Lake Cargelligo - 27th & 28th September 2008
The Australian Hovercraft Federation has announced that for 2008, the
Australian National Rally will be held at Lake Cargelligo
in Central Western New South Wales.
All Hovercraft enthusiasts are welcome to attend, so come along and enjoy the
fun, and meet a great bunch of hover folk on 27th and 28th September.
Peter Streader, the President of The Australian Hovercraft Federation, is the co-ordinator for the
event this year, and he is keen to know how many hovercraft
enthusiasts will be making the trek to Lake Cargelligo.
If you intend
heading for the rally this year, help make Peter's job a little easier by
registering your details with
him on (03) 9764 3448 or via his email.
If you can only attend one hovercraft rally for the year, make sure this is the one -
it's the biggest hovercraft event in Australia for 2008.
To see a report on the 2006 Lake Cargelligo rally - click here
To see some photos of the 1989 rally in Lake Cargelligo - click here
Where is Lake Cargelligo ?????
Lake Cargelligo, discovered by John Oxley in 1817, is located in the Lachlan
Shire in the heart of central western NSW. It is about 560 kms west of Sydney and
610 kms north of Melbourne, south of the geographical centre of NSW.
With a population of 1,300, this small town on the shores of a large
inland water storage system appears like an oasis on the flat western plains,
and is a prime wheat, sheep and cattle area.
Activities on the Lake
The lake is about 8 kilometres long and 3.5 kilometres wide and has an
average depth of 3 metres. It is an ideal spot for hovercraft, power boats,
yachting, fishing, water skiing and swimming and is also a haven for birds -
mallee fowl, pelicans, swans, ducks, geese, and the rare bower bird and black
cockatoo. Access is facilitated by two sealed roads and there is a boating club
and club house on the western shore of the lake. There are several foreshore
parks with electric barbecues and a caravan park nearby. Fishing can also be
profitably pursued in the nearby Lachlan River and its streams.
How to get there
Travelling from Brisbane:-
Head west along the Warrego Highway (H'way 54) to Toowoomba, then
south-west along the Gore Highway (H'way 85) through Pittsworth and
Millmerran to Goondiwindi on the NSW/Queensland border. (350 kms.)
From Goondiwindi, head south along the Newell Highway (H'way 39) through
Moree, Narrabri, Coonabarabran and Dubbo to Parkes. (630 kms.)
From Parkes head west (H'way 90) to Condobolin then continue to Lake
Cargelligo on the Condobolin-Lake Cargelligo Road. (200 kms.)
Total distance is around 1180 kilometres and 15½ hours driving time. MAP
Travelling from Sydney:-
Head west along the Great Western Highway (H'way 32) through Katoomba
and Lithgow to Bathurst. (205 kms.)
From Bathurst head north-west along the Mitchell Highway (H'way 32)
to Orange, then west on The Escort Way (H'way 90) to Parkes. (155 kms.)
From Parkes head west (H'way 90) to Condobolin then continue to Lake
Cargelligo on the Condobolin-Lake Cargelligo Road. (200 kms.)
Total distance is around 560 kilometres and 7½ hours driving time. MAP
Travelling from Melbourne:-
Head north on the Hume Freeway (H'way 31) to Seymour, then continue north along the Goulburn
Valley Highway (H'way 39) to Shepparton. (190 kms.)
From Shepparton continue on the Goulburn Valley Highway (H'way 39) and across the Murray River to
Tocumwal, then continue north along the Newell Highway (H'way 39) and Kidman Way (H'way 87) to
Coleambally. (210 kms.)
From Coleambally continue north on the Kidman Way (H'way 87) to Griffith, then take the Rankins
Springs Road to Rankins Springs, then north along the Rankins Springs-Lake Cargelligo
Road to Lake Cargelligo. (210 kms.)
Total distance is around 610 kilometres and 8½ hours driving time. MAP
Travelling from Adelaide:-
Head east along the South Eastern Freeway (H'way 1) to Murray Bridge, then the Princes Highway
(H'way 1) to Tailem Bend, then take the Mallee Highway (H'way 12) to Pinnaroo. (240 kms.)
From Pinnaroo, continue east on the Mallee Highway (H'way 12) crossing the Murray River at
Tooleybuc, then veering north to Balranald on the Balranald-Piangil Road. (290 kms.)
From Balranald, head east along the Sturt Highway (H'way 20) to Hay, then head north-east along the
Mid Western Highway (H'way 24) to Rankins Springs, then take the Rankins Springs-Lake Cargelligo
Road north to Lake Cargelligo. (370 kms.)
Total distance is around 900 kilometres and 10½ hours driving time. MAP
Check out the extremely informative Mia Breitfuss page about Lake Cargelligo here
Lake Cargelligo Accomodation
Lachlan Way Motel
2 Foster Street
Telephone: (02) 6898 1201
Facsimile: (02) 6898 1201
Rating: ***
|
Lake Cargelligo Motel
28-30 Canada Street
Telephone: (02) 6898 1303
Facsimile: (02) 6898 1315
Rating: **½
|
Commercial Hotel
32 Foster Street
Telephone: (02) 6898 1209
|
Royal Mail Hotel
14 Foster Street
Telephone: (02) 6898 1006
|
Lake View Caravan Park
Corner Naradhan and Womboyan Streets
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Telephone: (02) 6898 1077 or mobile 0427 981 077
Visitors Information Centre
The Visitor's Information Centre at 1 Foster Street, (the lake end of Foster Street) houses a large gem
collection, and can provide detailed information on fishing, camping and picnicking spots.
Bookings can be made here for horse riding, aeroplane joy rides, farm visits - if you wish to take a
first-hand look at the agricultural process - and Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tours for trips around town
and the surrounding area.
The Visitors Information Centre is fully staffed by volunteers between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00
pm, 7 days a week. Phone on (02) 6898 1501.
Lake Cargelligo boasts a golf course and club house, a bowling club, boating and water skiing
competitions, a rural show in August and in September 2008, The Australian National Hovercraft Rally.
Australian National Rally - Program of Events
Friday 26th September 2008.
Arrival and generally settle in. An informal BYO everything BBQ will be held at
Lake Cargelligo Caravan park in the evening. All attendees are welcome to
use this facility regardless of whether you are staying at the park or not.
Outside of the official program hours/events, the caravan park will also be the
general meeting place for a chat and catch up.
Saturday 27th September 2008.
Schedule of events yet to be announced
Sunday 28th September 2008.
Schedule of events yet to be announced
General Rally Information
Rally Coordinator:- Peter Streader, mobile 0409 667 954
UHF "rally channel": Ch 25
The Lake Cargelligo Boat Club facilities will be open to the club from 9:00 am to
approximately 6:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. This facility provides toilets,
general facilities and shelter should we be unlucky with the weather.
The area immediately in front of the boat club will be used as the central
briefing area during the rally.
Please respect these facilities and leave all as you find it.
Unloading and parking.
Hovercraft may be unloaded at the boat ramp area and parked on the "beach"
in front of the Boat Club itself during the main days of the event (Saturday and
Sunday). It is recommended not to leave your craft "on the beach" overnight
as security cannot be guaranteed. There should be adequate parking for cars
and trailers in the parking areas near the boat ramp.
Registration and Event fee.
Cost to register your craft for the event will be around $35 - $40 (to be confirmed shortly). This money goes towards the
hire of the boat club facilities and general expenses. You must
complete and sign a registration form before you will be allowed to operate
your craft at this event. Please fill in your form and pass it to Colin Dainty (AHF
treasurer) together with payment ASAP after arrival on site. If you are
attending the Rally without a craft then a small donation (say $10.00) to assist
with these costs would be most appreciated.
