This article is part three of a three part series for please see here for part one and part two here.
Day 3: Walk around the lake, enjoy a late breakfast, take in some prehistory and off again.
The time has gone quick, it always does when you’re travelling and having fun. After a quick pack up you’re good to explore again, stretch the legs before heading home. For the early risers take a stroll (or something more rigorous) around the recreational lake, you can even drop a line if you’re keen. If you have the time drop the paddle board, kayak or canoe into the lake. With our warm days it’s a real treat and great way to bring in the morning.
The Hughenden Recreational Lake was constructed in 2019 and is a multiple-use area shared by boaters, water skiers, kayakers, rowers and swimmers. First thing in the morning as the sun rises you’ll be treated to a gorgeous sunrise, the sounds of endemic birds overhead and that oh-so-fresh country air. Breathe it in.
Late breakfast at FJ Holdens Cafe. Home of the famous FJ Super Burger and treasured collection of Holden and Elvis memorabilia. Fast-food, meals, snacks, fresh orange and lemon drinks & coffee. That’s the spiel – the experience is much better, head in between 8 am and 2 pm and expect a tasty meal, a good story and great coffee.
After your tasty brekkie, head to the Flinders Discovery centre for a glimpse into the region’s impressive prehistoric past. Hughenden is part of the Australian Dinosaur Trail which includes our neighbouring towns of Winton and Richmond. At Hughenden, we have our own unique dinosaur stories and our chapter in this vast history. Ours is filled with fossils from ancient seas, forests and the monsters that stalked them. Visit the museum and take our impressive array of fossils, learn about the ancient inland sea of Australia ‘The Eromanga Sea’, the shearing display and meet “Hughie”. Hughie is our seven metres long by a three-and-a-half-metre-high life-size replica of the bird-footed dinosaur Muttaburrasaurus.
After your tasty brekkie, head to the Flinders Discovery centre for a glimpse into the region’s impressive prehistoric past. Hughenden is part of the Australian Dinosaur Trail which includes our neighbouring towns of Winton and Richmond. At Hughenden, we have our own unique dinosaur stories and our chapter in this vast history. Ours is filled with fossils from ancient seas, forests and the monsters that stalked them. Visit the museum and take our impressive array of fossils, learn about the ancient inland sea of Australia ‘The Eromanga Sea’, the shearing display and meet “Hughie”. Hughie is our seven metres long by a three-and-a-half-metre-high life-size replica of the bird-footed dinosaur Muttaburrasaurus.
The museum inside the discovery centre is $10 per adult and children under 5 are free (full prices below).
Not done with scratching your prehistoric itch? Then time to do some fossicking.
Tucked away just behind the showgrounds and south of the Flinders River you can fossick for free with no licence required. If you’re travelling with kids you’ll soon discover that they love it! It becomes like a massive ‘lucky dip’ with keepsakes including from your trip.
Museum Entry Prices
- Entrance Fee for Museum
- Adult: $10.00
- Pensioner $8.00
- School-aged Children 5-17: $5.00
Unfortunately, it’s time to hit the road and head back home 🙁 – we’ve got one last stop before we say farewell for now.
Visit Prairie stop in the pub for a heady dose of Australiana and a good yarn with owners. You can find Prairie approximately 40km from Hughenden if you’re heading back to Townsville and it’s well worth the stop. Since you are stopping make sure you grab some of the famous honey, from Prairie honey – it really is amazingly great honey.
With that small stop behind you, the rest of the drive is up to you. Take your time, the busyness of life is all ahead of you but the west has its own timeline and it is a more sustainable pace – we hope you enjoyed it.
See you next time
The ‘Hughey’ team.
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