I try to outsmart the virus.

[Pushka]

Is this outdoors? Not keen in indoor wildlife in restaurants….

It's under cover and a mix of both. They were there five years ago too. But these days? Hmmmm. And there are bats...

 

[MARTINE]

It's under cover and a mix of both. They were there five years ago too. But these days? Hmmmm. And there are bats...

Hmmm indeed…

 

[MARTINE]

Well tonight's dinner was what it should be like. Good food and very good service. Though we did hear from a couple of the staff that all restaurant staff had a meeting today with the F&B manager about the problems of last night.

So the food.
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And the visitors.
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So @drron your final score out of 10?

 

[Pushka]

Gotta love it. Hayman is being previewed right now on Getaway. Looks glorious. We know better. But wait, there's a girl in a bikini in your room drron

 

[drron]

Gotta love it. Hayman is being previewed right now on Getaway. Looks glorious. We know better. But wait, there's a girl in a bikini in your room drron

No there wasn't.

And Martine there were some good points.Dinner on the last night was what I expected.The room was fantastic though a couple of grades upgrade presumably because platinum and ambassador status but really because poor occupancy.
On the other hand the poor experience in their Asian fusion restaurant was inexcusable.
Overall probably a 7/10.If paying full price then not great value for money.Much preferred Saffire and the Great Southern ocean lodge as Australian luxury resorts and both better value and much more personal service.

But if you go this time of year is not bad.Saw breaching whales on our trip to Hayman and again from the beach whilst on Hayman.no photos as really a bit too far away.Still nice to see.

 

[drron]

So back to our recent road trip.Problems with the travel computer on the trip and back home mrsdrron had me out in the garden.My back has only settled down in the last 2 days.
As we left the Sculpture exhibits in Roma our car was inspected by the local ducks.


Just up the road is the Big rig.A museum of the oil and gas industry in this area.
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The trees along the roads are boabs.
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We then refueled at the local BP.A very smart pee wee.As soon as I stopped he flew down and was picking insects off the car.He didn't budge when I walked straight past him.When we left he went to the next car.
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I the went for a short walk in the Roma Bush Garden.
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[drron]

Now a selection of buildings starting with the Courthouse and old Government buildings.
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And a real junk shop.
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But doing better than the number 1 Draper shop.
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[MARTINE]

Now a selection of buildings starting with the Courthouse and old Government buildings.
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And a real junk shop.
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But doing better than the number 1 Draper shop.
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Thankyou for sharing these

 

[drron]

I liked this building and thought it looked like a government construction.
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But I learnt it was actually part of the building on the corner
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and the buildings in between.
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They were all the old Council Chambers.
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The Foundation Stones.
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[drron]

The last of the buildings in central Roma.
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A big boab.
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We decided we just wanted a quick meal .KFC was close so that is what we had.A lot of years since we last had it.The colonel must have taken his secrets to the grave.It was awful.So our last ever KFC meal we will be in Roma.

 

[drron]

The next morning we st out for Emerald.As you go out of town you pass what was until recently one of the oldest vineyards in Australia.At one stage the only surviving QLD winery.Famous for their fortified wines.Stopped here on a previous visit and sampled their products.
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The wattle was blooming.
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Several areas of roadworks.
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[drron]

We stopped for a coffee at Rolleston.Definitely has seen better times.We stopped at Beazely Park and the community coffee cart.
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ROLLESTON COFFEE CART IN THE PARK | mysite

www.rollestonrag.com

From that site you can download the latest edition of the Rolleston rag -August 2018.
Several points of interest in the park including the old Post Office which is being renovated with proceeds from the coffee cart.
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Out on the highway some more flat country.actually the brolgas moved too fast.
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[drron]

Short stop in Springsure for a driver change.The town is dominated by Mt.Zamia and Virgin Rock.
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You descend onto the flat country and again lots of irrigated crops.
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And the odd coal mine.
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And some silos awaiting some art at Gindie.An important town in the history of agriculture in Central QLD.In 1898 the Gindie State Farm was set up here for agricultural research.
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[drron]

We arrived in Emerald a little after 3pm.A great display of bouganvillea as you arrive.
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A quick stop at the reject shop to get some cheap cleaning clothes.The Merc has a front camera which is part of the system for automatic braking and it doesn't like it after going through floodwater as we did in May or on this trip the build up of insects.
We then went and checked in to the Central palms Motel.Basically it was next to a TA recommended restaurant and it is on Qantas hotels.Though because of the change in the timing of the trip ended up a direct booking saving $20.And we got their suite.
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With an extra bed in the kitchen.
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It is pretty old but comfortable.

 

[drron]

After checking in we went to the information office.Got there just as they were about to close at 4pm..
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If you are into big things then Emerald needs to be on your list for this.
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Yes the Big Easel.Van Gogh's Sunflowers.One of the crops around these parts.
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[drron]

The pathway to the Big easel has mosaics representing industry,agriculture history etc of the district.
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[drron]

A small collection of buildings at the Information Centre.
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An impressive railway station.
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[RB]

I have a cousin in Emerald. From what I see of Facebook posts they have a very strong art group there. Really enjoying your report

 

[drron]

We then went to the Botanic Gardens.large with lots of walkways.Dominated by one of the iconic features of country Australia.
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Coming in from this entrance one of the first thing you see is the Western Australian garden.Very few plants.I expressed my disappointment to a fellow walking with his one son.His answer was a classic.Well they haven't been part of Australia for some time now.Must have been an AFFer.
A lovely walk.
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Some interesting sculptures.
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Several lagoons.
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[drron]

A really pleasant walk.
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A natural sculpture.
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