HUGHENDEN is home to some very large attractions. There’s the Porcupine Gorge, dubbed Australia’s Little Grand Canyon and situated just 63km north of town.
Then there are the dinosaurs. They might be extinct, but at Hughenden you’ll see them nearly everywhere. In the street. At the local museum. As works of art. Hughenden is dinosaur heaven!
It all dates back to a prehistory when Hughenden was on the edge of a vast pre-historic inland sea and was the home of terrestrial dinosaurs as well as marine reptiles. Thousands of fossils have been found in the Flinders Shire and nearly 3000 have been registered with the Queensland Museum.
Meet a replica of a muttaburrasaurus dinosaur at the Flinders Discovery Centre, open seven days from 9.00am to 5.00pm (although it’s closed some public holidays) where you can also buy souvenirs, maps and books. The centre is a font of knowledge about the major prehistoric finds in the area, including a bird-footed dinosaur, a Hughenden sauropod and a flying creature named an Anhanguera.
While you’re at the visitors’ centre, see the sound and light show of how the Porcupine Gorge was formed over 500 million years. It will give you an appreciation of this spectacular landmark before you go out to see it. The Porcupine Gorge National Park offers camping, birdwatching, swimming, opportunities for nature and landscape photography and a diverse range of flora and fauna. A lookout gives an excellent view of the depth and magnitude of the gorge system. See the gorge from a different vantage point at the camping ground, which is situated at the top of the Pyramid. A walkway winds down into the natural picnic area at the base of the Pyramid. Campers must register with National Parks by phoning 131304 or on the internet at www.qld.gov.au/camping.
Other attractions include Blackbraes National Park, Chudleigh Park where you can fossick for peridot gemstones, fossil hunting or easy four-wheel drives that give you views of volcanic basalt country and spectacular panoramic views.
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Cheng's Chinese Restaurant
31 Brodie Street, Hughenden Qld 4821
Phone/fax (07) 4741 1478
Open seven days - dine in or takeaway (BYO alcohol) |
Eating out at Hughenden
Getting hungry from all the sightseeing? Lunch and dinner are available seven days at Cheng’s Chinese Restaurant in Brodie Street. Or you can buy takeaway and have your lunch in the park or dinner back at your accommodation. If you’d like an alcoholic drink with your meal, take your own wine or beer. Non-alcoholic drinks are available at the restaurant.
For a cafe meal with a difference, make your way to the FJ Holden Cafe. Why have a cafe named after a car, any way? The answer to that is a question: What came first, the FJ Holden or Mr F. J. Holden? Well, Frank can tell you that not only is his name Frank James Holden but it’s a family tradition passed down from grandfather to father to him!
When Frank and Jan reopened the then closed-down cafe, they made it fun eating there. You can enjoy seeing the miniature Holden cars, posters, Brock memorabilia and even old magazines. Plus, if you’re an Elvis fan you’ll see a fair bit of Elvis memorabilia too.
The cafe is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm daily and serves meals, fish and chips, milkshakes, cappuccino and a variety of burgers including the FJ superburger.
FJ Holden Cafe
55 Brodie Street, Hughenden Qld 4821
Phone (07) 4741 0254 Fax (07) 4741 1129
Open seven days - sit-down or takeaway meals, cappuccinos, freshly squeezed orange-lemon drinks, milkshakes
Email:fjholdencafe56@westnet.com.au
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