Day 14: Darwin

Joan & Gary arrived today. They were picked up by a friend of Caley's in the small hours of the morning and I took them to the APOLLO Van Hire.

They collected their van and the six of us proceeded into the city to the Information Centre we we booked a sunset cruise in the harbour. We then went and bought groceries, had lunch and a brief rest then set off at 4:30 f0r the cruise.

The cruise was great - we used our National Seniors Cards which saved us $10 each taking the price to $84/head. The cruise left at 5:30 and returned at 8pm. There was a seafood and salad buffet followed by steak and salmon. I ate so many oysters!! The prawns were great as well.

The views were terrific but I am sure you are going to get sick of sunsets by the end of our trip!!  Our v essel (sailing ship but no sailing - under motors) was the "Cape Adieu". There are a lot of harbour cruises ranging from $60 to $130. Ours was good - nice and relaxing and also a BYO grog.

Tomorrow we set off for a day trip to Litchfield National Park.

Other things that happened during day:
# Fixed screen door - bought part at caravan store in Darwin.
# Did all our washing - two loads since Mount Isa.
# Helped Gary & Joan move sites - we got back after cruise and they had no power - had to change sites.
# William and Kate got married.
# Broncos leading the Bulldogs 20-12 at time of writing.

Day 13: Mataranka to Darwin

Well, we decided that today we would push on to Darwin. We left at 8:15am and arrived at Darwin around 1pm. (420km).

We are staying at the Free Spirits Resort which is costing $150 for 4 nights (3 nights low season and one night high or shoulder season). There were cheaper parks but the reviews on many of these were not very good so we decided to go for quality.

Not much to report about the drive except that as I said to Lorelle, you could have been between Toowoomba and Gatton except that amongst the gum trees and scrub here, there were mixed in numerous palms - looked a bit strange. Enroute, we passed through Katherine which is a  nice looking town, probably about the size of Dalby. It looks fairly prosperous, no doubt helped by the tourism. We will be returning to Katherine for a few days after we have seen Darwin and Kakadu.

After Katherine, there were only a couple of small towns - Pine Creek and Adelaide River.

Following setting up in the caravan park and having lunch (ants in the sesa wheat biscuits - they like them as much as me. Oh well, I didn't eat many!) we set of for the Mindil Markets at Mindil Beach.
Today just happened to be the first market for the year after the summer season and I swear 99% of Darwinites were there. No joke, it was like walking through the ekka on People's Day! 

There are a variety of market stores - nothing fantastic (artie/craftie stuff) but the market has two things going for it - a huge variety of food stores and a fantastic sunset over the beach.  In terms of food, we ate chicken spring rolls, steamed dim sims, calamari and a fruit smoothie to die for!!!

The sunset was also great - again most of Darwin was there to watch.  Have a look at some of the photos below.

Tomorrow Joan and Gary are arriving for a week. That should be good - someone else to beat at cards!!!

And to all the people who are back at work this week, we're not thinking of you!   lol lol

Mindil Beach before the sunset

Mindil beach near sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Day 12: Mataranka

Slept in this morning until 7:45am - how decadent!

It was nice to relax for the morning - reading, playing on the laptops, and eating Doug's microwave scones for morning tea - they weren't bad at all.

We then set off to explore - first we went to the Art Museum - they had some terrific aboriginal paintings and we were sorely tempted to buy one but thought we would wait. Hope that isn't a silly mistake.....

We then went out along the Roper River and visited some picnic spots. The area has been badly flooded but the river is very pretty. However, you would not swim in it because of the large 'lizards' seen in the area - see photos below.

Roper River - Croc trap on far bank centre of picture

Next we went to Mataranka Station and saw the replica of tghe homestead from the book/movie "We of the Never Never".  [Mum - this is for you - interesting to note that Elsey Gunn only lived in the area for one year before her husband died of dysentry and she left Mataranka.]

Replica of Elsey Homestead

After walking through the homstead we walked down to the Mataranka Thermal pool and had a swim. The water is 32 degrees - not hot, just warm. After that we had a drink at the bar and headed back to the van park.

Gary & Joan rang us and they will be arriving on Friday morning. They have an Apollo Van booked for the week. It will be good to see them again.


Nola Vaughan rang me this morning as well - she and Mike were on their way to the year 6 camp for Gatton State School. I told her we would be thinking of them back at school while we were exploring Oz.

Day 11: Newcastle Waters to Mataranka

Today we only had a three hour drive. First stop was the Daly Waters pub. There were quite a few people having breakfst there even at 9:30am. Has a lot of character and apparantly good barra and steaks at night.  The pub has a great collection of bras and T-shirts hanging from different places - too early in the day to have a beer.

We also visited an historic tree near the pub where explorer John McDougall Stuart was supposed to have carved an 'S' in the bark back in the late 1800s - not much to see.

After Daly Waters, we passed through Larrimah where there is another historic pub and finally got to Mataranka around 11am. You have a choice ofd staying at two van parks or Mataranka Homestead. Two of the van parks are on the Bitter Springs road and we stayed in the one about 3km from the Springs because it had plenty of green grass and shade - 'Territory Manor'.

After lunch we went and had a swim at Bitter Springs - it was flooded within the last couple of weeks but it was still nice - warm water at 32 degrees with a beautiful green colour caused by the local limestone. The spring is surrounded by palm trees. We got in the shaded water and drifted on our noodles for 10 minutes before walking back along the path and doing it again.  One thing- the area smelt - a bit like Rotorua in New Zealand. I think it always has a fragrance but it was accentuated by the rotting palm fronds and vegetation after the floods.

Upon our return from Bitter Springs, we had a cold spa in the spa pool in the caravan park.

We are staying two nights here which gives us a bit of a break. Tomorrow we will swim at other thermal pools in the area. (Elsey Station.)

We have again changed our itinerary. After staying here two nights, we are then going to head into Darwin for 4 nights. Hopefully Gary & Joan will join us for a week!!!

Filled up with fuel - $1.79/litre.

Daly Waters Hotel

Caravan Park Mataranka - feeding the barra

Mataranka

Bitter Springs

Bitter Springs

Day 10: Wonarah Bore to Newcastle Waters

Today, we again set off at 8am. Was quicker getting away as we didn't unhitch the van from the car. The night was cool - had to get up and close the window behind us because there was a real breeze.

Today we drove 480 kilometres. Nothing much to see but a nice drive - very flat country for the most part and the roads in good condition - much better than Qld roads. We stopped at Barkly Homestead for fuel, (excellent roadhouse - all types of accommodation and meals), the Three Ways (for morning tea), Renner Springs for lunch (bought a works burger & chips), Elliot (got breath tested by the police before stopping there for an ice-block - this small town made up of a shop and a few other buildings had bars on everything.

We arrived at Newcastle Waters at about 2pm. Quite hot but managed to set up in 15 minutes, then had a rest for an hour. Now doing blog and having a beer.

After dinner (spagetti on toast because we had a huge lunch at Renner Springs - hamburgers to write home about!) we sat out and drank wine while looking at the stars. The mosquitoes and insects are bad because there is so much water about. It's amazing at dusk - the air becomes alives with dragonflies in their thousands - this has happened the last two nights - they are harmless - it looks great.

Tomorrow - a short drive of 276km to Mataranka Cabin & Van Park near Bitter Springs.

Fuel price - $1.98 at Barkly Homestead.

No phone signal but may get one tonight? (sometimes get a better signal at night.) Late extra - no signal....

Maximum temp today 32 degrees.

Barkly Homestead

Three Ways

Newcastle Waters Rest Area

Newcastle Waters Rest Area

Day 9: Mt Isa to Wonarah Bore

Last night I had a bit of drama which in the end turned out Ok but at the time was a bit traumatic - I tried winding in the caravan awning on my own.  It got jammed and after I released the jam, it kept winding in - unfortunately my hand got stuck in between two pieces of steel holding the awning - I was hanging there with crushed fingers and luckily I was able to reach up with a piece of wire I had in my hand and release the mechanism. Lorelle, Doug & Sue came running just as I released it and luckily after applying ice for a couple of hours everything seems to be OK. I did have thoughts for a while while my hand was caught that I might lose some fingers!!

Anyway, for today, we left Mt Isa at 8am and arrived in Camooeweal at about 10am. The country was flat and lightly timbered.  They have had good rain in the past couple of months and although not as green as further south, it's still looking good. Temperature today got to about 31 degrees but htere was a good breeze blowing which made it feel cooler.

There is a small yellow wattle about a metre high growing everywhere along the roadside and it is adding a touch of colour to the landscape.

After having morning tea in Camooweal, we drove past the old hall where I used to live in when I taught here in 1978 and we then took a photo of the school where I taught for a couple of months in that same year.

We then headed off to Wonarah Bore, a rest area a couple of hundred kms west of Camooweal.  Nothing here but a tank which I think contains bore water, a broken windmill and a shelter shed. Nothing else. We are camped here in the middle of no-where. We are obviously real geeks because it is 4:30pm and three of us are sitting typing up blogs, etc. on our laptops. No power so hope the batteries last (I have a 12 volt adaptor if necessary.)  Also, no phone signal - have had no phone signal for last few hours of driving.

At sunset, we all assembled near the shelter shed and took photos of the windmill - quite pretty.

Today we travelled just over 400km.

Camooweal State School

Geoff & Lorelle at the border

Doug & Sue

Wonorah Bore - bush camping

Wattle

Wonorah Bore

 

Day 8: Mt Isa

Nothing much to report today, however I must report on our visit to Lorelle's school. Lorelle said that she wanted to visit the school she had taught at in Mt Isa back in 1978, Happy Valley State School. So we went to the school, parked outside and even took photos from the car of Lorelle's old classroom........  However things did not gel because she said that she used to look out her classroom windows across the road to a vacant block and where the vacant block was, there is now a Catholic school which I would swear was over 33 years old.....  The penny dropped - Lorelle was never at Happy Valley - her old school was Healy State School.  Needless to say, I told her she had just made the cover of my blog.......  lol   lol   lol   lol.....  (needless to say, we deleted the photos).

Following that humorous start to the day, we went shopping in the metropolis so that we have enough food for a week of 'free camping' in rest areas - beer, wine, potato chips, lollies, etc .... all the essentials!


This afternoon, we are going to take a short drive out to Fountain Springs, a swimming hole just out of Mt Isa where we used to go swimming and tonight we are going out to the Buffs Club to live it up.

Our Internet signal may not be great over the next couple of weeks or so but I'll fill in the gaps when I can. Our draft itinerary is:-

Sun 24th: Wanera rest Area (not sure of spelling but it's north of the Three Ways)
Mon 25th: Newcastle Waters Rest Area
26/27 - Mataranka area
28/29/30 - Katherine area
1/2/3 May - Kakadu
4/5/6 - Darwin
7/8/9 - Litchfield National Park

Day 7: - Mt Isa

Well it's Good Friday and we slept in until 8am. We were going to drive out to Duchess but after having a look around the Isa this morning, we decided it was too far to go and too little to see.

Housekeeping - we did our first load of washing and I did a repair to our water system.

Then we all piled into Doug & Sue's car and visited Lorelle's old house in Darling Crescent, Doug & Sue's old house, the town lookout, through the town centre and then we picked up some lunch (KFC - no, not the new 'Double Burger') and headed to Lake Moondarra. The lake is beautiful - crystal clear water and very inviting. Surprisingly, there was no-one swimming but a few power boats were on the water. We thought it would be more crowded but it seems that Mt isa is pretty quiet over the Easter break - more people leave the city than arrive - our van park has numerous spare sites.

Lake Moondara

Mt Isa mines

Day 6: Winton to Mount Isa

Had a good drive of approx 450km today. We left at 8 and arrived at about 2pm.
On the way we went through Kyuna, McKinley and Cloncurry.

We stopped at Kynuna to refuel and then at McKinley where we went into the Walkabout Hotel (Crocodile Dundee) - we didn't have a drink because noone came to serve us - a bit quiet....

The drive between Winton & Mount Isa was generally over flat plain country until we reached Cloncurry. Then between Cloncurry & the Isa, the country becomes hilly with interesting hills and valleys - a lot of exposed rock. Luckily for us, everything has been very green, not Northern Rivers NSW green, but still very easy on the eye. Temperature reached 33 degrees so we are well & truly back in Gatton summer temperatures.

The van park is good and we have three nights here. Mount Isa appears to be pretty busy and has all the features of a small modern city - KMart, Bunnings, Maccas, KFC, etc..... plus the huge chimneys of the mine. I visited the Isa last year but Lorelle has not been here since we left in 1978.

Tomorrow, Good Friday, we are planning on driving to Duchess, two hours south of the Isa, where I taught in 1977-78. It's now or never to visit the place even though there is not much there.....

Day 5: Winton (Lark Quarry)

Today we slept in a bit and then left for Lark Quarry, the four of us in our car. It was good to try out out new Waeco fridge for the first time - it worked superbly! Lark Quarry is 110 km west of Winton by a mixture of bitumen and dirt road. We came across quite a few eagles but they were very fast and taking photos of them proved difficult.

Lark Quarry was good - the only site in the world of a dinosaur stampede recorded in sandstone. The talk took about an hour after which we went on a short walk to the lookout. It was 31 degrees so we weren't keen on going too far. We had our pcnic lunch under the shelter shed at LQ (there is no shop or food available) and then headed home - on the way we went into Bladensburg National Park but it wasn't that exciting so we turned around before we got to the camping area and headed home.

When we got home we had some more water issues - I was filling the water tanks when the filler unit inside the van fell apart. I was alerted to this because Lorelle was yelling 'water' and starting to dog paddle! - well it actually wasn't that bad but it did take several towels to dry and a couple of hours to re-glue the unit - won't know if it is fixed until tomorrow when the glue is dry......

Tomorrow we have a big drive to Mt Isa so we are leaving at 8am.

Quip of the day (actually yesterday): Lorelle: "They should have retractable lanyards!"

Day 4: Longreach to Winton

Woke up (still in Longreach) and decided to have a shower - not great water pressure but passable. Anyway, lathered up and just then someone else started up the shower beside me - now this would not normally be a problem, however my low pressure shower suddenly became less than a trickle, really just a 'collection of drips'. What was I to do with soap everywhere? I waited of course hoping for the trickle to return to its previous former flow. This was not to be so I wrapped the towel around me, gathered up my clothes, soap, etc. (still dripping wet and covered in soap and planning on dashing across to the disabled toilet across the aisle because I thought it might have better pressure) and opened the door........ the door fell off its freakin top hinge onto the ground....... and I was not dressed in my work gear, so there it lay. Anyway, to end a long story,the disabled shower was great aned when I returned to the block later, the door was fixed!!

Well, at 8:15am off we went to Winton - 177 kilometres which we managed to do in 1 3/4 hours.

We had a counter lunch at the Gregory Hotel where Banjo Patterson first publicly performed Waltzing Matilda; and then went to the Matilda Centre in town.

Tomorrow we are driving out to Lark Quarry to see the dinosaur footprints, etc.

Our National Seniors Cards look like being winners. We have used them twice in the last two days and received $17 in discounts. I can't remember what they cost - something like $30-40 a year for anyone over 50. They are going to save us money....

Day 3: Barcoo River (Sth of Blackall) to Longreach

Short trip today - left the Barcoo River at 8:30am. It had rained a bit during the night and the ground was a bit 'gluggy' with our shoes.

Drove through Blackall, a very pretty tidy little town. Next on to Barcaldine where we had morning tea & then visited the Tree of Knowledge, where the Australial Labor Party began. The tree has been dead for four years but they have erected a huge structure around the remaining trunk. Photo attached.

We arrived in Longreach at around noon and had lunch. Went to Qantas Centre that afternoon - not bad but too late to go through jumbo jet. Played May-I at night.

Day 2: Roma to Barcoo River (Sth of Blackall)

Left Roma at 8am this morning – it was quite cold after a few showers of rain yesterday.

Went through Mitchell, Muckadilla, Mungallala, Morven (we stopped at the markets where Lorelle bought a brooch, then we had morning tea), Augathella and Tambo. We stopped for lunch at Tambo beside the rest area on the south side of the town. Adjacent to the rest area is a small lake, probably measuring only 100 metres in diameter where I learnt to water-ski back in 1977 when I was teaching at Tambo. Across the road from the rest area was the house I lived in back in that year – Lorelle took a photo of the house and school. Certainly brought back some memories from when I was a 22 year old.
In the seventies, the area was based on sheep. Australia doesn’t ride on the sheep’s back like it used to and although merino sheep are still important we didn’t get the impression they were the life of the country in that part of Queensland as they used to be. We also stopped at the Tambo Teddy shop, but being Sunday, it was closed. Lorelle was disappointed. I told her we can always get one by mail order!!

After we left Tambo, we continued north to our overnight camping area which is where we are now – on the banks of the Barcoo in a rest area between 40 & 50 kilometres south of Blackall. No facilities except a table under a cover. It’s raining but I am sitting under the shelter shed typing. Tomorrow we head to Longreach where we are booked into a caravan park.

Fuel – not too bad – paid $1.55/L in Tambo. Fuel economy – 22L/100km. (Normally the Prado uses 13-14L per 100km.) At that rate, it will cost us $9,000 in fuel for the trip!!!

QUIP OF THE DAY: Say this quickly, “Have you met the funny fella from Augathella?”

Day 1: Gatton to Roma

Well we finally got away at about 9am after saying our good-byes.

Had morning tea at Chinchilla, lunch in a rest area at Dulacca and arrived in Roma at about 3:30pm. Staying at Villa Big 4 Holiday Park - $28 for the night after we got our Big 4 member discount. We have drive through sites so that's good - we are not planning on going out tonight.

Some photos attached of when we left in the morning. The Quinns were there to dream about going (actually collecting a vehicle) and Mike is living at home and lookingt after the house (he asked if we would tie some party balloons to the letter box on the way out!!!!)

All for Day 1.