation:
Saltbush Retreat, Longreach
Notable Stops:
The Australia Stockman’s Hall of Fame
The Birdcage Hotel
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