Charlotte Plains QLD

Some days you just have to ‘soak it up’ 😁🥰

Today’s drive took us from Charleville through Cunnamulla, where of course we stopped for a photo with the iconic Cunnamulla Fella. I’m pleased to report that at least four of us successfully resisted the urge to burst into song 🤦🏽‍♀️ I can also confirm it looks exactly the same as it did on our last visit in 2021!

Our destination, Charlotte Plains is a working sheep station best known for its artesian hot baths, where naturally heated bore water direct from the Great Artesian Basin bubbles out at a constant 42°.

After settling into camp and partially cooking ourselves in what is effectively Australia’s biggest sous vide 😆 we treated ourselves to the private baths just before sunset. Sitting in steaming artesian water against the backdrop of an endless outback sky was about as relaxing (and romantic) as it gets... but for three teenage boys 😜

As darkness fell, everyone gravitated to the communal fire pit for happy hour, complete with live music. The boys kept us in good spirits (literally) by proving their talent on the infamous barrel-riding competition, winning us a few rounds of free drinks by making it across without falling🍷

After one of the best sleeps I’ve had in ages with every muscle in my body completely relaxed, we woke to a chilly 7° and a spectacular sight: steam rising off the hot bore baths in the crisp morning air.

Charlotte Plains had been on my list of places to visit for a while and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. In spite of it being off-road and off-grid, I can highly recommend staying a night.

Hot tip (pardon the pun): Definitely recommend booking the private bath experience - it’s set a about 10km from the main bore site and hence the water comes out at a pleasantly warm 30°-ish. We happily soaked it up for the best part of 2 hours 🥰Read more