Travel Australia Podcast by The Feel Good Family

Exploring Outback Queensland: Farmstays, Artesian Hot Springs, and Hidden Gems

• Paul & Katie Guerin • Season 9 • Episode 7

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Discover the hidden gems of Outback Queensland as we guide you through some of the most captivating farmstays and artesian hot springs in the region. Ever wondered what life on a working merino sheep station is like? Experience the rustic charm of McBride's Boar and the Westbourne Shearing Shed, where the Great Artesian Basin provides an extraordinary natural bath. Grab your favourite beverage and feel the magic of soaking under a vast, starlit sky — an awe-inspiring moment you won't soon forget.

We continue our Great Artesian Bath journey to the serene beauty of Lara Wetlands, secluded within a 15,000-acre cattle station. This sanctuary creates the opportunity to do a s little or as much activity as you can pack in, from paddling a kayak in tranquil waters to spotting some of the 180+ bird species overhead. Whether you're visiting during the lively peak season or opting for a more relaxed retreat, Lara Wetlands promises an enriching connection with nature and a refreshing escape from the daily grind.

As our adventure continues, we explore the vibrant history and culture of Queensland's towns, including the iconic Barcaldine, the famous Tree of Knowledge and the lively annual festival that attracts thousands with horse races, country charm and colourful street parades. Whether you're planning your next travel escape or simply curious about the outback's wonders, we guarantee this episode will inspire your wanderlust to Outback Queensland.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 7 of the Family Travel Australia podcast. We are Paul, Katie and Jasper from the Feel Good Family. Join us as we explore this great country, Australia, its people, places and cultures cultures.

Speaker 2:

Yes, welcome to the Family Travel Podcast, where we share the latest in RV industry news road trip travel, caravanning and camping, product reviews, where to go, what to see, and so much more. Thanks for joining us.

Speaker 1:

Yes indeed, this week we camp at our favourite Outback Farmstay and give the verdict on the best artesian hot spring in Outback Queensland. There's three to choose from. It's pretty hard to choose.

Speaker 2:

Katie oh, look at ease. And we love all of these campgrounds and we will go into more detail on each of them in this podcast. But I mean, how do you decide out here?

Speaker 1:

I think you have to take in all of it the environment, the experience, the temperature, whether Jasper's splashing in the face.

Speaker 2:

Yes, that is a big consideration. Do I have my own private bathtub or do I have to share something with somebody else?

Speaker 1:

All right, so three to choose from. Let's go down the list. One we had visited before. It is known as McBride's Boar and it is on Dumblain Station, a 40,000 acre predominantly merino sheep station, and they do run some cattle every now and then as well. Pretty well, you can stand in the middle of this property and walk to the fence line in any direction is about 10 kilometers, so that give you an idea of how large this station stay is and throughout the five years still our favourite all-time outback artesian hot spring stay.

Speaker 1:

And so there's Dunblane Station, with two campsites they actually have seven, but these are the two that we were judging from. So there's McBride's Ball. Then the second one is Westbourne Shearing Shed. Okay, this is our new camp for this episode. And then the third place that we've driven past multiple times, but we've always been out of season. They have a very strict season from the start of May to the end of September. Never changes, that's it, and it was open. That's Lara Wetlands. So let's hear our thoughts on that, but then we'll give you our drumroll, please. Verdict.

Speaker 2:

Perfect, All right, and we should say that we are in Barkholden Now. This is a great little town in Outback Queensland, steeped in history and lots on offer here for visitors, and we are heading towards the East Coast. If you've been listening to our podcasts, you'll know we've been making our way. Well, Jeepers, we've made our way across the Plenty Highway from the Northern Territory all the way through Booyah, Booyah, Winton, Opalton, Longreach, and now here we are. We found ourselves back in Barkie. Absolutely love it here. Now, Dunblane Station is located about 10 kilometres just west. Thank you, Paul of Barkie Township, so still really easy access.

Speaker 2:

What I love about this property is that you can feel like you are a million miles from anywhere. If you are somebody who wants to set up camp and not see or hear another person your entire stay, then this definitely is the place for you. It is a hip camp. Farmer David is awesome. We have stayed here many times and what he's created, I think, really is a perfect blend of just enough to make you feel like oh yeah, this is all right. This is a bit special, but still rustic, still a farm environment. It is, as Paul mentioned, a working sheep station, so they're just going about their day. You know, and you have the privilege of setting up camp on this private property. Let's talk about McBride's Boar first.

Speaker 1:

Yes, you know, you kind of just slot into their day-to-day lifestyle and work and living environment. So I have to say it really is rustic. There's farm stuff just kind of lying around. So if you're looking for something that's really polished, this is not the place.

Speaker 2:

In fact, if you're looking for something polished, don't come to Outback Queensland, because you're not going to find it. But what you will find is true, authentic Aussie characters, incredible experiences that will leave a mark on you for the rest of your life. Amazing locations that give you a real insight into how the people out here live and work and what they're passionate about, and how incredible Australia is as a country as well.

Speaker 1:

Love that. Okay, McBride's Boar.

Speaker 2:

Okay, we love this campground you kind of. I remember the first time we booked into this hip camp Paul and we were driving in and we were like, oh my goodness, like where are we going? I mean, you turn off the main road there, that highway I think it's. Is it called the Lansborough Highway? I think?

Speaker 1:

it is.

Speaker 2:

That you're driving on. And look, let's face it, some of the highways out here in Outback Queensland need a little bit of love. But you turn off the bitumen onto the dirt road. You've got your directions that get sent through the HipCamp app.

Speaker 1:

I love the directions app. I love the directions. Turn right at the big black water tower. Head down the dirt track for a few clicks till you see an iron gate. Make sure that you leave the gate as you found it, as is the number one rule in the Outback yes, follow that along the water drain for about another two clicks You'll see a windmill, yep, and then camp up anywhere there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and so we were pretty nervous about it. When we first came in here quite a few years ago, we were still fairly new and green, but look, it is amazing to us.

Speaker 1:

And David said and if you see a dingo, give me a call. I've got to get rid of that Used. A couple of explainies.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, there are dingoes out here, and that is good. Tonight, if you are travelling as a family or with younger children, you know you are out here in the outback, and particularly on a sheep station, you do need to be aware of the roaming wildlife. Okay, you pull in. As we mentioned, there is a beautiful big windmill it is attached to the bo borehead that is pumping up water from the Great Artesian Basin. Now, before we go on, I just want to say a couple of facts, paulie, about the Great Artesian Basin, because it is great and mind-blowing groundwater reservoirs spans over 1.7 million square kilometres across Queensland, new South Wales, south Australia and the Northern Territory, wow, okay. And when you pull up a map and I challenge you to Google and pull up a map of the Great Artesian Basin's footprint in Australia and then I challenge you to look at the catchment area for this whole region, it is just incredible. And here at McBride's Boar, as we mentioned, this boar head is coming up from underneath the ground at about 100 degrees Celsius.

Speaker 2:

So one of the first things that Farmer David tells you to do when you book this campsite is roll in. You know, park up, now get out. There. There's this massive big yellow, what used to be like a feed, a stock feed tub. Fill it up with water, get it cranking. It is so hot you are going to need at least three or four hours for that artesian water to cool down before you can even think about soaking away your worries in there. So rock in in the afternoon, Get that bath running, set your camp up, light the campfire and then slip into that bathtub, baby.

Speaker 1:

Grab a beverage and have the second one standing by because you won't want to get out, and if you time it right to watch that epic sunset across these endless outback plains. You know, you're reminded of Dorothy and McKellar's. Yes, my country.

Speaker 2:

I love a sunburnt country. Yeah, it really is Like I don't know. We say it time and time again when we're out here in these parts, and particularly out here on this station, dumblain this is Australia. I mean this visit we stayed at the Westbourne Shearing Shed, which is another campground located on the station. There are seven to choose from and we saw so much wildlife from the bathtub. Now, westbourne Shearing Shed, it's located about four kilometres from the McBride's Boar Campground. It is just a short turn off the Landsborough Highway, so, whilst you are much closer to that main road, it's not at all busy, particularly when you don't want it to be, which is overnight. We saw a couple of road trains come through again while we were soaking in the bulbs, but you are camped right up at the working shearing shed and I've really loved this experience.

Speaker 1:

How about you, paul. Look, when I first rolled in, my first impression was yeah right, it's just a shearing shed with just junk lying around. And then you set up camp and you get those baths cranking again. The water here is certainly nowhere near as hot Like it'd be half the temperature of McBride's Ball. So you've got a lot less time to have to wait. Like you know, you literally could wait 20 minutes and you'd be able to hop in and then soak, but you can constantly top it up with hot water. And that there were three baths was fantastic. Two of them had their own taps, and then I was able to put a plug in the third bath, so they're like those old ceramic four-claw baths. Yeah, so that gives you a picture. And the third bath was maybe a few meters from the other two that were side by side.

Speaker 2:

So for us, yeah, it's perfect for our family of three.

Speaker 1:

So I just used a bucket to fill up Jasper's and then he just got all the toys and he could splash and do whatever he wanted, whatever he wanted, and Kate and I had this little sort of wooden shelf between us like an old fence paling that had a bottle of wine. There was a roaring fire in front of us. Not that we needed a fire, but geez, doesn't it just set that tone, adds to the ambience.

Speaker 1:

Oh definitely Gives that feel. And then we had our cheese and fruit platter and some bickies and dip and you know the wine. I just, I loved this. I did not want to move. In fact, we did stay a second night.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

And another beautiful Tim Adams wine with us, so that was fortunate. It was an absolute spoil. It was rinse and repeat. Honestly, you could do that all week.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, and again, we loved it. And you know to really paint that picture. Well, actually, do you know what? Jump on over to our YouTube channel and check out the video, because it is awesome. But to paint the picture, as Paul mentioned, there's nothing fancy about this. It is rustic. You are sitting in a bathtub that is out, exposed to the elements, you're outside, you're under, you know the billions of stars out here in these huge outback skies. From our bathtubs we saw stars, emu, we saw kangaroo, we saw the sheep meandering through the paddocks. We were watching hundreds of galahs flying overhead. I mean, it really is that taste of australia. And then, of course, when you look behind you, you've got your van parked up. There's this massive shearing shed. There's like they've just shorn all the sheep, so there's just massive bags stuffed full of the merino wool that they have on the farm here. I mean, it doesn't get any more Aussie than this.

Speaker 1:

Exactly, and the difference between Westbourne shearing shed and McBride's bore is that you can have power and water access here at Westbourne. So I think was it $40?.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think it's $40 a night for any of these campsites on David's property and that is through the Hip Camp app. So you're best to look up Dunblane Station in Barkholden and we'll put a link through to Dunblane and the Hip Camp booking page in the show description for you as well.

Speaker 1:

Look, as I mentioned, there's now seven different sites across the 40,000 acre property. Only a couple of them, maybe three, have access to the hot artesian bore water. So yeah, I think if you're going to stay here, then choose one of those, but there is plenty to choose from. But what's happened in that last few years since we first covered this? It is booked out quite regularly.

Speaker 2:

I know it's so funny that seems to happen to us quite a lot, particularly with the Hip Camp bookings as well when you share how amazing somewhere is and we just love that. We just think how incredible, and particularly for people out here like Farmer David who are working the landmer David, you know who are working the land, and just you know it's hard work, it's long work. We were sitting in the bathtubs one night and it was dark. It must have been about eight o'clock and Farmer David and his fellow workers are still working. They're dropping sheep off into the yards there at the shearing shed, you know like they don't get to clock on and off like us East Coasters do at you know nine to five.

Speaker 2:

That doesn't exist out here in the outback. You know they do what they need to do. So I love that we can share these amazing places with all of you. And then you know you go and you book these places and you have these experiences as well, and all of you. And then you know you go and you book these places and you have these experiences as well, and all of that in turn goes back to supporting the people out here.

Speaker 1:

I love it. It's an attitude of get it done. Oh yeah, needs more of that in Australian, doesn't it?

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

A few people that you could just give a little clip on the ear and say, come on, just get it done.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a few people that you could just give a little clip on the ear and say, come on, just get it done. Anyway, we are digressing a little bit from our campsites, but these two sites here at Dunblane are awesome and well worth a look. Now, the third campground that we stayed at during our time here in Buckholden is somewhere that we have driven past numerous times.

Speaker 1:

Yes, Larrab Wetlands, Now it is a 40-kilometre radius between these three. That gives you an idea of, you know, booking ahead, making sure that you experience all three. That would be our recommendation.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. And even if you were, you know, fairly limited on time, and even if you were, you know, fairly limited on time, I think you could still stay at each of these campsites. You know, even if you only had the long weekend, you could come and do a night at each, because they are in close enough proximity.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly Katie. Like a perfect world, we'd pick two nights at each and maybe three nights at Lara Wetlands. Look, it's certainly, it's third on our list.

Speaker 1:

We decided as far as our favourite, as you know, related specifically to the hot spring. Okay, so it's third on the list, but as far as a campground that offers a hell of a lot and a stunning environment like really pretty and if you're a bird watcher, you know you're a bit of a twitcher, as they're known this would be your number one. But you could have three nights at Lara Wetlands and maybe two nights each at the other two. I think that would be perfect. Come out here for a week Now. Lara Wetlands. No bookings available.

Speaker 2:

No, so just rock on in.

Speaker 1:

Yes and no. Fpos Cash only yes.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and they are located on the other side of Barcaldon Township, on the road heading south. You can't miss it. There's this massive sign up on the side of the road you can turn off. It's probably how far in Paul, about 10km in on their dirt access road, which was really well maintained.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it is. I think you'd have an interesting time if there'd been a lot of rain.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

I don't know how you'd go. You'd possibly be getting towed out by a tractor, but I think from memory it's 14 kilometers from the bitumen to the actual cattle station and then about another kilometer around to the campground around that beautiful big wetland area. The wetland area as you're looking at it, the old, dead ghost gums it's like. This beautiful old growth forest that is now just the remnants of these gums, is 800 metres across and about 800 metres in length.

Speaker 2:

It is pretty spectacular, this environment. Now it's a 15,000-acre working cattle station, as we mentioned, but then to have this wetland sanctuary, this natural feature here on the property which is home to hundreds of different bird species, is very special. And what's so cool is when you rock up you know there's a great little reception area. You can get all of your information that you need about the property. You know, if you are a twitcher, then you can flip through the bird guide, pick up your list of you know all of the different species so that you can tick them off. And then you choose your own sites so you can choose to park up, reversing your van or vehicle into the wetlands.

Speaker 2:

They do have some other areas that aren't waterfront if you prefer to be closer to some of the other facilities and activities that they have on offer. So you really do get to choose your own adventure. And there is so much space that even if you were coming in the height of the season, you wouldn't be turned away. In fact I'm sure I read that when I was going through the Wikicamps app and the reviews. You know it says obviously no bookings, but they've got so much space they've never turned anybody away.

Speaker 1:

I would think there'd be easily three to 350 vans a night, in the height of the season, and you would still have room. Yeah, you would still have room.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, now look, I will say we were there, I think about five days before the season ended, mm-hmm, right at the very end of September, and it was lovely because there were still people there. But I don't know In total, Paul, how many vans would have been there while we were there. Not many 30?. Yeah, it was awesome. I think being there in the height of the season would be a completely different experience, for better or for worse you know They'd be the community part of it.

Speaker 1:

They have a lot more activity on offer. They have happy hours that include free damper and billy tea. They have musicians, they have cook-ups, movie nights yes, so the community aspect of it. If you're really chasing more of that, fantastic. But for us we would prefer going on the shoulder or trying to pick a time when it's not busy, because, yeah, being packed would kind of, I feel, dampen the experience.

Speaker 2:

What we loved about our time there, and in particular it being that much quieter, was the ability for us to walk around. They do have a heap of kayaks that you can just go and use for free, which is awesome. So Paul and I jumped in a double. Jasper jumped in a little single and it's pretty funny. Actually Jasper's so light so he just whizzed on straight out, you know, out into the middle, no issues. Paul and I are just a little bit heavier and because it's only a foot deep, Katie says Paul and I.

Speaker 1:

I know that she means we were bottoming out literally under my bottom. It was a little more weight. I reckon I'm double your weight, katie.

Speaker 2:

It's pretty funny and you know, underfoot of course, is that really soft, sludgy clay bed that you know lies underneath the water of the wetlands. You are able to, if you get stuck, obviously you're able to put your feet out and get yourself free and moving again. But that was really beautiful to be able to go for feet out and get yourself free and moving again. But that was really beautiful to be able to go for a paddle out there and look, in all honesty, you could do that every single day of your visit. You could spend hours out there on the water just watching the bird life and really it's a very relaxing and very calming environment and I think that's why I enjoyed so much it not being so busy and full of people.

Speaker 2:

They also have a whole heap of bicycles. Now look, I don't know the story. I don't know whether these are bikes that have been left behind or whether these are bikes that have come from the local tip shop or who knows where these bikes have come from. Some are in better condition than others come from. Some are in better condition than others. However, there would be 30 easily, all there for guests to use again for free. So you can grab one of those. Grab a helmet if it fits your head. We couldn't find any that fit our heads, so maybe I don't know. Is that saying something, paul? But anyway, we went for a little cycle. They've got a whole different range of walking and cycling tracks through the property as well, so you can go off and do quite a few Ks. They've got a very rustic outdoor mini golf, which was lots of fun, loads of laughs, try and conquer that.

Speaker 1:

Katie and Jasper, the competitiveness between these two, I had to hold them apart.

Speaker 2:

It was very fun Lots and lots of giggles, lots and lots of balls flying off in every direction. They've got great playground set up for the kids which adjoins the hot spring area. Now the boar head here, I believe, comes up at about 38 degrees, so again nowhere near as hot as McBride's, and they've kept this pool as natural as possible while enabling access for people to come. Now there is only one hot spring pool here at Lara Wetlands, so again in the height of the season it would be very busy. I think You'd be getting friendly with your fellow campers.

Speaker 1:

I don't want to use the term human soup, but is that okay to say that?

Speaker 2:

Well, it's warm, so you know you are kind of in there stewing away.

Speaker 1:

I don't know, I don't think I'd enjoy that.

Speaker 2:

We loved it because we went up quite early one morning it was very cool in the morning, still even at that time of year and we wandered up with our jumpers on and then hopped in and we had the whole pool to ourselves for at least 10 minutes before some other campers saw us and went oh, actually that's a good idea, we should go and get in there while it's quiet, so you'd have to pick your times, you know, saw us and went oh, actually that's a good idea, we should go and get in there while it's quiet. So you'd have to pick your times, I think. But that is fantastic and you know what is so stunning and what really makes this place is that wetlands environment and we loved it.

Speaker 1:

We watched this huge storm roll in and the clouds, you know, just coming in the time-lapse footage of that moment is really beautiful because it captures, you know, the activity as much as the rolling clouds coming in and out and the sun piercing through. I was able to move the camera halfway through and then get a different vantage point, so those two shots together was really great.

Speaker 2:

It is stunning. Now, good to note $15. Well, we visited at the end of the season in 2024. Yes, $15 per adult per night. From memory, Jasper was 12. Kids are 12. That's right, so you know if you've got a larger family or you're travelling in a larger group.

Speaker 1:

If you've got eight kids, bring cash, bring lots of it.

Speaker 2:

Definitely no power and no water. You can fill your tanks here. They do have various water fill points scattered throughout the property that you can connect up to and fill your tank.

Speaker 1:

Yes, there's a dump point as well. There's a funny dunny.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so it's quite quirky.

Speaker 1:

I've just got to say on the funny dunny because people are going hang on, what's a funny dunny? It's not a real dunny, but it's an old outback dunny that you can walk into. You can't do any number ones or twos anymore, but you can sit on there and there is probably 10 pages of laminated jokes but the best of Australian jokes and you will have a good laugh sitting on the funny dunny.

Speaker 2:

There you go For our overseas listeners who don't know what the word dunny is. It's Australian slang, it's very Aussie. Just going out to the dunny doll, it's the toilet.

Speaker 1:

That is separate from the house.

Speaker 2:

Yes, very Aussie Just going out to the Dunnydale. It's the toilet that is separate from the house. Yes, the outhouse. Anyway, look, they have done a great job here. In all the quirks and craziness of Lara Wetlands, we totally understand why people have raved to us about this place.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, definitely, Particularly that bird life and sitting in your camp chairs your Stratus camp chairs, I should say and enjoying that environment and the bird life. And the world slows down, doesn't it? When you sit in your camp chair, you can have a fire, as long as it's self-contained. Unfortunately, while we were there, there was a fire ban came in effect literally the morning we arrived and it lifted the day we left. So that was a bit of a bummer. Yeah, but having your own fire would be great. If you've got pets, your four-legged family members are welcome, you know, well-behaved on a leash.

Speaker 1:

They always say that Is there any other type of pet, can I? And then there is a wonderful off-leash area where you can run your dogs ragged, get that energy out, so we're always impressed by that. There's only ever a handful of places that we've seen around Australia that offer that as well. So well done. And there's endless activities for the kids and really great. So when you look at, you know 42 bucks for our little family of three. That included all of the gear and activities. It's pretty good value.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, we think so too. And again, you know, supporting the locals, supporting the families, the farmers, it's great out here. Now drumroll, please. I think we've probably already given our verdict away, but look, I think are we split on this? Paul, I think we both agree that we love Dunblane Station. We love what David has created there on his property. Lane Station we love what David has created there on his property. My personal favourite here is the McBride's.

Speaker 2:

Boar Campground, the one with the big yellow tub and where you're really smack in the middle of the property and you can't see or hear anybody else.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, certainly for Solitude being your main evening partner, this would be the place to go. I pick Westbourne Shearing Shed and yes, it is closer to the highway, if you could call it that. I mean, there's literally three vehicles possibly past you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah and two of them are probably David and his team.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it's highly unlikely that you'd be disrupted in your sleep. But having the three baths, it's a different experience because generally, you know, jasper is splashing around and Katie doesn't. Really we don't get a bath Like we're in a caravan, yeah, you know. So I'll normally say, well, jasper, hang out with me, you know, and we'll splash around over here. I'm a break, yep. So to be able to actually have that minute, I love that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, me too. Something happens to me out here on this property, and I don't know whether it's the property or whether it's just the region, but because we're camping on the property, I always associate it with that. But from the very first time that we visited, we just get in and it's like every cell in my body exhales. It's this overwhelming feeling that.

Speaker 1:

I get, jasper, and I know you are so much nicer to us. Wow, it's cal Karma.

Speaker 2:

Here we go. You know, can we get through a podcast without? No, I'm kidding, I am. I love it. There is something if you need a little bit of that in your life, and I don't even know how to put it into words other than to say, yeah, I feel like every cell in my body exhales and I, just when I think about being there, I yearn for that It'd be a great series actually around Australia and we could call it Exhale and literally we just talk up the spots that you 100% will have that moment, because isn't that lacking in a lot of people's lives?

Speaker 2:

It is most certainly. I tell you another place where I had that exact same feeling. Paul was out in the middle of nowhere as we were traveling on the Oodnadatta. Yeah, out there in. South Australia, where you know again, you're literally driving on a dirt road and you might be lucky to see another vehicle. I had that same overwhelming feeling. It's almost like all of those years that you've been carrying around all of this stuff in your heart, in your head. Just leave you.

Speaker 1:

I think it's because the enormity of the environment does overwhelm you to a point where you realize you're insignificant and so stop carrying on let go yeah and just enjoy this moment for what it is. For me, a place like that is out there in Palm Valley, in the West Macdonald Ranges. Well, actually it's just past the West Macdonald Ranges. Well, actually it's just past the West Macdonald Ranges If you come from King's Canyon on that Aboriginal land that cut through the Marini Loop and coming out to yeah.

Speaker 2:

To Fink River National Park yeah.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2:

Fink Gorge National Park. I think it is.

Speaker 1:

Incredible Same moment for me there.

Speaker 2:

Oh, spectacular. Yeah, you know you're alive in those moments and I think it is Incredible. Same moment for me there, oh, spectacular. Yeah, you know you're alive in those moments and I think you nailed it, Paul. You really. It really. It's like this massive slap in the face without it being a slap in the face, and you just realize, actually, none of that matters at all, no, Except this moment right here, right now.

Speaker 1:

No, we build up too much pressure on ourselves and our situations and you know, worrying about other people's. You know interactions or not with us as well, like you, know what we think and you know we just I think we over-exaggerate things, we complicate things too much in our heads quite often. I certainly remember that in our working life prior to travelling.

Speaker 2:

So anyways, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Get out there, travel. All right, let's talk about leaving the wetlands. So there you go. So Katie's number one was McBridesbourne. Number two, westbourne, shearing Shed. Number three, lara Wetlands. And for me, just flip those top two. And for me, just flip those top two. So Westbourne Shearing Shed with three barbs and the shearing shed. Good on you, mate. Awesome, love it. Thank you, david. Okay, we're heading now back I think it's almost 40 k's back into Barkie Buckholden spelt B-A-R-C-A-L-D-I-N-E. The first time we came through here, I think Kate pronounced it Buckledeen and I pronounced it Buckledeen. I can't remember. Anyway, but we did get absolutely smashed by comments of people telling us Just call it Barkie guys, It'll be heaps easier.

Speaker 1:

You guys don't know what you're doing. Yeah, so Barkie is how it shall now be known. Moving forward A really great story here, famous for the Tree of Knowledge. Now, the Tree of Knowledge really came about back there in 1891. There were 3,000 shearers that went on strike and really Australia's economic success they refer to as being built off the back of the sheep. Being built off the back of the sheep because the merino wool, the finest grade wool in the world, and the ability to be able to grow economically because of that, was huge for Australia.

Speaker 1:

Back in the day, back in Morway day, with 3,000 shearers there, though, going on strike, that was pretty huge news. They wanted better wages, they wanted better working conditions, and quite a lot of them were arrested I think there was 12 or 13 actually arrested at the time but it's really given birth then to the Labour Party and also iconic really for trade unions and particularly the Labour Party. And so there was this massive tree that's there called the Tree of Knowledge, and it was heritage listed in 2006, actually back on Australia Day, and very sadly and tragically, it was poisoned in that same year, which you know. It doesn't matter which political sway you have, we just cannot comprehend this kind of, you know, idiotic behavior. Who are these people?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, craziness.

Speaker 1:

You know, come on. So anyway, they took this tree down to Brisbane to, I think, like the Natural History Museum or somewhere down there, the university, and they worked out that they could still preserve some of this tree. So they did, and then they've had this architecturally designed enclosure.

Speaker 2:

It's incredible the design of what they have done here now around this tree. It's absolutely beautiful.

Speaker 1:

Look in our lives, katie, since we've known each other, and even pre that. There's always this little term that comes up in the back of our heads and it's worst thing, best thing. In the midst of the worst thing that could be happening in your life, there seems to be a best thing coming.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it generally seems to be that way, doesn't it?

Speaker 1:

And for the tree of knowledge. I don't think they could have envisaged anything more spectacular and larger. It's almost like they went all right, oh.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we'll show you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, here it is. Here's the Tree of Knowledge now, and it's quite impressive. So, anyway, they do have a festival, now known as the Tree of Knowledge Festival, on the long weekend in May. It's huge. Tens of thousands of people absolutely descend on this little outback town of Barkie and there's horse races and street parades Wow, and it's not a political thing. So it is a celebration and we would encourage you. If you're going to come out and you can get out here in May, we certainly would love to come out for that event. It looks incredible.

Speaker 2:

Fantastic. Certainly would love to come out for that event. It looks incredible, fantastic. So so much history out here in this region and great people as well. And as far as the township goes, you know everything you need. There's a fantastic IGA supermarket, extremely well stocked bakery, you know everything. You need A couple of really great pubs as well. So you know, definitely we would recommend come and stay and play in Barkie.

Speaker 1:

Yeehaw. Okay, now the takeaway for this week. I love this, katie, you're going to like this. A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions.

Speaker 2:

I love that. I love that, and that is exactly what we were talking about before, paul, when we were talking about that overwhelming feeling. It does something to you, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Alright, next week we continue our fossicking adventures in Alpha and a return to Rearview Vale. For now we'll say dream big, look after yourself and look after your family and happy trails.

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Katie Guerin

Host
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Paul Guerin

Host