railtrail Archives - Azadi Far Ride

Golden Trails: Stock Routes Spark Rural Prosperity

SJ — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:05:46 +0000

Dust off your Akubras and lace up those hiking boots – the Aussie outback is gearing up for a wild transformation. Those old stock routes, once reserved for cattle hooves, could be morphed into vibrant trails of promise, injecting millions into rural communities and connecting us all to the beating heart of the land. But hold on, this isn’t just a local affair – this outback boom taps into a global phenomenon, a worldwide gold rush fuelled by recreational trails!

Picture This

Picture sun-kissed cyclists breezing past your bakery, pockets jingling with coins for a meat pie and a chat about drovers of old. Imagine hikers popping into your store for locally-made hats and sunscreen, eyes gleaming with the promise of ancient gorges and starry skies. See campers splashing their cash on First Nation guided cultural tours, sharing whispers of the land etched in sandstone and mulga groves. This isn’t a desert mirage; it’s a reality that paints a picture of prosperity.

Around the globe, people enjoying recreational trails have added a little boost to local economies by spending money during their visits and buying things that last, like equipment or souvenirs (Moore et al, 1994). A recent analysis in the Journal of Sustainable Ecotourism revealed that recreational trails have the potential to pump up to a staggering 5x as much value into regional economies for each dollar invested (Lukoseviciute et al, 2022).

Over Yonder

Across the pond, hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail draw in visitors, generating up to a whopping $125 million annually for nearby communities (Appalachian Trail Conservancy, n.d.). Some pilgrimage trails in Europe report an 18% increase in employment opportunities for the communities surrounding these trails, for every dollar spent (Interreg Europe, n.d.). And get this, right here in Australia, businesses along existing rail trails report a 10% to 70% increase in income and customers thanks to trail traffic (Rail Trails Australia, 2021)! That’s not just loose change; it’s a game-changer, bringing new cafes blooming in dusty streets, more jobs for your sons and daughters, and shiny new libraries for your kids to explore. Just imagine what our communities along the stock routes could do with that kind of boost!

But what about…?

Now, some might worry about trampled wallabies and grumpy graziers. Fear not! Stock route ecotourism, done right, strengthens the community, nourishes the land and restores stock routes to their former glory! Imagine communities working hand-in-hand with tourists and graziers to conserve these precious corridors, creating a win-win for nature, stock routes, and the people. These trails can be bridges, not bulldozers, forging connections between locals and visitors and fostering a shared appreciation for Australia’s magic. In simpler terms, carefully planning how we use stock routes for tourism can help keep the benefits of trails intact and handle the challenges of balancing fun activities, farming, and protecting the environment (Chen & Liaw, 2012). It’s not about compromising; it’s about finding a harmony that ensures the stock routes, communities, and land remain rich and vibrant for generations to come.

Communities Transformed

And let’s not forget the transformative power of tourism itself. Researh emphasises that tourism is a vital channel towards community socio-economic development, especially in rural contexts (Mnguni & Giampiccoli, 2017). It’s not just about visitors passing through; it’s about forging lasting bonds between communities and travellers, creating a sustainable path towards a brighter future.

Investing in trails is not just about economic prosperity; it’s a strategic move towards fostering a healthier and happier community. As we embark on this journey of diversifying stock routes into thriving recreational trails, let’s keep in mind the diverse benefits they bring. It’s not just about maintaining these traditional cultural pathways; it’s about building connections, enhancing lifestyles, and securing a prosperous future for our communities and the stock routes!

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But Why?

SJ — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 08:36:11 +0000

The decision to make this epic stock routes journey with my horses and share it with everyone.

I am not doing this in partnership with a charitable organization or attaching a charity cause. This initiative is for the benefit of all the communities along the stock routes, not about using them to achieve gain for something that doesn’t directly benefit them. They will benefit from this awareness initiative as well as all the future slow travellers that will be able to travel treading more lightly. I have spent months saving up and preparing for this journey. I am grateful for any support offered by those that feel an alignment with this initiative and greater vision it promotes.

This blog post is a heartfelt reflection on my two-decade-long journey through the agricultural industry and my deep-rooted love for horseback and slow travelling. It’s the story of how these two passions converged and led me to embark on an exciting initiative—the Azadi Far Ride to the Murray. So, join me as I take you on a personal adventure along Australia’s stock routes and the incredible potential they hold for sustainable and soul-enriching travel.

Slow travel is more than a trend; it’s a new more environmental way of life. For someone like me, who spends the better part of my life working in and around agriculture, the pace of life often matches the pace of the land itself—slow and deliberate. As I witnessed the popularity of rail trails across the country, the allure of traveling at a leisurely pace and immersing myself in the beauty of towns and communities became undeniable.

As I searched for new riding and hiking routes, my mind wandered back to a time when I worked along some of Australia’s stock routes. Those memories prompted me to delve deeper into their history, the stories of the towns along the way, and the breathtaking scenery that had captured my heart. However, it wasn’t all idyllic—the uncertainty surrounding their future, the risk of them disappearing, and the possibility of them being lost to modern-day drovers, especially in drought years, was a concern to me.

An idea took root within me—a decision to share this hidden gem with the world. Along these stock routes lies not just our history but also the very essence of Australia’s heartland. These routes have been traveled for thousands of years by indigenous Australians. In these stock routes, I see a chance to preserve and celebrate a unique aspect of Australian history and heritage.

And so, the Azadi Far Ride to the Murray initiative was conceived. My mission is: to show that slow travel is not only accessible to everyone but also immensely enjoyable. I want to encourage others to join me on this journey, virtually online or along the route to explore Australia’s heartland in an ecologically-conscious way, and to help raise awareness towards the development of Australia’s stock routes as a sustainable tourism asset. In doing so, we also offer vital support to the struggling inland communities along these routes.

I’m not planning on doing this alone; Everyone is encouraged to be a part of this endeavor. Together, we can ensure that the stock routes become a cornerstone of slow travel in Australia. I hope that organizations like Local Land Services will see the potential and collaborate with the State Governments to develop these routes further. Even if user fees are introduced for camping and water access, it won’t deter from experiencing the unique beauty of inland Australia and connecting deeply with its landscape, nature, and history.

In a rapidly changing tourism industry, slow travel stands as a testament to the joy of living in the moment and savoring every experience. The Azadi Far Ride to the Murray initiative is not just about promoting an idea; it’s about sharing a personal journey and a deep connection with the land. It’s a call to preserve Australia’s heritage and culture while embracing a sustainable and soul-enriching way of exploring this vast and beautiful country.

So, won’t you join me on this adventure? Together, we can renew a traditional way to travel across Australia.

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Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail – Horse Trekking Dawes Range

SJ — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:27:16 +0000

Kalpowar to Builyan

We decided an exploratory trip of the Dawes Range section of the BBIRT was in order. It also offered a good opportunity to gauge horse/rider fitness progress and packing skills for saddlebags and support vehicle. I always recommend doing a couple “fun runs” with all your gear before you go on a longer adventure, just to work out any kinks in advance and refine your packing list.

Starting at Barrimoon, within Kalpowar State Forest we rode to Builyan and then got a lift to Ubobo to camp at the Discovery Centre grounds, with a return trip the following day. A couple hundred metres from the entry, there is a State Forest camp area with toilets, picnic tables and an undercover entertaining area. However this camp area only has cattle grid entry and exit with no gates from what we could see. We drove right up to the Barrimoon entry instead of riding from Kalpowar along the forest roads, because of these cattle grids. Except for a cattle trough near some portable cattle yards not far from the camp grounds, there is no water available at this end. But this end is the closest to the tunnels and you’re going downhill to Builyan.

To Golembil Siding

The first 11km, downhill, winding section passes through tunnels and beautiful scenery like grass trees, valley views and bridges on the way to Golembil Siding. Near Golembil Siding is where there are some creeks to water horses during wet periods also. There is opportunity to camp at Golembil Siding which can be booked through HipCamp but there was no facilities at this site. This section can also be accessed from the road, so you’ll see caravaners, cyclists, walkers and other horse riders. This was the perfect spot for lunch and a grazing session and they’ve begun planting some trees so there will be some shade in no time.

Between Golembil Siding and Builyan it flattens out, with a few gates, couple road crossings and cattle along this section. We were able to increase our travel speed along this section (much to Glory’s delight!). It was amazing to see the infrastructure they’ve retained, like the 12000 gal tank fed by Many Peaks Dam to replenish the boilers of the steam engines. Apparently this tank is still in use and it’d be great if it was hooked up to a trough, because there is no water for the horses between Golembil and Many Peaks. The trail deviates off the rail trail due to bridges and at the road culverts there was seasonal water supply, but you need a bucket.

There is facilities just off the rail trail at Many Peaks dam (23km) and there is camping available through HipCamp at Builyan Siding (25km). This is where we ended our first day and met up with our support vehicle for a lift to camp at Ubobo Discovery Centre. At the time the trail wasn’t open past Builyan and we’d left to late to ride along the main road. At the Discovery Centre we were treated to a newly installed horse trough and great facilities for campers at a very reasonable price.

Many Peaks to Barrimoon

The return trip was just as beautiful and everything you missed coming down, catches your eye on the way back up the range (like mango trees – what?!).

I will forewarn, our support vehicle had a heck of a time getting up the mountains to meet us at Golembil and Builyan. Some sections of Gladstone-Monto Road have grades greater than 15%. Kalpowar Road is also a dirt road and very windy. I’d recommend ensuring you have a good tow vehicle and are confident. Thankfully our support vehicle driver was a Trucker in her previous life.

The rail trail was definitely the easiest part of the journey!

All in all, it’s a beautiful trail with variation in scenery and exquisite train tunnels (with bats!) to hold you in awe. There is only seasonal water supply at the creeks, so I don’t recommend doing this trail with horses during the dry season, without a backup.

We’ll keep coming back to it as we continue preparing for the Azadi Far Ride to the Murray in 2024.

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