Cooyar, QLD

Located north of Toowoomba on the New England Highway, Cooyar is a tranquil country village. The wide verandahs of Cooyar Hotel are a friendly spot for a drink and the low-down on what to see and do around the town. You’ll have to be up early or wait patiently at dusk to spot a platypus in Cooyar Creek. The best vantage is from the suspension bridge in Swinging Bridge Park. This suspension bridge was rebuilt in 1988 after a devastating flood swept away the previous bridge, a local hall, three houses and several cars.

Each February Cooyar’s Agricultural Show features great country competitions, including a night rodeo.

Easily accessed from Cooyar, the Palms National Park preserves remnant rainforest and a stand of piccabeen palms in a spring-fed gully. Whilst at the park enjoy a 650 metre circuit walk looking for grey-headed flying foxes camping over the creek in summers and black-breasted button quails in winter and spring. See the piccabeen palms, large strangler figs, Bunya and hoop pine trees and buttressed trees.