Queensland's Central Highlands

Central Highlands seems a bit of a strange name for this area of Queensland - we are only about 250m above sea level and it's generally pretty flat.  There are some "mountains" though. The Peak Range cuts through the Peak Downs with stark peaks jutting out from the flat hinterland.  This is coal mining country and some of the towns only exist because the mining industry has built them.

From Capella there are a number of self-drive tours on both sealed and unsealed roads.  We've done a few of these drives.  One took us through the black soil downs with broad acre farming, then through sandy grazing country, past the German Creek Mine, to the mining town of Tieri where we picnicked under the trees before heading back to Capella.








Another day we drove to Emerald, then back to Capella via the gem mining areas of Sapphire and Rubyvale.  Emerald is a major centre about 50 km south of Capella.  In 2010/2011 much of the town was flooded.  Luckily for us, no floods here this year.  We stopped off at Rubyvale to look at one of the many gem shops - lovely local sapphires and zircons.  We drank mango and banana smoothies overlooking a park.

50km north is Clermont, much smaller than Emerald, with a lovely Queenslander pub and painted train carts.  Below the town is Hoods Lagoon with picnic areas and a waterside walk.  We ate our lunch watched by the local ducks, egrets and waterhens.  There were plenty of turtles swimming amongst the waterlilies.

Clermont had a major flood in 1916, with about 60 people killed.  Following the flood, the town was moved to a safer area.  A piano was found 32ft up a tree.  There is a memorial tree marking the level of the flood.

Capella, half way between Emerald and Clermont is a quiet town with plenty going for it.  We've enjoyed our week here and can understand why some people have come for a few weeks and stayed for years.  There is a memorial to the Australian Light Horse here.  Legend has it that it was near Capella that members of the Light Horse first put emu feathers into their slouch hats.  Near the memorial are some fantastic bottle trees with their swollen trunks.

Tomorrow we are heading south towards Roma.  We plan to take a few days to get there.