FREEDOM CAMP OF THE MONTH

PUB CAMPING!

New South Wales has a surprising number of‘ Q’ towns: Queanbeyan, Quambone, Quirindi, Quaama and, yes, even Quandary. But the one we are very grateful for is Quandialla.

Its pub carries the unforgettable name of The Bland Hotel. The camp, though, is anything but bland. A mini-series set in 1915 was filmed here, and the town has its own quirky landmark – a big echidna sculpture.

Crafted by local artist Pete Rush, this statue feels right at home in a place whose name actually means‘ echidna’.

Quandialla sits near the Weddin Mountains, a little more than 400km from Sydney, in country once favoured by bushrangers.

We were running low on diesel on a recent road trip from Queensland to Victoria, so The Bland Hotel earned our gratitude fast.

Quandialla’ s lone fuel pump sits right out front, which meant the car got topped up – and, conveniently, so did we.

The Bland Hotel makes a solid overnight stop: fuel, free camping out the back( no pets, and expect to pay for facilities) and counter meals. Quandialla showgrounds offer another free camping option. These sites are pet friendly, with facilities and the option to pay for power.

The publican says pub meals have been busy, and the mural at the hall gets plenty of photos. When you’ re in town, don’ t forget to drop by and greet the echidna.

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