Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Accommodation in Longreach?

Have asked this question before in different guises on a couple of Internet Boards without much success.

Looking for recommendations for Longreach accommodation - Motel/Hotel. Prefer somewhere that can be booked online, but not really that fussy!

Anyone stayed there and can recommend?

I think you will not too much. Google Longreach and a look on www.whitepages.com.au
Try longreach accomodation guide (http://www.longreach.net.au). There is a visitor information (http://www.longreach.qld.gov.au/services/visitors_info_centre.shtml) link on the shire web site

Longreach Motel was OK when I stayed there some years ago. Right in town opposite Railway station.

It's bookable via www.wotif.com

Regards

David

A thread on Longreach (http://www.vpmag.com/yssy/viewtopic.php?t=19847). Longreach is a place I want to visit but my work trips to central QLD never seem to be able to have a diversion to LRE by air with the train back to the coast

A thread on Longreach (http://www.vpmag.com/yssy/viewtopic.php?t=19847). Longreach is a place I want to visit but my work trips to central QLD never seem to be able to have a diversion to LRE by air with the train back to the coast

Just make sure you don't go there in summer - it's hotttttttt and not in a good way.

Portions of the post that previously appeared in this space have been deleted. I would provide you with a reason why, but doing so would likely be against the TOS.

Bump
Aus_Mal Did you do this trip ?

Bump
Aus_Mal Did you do this trip ?

It's about a month away :) Havn't booked the accom just yet, but think the Albert Park Motor Inn will be where I stay.

I thought this thread was about Qantas 747's. :rolleyes:

I thought this thread was about Qantas 747's. :rolleyes:

Lol, that's part of the Longreach experience... you can even walk on the wings of a Qantas 747 if you want, and sit in the pilot's seat http://www.qfom.com.au/

From the 2007 Longreach visitors guide, accommodation options are

Abajazz Motel 4658 1288
Albert Park Motel 4658 2411
Jumbuck Motel 4658 1799
Longreach Motel 4658 1996
Longreach Motor Inn 4658 2322
Commerical H/M 4658 1677
Lyceum Hotel 4658 1036
Royal Hotel 4658 2118
Welcome Home H/M 4658 1361
Aussie Betta Cabins 4658 3811
Gunnadoo Cabins & Caravan Park 4658 1781
Old Time Cottage 4658 1550
Longreach Caravan Park 4658 1770


Oh, and they don't accept PYOBP ex-LRE.

I used to live in Longreach (both as a kid and in more recent years). I'd recommend the Jumbuck, Albert Park or the Longreach Motel.

Wouldn't stay at the Lyceum etc. This are shearer / roo shooter pubs and can get pretty rough.

It's a great town - hope you enjoy the trip.

Welcome to Flyer Talk Gondul :)

Thanks for the hotel listing, and the recommendations :)

I did book the Albert Park, it seems like a good motel in the right location.

Gondul, welcome to FT! Do you have any recommendations on a good pub for a drink or three where the locals are friendly and it isn't going to get too rough? Any food suggestions? One of the places where the steaks are as big as the plate would be nice :)

Thanks for the welcome :)

Aus_Mal, Its been a few years since I was last there but things move at a slow pace out west. :)

If you are there on a Sunday night the Commercial puts on a barbie which is great value. It's a must. The Golden Gate cafe has/had the most orange chips you could ever find - not just crispy golden but disturbingly orange.

The RSL is good for a drink. The Tavern though is the place to head to - its where most locals go and is not bad for a meal either.

The locals are generally a friendly gregarious breed. Last time my parents were out there they were stopped in the street by an old neighbour who commented 'haven't seen you around for a while, you been on holidays?'. It had been 9 years since they had moved . . .

Quick question for those with local knowledge-
What are the local transportation options in LRE? Thinking of flying in and out from Brisbane, to visit the museum. Are there any hire cars there or would it just be the local taxi service to get to accommodation?

Quick question for those with local knowledge-
What are the local transportation options in LRE? Thinking of flying in and out from Brisbane, to visit the museum. Are there any hire cars there or would it just be the local taxi service to get to accommodation?

I'll have better local knowledge in a week or so :)

You cannot do a day trip to LRE and visit the Qantas museum due to the Qantaslink flight doing a turnaround and being there for around 45 mins. The Qantas museum is located at the airport and pretty close to the Stockman's hall of fame as well.

Longreach is a small town. I doubt you would need a car for anything there if doing a one night trip.

Some motels provide airport transfers, and there are a couple very close to the airport.

They have a taxi service and if you really want to hire a car, Avis will do a rental for you from the airport if you pre-book.

Turnaround was much less than 45 minutes when I did it in January.

The closer accommodations looked easily walkable from the airport.

Turnaround was much less than 45 minutes when I did it in January.


Indeed :) Had a look at the timetable. 20 mins. I believe the Albert Park Motor Inn is the closest accomodation to the airport, being less than two hundred meters down the road. Google Maps have a good local map here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Longreach,+QLD,+Australia&ie=UTF8&ll=-23.440293,144.260681&spn=0.028743,0.045319&z=15&om=1 and if you use their "satellite map" and the "Find Businesses" tab (search for motel), you can get a good idea of where things are.

Thanks guys - I look forward to the trip report, Aus_Mal!
I was looking at overnighting there, and sounds like distances aren't too bad..... I was imagining somthing like the distance from Mt Isa airport to town.... :)

Everything in Longreach is in walking distance. Nothing like the Isa :) Always used to be such fun on 'Race Day' to see (and be one of) the gals in their seldom worn frocks and heels tottering out to the track.

If you are wanting to just stay within the Longreach area (ie: not head out to Illfracombe or Winton) and tire of walking, then Tanks' taxi service are very friendly and very helpful.

Aus_Mal - very interested to hear you trip report of my 'home-town'!

Well I've returned from Longreach.

Town was extremely 'green' due to recent rains. Was actually quite nice to see greenery around the place as I was expecting it to be more bare or brown.

The Albert Park Inn is a nice motel. Rooms are fairly basic (per most motels), but comfy enough and they have a pool, room service&restaurant onsite. Didn't try the restaurant or pool, but the pool looked inviting. The motel is about a 5 min walk from hopping off the plane. The staff were friendly and helpful and the rooms are airconditioned.

The centre of the town is about 2Km/20mins walk, or taxis are available if you call and book.

Heatwise, I didn't find it too bad. Hot of course, but it was dry heat, so bearable. I've had worse days in Brisbane in the last few weeks! Just make sure you keep up the liquids and put on sunscreen.

Ended up having dinner at the Sports Club as a friend was in town and suggested it (I didn't note the name, but sure that's where it was). Was good food for reasonable prices, and found the drinks very cheap. Place was quite packed with locals. RSL looked pretty quiet, and I skipped the 'Orange' chips. Doubt the cafe would have been open at 8pm at night!

Didn't really look at much of the town - visited the Qantas museum (and did the standard 747-200 and 707 tours) and also the Stockman's Hall. There are grand plans for the Qantas museum in the future, but to me it was a little small and narrowly focused. The 747 tour was good and they've put a lot of work into it, but the 707 tour wasn't anything special, and as the plane is now an ex-VIP jet, the insides are nothing 'Qantas' special to see. I believe they are hoping to get another 11 planes into the museum!

I wasn't overly impressed with the Stockman's Hall. It's a great building, and a good place to learn about history, but I didn't really see it as worth ~$22

So it was a nice break away, but the time passed pretty quickly.

The tour on the 747 was very interesting and informative, it seems that the tour for the 707 needs a bit more work. Nice to see it from the outside but I thought going through it was a bit of a waste.

The walk on the wing of the 747 would have been interesting but it is not cheap so gave that the miss.

I tried the pool; cold as it was under a shade sail, good for a quick swim to cool down.

No BBC or CNN on the TV which I thought very strange if there are other Austar channels available.

What was it; 14/90 rooms occupied I guess February is not their busiest month.

Getting up at 8:00am and walking to the airport and boarding the plane at 9:00am; where else can you do that in the world. :cool:

Probably the remotest FT mini meet.