RV Friendlies & Events
Dates: 03/05/2026
Time: 9:30am - 4pm
Get ready for a massive day of horsepower, history and high-flying fun at Planes, Trains & Autos in Ipswich!
Held at the iconic The Workshops Rail Museum, this action-packed family event brings together an incredible display of classic cars, custom builds, motorcycles, aircraft showcases and Queensland’s rich railway heritage, all in one unforgettable location.
Explore stunning vehicles up close, meet passionate owners and industry experts, enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, kids’ activities and so much more. Whether you're a motoring enthusiast, aviation fan, rail buff or just looking for a fantastic family day out, there’s something for everyone.
The Cardwell Pioneer Tours are currently operating every Monday and Thursday morning from 10am at the Visitor Information and Heritage Centre located in Cardwell. The tour incorporates all the buildings in the historic precinct and takes visitors on a fascinating journey of the area’s colourful history as they move through each building. The tour begins at the old Bush Telegraph building which was the Telegraph and Post Office and explains how Cardwell was founded in 1864 as the first port in North Queensland. Over in the Courthouse visitors can gain an understanding of the old judicial system. Several interesting items are on display including the original straight-jackets used in Tully to restrain the more energetic offenders. The old lock-up building was still in use during the1980s at the Cardwell Police Station. The final building is the old Shire Hall which the community used for a multitude of purposes included balls and other formal social events. The tour concludes on the balcony of the Visitor Information Centre where visitors can enjoy a complementary Devonshire Tea while taking in one of the best views in North Queensland overlooking Hinchinbrook Island, Gould Island and the Family Islands
Event date: 18 - 19 April 2026
The award winning National Tourism Accredited Laura Fair is a major rural festival of the Southern Flinders Ranges, held over two days annually in Laura on the first weekend of April and typically attracting 10,000 to 15,000 patrons.
The Laura Fair was first held in 1980, the brainchild of Rocky River Historic and Art Society member Dick Biles. It has been held every year since except during the COVID years. Originally started as a way to promote art and culture in the area, the resounding success of the first year led to the formation of a separate committee to undertake organisation of the event. Since 1981 the wholly volunteer driven Laura Fair Committee has been responsible for this.
The event has since grown into one of the major festivals of our region and has an important economic benefit for businesses around the region. It is the main annual fundraising avenue for many local community groups.
Our family focused event provides a wonderful country experience, with free entertainment over the whole weekend. Our event features a Street Parade with a themed costume parade put together by the local school, beautiful PADARC vintage cars, SES, CFS and local business floats, two stages of live entertainment playing all weekend, as well as roving performers and buskers, Sideshow Alley and the Showmen’s Guild of South Australia rides, on Saturday night there’s food stalls, licensed bar and Entertainment until 10pm. Golden North Ice-Cream Eating Competition, Boot toss competition, Old Courthouse Art Gallery exhibition and over 100 stalls selling a huge variety of handcrafted items, as well as food and refreshment stalls catering to a wide range of tastes.
Laura is a vibrant, artistic rural community with a population of approximately 650, situated beside the Rocky River and amongst the rolling hills of the Southern Flinders Ranges. Our event is wholly driven by a small volunteer committee and a large contingent of casual volunteers who assist with various aspects of the event.
