The plan for this trip is to revisit some favorite places in the Kimberley and see lots of new places, including a drive along the Great Central Road from Laverton,WA to Uluru, in the Red Centre, NT.
Here is the map of our proposed route (taken from the Wiki Camps planner). The red line shows where we’ve been and the green line is the plan for the rest of the trip.
In order to focus on what we really want to see in WA, we decided to travel quickly through NSW, Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory (NT). Then Dick found a music festival in Queensland that sort of fitted with our itinerary, so we included it.
We’ve had some really nice camping spots in the first two weeks, and we’ve enjoyed hot pools, spa baths and bathtubs. There’s always something interesting to find when you look for it.
Moree is known for thermal springs so in an ordinary caravan park there, we scored a campsite by the river and a soak in the 41C thermal pool. We also used the last of our NSW free dinner vouchers so we could leave NSW with a clear conscience. The NSW government gave each citizen 2x$25 restaurant vouchers and 2x$25 entertainment vouchers to stimulate business in the state. We did our bit on the eating!These painted silos at Thallon encourage people to stop or camp there.Here I am with the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat, Queensland’s most endangered mammal. In the 1970’s only about 35 remained, so a conservation program was started and now there are more than 200 in two colonies.
So between visiting the silos and William the Wombat, we covered the sights of Thallon; and then found a lovely free camp along the Moonie River.
No one else around so we could play our ukuleles, and we did a walk along this beautiful river which is available for free camping.Enjoyed our first campfire for the trip and used Dick’s handy device (chunk of wood with a slot in it) to get our photo.
Dick did his balance class on Zoom before we left the free camp and headed for Charlotte Plains Station (sheep or cattle farm) with its hot bore and bath tubs. The owner told us the property has been in her family for 98 years. Dick told her she didn’t look that old!
The bore water comes from the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest underground reservoirs on earth. It is 100-250 million years old and takes up one-fifth of Australia. The oldest groundwater has been dated to near 2 million years old. The depths of the aquifer systems range from 100m-3000m and the water is predominantly fresh and safe for human and animal consumption.So of course, we had a bath! We also had a nice, quiet night in a pleasant setting. Good to see stations coming up with ways to attract paying customers.
Scored a pleasant riverside camp in a good caravan park in Cunnamulla, explored the town, Dick bought appropriate outback style boots and we took the mandatory photo with the ‘Cunnamulla Fella’ made famous in a Slim Dusty song of the same name.
The town of Cunnamulla has erected a statute of ‘The Cunnamulla Fella’ as a tribute to the writer of the song (Stan Coster) and the singer (Slim Dusty). The statute is double life size bronze.Fossils of the Diprotodon, the largest known marsupials to have ever lived, have been found in the Eulo area and are on display in the Eromanga Natural History Museum. This life size statute is in Eulo. Diprotodons are giant wombat-like marsupials who lived in Australia between 1.6million and 45,000 years ago. Their name means “two forward teeth”. Another Queensland dinosaur area!
Before we left home, Dick found this 4-day music festival, roughly along our route so we booked in, along with 8 other Explorer Motorhome owners. Great setup – live music and a built-in gang to hang out with.This was our camp at the festival and just a short walk from the stage (which was a tray of a large truck)The entertainment went day and night, so there was lots of sitting in the sun or in the dark in the very cold nights.A couple of our favorite acts. On the main day of the festival, Dick parked himself at the main stage at 11:40 am and returned to Belle at 10pm having watched over 12 acts perform during that time. The quality of most performers was excellent.Leaving the festival a day early, we took a new route and headed for Quilpie as we hadn’t been there before. On the way into town we climbed to the summit of Baldy Top and enjoyed good views of the area. Note the beanies, it was still cold.Not much to do in Quilpie on a Sunday, but we visited the opal alter in St Finbarrs church, rescued a 10 year old boy who fell off his bike, and had a soak in the caravan park’s artesian spa bath.
Plans change on a regular basis and as I had a sore eye, we headed for the closest town with a hospital, Charleville. It took 2.5 hours to get a 5 minute eye pressure test, but at least we are lucky to be able to rock up to a hospital and see a doctor, and my eyes were fine. Had a night in a free camp at Tambo before doing the long drive to Winton.
Winton is one of our favorite places to visit and we have a regular routine there now, which we followed again. Since we’ve seen all the attractions before, we focus on shows done by our favorite bush poet, Greg North.Same bush poet, Greg North, and two totally different shows. The 5pm show in the North Gregory Hotel is a serious/historical performance relating to Banjo Patterson’s time there writing Waltzing Matilda or a show on the history of Winton – entertaining, informative and well-researched.
For those staying in the Matilda Caravan Park he does a 7pm show that is very , very funny and showcases his wit and humor.Dinner al fresco at the Tattersalls Hotel in the main street, which has been done up very nicely. Lots of people in town and the place had a buzz about it.
Although we enjoy passing through Winton, it was not hard to turn down a job offer to manage the caravan park where we stayed. The place was full of signs looking for a manager and a cook. It is quite rundown and I know that with my general business experience and from working in my parents resort and caravan park in Canada, I could do the turnaround. Dick looked horrified when I started saying what I would do to fix it up – some tlc, some $$, etc. However the idea of cleaning toilets everyday was more than enough to put me off.
Two days of driving and two nights at these lovely free camps, brought us to the end of our time in Queensland, thirteen days and almost 3000 kilometres since we left home.
Sounds like great fun Pat and Dick. I particularly love the opal altar, since opal is my birth stone. I must visit it one day (hmmm – same old problem!).
I don’t know whether it’s just my phone but some of your photos, towards the beginning, won’t open. Shame because the rest are great. I love the clouds in the one where the stage was on the tray of a truck!
Have a wonderful time on the next leg.
L
F
Great photos and informative commentary.
We are heading into QLD in early June and then NT, then home.
2022 will be a trip similar to yours and taking 12 months.
Currently in Gulgong/Mudgee area for a few days. Minus 3 in the morning, brrrr.
Hope our paths cross at some stage.
It’s good fun following your travels, marking more places I want to go to.
Love to you both.
Sounds like great fun Pat and Dick. I particularly love the opal altar, since opal is my birth stone. I must visit it one day (hmmm – same old problem!).
I don’t know whether it’s just my phone but some of your photos, towards the beginning, won’t open. Shame because the rest are great. I love the clouds in the one where the stage was on the tray of a truck!
Have a wonderful time on the next leg.
L
F
Great photos. Love the trip map. Happy adventures
Hey Pat n Dick
Where are you visiting in WA? the map is a bit hard to figure out exactly where.
Lea N Jackie
I was wondering if you had taken of again – now I know. All sound wonderful. Can you let me know how Helen is please and how she is doing.
Sounds like lots of fun and I am envious of your trip. I have cancelled my proposed holiday to WA in August.
Have fun you two …..love from Jeanette xx
Great photos and informative commentary.
We are heading into QLD in early June and then NT, then home.
2022 will be a trip similar to yours and taking 12 months.
Currently in Gulgong/Mudgee area for a few days. Minus 3 in the morning, brrrr.
Hope our paths cross at some stage.