ONCE, Cobb & Co coaches rattled over a dusty road from Cunnamulla, past Thargomindah and all the way to Innamincka.

Nowadays, that road is almost entirely sealed - only 97km of unsealed road exists from Naccowlah Oil Fields to Innamincka. And from the suspensioned comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle, you look out on a timeless landscape much like the travellers of a bygone era would have seen.

Thargomindah itself is a clean, spacious little town that offers great country hospitality for visitors. It is also the headquarters for the Bulloo Shire – the third largest shire in Queensland, with an area of 73,500 square kilometres and a population of just 580 people.

While the traditional industries of the shire have been beef and wool, oil and gas are now important industries in the region.

Explorers Caravan Park 88 Dowling Street, Thargomindah Qld 4492 Phone (07) 4655 3307 Fax (07) 4655 3308 Powered sites, cottage accommodation, camp kitchen, handy to shops Email: big4explorers@bigpond.com

The town itself has an outpatients centre, police station, post office, swimming pool, primary school, sports oval, golf course and an aerodrome. The 18-hole golf course, 3km outside town, has a modern clubhouse with bar facilities.

Accommodation available in the town includes the Thargomindah Oasis Motel and Licensed Restaurant, which offers air-conditioned units as well as comfortable surroundings for a special meal and maybe a bottle of wine.

The newest accommodation facility in the far southwest is the Thargomindah Explorers Caravan Park. The park offers cabins as well as a bunkhouse with four separate rooms for the budget conscious. Powered and sewered sites as well as non-powered and camping sites are also available. There is a camp kitchen. This is one of the great caravan parks of the west, so make sure you don’t miss visiting it.

Fuel up and get supplies at the Shell Roadhouse and General Store. You can get everything from pizza to bait and tackle - seven days a week.

For fuel, tyres and full workshop repairs, drop in to Thargo Motors.

If you’re making a flying visit, the aerodrome, situated 1km along the Noccundra-Jackson road, has a fully sealed runway 1460 metres long and features PAL (Pilot Activated Lighting) night landing facilities. Avgas and Jet A are available there.

Oasis Motel and Licenssed Restaurant Dowling Street, Thargomindah Qld 4492 Phone (07) 4655 3155 Fax (07) 4655 3022 Air-conditioned units, licensed restaurant open to public, excellent meals