Visit Chinchilla: The Best Things To Do In Chinchilla, QLD

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Located approximately 2 hours drive west of Toowoomba and 3 & 1/2 hours from Brisbane, Chinchilla is a quiet country town renown for holding the title of the ‘Melon Capital’ of Australia. This region produces around 25% of the nation’s watermelon crops, an achievement celebrated at the biennial Chinchilla Melon Festival and through various melon-themed features around the town. However there is more than just melons for things to do in Chinchilla, making it a perfect stopover or day trip for travelling families!

Related: The Best Things To Do In Miles

The Big Melon

In 2018, Chinchilla won The Big Melon in Wotif’s national campaign for Australia’s ‘Next Big Thing’. Taking pride of place beside the Visitor Centre, you can pose for snaps with this 8-metre long slice of melon.

Address: Warrego Highway, Chinchilla
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Cost: Free!

Chinchilla Botanic Parkland

Opened in 2019, the Chinchilla Botanic Parkland is the result of a vision to create a space for the whole community to enjoy. Cool down in the Chinchilla water park – including a giant watermelon tipping bucket – and scale the rock climbing wall, learn more about Chinchilla’s railway history and local Aboriginal culture, or enjoy a picnic while the kids run and play in the open spaces.

Address: Canaga St, Chinchilla
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Cost: Free!

Chinchilla Historical Museum

The Chinchilla Historical Museum is home to a collection of historical artefacts from Chinchilla and the surrounding area. Learn more about the prickly pear menace and the area’s petrified wood, view a range of transport and machinery from times gone by, and explore the historical buildings. If you happen to be visiting on the first Sunday of the month, bring the kids down for a ride on the Mini Rail!

Address: 17-33 Villiers St, Chinchilla
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm, Thursday to Monday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Cost: $12 for a family.

Cactoblastis Monument

The Cactoblastic Monument stands at the site of the Prickly Pear Board ‘Bug Farm’ that hatched Cactoblastis insects – larvae of the Cactoblastis moth. This small moth is responsible for ending the Prickly Pear infestation within four years of being introduced to the area.

Address: Clarks Road, Chinchilla
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: FREE

Fossicking

Try your hand at fossicking for petrified (fossilised) wood! Licences, maps and fossicking information is available from the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre or at www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/fossicking/licences-permits

Chinchilla Flood Markers

Located along the footpath on Heeney Street from the Post Office to the Club Hotel, the Chinchilla Flood Markers showcase the devastating impacts of past floods on the Chinchilla community, displaying previous flood levels and historical images.

Fishing, watersports and bushwalking

There is a range of outdoor activities and things to do in Chinchilla and surrounds!

The Chinchilla Weir is a popular location for fishing and watersports, as well as camping at the Chinchilla Weir free camp. More fishing spots can be found along the Condamine River, just head into the Visitor Centre for a map and tips.

Barakula State Forest is located 45kms north of Chinchilla, and is Queensland’s largest state forest. Here you can enjoy camping, bike and horse riding, and wildlife viewing.

Archers Crossing is another recreational area 25kms south-east of Chinchilla, popular for camping, fishing and picnics.

Chinchilla Accommodation

There is a range of accommodation options available in town, including caravan parks, hotels and BnB accommodation available through Booking.com and Airbnb.