Hervey Bay to Kroombit
Northbound
| Hervey Bay to Kroombit - |
For the correct pick up time and place see the relevant Timetable.
ACTIVITY INCLUSIONS:
Included Goat Rodeo, Mechanical Bull, Whip Cracking
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Horse Riding (Goat Muster), Clay pigeon Shooting
OPTIONAL HOP OFFS:
Bundaberg (northbound only), Fingerboard Roadhouse (northbound) / Miriam Vale (southbound) for the Town of 1770
LOCAL PAYMENT:
$40 – 1 night dorm accommodation, dinner and breakfast at Kroombit Cattle Station
ITINERARY – Hervey Bay <> Kroombit:
The town of 1770 / Agnes Waters
The township of 1770, is the site of James Cook’s historic landing on 24 May 1770, and known as the ‘birthplace of Queensland’. It is also the closest southern access point to the Great Barrier Reef and the last surf beach available if you are travelling north. Located on similar latitude to Hawaii, it’s cool in summer and warm in winter, the beaches are clean and unspoilt, the waterways teem with fish, the scenery and natural environment is outstanding: magnificent estuaries, ancient tropical rainforests, palm lined deserted beaches, dramatic sunsets and pure, clean air. It was the last piece un-developed coast between Sydney and Cairns. A road to the coast here was only put through in the 1970s and electricity only arrived in the 1980s when the land was by private interests. The first policeman was only stationed in the town in the last 3 years! Now, it’s a bustling holiday location.
1770’s most colourful Great Barrier Reef destination is Lady Musgrave Island, visited by 1770 Reef Cruises on Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday. Visit the lagoon of pristine coral reef, snorkel, scuba diving and glass bottom boat coral viewing, it’s a special way to discover the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. There are also trips to Fitzroy Reef with diving options, trips on the pink amphibious LARC vehicle (travels on land and in water), sea kayaking and many other activities available.
If you wish to go to 1770, you need to let your guide know and they will drop you off at Fingerboard Roadhouse (northbound) and Miriam Vale (southbound). Oz Experience does not stop at 1770 - unfortunately it’s just a little bit too far off the beaten track for us. There is, however, an independent Shuttle service to 1770 from some nearby drop off points depending on which direction you are travelling in. Ask your guide to book the Shuttle for you if you are getting off – please give him/her enough notice. It’s your own responsibility to book the shuttle and to organise to be picked up again by Oz Experience.
If you are travelling Northbound, the service costs $14 each way the drop off point from Fingerboard Roadhouse (which is about a 25 minute drive from 1770) and $28 each way if you are travelling Southbound from the drop off point at Miriam Vale (45 minute drive from 1770). The hop on/hop off times for Fingerboard Roadhouse and Miriam Vale are on the Timetable.
Whilst the cost of getting to 1770 might put some people off, the shuttle charge can be absorbed when you consider these discounts you get for taking the shuttle service – basically, you can get the cost of the shuttle back through discounts with key services you’ll be using in 1770 including the pub!
The discounts include:
2 pots (glasses) of beer for the price of 1 at the Agnes Tavern!
$2 off first night at Cool Bananas and 1770 Backpackers
$2 off second night at any hostel Cool Bananas and 1770 Backpackers
$5 off Scooteroo tour – get on scooters and see kangaroos in the wild
$5 off 1770 Liquid Adventures guided sea kayak tour
$5 off any all day Surfboard Hire at the Surf Shop
10% off clothing at the Surf Shop
10% off at the Latino Cafe (food only)
For more information about 1770/Agnes waters region, check out
http://www.townof1770-agneswater.com.au
Kroombit
Our final stop for the day is Kroombit, a working cattle station in outback Capricorn Country. Immerse yourself in country Australia, where men are men and cattle is beef. We’ll then light up a fire and you can feast yourself on a two course bush meal which is not just eating while being in the bush, its fair dinkum tucker the same as what the drovers used to eat. Kroombit is renowned for its Camp oven-style meals cooked on the open fire over-looking the unique outdoor dining area where the table & stools have been made from the trunk of the blue gum tree.
A $40 local payment will cover your 1 night dorm accommodation and, camp oven dinner and breakfast. This is paid direct to Kroombit upon arrival.
After dinner test your rodeo potential by jumping on the mechanical bull. Don’t worry it won’t trample you, but if you’ve had some beers first it does enjoy bucking you off further! There’s never a shortage of starters to stay on the longest. If that’s not your thing there’s also whip cracking lessons (always a good skill to have up your sleeve). After a busy day unwind in the atmosphere of the Wagon Bar!
We could take you to a Cattle Station and show you cattle but we thought goats are way more interesting! We've built a yard and introduce you to farm life by explaining some of the routine animal handling duties on a farm. You'll be told about how to catch a goat safely and humanely, how to gently hold it, basically you will become one with the goat! It's kind of a crazy scene and something unique to Kroombit and Oz Experience. It's all highly supervised and you can see you have to wear helmets when in action. Reckon you can team up with a mate from the bus and catch a goat, milk it and drink it?! There's also whip cracking practice - the stock whip is used to make a loud 'cracking' sound not to hit the animals (always a good skill to have up your sleeve). It’s harder than it looks but after some expert help from a skilled hand, Alan will show you how it’s done.
Last but not least there’s the Mechanical Bull.
Don’t worry it won’t trample you, but if you’ve had some beers first it does enjoy bucking you off further! There’s never a shortage of starters to stay on the longest.
After you've had your bush dinner, there's no tv to watch or PS2 to turn on out in the Aussie bush. We have to amuse ourselves and you one way or another so instead of rushing in to ride a Real Bull we've set up a Mechanical Bull. The guys and gals from the Cattle Station will show you how it's done first of all (it really is all about technique, you don't have to be strong just keen to have a go) and then everyone will have a turn. Hopefully you'll stay on for the famed 8 seconds and maybe you'll find your new career on the night. If you fall off there's inflated padding to cushion your fall and everyone wears a helmet as well. It's a real hoot and if you get cocky we can really crank the bull up to top speed - just watch the locals at full speed and you'll be in awe.
After a busy day unwind in the atmosphere of the Wagon Bar!
