Our Towns
Ayr
Ayr is one of the Burdekin's major townships, sitting between Brandon and Home Hill on the northern side of the Burdekin River. The town's buzzing CBD is full of charm, with quirky cafes, friendly locals and boutique shops perfect for finding unique clothing, gifts or jewellery. You can easily spend a few hours wandering Queen Street, there's something for every taste and every budget.
Ayr is home to some of the region's most loved attractions, including the Burdekin Theatre, Burdekin Water Park, severals parks and playgrounds, the Stardust Drive-In Theatre and Ayr Nature Display, just to name a few. The town proudly hosts one of Queensland's longest-running festivals, the Burdekin Water Festival, celebrating the region's abundance of water with a Grande Parade and Street Party.
The Burdekin Shire is prime sugar country, with about 80,000 hectares of land under sugarcane, and an annual production of about 1.25 million tonnes of raw sugar. The district also contributes one-third of the nation's mango harvest and is a major producer of melons and many other fruit and vegetable varieties.
Home Hill
Situated on the southern side of the Burdekin Bridge, Home Hill is a welcoming township known for its rich history, friendly locals and strong community spirit. It's home to a variety of the region's attractions and events, making it a great place to stop, explore and experience local life.
Just south of the town, Mount Inkerman offers the best lookout points in the Burdekin. From the lookout, you'll find sweeping views over Home Hill, surrounding cane paddocks, the Burdekin River and Cape Upstart. It's the perfect photo stop or a peaceful place to stretch your legs.
In the heart of Home Hill, you'll find everything you need, including local pubs, the Home Hill Swimming Pool, newsagent, banks, chemists and a grocery store that's open 7 days a week. The Burdekin Gateway Visitor Information Centre and the Home Hill Comfort Stop are also conveniently located behind the main street, providing visitor services, clean facilities and helpful travel advice.
Home Hill is alive with events all year round with the major ones including the legendary Burdekin Growers Race Day, Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival, many large sporting events and the Home Hill Harvest Festival.
Brandon
Brandon is one of the most historic towns in the region. The Brandon Heritage Precinct is home to the restored St Patrick's Catholic Church, the former Brandon Railway Station, Iron Works Brewery and the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists. The Hotel Brandon is a great spot for a feed and if you are into cars, Pioneer Park Speedway and Brandon Motorcross Track have regular events throughout the year.
Giru
Situated between Ayr and Townsville, the township of Giru can be found just minutes from the Bruce Highway. Home to Invicta Mill, and known as the gateway to the Haughton River, the area is rich in fish, wildlife and natural beauty making it a must-visit for keen fishermen. If you are looking for a pub feed and to meet some friendly locals, the Giru International Hotel is a must do.
Clare
Clare is situated half an hour west of Ayr and boasts a swimming pool, school, corner store and the Clare Club. Farmers in the Clare area grow sugarcane and horticulture crops.
Dalbeg
Dalbeg is situated on the banks of the Burdekin River. It is a strong rural community that grows sugarcane, sandalwood trees and horticultural crops. To capture a magnificent view of the Burdekin River, make sure you stop at Cornford Lookout on your way to Dalbeg.
Millaroo
Millaroo is a small community with a social club and school. With a strong agricultural presence, it's worth a drive to see the diverse range of produce being grown.
Alva
Alva is just 16km from Ayr and is home to the popular Lynch's Beach which is a great spot to fish, walk and relax with family and friends. The township is comprised of permanent residents, holiday and vacation homes and accommodation at Alva Beach Tourist Park. Alva Park offers BBQ facilities, a playground, a half basketball court as well as toilets and showers. During the summer months, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club volunteers patrol a section of the beach.
Jerona
Jerona is just over half an hour's drive north of Ayr. The fishing township is home to a number of permanent residents and is surrounded by the Bowling Green Bay National Park. The picturesque town sits on the banks of Barratta Creek and offers excellent fishing and boat ramp facilities.
Groper Creek
Just 17km from Home Hill, Groper Creek feels miles away from the stress of everyday life. This peaceful creek-side village is home to around 50 permanent residents, along with a collection of weekenders and holiday homes that come alive during fishing season.
Groper Creek offers two boat ramps, a jetty, a children's playground and the popular Groper Creek Caravan Park, making it the ideal base for boating, fishing and relaxing by the water.
Wunjunga
Located 32km south of Home Hill, Wunjunga is a small coastal fishing village known for its sandy beaches, rolling waves and excellent fishing. The best way to enjoy Wunjunga is by setting up a tent or caravan at the Funny Dunny Park camping grounds. The small camping ground offers limited short stay camping for self-contained vehicles in return for $5 per night.