Where to glamp and horse ride in Flinders – Goolman Conservation Estate

Are you currently in the process of planning your next big trip away? Rather than go through the stress of organising somewhere exotic, why not look closer afield?

Just a 40-minute drive from Brisbane, and a little over ten from the City of Ipswich, sits Hardings Paddock. It’s a beautiful camping spot nestled amongst the bushland of the Flinders – Goolman Conservation Estate.

It’s a favourite spot for hikers, mountain bikers, and indeed, the horse riding fraternity, because of its locality to a number of incredible tracks. The campsite itself has tonnes of space for campers, but those who prefer a caravan — or even a motor home — are more than welcome. Just be aware that there is no potable water, so you have to be self-sufficient. Or, if you don’t feel like doing all the setup yourself, why not let someone else do it?

The Soul Nook Collective is in the business of putting the “glam” in glamping. They have a range of beautiful bell tents with all the trimmings, which they can easily set up for you. Creating a camping experience is what they are all about. Give Taryn a call to tailor an experience for yourself. She’s well versed in proposal picnics, romantic weekends away, girls trips… you name it! Fancy a bit of yoga? Taryn will sort that out, too! She recommends Mikeala from Mindful Monkeys.

One point of difference about Hardings Paddock is the horse yards! In its former life, the campground was a working cattle property, and the yards are a reminder of that. We’re told the trails are fantastic for training horses for endurance riding! One of the shorter tracks is the Goolman Lookout trail.

Roughly a 30-minute ride from Hardings Paddock, it weaves its way through beautiful bushland up to a lookout where Boonah, Ipswich and even Brisbane are visible. The trail is rated as “advanced” so we’d recommend reading up on it before having a crack yourself.

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