Goondiwindi Things to Do

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If you happen to be in Goondiwindi when the Wheat harvest is in full swing, then you may find it a bit noisier and busier than usual.
If it has been a good season, then you will see huge mounds covered often in blue, white or yellow tarpaulins, these are covering the excess grain that will not fit into the Silos.
Also, the trucks carrying the grain work all through the night, bringing the grain into Graincorp Operations where they unload there trucks.
All through-out this area, we saw lots of excess grain mounds, so we know, it must have been a good season for the local farmers.

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We did both. First, we walked the main street, having a look in the shop windows, and then admiring the different styles of architecture. Some had been painted since my last visit, one of these was the Cinema which is built in the Art Deco style.
After the main street, we then drove around some of the back streets, and it was here where we found some lovely old wooden Queenslander homes. These are beautiful if they are painted and looked after.

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"Bird Watching" is something I enjoy when on holiday. It is a chance to see some of the Australian Birds that are in my Bird book, which I happen to take with me.

Goondiwindi is rich in Bird life. About 200 species have been identified in the area, ranging from small Birds, like Wrens, to large Birds like Eagles.
Some of the more unusual are spotted bowerbirds, plum-headed finches, grey-crowned babblers and freckled ducks. Best to pick up the "Bird Watching in the Goondiwindi Region" brochure from the Information centre. It makes identification much easier.
Also, In April when the crops are being harvested, where-ever there are silos, and wheat or other grain has been spilt, you will be sure to find Parrots cleaning up the seed.

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The water park is somewhere we love, so this time in Goondiwindi, we returned there again.

It's part of the Serpentine Creek that has been converted to form the Natural Heritage & Water Park. It's here where watersports like watersking, wakeboarding, canoeing and boating can be enjoyed. There is a designated area for swimming, including beach, lots of lawned area, toilets & hot showers [free], gas bbqs, tables and chairs, walking tracks, and absolutely heaps of bird life.

Located on the grass, were heaps of Parrots, including Sulphur crested Cockatoos, Galahs and Corellas, something to see if you are an oversea's visitor.

To get there take the Kildonan Road exit of the Cunningham/Newell Highway roundabout and turn the first left into Johnson Road. The entrance is through the gates further up the road on the right.

Opening Times:6:00am - 8:00pm

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The riverside walk was a very pleasant way to enjoy the end of the day in Goondiwindi.

The walk is 2kms, is paved and follows the town's levee bank. We didn't walk the whole way, but what we did, we enjoyed. We came across a large, historic Red River Gum, these are beautiful trees. We also had nice views of the Border bridge.
Want birdlife, well this is the place to be, birds love the gums that line the River MacIntyre. At dusk, I've been told Wallabies may be seen.

The walk beings at Riddles Oval in Lagoon Street and ends at the corner of Delacy Street and Macintyre Lane.

Easy walking for all ages.

When I first laid eyes on the Victoria Hotel, I thought wow! what an amazing Hotel.
Nicely painted in black and white, and recently renovated, this Hotel stands out in the city centre.

It was built during Queen Victoria's reign, so was named after her.
The original Victoria Hotel was a single-storey wooden building with a shingle roof, and included hitching posts and horse troughs
In the 1920’s, a William Pendock and his wife Margaret bought the little pub and made many changes, including adding rooms until they had a total of fifty.
The building is still pretty well the same as it was back then, a mix of Victoriana, Jazz Age, and Early Colonial.

In the 1960’s, it was sold to Mr George Pippos who was a member of the syndicate who raced Gunsynd, and he named his new Gunsynd Lounge after the champion. He has made many other improvements.
The wide verandahs today are still unchanged, and are used as vantage points for street processions.

There are stories of horsemen riding into the bar and lassooing bottles from the shelves in the old days. Sounds like the wild, wild west, but in Austalia!
In the 1956 floods, a customer came to the bar in his boat!

Quite an amazing Hotel!

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Known as the "Border Bridge," this bridge is the border of New South Wales and Queensland.
It was built in 1914, and spans the MacIntyre River. It is quite busy with traffic, as this is one of the main transport routes between Australian capital cities. Years ago, duties were collected by Customs, this no longer happens. If you visit the "Custom's House,' there are details of this time.

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This time in Goondiwindi, I decided to visit the information centre and find out what accommodation was available. They helped me with this, and I picked up some pamphlets too.
At the centre, is a Museum on Gunsynd which was a famous racehorse from Goondiwindi. A donation was required for entry, so I also had a look at the Museum.
On the outside wall of the Centre was a large mural showing all the towns and sights of the area, quite helpful for those looking for somewhere else to see nearby.

Open 7 days: 9.00am - 5.00pm.....Located in the McLean Street Library Complex