Travel: Pelican Rest Tourist Park, St George, Qld

Words: Jackie Mitchell

We had stayed overnight in St George on only two previous occasions, both times going to and coming back from far north Qld, and we liked what we saw.

St George, situated on the mighty Balonne River, was discovered by the explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell, on St George's Day, April 23, 1846, and originally built its wealth on the backs of merino sheep. Wool remains a major agricultural industry today, and along with tourism and cotton, St George continues to thrive.

In our previous stopover, we promised ourselves that we would make a concentrated effort to return soon and to stay a few days. "Soon" came some 10 months later in April 2004 when we rolled into town late one Friday afternoon.

We had previously stayed at the Pelican Rest Tourist Park, 2km north of the township on the Carnarvon Highway, and we remembered it as being a particularly well laid out caravan park with wide aisles and a spotlessly clean amenities block, and one that gladly took dogs. We knew Patchy Boy - our 14-year-old bull terrier - would feel welcome there.

When we requested a powered site, away from the park centre, owner Marg Poplawski answered, "Not a problem," as her little terrier came scampering up to me. "We love dogs; they are very much part of our family, too."

Marg and her husband John have lived on the site since 1980, and this caravan park, built in 2000, is their first. Marg also teaches in a community-based education program for indigenous students, while John helps out a mate with cattle droving.

Situated on six beautiful acres, Pelican Rest has 40 sites, many drive-through ("No rig is too big," says Marg); plenty of camp sites; a large, full amenities block (seven ladies' and five gents' toilets, plus eight shower cubicles and bathroom access for a disabled person); camp kitchen; four superb cabins (two with spas) and eight multi units.

We settled for a site that would take our LandCruiser Troopie and offroad camper trailer, and still give us some privacy.

A perfect day dawned and around mid-morning we were joined next door by a delightful Grafton, NSW, couple, Geoff and Rae Gilmore, with their camper trailer. We bade them farewell as we headed off to explore the town of St George.

"Exploring" soon found us at the Riversands Vineyards, on Whytes Road, a little way through the township on the Balonne - surely one of Queensland's great rivers.

We sampled Riversands' finest drops: crisp whites, delightful reds, a muscat to die for, and a wonderful tawny port with the intriguing name, FGP! (We'll leave that for your own imaginations.)

There's an impressive array of jams and chutney, and pottery, including limited edition riding boots moulded from the boots of outback droving legend Edna Jessop, and filled with tawny port.

Our newfound friends Rae and Geoff duly appeared and we whiled away the time, taking in the sensory delights of Riversands.

Suddenly a pack of police cars appeared, and we panicked, thinking, strewth... we had had a few wines, officer, but isn't this taking FBT a bit too seriously? But we relaxed somewhat as the force and their families shook out tablecloths and unloaded picnic baskets.

We didn't need much convincing that, with the entire St George police force "off-duty", it was a good time for four happy travellers to be hitting the road.

Returning that night to Pelican Rest, we alighted from the Troopie to sounds of a melodious voice coming from the camp kitchen. It belonged to semi-retired entertainer Sharon Barry, accompanied by her laptop computer! Sharon and her husband Frank travel around outback Qld, offering their services to clubs, private parties and caravan parks. We joined Rae and Geoff for a most delightful evening as Sharon worked her way through a repertoire of magic tunes.

St George is one heck of a town. A landmark of sorts is the Cobb & Co Hotel on the corner of Victoria and Henry streets. Lit up at night, the Cobb & Co is an impressive piece of Qld architecture.

Well worth a visit is the world-famous Rosehill Aviaries, with its collection of over 600 birds, situated 64km west of St George. Be sure to see the illuminated hand-carved emu eggs at the Unique Egg in the heart of town, or the delightful riverside park with its memorial plaques.

The St George Tourism Centre is a lovely place to potter through, while the Heritage Centre in Victoria St is a wonderful museum of timeless treasures.

Travellers are well catered for, with some eight hotel/motels, five caravan parks, four clubs, nine churches, five banks (well, there were when we last looked), and a veritable feast of restaurants, plus... a veterinary clinic. Now, you never know when you might need one of those!

Pelican Rest Tourist Park fast facts

Location
12022 Carnarvon Hwy, St George, south-west Qld. Book on (07) 4625 3398, fax (07) 4625 1033, email: pelicanrest@growzone.com.au
Or just drop in - you will be most welcome!

Park rates
Powered sites (two persons) per night: $18-$20 (extra person $6).
Unpowered sites: $15 per night.
Cabins/villas (ensuite): $60-$70 (two people) per night (extra person $10).
Cabins/villas (no ensuite): $50 (two people) per night (extra person $10).
Children from zero to two stay free of charge in existing bedding. Children from two to 18 are $5 per night.
Pets conditional.