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The Road Ahead : June July 2007
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TRAVEL & LEISURE STORY BELINDA PETERS The larger than life replica of one of van Gogh's Sunflower paintings at first seems out of place looming large over the Capricorn Highway in Emerald. But given that van Gogh believed the sunflower represented life and hope, the 25 m high 'Big Easel' couldn't be a more per fect symbol for Emerald and the gemfields. This region is brimming with life, thanks to a strong and diverse primar y industr y sector and hope is one of the gemfields' major drawcards. You just never know when the next big sapphire will be found, or who will find it. Constructed in 1999 to celebrate the Central Highlands' contribution to sunflower production, the Big Easel is located next to the Visitor information centre, a modern building built from hay bales. Here you can get all the information for your tour of the region, as well as star t your Emerald experience by walking the Centenar y of Federation Mosaic Pathway, which offers a pictorial view of Emerald's histor y. At the nearby Town Hall, you can step fur ther back in time by taking a look at the fossilised tree, carbon dated as 250 million years old. A drive around Emerald unveils the diverse range of produce grown in the area, including melons, sunflowers, cotton, wheat and grapes. The Central Highlands Tourist Route is a pleasant drive taking you over the enormous Fairbairn Dam. Located just 18 km from Emerald's hear t, the dam is popular for fishing, boating and swimming. Regular fish stocking takes place, with golden perch, barramundi, and Murray cod all now thriving, and an abundance of redclaw. A popular spot is the picnic area overlooking the dam, which is equipped with electric barbeques. Another place popular with nature lovers is the Emerald Botanic Gardens. Situated on the banks of the Nogoa River, the 42 ha gardens features more than 6 km of walking tracks, through a range of different plant species, many unique to central Queensland. Emerald offers a range of accommodation styles, with the Emerald Cabin & Caravan Village a good pick for self-catering travellers. The luxur y ensuite cabins are modern, with well- equipped kitchens. A good place for a quality meal or a drink is the Capricornian Restaurant, offering a mouth-watering menu of modern Australian cuisine. The gemfields, 44 km west of Emerald, offer a change of pace and a range of experiences unique to the area. And who knows, you might even uncover a big one. It is this hope that keeps visitors flocking to the gemfield's towns of Anakie, Sapphire and Rubyvale, par ticularly in winter, when the population quadruples to more than 4000. If you're new to the sapphire game, as I was, Miners Heritage Hidden gems Unearth a few surprises at the central Queensland gemfields. Belinda Peters 34 JUN/JLY 07 Tourism Queensland
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