A very neat town right in the heart of the Bowen Basin Coalfields. You’ll definitely know that you’re heading to mining country as you pass the many mining villages and minesites with their towering excavators and other gigantic mining equipment.
Turn North off the Peak Downs Highway at the BP and head 11 kilometres into town but if you’re towing a caravan there’s in town as the van park was taken over years ago with accommodation for miners. But there is a dump point on Goonyella Rd.
But don’t let that stop you, there’s fuel aplenty, tyre and mechanical repairs, a decent sized shopping centre where you’ll find a Coles Supermarket as well as a chemist, Telstra Shop, newsagency and quite a few other businesses all under the one airconditioned roof.
There’s also a very neat Town Centre with a myriad of smaller retailers. The Child Bride and I can personally recommend Jenna and her crew at The Roast Shak in the Town Centre. The service there was incredibly friendly and the coffee was great, but if you get to yarning to Jenna you’ll find that apart from being the business owner and operator, both she and her husband are underground coal miners as well. Such is the lifestyle in a busy mining town.
If you’re used to small backyard excavators and trucks, wait until you see some of the equipment they use out here.
We encountered this giant tub on its way to Moranbah to be fitted to a giant haul truck. When mounted on the Caterpillar truck it will carry about 130 tonnes in one load.
And did I mention GIANT bulldozers. This is a D11, the second largest bulldozer in the world. It weighs about 114 tonnes and to put it in perspective, there are 11 steps up to the cabin.
And just in case you thought I was kidding about everything being on the large size, this dragline is the largest in the southern hemisphere.
But don’t let all these big boy’s toys put you off. The town is definitely worth a visit and you’ll be able to park your van at the rear of the BP Service Station 11Km from town at the turnoff from the highway.