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We faithfully followed the Capricorn Highway. Heading toward Central Queensland, we watched the wild cotton roll by the car’s tire. The air conditioner blew cold air as the scenery became a flatland of red dirt and the few trees slowly disappeared. Emerald finally appeared amid the arid prairies.Emerald is where we decided to set up our tent. It was quite a surprise to see this large development in the middle of nowhere, as for hours we had been driving in the middle of what seemed totally deserted prairies. Our first stop was to the Information center, which is by “The World largest Painting on Easel.” Although Emerald is close to the Gemfields, it is not the place to find gems. It’s name comes from being situated amid green luscious pastures, although we only saw dry yellow grass and red dirt. This town is quite clean and have received many “Tidy town awards.
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The Botanic Gardens are quite impressive even though most of the flowers were wilted as we got there in the Australian Autumn. The trails are well designed and include a well set up windmill. The gardens are on the banks of the Nogoa River, which is definitely not recommended for any water activities. Although there are many signs advising not to swim, one look at the water and logical thinking will easily convince you.
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The World largest Painting on Easel is actually a copy of the VanGogh's Sunflowers on Gold. Sunflowers are represented in assorted forms everywhere in this town. An Australian acquaintance informed me that Emerald has quite an array of sunflowers during this time of the year, rain permitting. So many in fact that they have an annual festival honoring this golden flower from March 27 to April 01
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Emerald also has a few other interests which we didn’t have time to see,including a 250 million year old petrified log; an art gallery, a science center; a pioneer cottage museum; massive citrus orchards (over 400 000 trees, which was of course all dried up for us) and a federation footpath.
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For more information you can get in touch with Capricorn Tourism: 1 800 676 701
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Published on Friday October 11th, 2002
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11 votes
