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Explore Charters Towers

Explore Charters Towers

Historic Charters Towers is rich - in all senses of the word - in history. From its prosperous gold mining days, to the wartime past - take a road trip back in time to Charters Towers.

Highlights
  • Explore the oldest and largest surviving Battery in Queensland – The Venus Gold Battery
  • See the amazing Longhorns 
  • Pan for gold and keep what you find!

Day 1

Day 1

Here is our top 'things to do' in Charters Towers.

Gold Rush Country

On the outskirts of Charters Towers sits the oldest and largest surviving Battery in Queensland – The Venus Gold Battery. Built in 1872, this mill provided gold extraction facilities to miners for over a century. The huge “stampers” pounded away through the day and night extracting the precious gold from quartz up until 1973.

The Venus Gold Battery is of national and cultural significance, and well worth a visit. Guided tours are available throughout the year and suitable for all ages. One of the highlights is a fascinating film presentation that shows not only the process of extracting gold from ore, but also the story of the Battery's working life and some of its ghosts.

Tours run daily but times vary depending on the day of the week. Bookings are encouraged and can be made at www.visitcharterstowers.com.au

Look at the size of those HORNS!

Yep, you will definitely be saying that a lot if you go on a Texas Longhorn Tour with Charters Towers locals Michael and Lynda Bethel. Situated just 10 km from town is Leahton Park, there is nowhere else in Australia that guests can take a canvas covered wagon or open air safari ride whilst viewing the magnificent Texas Longhorn herd and learn some of the history of this iconic and colourful breed of cattle and the influence they had throughout the world. But that isn't all you get on one of these tours with a traditional smoko and guided walk through the Love Shack, Cattle Yard and Saddle Shop.

Tours run at 9am daily between May and October and bookings are essential as this experience is very popular.

Heritage, History and Heart

Charters Towers might be a small country town but she has heart and a whole bag of history to match. Apart from Gold, Charters Towers is also well known for it's part in World War II with over 15,000 US Servicemen being stationed in the town. Bunkers used to store artillery and bombs are still scattered amongst the hillside of Towers Hill and have recently received a 21st Century upgrade with new Augmented Reality technology added.

Park at the bottom of the hill and follow the newly built pathway up the hill to the bunkers - don't forget to take your phone so you can download the "Towers Hill in WWII" app to experience the three different AR displays.

Top tip: Stay the night so you can enjoy Towers Hill even more with the perfect spot for a Sunset Experience, cute selfie opportunities with the local rock wallabies and even a movie - Ghosts after Dark.

Day 2

Day 2
Discover the Ghosts of Gold

If there is one fact about Charters Towers that you need to remember it's that it was once the largest goldfield in all of Australia! That's right, this little country town was once full of gold miners looking to strike it rich and many of the buildings and structures still remain to this very day. To learn more about this rich mining history and the ghosts of Charters Towers past start at the Visitor Information Centre and Stock Exchange Arcade on Mosman Street. From here you can hire the Ghosts of Gold Audio Self Drive Tour which will lead you around the town highlighting important buildings and stories along the way.

Strike Gold

There might not be massive nuggets of gold laying around anymore but you can still take home your very own piece of Charters Towers Gold if you know where to go. The easiest way is to visit The Miner's Cottage, here you can learn how to pan for gold and keep what you find! A great experience for the big and little at heart. If you want to get a little more adventurous then why not try fossicking at Young's Block. Grab a fossicking permit online and head out to try your luck at finding your very own nugget of gold.

Day 3

Day 3
Ravenswood 

Located 89 kilometres east of Charters Towers, the heritage-listed township of Ravenswood was once a thriving gold mining town but today is a little quieter. A must-see historical town, Ravenswood still has an operational gold mine to this day and you can even view the old open cut pit from a lookout just outside the main town area. Historical displays and buildings are dotted through the streets making an early afternoon walk quite the interesting history lesson. If nature is more of your thing than head out to White Blow Environmental Park and take in the huge quartz outcrop.

If you love the quirky and unique then book yourself a room at The Railway Hotel for the night. Terry and his amazing staff sure know country hospitality with scrumptious meals, cold beers, a Whiskey Bar and even vintage car display. It's hard to only stay one night!

Get outback to charters towers

The outback town of Charters Towers, 130kms west of Townsville along the Overlander’s Way, might seem like an average quiet community but let us help you unearth some Outback secrets and stories of yesteryear. Once the largest goldfield in Australia, Charters Towers is now home to 10,000 residents, and you’ll be glad to know there is still a pub or watering hole on every corner thanks to the gold rush days of the early 1900’s.

Surrounded by quintessentially Outback landscapes and home to some of most unique experiences and attractions, Charters Towers is a must do...so, let's explore next door!

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