Queensland Holidays - Destinations - Blackwater
Blackwater
Heading west the small town of Dingo is home to the annual World Championship Dingo Trap Throwing competition and 11km down the road is the turnoff to Blackdown Tableland National Park.
Here an undulating plateau of sandstone formed millions of years ago rises approximately 600 metres above the surrounding area and is broken by deep gorges and plunging waterfalls. The Tableland is part of the territory of the Ghungalu Aboriginal people and bushwalkers are rewarded with sweeping views and ever-changing vegetations.
Blackwater sits in the coal rich Bowen Basin. 10km east of town tourists stop and gaze at the activity surrounding the Yarrabee coal loading facility. Giant dozers work on stockpiles and a huge coal loader regularly fills 100 carriage coal trains. Early explorer Ludwig Leichhardt first discovered coal deposits in the area in 1845.
Stop in Blackwater and rest at the Japanese Gardens, an oasis that marks the Sister Town relationship with Fujisawa, Japan. For recreational sports such as fishing, boating and skiing Bedford Weir 25km north of the town offers shady areas on the banks of the Mackenzie River. Call into Comet, 15minutes drive west of Blackwater, to see the Ludwig Leichhardt 'DIG' tree.
