Travel Bulletin: February '17

Looking to get away but not sure where to go? You’ll be spoiled for choice with this list.

27th Annual Speed Week, Lake Gairdner (SA)
The Dry Lake Racers Australia (DLRA) conducts its annual Speed Week at Lake Gairdner in South Australia. It’s a straight-line speed event on ‘the big white dyno’, and it’s as fast as you can go in the remote Australian outback. There is no setting like it anywhere in the world; it is a truly unique event in a spectacular location. There is an amazing range of cars, motorcycles and trucks dating from the turn of the century to the modern day. Spectators are welcome, but you need to be pretty much self-sufficient. This year the event runs from February 27 to March 3. For more information, visit Dry Lake Racers Australia.

Texas Longhorns, Leahton Park (QLD)
This station stay offers something different. Leahton Park, just out of Charters Towers in North Queensland, offers accommodation and wagon tours of their unique property. This not only features water buffalo, American bison and African Watusi cattle, but also the biggest herd of Texas longhorn cattle in Australia. One of the steers, JR, has been certified with the longest horns in the world. For more information, visit Leahton Park.

Bush racing, Hinnomunjie Cup (VIC)
On Saturday, March 11, soak up the sun on the lush lawns or throw a rug under the shade of an old gum tree to enjoy some great bush racing at Hinnomunjie, north of the Vic High Country town of Omeo. Bring your own picnic or pre-purchase one from the local race club. Kids will be kept amused with plenty of free on-course entertainment, while live music, DJs, marquees and fashions on the field will be in full swing. For more information, visit Hinnomunjie Picnic Races.

Wooden Boat Festival, Hobart (TAS)
If you are down in Tassie, don’t miss one of the best festivals on the calendar. The Wooden Boat Festival will be held in Hobart from February 10-13. There will be lots of fun and entertainment to keep everyone amused, while the boats, from canoes to clipper ships, are the main attraction. For more information, visit the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

Night Rodeo, Hay (NSW)
It might be a bit warm out west in summer, but there’ll still be lots of fun and action at the Hay Night Rodeo on Saturday, February 18, from 6.00pm. Highlights include the open bull ride, saddle bronc rides, the ladies barrel race and clowns. There’s $10K up for grabs for the competitors, while a bar is on site for the spectators. Camping is available nearby. For more information, visit the Hay Shire Council website.

Marree Man, Finnis Springs Plateau (SA)
The original giant etching, or geoglyph, of an Aboriginal man with a throwing stick was discovered in 1998, but its origins remain shrouded in mystery. The original figure, some 4.2km long, was probably created by a grader or dozer cutting the 28km outline on a flat section of plateau country near Lake Eyre. After years of negotiation with the traditional owners, Marree Hotel owners, Phil and Maz Turner, and Trevor Wright of Wright Air, based in William Creek, are proud to say the rejuvenated ‘Marree Man’ can now be seen once again from the air. For more information, visit The Maree Hotel website.

Evandale village fair (TAS)
The Evandale Village Fair is being held on February 18. There will be plenty of attractions and entertainment including working steam tractors, farm machinery, old-time horse-drawn vehicles, fabulously restored vintage cars and the famous, ever-popular and entertaining Penny Farthing bike races, with competitors coming from all over Australia to test their skill. For information, visit Evandale Village Fair.