Ayr and Home Hill in a Day
The Burdekin is home to several pieces of artwork commissioned to give a splash of colour to the district. Eight are scattered throughout the streets of Home Hill. Download the Burdekin Art Trail and start your morning checking out these pieces designed specifically for our region. Whilst on your art trail, keep an eye out for Pioneer Avenue, located in Eighth Avenue. After getting your photo with the artwork, stop in at the Home Hill Bakery and pack your picnic basket to enjoy your morning tea at Mt Inkerman.
Before making your way up the hill, take a left off the Bruce Highway and visit the No 211 Radar Station on Charlie’s Hill. It was one of twenty radar installations along the North Queensland coastline. These operated to provide early warning of approaching enemy aircraft during World War II. When visiting this historic site, igloos of reinforced concrete which provided bomb-proof protection for the radar equipment can still be seen.
We don't want you to be hungry so take your picnic basket up to the Mt Inkerman Lookout. This lookout offers breath-taking panoramic views of the Burdekin Region. There is also a wealth of information on display about the significance to local indigenous tribes.
Once your belly is full, head back across the bridge to Ayr and complete your Burdekin Art Trail experience with the remaining pieces of artwork. Then, to complete your day trip, we suggest you go to Alva Beach and relax either on the beach or in the shady park area. For those wanting a bit of an adventure, take your stand up paddle board or boogy board to the beach for a spin!
From Ayr to Giru (via Clare)
If you are after a trip on the road less travelled (by the conventional vehicle), this one is for you. You will find yourself immersed amongst the cane fields and vege patches as you make your way to Claredale Pasture. Before you stop in for a mouth-watering morning tea, continue past Clare along Dalbeg Road. On your left, you will see a clearing that has a wonderful view of the Burdekin River. This area is named Cornford Lookout. You will also see some of the track that is used to transport sugar cane back to the mills.
Following your stop, head back towards the township of Clare. Turn left onto Granshaw Road, right onto George Road, left onto School Road and follow until you reach Claredale Pastures. This estate was previously known as the Burdekin Agricultural College and now is run as a private farm and Paddock to Plate experience. Here, you will be amazed by the Windmill Cafés selection of sweet and savoury items. Remember your esky too, as farm fresh meat is available for purchase from the café.
Once you have filled up on coffee and cake, it’s time to take a look at the recently opened Haughton Solar Farm. Take a left onto Barratta Road as you leave Claredale Pastures and drive for approximately 15 minutes until you take a left onto Keith Venables Road. Follow this road until you reach the Haughton Solar Farm. There are 400,000 individual solar panels within this solar farm and there are plans to expand further in the future.
After leaving the Haughton Solar Farm, head back towards the Bruce Highway towards Giru. Here you will see Invicta Mill smack bang in the middle of town and the sweet smell of crushed sugar cane can be smelt if travelling throughout the months of June to November. You might be lucky enough to catch a cane fire during your trip! While in Giru, watch out for a piece of artwork on our Burdekin Art Trail and of course you have to check out the Giru International Hotel. Here, you are sure to meet a local and hear about the history of the restored local train station that now acts as a historical information centre.