By crossing the border from Queensland into the Northern Territory a little to the west of Camooweal…….

Here is a map of the journey so far, Brisbane to Camooweal. This route is a little over 2,000 km.

We left Winton at 8am, quite early for us. It was a long drive up the last section of the Landsborough Highway to Cloncurry. The road took us past Kynuna and McKinlay, home to the Walkabout Hotel of Crocodile Dundee fame.

In Cloncurry we made a brief stop to take in the sights from the local lookout which also has a new mural (at least for us). Quite impressive artwork reflective of the indigenous connections with the land.

Corella Dam was to be our free camp spot for the night, about 60km on from Cloncurry. The dam was the water supply for the now deserted Mary Kathleen township, the site of the former uranium mine.

Whilst Corella was a good place for a stopover, the bugs were out in force. As well as a few flies.

It seems all the wet weather and residual dampness we have had has brought forth a breeding frenzy in these parts. Lengthy grasses also contribute. Russell was attacked by the little blighters, like a seaside midge onslaught.

Good to get on the road to Mt Isa and Camooweal the next morning.

Camooweal seems to be really battling at the moment, the post office/mini supermarket closed at the end of March. Apart from the hotel and service station no other commerce is here. One wonders how the residents will get their supplies, long drives to Mt Isa and maybe the servo will step up with daily needs like milk, bread etc. The pub might hope for the locals to live on beer alone.

The Camooweal caves are one of the attractions.It is a dusty 16 km drive to the National Park site. An interesting deep hole in the ground and a pleasant billabong are at the end of the road. We made it back to the van park late in the afternoon after a short look see.

We leave in the morning on the next stage of the trip. Crossing into the NT , gaining that half hour. We intend to have the night at the Barkly Homestead Roadhouse, midway across the Barkly Hwy, before heading up the Stuart Hwy to Katherine over the following three days.

We have now been at Winton for two nights after the drive from Barcaldine and Longreach. The countryside is amazing. So green after all the rain.

The road to Winton for the most part follows the old train line from Longreach to Winton. I think the line is now only used for freight.

Winton continues to amaze with its energy to do stuff. Some great attractions here and things to do and see in the outback. We have been here before, but it was nearly 13 years ago. Doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. Back then we charged around seeing all the stuff to be seen. This time we have been a bit more focussed.

The Waltzing Matilda Centre had burnt down and new one constructed. Must say it is pretty good for a two hour look see, very focussed on seeing the Winton region and its ‘treasures’ through the lens of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Very 2025 tech too in the displays.

That evening we experienced the charms of the Royal Theatre, a volunteer run open air picture theatre, deck chairs and all! We saw a 1935 John Wayne classic (his 33rd movie), ‘Cold Vengeance’ aka ‘Dawn Rider’. Entertaining 58 minute Western gun fighting, horse riding and fist fighting movie, very 1930s movie making! The Royal operates 5 (or is it 4!) nights a week during the winter touring season with all sorts of old classics and present day attractions.

Spent most of day two at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum about 20km out of town. Since our visit way back when the Museum and its environs have come a long way. The eleven kilometre road in has been sealed and new buildings constructed.

A dinosaur trackway all 52 metres of it is under one roof, a major resource effort. The story behind getting this display from its original creek bed location on a cattle property to the Museum is extraordinary. Great determination and of course some Government grant support helps.

Dinosaur Canyon has a number of displays of the animals ‘out in the wild’, bronze statues of course. Truly impressive place to visit and tour around.

Back in town we enjoyed dinner at the Tatts Hotel, good feed.

We next head for a free camp, a bit west of Cloncurry, hopefully will be there mid late afternoon for a rest!

We are on a trip to the north west of Western Australia. The Kimberleys. The Gibb River Rd beckons.
It is going to take a little while in the van, some three and a half months for the journey there and back home. We are first covering some well worn ground heading north west from Brisbane through Roma, Barcaldine, Longreach and Winton.

As with all our road trips there is an early playing of Willie Nelson’s ‘On the road again’. Homealone, is not a huge fan and it took till Dalby before it blasted out of the music box!

First stop after leaving home, some two hours after the planned time, was at Judds Lagoon, a free camp about 60 km from Roma. A nice little spot off the main drag, very quiet with only three others there.
Next morning was Anzac Day. Judds Lagoon is near Yuleba, its main claim to fame is as a staging post for Cobb & Co back in the 1800s. Not a lot happens in these parts these days. The locals today are very focussed on Anzac Day, everything’s (and thats not much) is shut. This presented our first little travelling drama. The need for a diesel top up at the local service station. We had 60km to go to get to Roma, but the range guidance on the speedo was 70km. Rather tight. Problem was the servo didn’t open till 2pm, Anzac Day activities! Allthego set off nursing the truck and van along the road to Roma. Thankfully, we made it there and topped up with 74.6 litres, capacity is 76 litres. 1.4 litres to spare, which accounts for the difference between 60km to Roma and 70 km range. Judgement!

From Roma we made our way through Mitchell and Morven for a night stop over at the Augathella free camp, actually $10. Good facilities here and a number of vans were lined up along the river front. Augathella’s main attraction in the past has been its giant meat ant and a few murals.

It now has a freshly painted water tower, quite impressive design. We also stocked up on some country killed beef at the old butcher shop. Been in the same family for five generations and is supplied by the family’s local property. The butcher is also the local killer and meat inspector so they have it all tied up nicely.

On the road again we headed for Barcaldine with a short stop at Tambo for morning tea followed by lunch the other side of Blackall.

Grasslands are very green and the cattle are up to their thighs in it munching away. Should be a good winter season for the graziers.

Not much has changed in Barcaldine, one of the local motels has set up a small van park with seven grassy drive through powered sites. Only two of us in for the night. Seems to be new for this season, great spot and a block back from the main street.

The old Shakespeare Hotel has been done up and reopened. We had dinner there celebrating the Bards recent 528th birthday. Bit empty, seemed to be only two of us there for the night. The owner told us times were tough. The locals don’t go out much any more, the football was on tonight as well. Very dependant on tourists and she was eagerly awaiting the winter travellers.

We had dinner on the upstairs balcony overlooking the Tree of Knowledge, the structure made from old timbers supplied by an old colleague some years back.

We are now setting off for Winton with a bright sunny blue sky. Must stop at the petrol station for a top up!