There is nothing quite like a country town. We loved our time in country Queensland, including travelling Dinosaur Trail, and visiting a cattle station in Richmond.
The taste of the fresh air, friendly locals, quiet surrounds
and unique architecture, art and culture. Country towns are a world unto their own.
There’s nothing like the colours of the country
Goondiwindi, NSW, ticks all these boxes, plus some!
Staying at the Goondiwindi Top Park, we based ourselves in town with a plan to explore the area. The swimming pool was welcome relief in the hot, dry weather.
We really appreciated a swim at the Goondiwindi Top Park to cool down
The focus of this stay was getting to know some of the
locals, taking tours around town to better understand local industry, and enjoy
the atmosphere of the town.
We began with the Goondiwindi Cotton Farm Tour. Hands up if you know all about cotton farming in Australia? We do now! In the midst of a severe drought, farmers are trialing innovative farming methods to grow crops, using technology and their knowledge of the land to survive in the tough conditions.
The boys got to explore some of the machinery
Goondiwindi Cotton is a fabulous, family owned, community focused
business. Over time, they have employed locals to grow cotton, weave twine, sew
garments, work in the store, and the business has grown from its country
origins, expanding across Australia. They continue to support locals, donating
excess garments to the local nursing home and supporting local events and
organisations.
We got to enjoy damper as part of the tour. The boys declared the damper in Australia!
The tour took us firstly around town, where local, Faye,
explained the history of the town and impact of the seasonal weather changes.
Continuing onto the farm, we were taken to see the dam, learning all about the
crops, and we even got to have a go at irrigating techniques, get up and close
to the machinery, see a ginning machine in action, and learn how our tshirts are
made from the freshly harvested cotton. It was a very hand on experience, and
great for our boys.
We learnt how our t-shirts are made from the cotton bale to the garment on our backs
Later in the day, we joined the town art and sculpture trail, visiting private property and enjoying the unique sculptures made by a local artist.
This local artowork oozed with the atmosphere of country NSW
Whilst in town, we also visited the Coolmunda Olive Farm and the local museum.
If it’s a country experience you are after, we highly recommend Goondiwindi. The locals will appreciate your support.
