{"id":474,"date":"2018-11-10T11:58:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-10T01:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/?post_type=destination&p=474"},"modified":"2022-05-23T13:13:27","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T03:13:27","slug":"yaraka","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/travelactionmatildacountry.com.au\/destination\/yaraka\/","title":{"rendered":"Yaraka"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Off the beaten track and with a population of 25 people, Yaraka is nevertheless a hidden gem that is worth seeking.<\/p>

Longreach, the administrative centre of the region, is 220km and little more than two hours away by car on a mostly sealed road, but seems a lifetime away. Yaraka can also be accessed from Blackall (165km; only 7km is unsealed) and Jundah (144km; 40km sealed but the rest is a good gravel road).<\/p>

Town Services and Highlights<\/h3>

It is easy to imagine that this land looked much the same in earlier times. Indeed, this is a place where memories of the past are strong – Cobb and Co is still remembered as if it were yesterday and if someone decides to recite some poetry it\u2019s likely that Banjo Paterson verses will come tripping off the lips. It is the home of dramatic landscape and glorious sunsets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Yaraka Hotel<\/strong> is the town\u2019s central meeting place. Custodians of this warm and welcoming social hub are the Gimbletts, who manage to keep the hotel up with current expectations of guests and visitors while honouring its bush pub personality.<\/p>

You mightn\u2019t think much would be happening this far from the madding crowd, but it\u2019s surprising just how much they manage to fit into their days in Yaraka. For the bravehearted, there\u2019s a pool (it can be pretty chilly!), golf amongst the gibber rocks for those who love a challenge (a small quantity of clubs and balls can be supplied for this lighthearted exercise) and you can even play croquet and bocce, just without the grass.<\/p>

The hotel\u2019s 14-seater bus makes the trip to the top of Yaraka\u2019s famous Mt Slowcombe<\/strong> every evening to take in the sunset. This is definitely one of the great photos to include in your holiday album and the only cost for getting on the bus is a donation to the RFDS.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tours<\/h3>

Hotel manager Nick Gimblett also takes people in an all-terrain vehicle on a three-hour trip to the hills to\u00a0fossick for opal<\/b>. At other times you can catch a tour to Welford, the site of\u00a0Magee\u2019s shanty<\/b>\u00a0from The Bush Christening,\u00a0Boomerang Waterhole<\/b>\u00a0and some important historic sites. For anyone who wants to do some off-road driving or motorbike riding but would like a guide, Nick does tagalong tours.<\/p>

Birdwatchers can expect some rewarding sightings, while photographic opportunities abound. Cyclists and runners like to take on Mt Slowcombe for hill-climbing time trials.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"Tourist<\/figure>

Visitor Information<\/h3>

Longreach Visitor Information Centre<\/b>
\nPhone (within Australia) 07 4658 4141<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Yaraka Events<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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April 25<\/strong> \u2014 ANZAC Day
<\/strong>July 1 – 3<\/strong> \u2014 Yaraka Horse & Motorbike Gymkhana \/ Team Penning
<\/strong>September 17 – 18<\/strong> \u2014 Yaraka End of Line Draft
December 11<\/strong> \u2014 Yaraka Christmas Tree<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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