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Post Info TOPIC: Another magic gem on the snail trail
herbie


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Another magic gem on the snail trail
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Yaraka is situated off the beaten track,but we are so glad we camped here for a few days.

Yaka is about 160 west of Blackall and about 100ks south/west of Isisford QLD.

It is a fantastic little place with one pub,(when the owner is not busy doing other things )

One Garage,(that has a sign outside saying that if you want fuel see Bob or Kathy over the road)

One Health Centre a community Hall (neither of which were open during our stay)

One Police Station (did not notice any police either )and a few houses.

The railway closed a few years back.A one room school closed due to when it got down to a pupil of one.

Last count twelve people live in town and one hundred and seventeen in surrounding area.

The council erected a aerial on top of Mt Slocombe some twelve ks from town to provide phn coverage there is four bar service if you head to Mt Slocombe but no coverage if in town.

The views from Mt Slocombe is fantastic well worth a look but un hitch your van first as it is not recommended to take caravans up .The track up is sealed and in good condition but very steep.There is clean blue and white speckled concrete and epoxy picnic tables under gazebo,strategically spaced to take advantage of the amazing views.(We used this area as our office as we took our lap tops up here )Wow is the best word to describe this place with no tourist hype.This is one of the most amazing places we have had the pleasure of visiting in over thirteen years travelling.Mt Slocombe being flat on top it allows a vantage point all the way around.(free elec BBQS under the gazebo.( we cooked lunch up there each day )

This place is a photo paradise for anyone into snapping away.The views out to the Grey Rangers to open Mitchell grasses and the myriad of colours at sunset and the rising of the moon from behind the rangers is truly breath taking.

You can free camp behind the hall at end of strret ( there is only one street) with concrete slab/ power/water.

We walked into the pub around lunch time one day, there was no one to be found,we were just about to leave --when a bleary eyed guy came out from the back.

He said he had been up all night ROO shooting!!! He casually told us if he isn't about the locals just help them self.

(we presumed they must fix him up later) He told us he is some times just too busy to be standing around serving beer with a laugh.He also said he absolutely loves this little out back community and even if he won Lotto he could never leave.( he said that's why he never bothers getting Lotto tickets.He recons he has won Lotto living here.

The thing we have noticed with travelling is that the smaller communities that have very little tourism money given to them to sell to the travelling public are the places who give freely with out asking for much in return.

 

 

 

 

 



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Evie n Rhys


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Too true.
Tess

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Shogun


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Ill put that on my list for sure Herbie, sounds like a great place to visit for a couple of days.



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Bryan


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Sounds like a magic place Herbie. I certainly hope to get there one day.

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Bryan
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What an amazing experience. I think there will be more Grey Nomads visiting Yaraka since your post. We will certainly put it on our list of places to visit

Perhaps you should claim royalties?

 

Thanks Herbie. 

Glenda



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Radar


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-- Edited by Radar on Monday 26th of August 2013 01:46:24 PM

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rockylizard


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Gday...

Yaraka sounds exactly the sort of place that attracts me too - and there are hundreds of them in the "outback" of Straya.

They are glad to see the tourist, especially if ya stay for a few days, the area has space, clean air, tranquillity, history, natural environment and relaxation.

There is no-one generating hype, tension, irritation, pushing me to buy something or badgering some authority somewhere to close the camp that the town provides to attract and welcome the traveller.

Places like Yaraka are the perfect reason to stay away from that tourist-driven, self-centred and crowded east coast. I could not spend one day in the NQ and FNQ 'free camps' (wayside stops cry) along the east coast, packed in like a sardine just so I could walk along a crowded beach, buy a kitchy souvenir or "tick off" the 'been-there-done-that' attraction.

Thanks for the report Herbie - certainly on my agenda for my next trip through Blackall/Isisford/Longreach.

Cheers - John



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Radar


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Herbie thanks

I have put coded message in my travel planner.

Now that sounds like good place to enjoy a couple of days, I will only share it with like minded people after I have spent some time there in the not to distant future.



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alwyn-rhonda


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Hello Herbie,

Sounds nice will have to put it in our diary for reference.

 

Cheers

Alwyn & Rhonda



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countryroad


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What a great write up Herbie, makes you feel like heading straight there...hope it doesn't change.

Robyn

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herbie


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Hello all who answered in response to reading my little review of this magic little gem.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did.

This was going to be an over night stop travelling from Blackall, but enjoyed it so much stayed  five nights.

Also forgot to mention in first post that on the road heading from Blackall there is also a dot of a place called Emmet. The town now is defunct but once was a very busy railway siding.The railway/ telegraph station is still standing with one house. We spent a few hrs here pocking about this quaint dot on the map.

We were fortunate to see a few Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby also around this area.



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