How to Have an (almost) Free Holiday with these 7 Tips

Published on 20 June 2025

Camping Texas Dumaresq River Free Camp - Paulina Eaborn (18).jpg

Cost of living making a holiday seem all too far from reach? With an award-winning free camp and silo-art, fishing spots for days and wholesome family events to attend all without costing you a dime – we know how to capture the magic and show you good old-fashion hospitality, without the added price tag.

So why not pack the car with your camping gear and a couple days’ worth of food, fuel up the tank and set your sights to Goondiwindi Region. Once you’ve got the food and fuel (& maybe a sneaky drink or two) sorted, we’ll generously “shout” the rest of your trip, with the below 7 tips to get you on your way.

Set up camp at the Texas Dumaresq River Free Camp

You’re going to need somewhere to stay, so why not make our award-winning free camp your base for exploring Goondiwindi region? With gorgeous river views, towering gum trees and a nature soundtrack to rival anything on Spotify – we’ve got you sorted. You can free camp for up to 14 nights and there’s even a free public dump point located at the Council Depot (Lot 67 Flemming Street) in nearby Texas. The dump point also offers paid drinking water for a minimum $5 card charge (sorry, we can’t get you around that one!). For a preview of the fun, check out this video where we hung out with Christopher, a Gold Coast local who’s been coming back to Texas for Easter camping every year for 25 years!
Get Inspired by the Goondiwindi Region Art Trail

With a trail spanning 160 kms there’s no shortage of public art to admire in Goondiwindi Region! Our tiny town of Yelarbon is home to one of the biggest silo artworks in Australia. ‘When the Rain Comes’ stretches 24 metres into the sky and runs just shy of the length of a football field across eight GrainCorp silos. The silos were named the Best Rural Art in the nation at the 2020 Australian Street Art Awards and continue to draw travellers from far and wide. On a day trip to Goondiwindi, an easy hour’s drive from your campsite, there’s even more to explore. Pull up on the Cunningham Highway at Nungwai to experience the larger-than-life Smoko in the Meadow, Coat of Arms, Once Upon a Time sculptures plus see if you can spot a friendly roo or two! To check the full Goondiwindi Region Art Trail experience off your bucket list, see our Art Trail brochure here or pick it up from one of our Visitor Information Centres (also full of FREE brochures & things to explore!).
Fishing at the Reserves

Between your camp site at Texas and Goondiwindi, dotted along the aptly named ‘River Road’ (Kildonan Road) are several Reserves perfect to cast a line or jump in for a dip. At Lees Reserve you can even find what the locals have dubbed the rapids – lots of fun for young and old. If you’re fishing, make sure you’re over the local laws and always remember to stay safe around waterways.
A Swim & Entertainment in one place?!

That’s right, at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage & Water Park you can cool off in the gumtree lined waterway while watching ski boats and their clever counterparts jump and slice past! There’s a designated swimming spot for the kiddos too. The perfect opportunity to pack the esky and utilise the free BBQ’s and picnic tables and enjoy a day out under our big blue sky.
Keep Active in Goondiwindi Region – no Gym Membership Required

Dotted along our 3 km river walk footpath you can find workout equipment with a view to rival any fancy gym back home! We also have a fantastic Park Run community that meet and run every Saturday morning at 7am, you can find the details here or via your ParkRun app.
Experience our Country Hospitality at a Free Local Event

Community spirit is in high supply in Goondiwindi Region. Time your trip around the cultural event of the year at Lanescape Festival or the Homegrown Festival at Community Gardens, both in October. Or if offroad racing is more your thing, come along and spectate at the Gundy 500 Offroad Rally in early August – a weekend of incredible adrenaline pumping action! See our full Events Calendar here for more.
Ditch the Earphones and Check out This Soundtrack Instead…

This last tip may come as a surprise to you, but if you’re ‘going country’ for a holiday, you may as well immerse yourself in it and let nature work her wonders! So, ditch the earphones, podcasts and endless scrolling for a more wholesome and calming experience – we promise it’ll be worth it. If you won’t take our word for it, let this reel do the convincing.

We look forward to welcoming you to Goondiwindi Region!