Anyone thinking of staying in Dalby (Qld) think again, because of pressure from greedy caravan park owners the council has stopped camping in the showground, I suggest bypass Dalby and visit a town that values travellers.
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Goinsoon
I dont suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
I stayed there on Mothers' Day with my tent on a powered site @ $16 per night. It was the park by the creek, near the middle of town, by the pub, across the road from the bakery and the chinese restaurant. It was a tourist park off the main drag by the big bridge. I can't complain. They had a barbecue area/camp kitchen, a fire pit for entertainment and generally everything was neat and clean. They're just getting on their feet after the floods.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I couldn't find anywhere there to stay so went on to Moonie. CG Now you've got me confused, I only remember turning right at the lights just after Maccas and having lunch in that lovely park which is opposite a lot of motels. I had bought a cooked chicken and some salads back in Murgon and set myself up with a lovely plate full at one of those tables.
If you'll forgive me for the slight hijack Going Soon, I met a nice farming couple from Dalby, the wife had her leg all wrapped up in bandages from an accident. I was sitting at a table with them and felt something crawl between my foot and my thong from behind. I got such a scare that my leg shot upwards kicking this poor woman on her injured leg . The culprit was a shingle back skink which had decided investigate the space between my foot which was raised at an angle in my thong.
All I could do was apologise profusely......she was not impressed
Now back to the thread, thanks for the heads up on the showgrounds GS, it seems to be happening everywhere in Qld in particular. Nice to know CG found a good spot though. Your lunch sounded good Marg, there are some nice spots to have lunch around the place.
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
Two good options to Dalby are Kumbia Apex Park on Bunya H'way Nth of Dalby, free unpowered & donation for limited powered sites, or Warra Rest Area free camp 46ks West of Dalby on the Warrego H'way. I can recommend both, they are in Camps 6. Regards Terry
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Chris & Terry
3.2lt 4 x 4 Mazda BT 50, single cab chas with full alloy canopy
Love Kumbia Apex Park. Spent time there both up and down. There is a chap down the lane beside the hall who sells his own honey and his daughter makes jam. They sell them at markets. I bought 5 varieties of jam and a jar of honey. Will look for some photos of the park
Thanks Brian. I think a lot of cp's need to think about what the impact of their greed has on their town. Their council need to rethink their actions. If they really did their home work, they would find GN'S generate "big Bucks" to their town. Where ever we free camp, we usually go for a counter tea, restock etc, but will not be doing that in Dalby. Thanks.
I was heading for Broadwater nat park next from Kumbia when I decided to come straight home and get problems sorted. A bird watcher chap parked next to me, told me all about it. Sounds fantastic and have it on my list for next trip.
I was heading for Broadwater nat park next from Kumbia when I decided to come straight home and get problems sorted. A bird watcher chap parked next to me, told me all about it. Sounds fantastic and have it on my list for next trip.
Thanks Marj, you have made up my mind for me
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Goinsoon
I dont suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
In August 2003 the bride and I opened a new motel in Dalby, opposite McDonalds.
We spent 15 months there, and thoroughly enjoyed the town, the people, and the general country feel. We didn't really know what to expect as we had just finished a four year gig at a beach side resort in Cairns....however were pleasantly surprised....nice town.
However in saying that, while at Dalby we were experiencing a town that was predominantly rural, with a strong cotton industry, and a town on the cusp of discovering natural gas.
Move the clock forward, and now Dalby is like all these towns, that have been blessed with natural resources...and bingo, boom times for the ones who can capitalise on these events.
Went through Dalby a year or so ago, and yes not the Dalby of old. But you only have to look at Mackay, lived there for 12 years in the early 80's, and returned late last year to contract manage a motel. There is a town that is just bursting at the seams........all about coal.
Unfortunately it seems Kingaroy is next. Again doing a 'tour of duty" there two years ago, a nice little town all about peanuts. In line now for it's own boom in natural gas. Here we go again!!!!
That's life unfortunately, however it doesn't help us poor gerryatric gypsies, when wanting to experience country life. These places no longer need us, but what goes around, comes around.
O'h well at least we can say "been there done that, when these places were country towns, not mining cities!
Might just go back to Cairns! No coal or gas up there, just a tourist industry struggling like there is no tomorrow. Some of the greedy deveoplers that took away some prisitne parks, have now fallen flat on their face. However these parks are gone forever!
Cheers & beers
vk greenie
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Broadwater NP is on my list too. My sister and b-i-l have stayed there on numerous ocassions, and say it's lovely.
I've being going through Dalby all my life, on the way to the rellies out west. Never stayed there though. We just stop to eat. In the old days, it was the Shell garage, open all night and very popular. Don't know what they're like these days. Now we byo and have it in the park...the one Marj mentioned.
My worst experience of mining greed was at Middlemount, south of Moranbah. After leaving the big load and its driver I headed homeward. I pulled into the next town south and there is no accommodation available for the travelling public. So I proceeded to Middlemount. Driving in the dark in a strange area, tired after 3.5 days on the road and looking for a camp I found a pub with lots of rooms, obviously dedicated to mining personnel and associated visitors. The Swag Motel is next door. I was shocked and tired, and paid $175 for the night in a motel room. Yes, you read right, I paid it because there was no caravan park with cabins or any other budget accommodation. If any travellers are out there doing the mining circuit, and they are out there visiting and touring mining operations all across the country, they are in for a very rude, expensive shock. Even "free" camps are very thin on the ground in this region of Qld. As it was dark and I was all but lost, I took what I could find. A working girl has to sleep. The soup and Bundies were nice in the restaurant. That's travel.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Thank you for your comment as I have been looking for a free camp at Dalby on our way back from Mitchell....BUT none found also I checked the price they want for a night at a van park for too much, and to also find out the show grounds are no longer available, Well we will be like many of us and just drive straight through to Kingaroy. it will be a long day , we always leave camp sites a lot cleaner than we find them too, and spend up big as well ,
Hi Gypsy Lady - the post you are referring to there is from 2011, so could be out of date by a bit. There is a weir outside of miles - Gil Weir - free and not a bad spot.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
. The culprit was a shingle back skink which had decided investigate the space between my foot which was raised at an angle in my thong. 
Thank you for your comment as I have been looking for a free camp at Dalby on our way back from Mitchell....BUT none found also I checked the price they want for a night at a van park for too much, and to also find out the show grounds are no longer available, Well we will be like many of us and just drive straight through to Kingaroy. it will be a long day , we always leave camp sites a lot cleaner than we find them too, and spend up big as well ,
