Time out at the Birdsville Races
August sees one of Australia’s most famous horse race meetings taking place: no, not the Melbourne Cup (that’s in November), it’s the Birdville Races in Outback Queensland.
This year the races will be held on the weekend of August 31.
The motto of the Birdsville Races is "the dust never settles" and last year, after years of drought, not a living thing seemed to grow from the red dirt of the race track, surrounded by sand dunes.
Things should be different this year: good rains have greened the Outback. There are now wildflowers, waterholes and breeding birds all around the region.
So how do get to the Birdsville Races? You can get there by car, but you really need a 4WD vehicle. Tank up whenever possible and check your oil and water. Be sure your spare is pumped up and you know how to change a tyre. And don’t forget: mobile phones will not work in much of the Outback.
If you decide to drive to the races,remember that the legendary Birdsville Hotel does not offer accommodation during race week. And the Birdsville Caravan Park does not take bookings for race week, operating on a first-in, first-served basis. It has powered and unpowered camping sites, toilets, showers and washing facilities.
Visitors to the races are free to camp between the outskirts of Birdsville and the race track and along the banks of the Diamantina river. Only limited toilet facilities are available: there are businesses in town that offer showers for a fee.
The easiest way to enjoy Birdsville for the race weekend is by taking an all-inclusive tour.
From Brisbane, Greyhound has a six-day Birdsville Races coach trip for AUD 789 a head departing Brisbane on August 29. It includes tented accommodation in Birdsville.
Mick Hanslow has been going to the Birdsville Races for more than a quarter of a century. In 1994 he started Birdsville Race Tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast so he could share the fun and excitement he has enjoyed with people from all over the world.
Mick’s seven-day tours offer plenty of stops along the way at authentic Australian attractions (such as the Windorah Yabbie Races), and a weekend at the races.
This coach trip includes overnight accommodation in a country hotel. Meals and tents are included in Birdsville.
For visitors to Sydney who want to hop up to Birdsville for the races – and do it is style, Centre One Tours has a three-day Birdsville Races fly-in tour departing Sydney on August 31.
The cost is AUD 2595 a head and includes flights, tent accommodation at the Birdsville caravan park, a tour of Bourke, meals and race-track entry.
This year the races will be held on the weekend of August 31.
The motto of the Birdsville Races is "the dust never settles" and last year, after years of drought, not a living thing seemed to grow from the red dirt of the race track, surrounded by sand dunes.
Things should be different this year: good rains have greened the Outback. There are now wildflowers, waterholes and breeding birds all around the region.
So how do get to the Birdsville Races? You can get there by car, but you really need a 4WD vehicle. Tank up whenever possible and check your oil and water. Be sure your spare is pumped up and you know how to change a tyre. And don’t forget: mobile phones will not work in much of the Outback.
If you decide to drive to the races,remember that the legendary Birdsville Hotel does not offer accommodation during race week. And the Birdsville Caravan Park does not take bookings for race week, operating on a first-in, first-served basis. It has powered and unpowered camping sites, toilets, showers and washing facilities.
Visitors to the races are free to camp between the outskirts of Birdsville and the race track and along the banks of the Diamantina river. Only limited toilet facilities are available: there are businesses in town that offer showers for a fee.
The easiest way to enjoy Birdsville for the race weekend is by taking an all-inclusive tour.
From Brisbane, Greyhound has a six-day Birdsville Races coach trip for AUD 789 a head departing Brisbane on August 29. It includes tented accommodation in Birdsville.
Mick Hanslow has been going to the Birdsville Races for more than a quarter of a century. In 1994 he started Birdsville Race Tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast so he could share the fun and excitement he has enjoyed with people from all over the world.
Mick’s seven-day tours offer plenty of stops along the way at authentic Australian attractions (such as the Windorah Yabbie Races), and a weekend at the races.
This coach trip includes overnight accommodation in a country hotel. Meals and tents are included in Birdsville.
For visitors to Sydney who want to hop up to Birdsville for the races – and do it is style, Centre One Tours has a three-day Birdsville Races fly-in tour departing Sydney on August 31.
The cost is AUD 2595 a head and includes flights, tent accommodation at the Birdsville caravan park, a tour of Bourke, meals and race-track entry.
Labels: Birdsville Race Tours, Birdsville Races, Centre One Tours, Greyhound, Mick Hanslwo, Queensland Outback, Sydney, Windorah Yabbie Races
posted by Editor's desk at
2:14 AM
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