TOURS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO, AND AROUND, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Tours of the Central Highlands range from organised and conducted tours - that can link to your car, coach, rail and air connections - to the self drive tour.

Emerald Coaches are able to arrange conducted tours for groups, large and small.
Emerald Coaches - Ph 074982 4444 Webpage http://www.emeraldcoaches.com.au

Free Blair Athol mine tours operate Tuesdays and Fridays departing from the tourist information centre in Hershal Street at 8.45am. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning 07 4983 3292 or 07 4983 1927.

SELF DRIVE TOURS

The eight Central Highlands Tourist Routes can be used as individual self drive tours, or as an alternative route between major roads that encompasses sites of interest.
Routes 4 and 7 are sealed. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for the southern section of Route 6 and for Route 1.

1. Salvator Rosa National Park and entry road. Off Dawson Developmental Road.
Attractions: Bird watching, springs, peat bogs and sandstone formations.
2. Carnarvon Gorge and entry road. Off the Great Inland Way.
Attractions: Aboriginal sites, walking tracks, unique flora, bird watching.
3. Old Rainworth Fort via Wealwandangie Road. Off the Great Inland Way.
Attractions: National Trust listed early settlers’ history, grasslands.
4. Lake Maraboon loop. From the Great Inland Way to the Capricorn Highway.
Attractions: Fairbairn Dam, red claw crayfishing, irrigation channels.
5. Blackdown Tableland National Park and entry road. Off the Capricorn Highway.
Attractions: Waterfalls, Aboriginal sites, walking tracks.
6. Willows Gemfields loop. From the Capricorn Hwy to the Dawson Developmental Rd.
Attractions: Shallow hand digging fossicking areas, four wheel driving.
7. Sapphire Fossicking Areas - Capella loop. From the Great Inland Way to the Capricorn Hwy.
Attractions: Tourist mines, Gem Crafts, Fossicking Parks, Timber Reserve, Farming History.
8. Copperfield Historic Area - Clermont loop. From the Great Inland Way to the Capella-Rubyvale Rd.
Attractions: Theresa Creek Dam, Copperfield Smelter Chimney.

Each Shire on the Central Highlands is developing, or has developed, self drive tours within their Shire. Brochures detailing the routes and points of interest along each drive are available from local Visitor Information Centres.