RV Friendlies & Events

Sapphire is located in the Central Highlands district of Queensland and is situated approximately 270 kilometres west of Rockhampton. Home to the largest commercial sapphire producing fields in the southern hemisphere, Sapphire has been mined since the late 1800s, when a railway surveyor found red zircons at Retreat Creek and thought they were rubies. There is a sense of fun and adventure in Sapphire, where you can fossick for sapphires and absorb the history of this fascinating area and it is still possible for anyone to find a gem worth tens of thousands of dollars, so come along and try your luck.Those visiting Sapphire can find short-term parking for up to 48 hours at Sapphire Campground, located in Flagon Alley.  A dump point and potable water are also accessible at this location. There is so much to do when visiting Sapphire, and a particularly great time to visit is in August, when the annual 'Gemfest - Festival of Gems' is held. This Festival is Australia's largest sapphire exhibition and showcases the sapphires and the Gemfields area, which comprises of the towns of Anakie, Sapphire, Rubyvale and the Willows. There is a sense of fun and adventure in Sapphire, where you can fossick for sapphires and absorb the history of this fascinating area. Tourist/Visitor Centre       Sapphire Trading Post, 2 Centenary Drv, SapphirePh: 07 4985 4179www.centralhighlandstourism.org.au Casual Parking       Rubyvale Rd & adjacent side streetsShort Term Parking           Sapphire Campground, Flagon Alley, (48hr)Dump Point  Sapphire Campground, Flagon AlleyPotable Water          Sapphire Campground, Flagon AlleyHospital        Rubyvale Rd, Ph: 07 4985 4547Doctors Surgery     Gemfields Outpatient Clinic, 984 Rubyvale Rd, Ph: 07 4985 4547; Ambulance Station, 1010 Rubyvale RdPharmacy     Pharmaceutical products can be arranged for the next day at the hospitalSupermarket            Sapphire Trading Post, 2 Centenary Drv, Ph: 07 4985 4179

Wallaroo is located 160km north-west of Adelaide on the western side of the York Peninsula. Wallaroo is one of three Copper Triangle towns famed for their historic shared copper mining industry, and known together as 'Little Cornwall,' the other two being Kadina and Moonta. The towns first copper smelter was lit in 1861, after which the industry flourished, and the township grew rapidly. Wallaroo began shipping refined copper in 1862 and within just six years over 100 tonnes were produced weekly.Those visiting Wallaroo can find short-term parking at Wallaroo Rest Area, 11 Cornish Terrace. Parking is $6 per vehicle per night for self-contained vehicles only and is limited to 24 hours. Visitors are able to pay by purchase of a boat ramp ticket from the Wallaroo Boat Ramp ticket machine.Local events include the annual Antiques and Collectables Fair, the Kernewek Lowender, Paskeville Field Days, and the Copper Coast Marina Festival. Historic buildings include the former Tipara Lighthouse (1877), Cornucopia Hotel (1862), Town Hall (1902), Old Railway Station (1914), Caroline Carleton’s residence (c1870), Court House (1865), Customs House (1862), the Seaman’s Recreation Centre (c1880) and Hughes Chimneystack, the only above ground reminder of the chimneys and furnaces erected by the Wallaroo Mining and Smelting Company. The Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical Museum in the old post office (1865) contains extensive historical maritime displays and local tours and guides for groups can be booked here.Tourist/Visitor Centre       Farm Shed Museum & Tourist Centre (20km), 50 Moonta Rd, Kadina SAPh: 08 8821 2333thefarmshed@coppercoast.sa.gov.auwww.coppercoast.sa.gov.auCasual Parking       Owen TerraceShort Term Parking           Wallaroo Rest Area, 11 Cornish Terrace, self-contained vehicles, (24hr) unpwr $6.00 pvpn, pay by purchase of a boat ramp ticket from the Wallaroo Boat Ramp ticket machineDump Point  Victoria St, adj BP service stationPotable Water          Heritage DrvHospital        Ernest Terrace, Ph: 08 8823 0200Doctors Surgery     Ernest Terrace, Ph: 08 8823 2644Dentist           Doswell Terrace, Kadina, Ph: 08 8821 1300Pharmacy     45 Owen Terrace, Ph: 08 8823 2524Supermarket            Foodland, 50 Hughes St, Ph: 08 8823 2990

Varley is a small town located between Hyden and Lake King in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The town is named after the nearby Lake Varley and Varley Rock, which were both named by explorer Frank Hahn in 1901. For those visiting the area, parking is available at Varley Chicken Ranch, which is approximately halfway between Wave Rock and Ravensthorpe, and 418 km south-east of Perth. Varley Chicken Ranch allows parking for up to 48 hours, with payment via a donation box on-site. Toilets, covered seating, barbecues and bins are provided, and pets on leads are welcome.There is plenty to see and do in Varley, which makes the ranch the ideal location to base yourself. A comprehensive museum, a recreation centre and a golf course are all located in town, whilst also located close by is the Rabbit Proof Fence and the abandoned gold mining town Hatters Hill. Cost: Donation box on siteParking: 48hrs, covered seaing, bins, toilets, BBQ, pets on lead, dump pointOpening Hours: 7 days