Goondiwindi – Yelarbon Tourist Drive
Get off the highway and take advantage of Border Rivers Tourist Drive, an alternate route following the river from Yelarbon to Goondiwindi in the west or Yelarbon to Texas in the east. This is a sealed road with access to some good fishing spots to wet a line. In season, you will see cotton and wheat crops in paddocks beside the road.
Yelarbon Population: (approximately) 232
Take the Border River Tourist Drive turn-off from the big roundabout on the east of town 60km to Yelarbon and then return along the Cunningham Highway.
GOONDIWINDI NATURAL HERITAGE & WATER PARK
First stop 1km from the roundabout is the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage & Water Park, a purpose built 3km water channel provides great opportunities for water sports of all kinds including waterskiing, wakeboarding, canoeing and boating. The scenic walking trail is a perfect place to view the vast bird life , have a picnic on the lawn or swim at the “designated” area.
4km from the roundabout is the Salisbury Bridge. The bridge is only for stock to cross the river. On the NSW side is “Little Bondi” [best access is from the NSW side] which has a great sandbank into the river for swimming, fishing or a picnic.
17km ex Goondiwindi to Rainbow Reserve where the river is only 100m from the road, fishing, camping and swimming.
26km ex Goondiwindi to Yellowbank Reserve. Short drive from the road, dry weather only. Great camping, fishing and swimming spot.
30km ex Goondiwindi to Lees Reserve drive along a short lane to the entrance, dry weather only. Here a rock bar across the river forms really great camping, fishing and swimming spot.
34km ex Goondiwindi to Bengalla Reserve, dry weather only. Large reserve with plenty of room, fishing and camping where you can get down close to the river.
KEETAH CROSSING
53km ex Goondiwindi to Keetah Crossing into NSW and historic bridge, the best access to the river is from the NSW side.
60km ex Goondiwindi to Yelarbon where you can see spinifex, Desert Jewels walk, attractive lagoon, GrainCorp Art Silos, Dingo Barrier fence post, call in to the Oasis Hotel for a drink and a bite to eat.
Then 50km home to Goondiwindi along the Cunningham Highway. First 5km thought the “Yelarbon Desert” which is a geologically distinct area characteristics by a naturally occurring salinity scald. The soil is extremely alkaline and extremely sodic and is the most easterly occurrence of spinifex in Queensland.
Driving up a small rise the contrast could be more dramatic when you came into what is known as the Wondalli area with some of the best soil in the district with some great dryland crops of wheat, barley, chickpea and sorghum in season. 20km from Yelarbon at Wondalli Homestead the farmer has a display of historic farm machinery on the right beside the highway.
Another 30km back to Goondiwindi
