Postcards Home with Emily Darlow

When Gary and Gail Bruhn retired in 2014, they promised themselves they wouldn’t spend retirement sitting still.

Since then, the Queensland couple have travelled extensively throughout Queensland, across Australia and around much of the world, mixing caravanning adventures with cruises and international sightseeing. Their latest trip, however, reminded them that some of the country’s most memorable experiences can still be found in their own backyard.

Originally, the couple had planned an adventure to Uluru with friends from Mackay and the United States, but with uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Iran and concerns about fuel availability, they decided to change course. Rather than cancelling altogether, they packed up the caravan and headed west to explore more of Outback Queensland.

“We decided to still head out on our own to explore Queensland,” Gary says.

Setting off from Brisbane, they travelled through Roma, Charleville, Tambo, Barcaldine, Muttaburra, Longreach, Winton and Julia Creek before circumstances unexpectedly brought them home a little earlier than planned.

One of the biggest surprises came almost immediately.

“There had been a lot of talk in the media about fuel, so we thought there may not be a lot of people on the road,” Gary says.

Instead, they found bustling caravan parks, busy streets and thriving country towns.

“It was great to see the Outback towns busy,” Gail says.

While the landscape wasn’t quite what Gail had expected after recent flooding, there was still plenty to admire.

“I’d thought it would be greener after the floods, but there was still a lot of rugged Outback terrain,” she says. “There was lots of birdlife out and about though.”

As seasoned travellers, Gary and Gail deliberately looked beyond the attractions they had already experienced on previous visits, seeking out new adventures and hidden gems along the way.

In Roma, a tasting at the Western Queensland Spirit Distillery became one of the trip’s unexpected highlights, while in Charleville they enjoyed a fascinating tour of the historic Hotel Corones. At Tambo, Ben’s famous Chicken Racing provided plenty of laughs, and the self-drive Lake Dunn Sculptural Trail near Barcaldine proved well worth the detour.

Longreach delivered some of the trip’s biggest thrills.

The couple loved their experiences with Outback Pioneers, particularly climbing aboard an authentic Cobb & Co stagecoach.

“The thrill of riding up front in an old Cobb and Co Stagecoach at speed was pretty memorable,” Gary says.

Their sunset cruise and dinner along the Thomson River also ranked among the experiences they would recommend to anyone visiting the region.

Winton, however, continues to hold a special place in their hearts.

“We have been there many times and it never disappoints,” Gail says.

This visit included an evening with the Crack Up Sisters’ Dusty Hour performance at the Dustarena, which the couple describe as highly entertaining, before finishing the night beneath some of Australia’s clearest skies at the Gondwana Stars Observatory at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs.

“If you want to see the darkest skies possible, don’t go during a full moon,” Gary says.

One of the meals they still talk about came from the North Gregory Hotel in Winton, while another memorable stop was soaking in the artesian baths at Julia Creek Caravan Park beneath the wide Outback sky overlooking the surrounding grassland plains.

Despite concerns before leaving, fuel shortages never eventuated, making travelling throughout the region far easier than expected.

Unfortunately, the journey was cut short following a death in the family, forcing the couple to return home from Julia Creek earlier than planned.

Even so, the road trip delivered the kinds of moments that linger long after the caravan is unpacked.

Meeting Gregory North, the resident poet at Winton’s North Gregory Hotel, and hearing an Outback Pioneers performer recite Clancy of the Overflow were among the memorable encounters from the trip.

Although Gary admits he enjoys planning holidays with detailed spreadsheets, the couple are equally happy to go off script whenever something interesting appears along the roadside.

For anyone considering an Outback Queensland adventure, Gary says the biggest lesson is to leave room for surprises.

“Expect the unexpected. There are some amazing little finds in Outback Queensland that people don’t always know about.”

Gail agrees and encourages travellers to embrace experiences they might not normally consider.

“Don’t be afraid to try new experiences. That stagecoach ride isn’t something people might think of first, but it was very memorable.”

When asked which single moment she would relive tomorrow if she could, Gail doesn’t hesitate.

“Sitting around a campfire gazing at the endless stars in the Outback sky. It really gives you perspective on how lucky we are to live in such a great state.”

And while they’ve only just returned home, retirement means there’s always another adventure waiting.

Their next stop? Camping at Gum Tree Lodge in Howard before continuing on to Bargara with friends, proving that for Gary and Gail, the best souvenir is always the next trip.