4-Day Chinchilla Melon Festival: A Juicy Celebration in the Outback | 13-16 Feb 2025

A child wearing a helmet decorated like a watermelon slides on a surface covered in watermelon pulp while holding onto a rope. The scene is vibrant with scattered watermelon pieces in the background, evoking the playful spirit of Chinchilla Melon Festival

Experience a vibrant celebration of all things melon at the Chinchilla Melon Festival! This exciting event features quirky competitions, delicious treats, and a warm country welcome, all set in Queensland’s picturesque countryside.

Join The Funtastic Tour Company for a 4-day adventure from 13-16 February 2025, where you’ll immerse yourself in the unique celebration of the Chinchilla Melon Festival. First, your journey begins with a visit to Kingaroy, where you’ll explore its renowned peanut industry. Afterwards, you’ll head to Miles for the remainder of your stay, ensuring a full experience of Queensland’s rural charm.

In addition to the festival, you’ll explore local history at the Chinchilla Historic Museum, where you’ll uncover fascinating stories about the region, including those of its timber pioneers. Furthermore, you’ll visit Possum Park, a World War II ammunition dump, where bunkers and wartime memorabilia provide vivid insights into Australia’s wartime efforts.

Of course, the highlight of the tour is a full day at the Chinchilla Melon Festival. Here, you can participate in quirky competitions, such as melon skiing and pip spitting. Moreover, the lively atmosphere, local food stalls, and country charm will make this an unforgettable experience, offering a perfect blend of fun and culture.

Designed specifically for mature travellers, this tour provides a seamless experience with door-to-door service, comfortable accommodations, and engaging activities. Each day promises new discoveries, blending rural history with local festivities, ensuring that this journey is as relaxing as it is exciting.

Short Break

A green tractor adorned with red and green balloons drives down a street during a parade in the heart of Chinchilla Melon Festival. People, some wearing hats, stand on the sidewalk and watch. Trees and a cloudy sky are visible in the background.

A group of people is gathered outdoors for a watermelon competition in the Chinchilla Melon Festival. A woman wearing a helmet is on all fours next to smashed watermelons, holding onto a rope, while two men in sports attire cheer her on. Onlookers in casual clothing are watching and smiling.

Highlights

Chinchilla Melon Festival
Enjoy a day filled with fun competitions, such as melon skiing and pip spitting, along with food stalls and entertainment celebrating all things melon.
Chinchilla Historic Museum
Explore the history of Chinchilla through exhibits featuring local timber pioneers and unique collections of historical artifacts.
Possum Park
Discover the fascinating WWII history of this secret ammunition depot, where bunkers and memorabilia showcase Australia's wartime efforts.
Pioneer Park Museum
Visit one of Queensland’s largest collections of agricultural machinery and tractors, showcasing the region's rich rural heritage.

Accommodation

A room in Swagsman Motor Inn features a bed with a red throw, a small dining table with two chairs near a window, and a kitchenette equipped with a stove, microwave, and sink. A wall-mounted TV is above a desk with drawers and another chair. Beige curtains frame the window.

Aerial view of a modern building of Swagsman Motor Inn. The structure features red accents, covered outdoor seating with umbrellas, ample parking space, and surrounding green areas with trees. The setting appears to be in a suburban or rural area with clear skies.

4-Star Swagsman Motor Inn

The Swagsman Motor Inn in Miles offers comfortable, spacious rooms with modern amenities, perfect for both business and leisure travellers. Conveniently located near local attractions, the inn provides free Wi-Fi, an on-site restaurant, and a relaxing atmosphere.

3-Nights

1/9 Marian St, Miles QLD 4415

Day 1 HOME TO MILES

Welcome to our 4-day tour of the Chinchilla Melon Festival! After our morning pick-ups, we head to the town of Kingaroy, located in the South Burnett region. Upon arrival, we stop for lunch at the local club before a visit to the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre and Heritage Museum where we will learn about the region’s renowned peanut industry. We depart Kingaroy and head for the vibrant rural township of Miles, located just a short distance from Chinchilla. We settle into our accommodation before our first dinner together on tour.

Swagsman Motor Inn, Miles |3 nights

(Lunch at Kingaroy RSL Club | Dinner at Motor Inn)

Day 2 CHINCHILLA & MILES

We head out of town this morning and start the day in Chinchilla with a local guide joining us to introduce us to the town. Our town tour concludes at the Chinchilla Historic Museum which is our next visit. The museum houses a collection of objects representing the history of the region. Discover several buildings onsite including the Cypress Pine Interpretive Centre showcasing the stories of the local timber pioneers or the Machinery Shed which has steam tractors to the rare Mogul tractor. We then travel back to Miles for lunch at the Windsor Hotel.

After an enjoyable lunch, we will be taken on a journey to discover the unique past of Possum Park. Now a quiet and peaceful place, during World War II, Possum Park was a “top secret” location and the largest bomb and ammunition dump on the Brisbane line – said to be the last defence in the event of a much-feared invasion. The bunkers, the Troop Train and the plane all have their own stories. The incredible wartime memorabilia will bring to life the unique and pivotal role that this place has had in Australia’s history. After an exceptionally interesting day, we head back to Chinchilla.

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at Windsor Hotel)

Day 3 THE CHINCHILLA MELON FESTIVAL

Today we join the non-stop action of the Chinchilla Melon Festival*! There will be plenty to see and do such as melon skiing, melon Iron Man, melon bungy, melon bullseye, melon pip spitting and lots more melons to experience! With a variety of food stalls available to purchase from, a street parade and entertainment throughout the day, it’s sure to be a fun-filled day.

*The events of the festival have not yet been released. The day’s activities are subject to change and the itinerary will need to be updated.

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at own expense)

Day 4 MILES TO HOME

We farewell Miles and begin our journey home today. Our first stop will be in Dalby where the local history and culture is on display at the Pioneer Park Museum. The Machinery Shed houses one of the largest collections of operating tractors and agricultural equipment in Queensland. We are then onto Toowoomba where we stop for lunch at the Picnic Point Lookout. Here we will be rewarded with stunning views of the Lockyer Valley and Tabletop Mountain. Continuing our journey home, our driver has us arriving home later this afternoon after completing a wonderful tour to the Chinchilla Melon Festival.

(Breakfast at the motel | Lunch at Picnic Point Cafe)

Tours Details

Tour Inclusions

3 nights accommodation
3 motel cooked breakfasts
3 motel two-course dinners
3 additional included dinners – see below
3 included lunches – see below
Lunch at Kingaroy RSL Club
Visit the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre Heritage Museum
Guided town tour of Chinchilla
Guided tour of Chinchilla Historical Museum
Lunch at Windsor Hotel Miles
Guided Historic Site Tour at Possum Park
Entry to day festivities at Chinchilla Melon Festival
Visit the Dalby Pioneer Park Museum
Lunch at Picnic Point Lookout Cafe & Restaurant

Fitness Requirements

Fitness Level: Relaxed

Discover the Art of Relaxation

Welcome to “Serenity Journeys,” where serenity is the name of the game. Our tours offer a chance to unwind, with minimal physical demands. Unpack only once, and relax as we take care of the rest.

Although most of our journey involves cozy coach travel, some day tours may involve light physical activity, such as embarking and disembarking vessels or vehicles with stairs, which you’ll handle independently.