GEAR FOR THE OUTDOORSLongreach Outdoors Centre is your locally owned, independent family camping storeat 153 Eagle Street. With the convenience of day caravan parking, you can duck acrossand get your toilet chemicals, caravan spare parts and repairs, high quality water filters,comfortable chairs, bait, opera house nets and fishing gear.While in store check the range of camping equipment, including locally made flat pack firepits, eco-billies, jaffle irons, camp ovens, barbecues, backpacks, swags, stretchers, knives,gas accessories, tarps and ground mesh.The centre stocks great brands like Oztrail, Companion, Engel, Thermos, Stanley, Avanti,Weber, Victoronix, Abu Garcia, Shakespeare, Led Lenser and Leatherman.For a great edge to your knives, they are also the local knife sharpening experts.For friendly, helpful advice come and say g’day to Kel and Juliette or call 0477553360. Youcan also find Longreach Outdoors Centreon Facebook.FRESH BREAD AND HOT COFFEE DELIGHTS ALL THE SENSESTRAVEL ACTION MATILDA COUNTRY MAGAZINE // LongreachTwo of the most appealing aromas in theworld must be the early-morning scent offresh, warm bread and the delightful smellof coffee.Follow the aroma to the Merino Bakery.Known as ‘the local bakery’ because it’sbeen in operation since 1969, the Merino wastaken over in 2016 by the locally born andbred Martyr family - not that it was new forAmie and Chloe - they had already chalkedup ten or so years in the business when theirparents joined them. The Merino Bakeryroasts its own beans for a fresh, aromaticcoffee experience so as well as servingpiping hot coffee from early mornings, theysell their own Merino Bakery blend, FlindersCoffee.As well as preservative-free bread freshlybaked on the premises, the bakery offersdesign-your-own sandwiches, rolls and salads for the perfect healthy meal or grab-and-gooptions for those in a hurry. Their pies are superb—Merino Bakery has won an enviablenumber of medals over the years at the Great Aussie Pie Competition, and recently enteredthree varieties, winning two silvers and a bronze. With about 15 flavours, there’s a pie tosatisfy all palates. And for something sweet there are all sorts of treats from cakes to slices.Merino Bakery has both al fresco and inside dining, and offers free wifi. The air conditioningis very welcome on warm days, and so is the Nörgen-Vaaz icecream in nine flavours (orSlushies for the kids). So come and spend your ‘merino money’ ($2 discount voucher) hereand enjoy the shearing memorabilia which gives the shop its name.Merino Bakery is located in the main street opposite IGA. It is open from 5.00am to 5.00pmweekdays, 5.00am to 1.00pm Saturdays and 7.00am to 1.00pm Sundays.60
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