Jul – Oct 2019

Lake Eyre & Uluru

One of the most iconic sites in Australia is Uluru. Lake Eyre is waterless most of the time but springs to life when huge cyclonic driven rain fall in Queensland. That water takes months to flow to the lake. This trip is a rare opportunity. Read more

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Day 65
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 6:45 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 233 m
Australia Carbine Creek -19.95988, 138.0995619°57’36” S 138°5’58” E
Camooweal Billabongs
October 1, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Very basic bush camping here. Camped by a billabong enjoying the wildlife. It became a bit windy so we decided to move on after two nights.
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Day 67
Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:15 AM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 285 m
Australia Cloncurry -20.84694, 140.0519820°50’49” S 140°3’7” E
Clem Walton Park
October 3, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Clem Walton Park is one of our favourite stops on this area. Situated on the Corella River it is peaceful and relaxing. We spent a few days here enjoying the bush.

There is permanent water in the river from the seepage of the dam a bit upstream. The dam was built to service Mary Kathleen uranium mine.

We have spotted over 40 different species of birds and several lizards. One huge goanna sun's on a nearby rock and we have seen him swimming along the river. He is over a meter long.Read more
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Day 68
Friday, October 4, 2019 at 2:30 PM
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Australia Lake Corella -20.83847, 140.0465420°50’18” S 140°2’48” E
Corella Dam
October 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
The corella dam was built in the 1950s to services the now closed uranium mine. Presently it is possible to take a drive and see quite a bit of the dam. More birds and great water views.
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Day 69
Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 3:05 PM
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 379 m
Australia Lake Mary Kathleen -20.79207, 139.7914720°47’31” S 139°47’29” E
Mary Kathleen Dam
October 5, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Early in the life of Mary Kathleen uranium mine it was expected they would not have enough water supply. The Corella dam was built for the mine and then the Mary Kathleen mine was built for future needs.

Corella Dam provided all the water required and Mary Kathleen dam was never used. Today it is used for recreation.Read more
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Day 69
Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 6:01 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 367 m
Australia Cloncurry -20.74682, 140.0122620°44’49” S 140°0’44” E
Mary Kathleen mine.
October 5, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
The uranium mine was opened in 1950's to fill a contract to British nuclear energy. After fulfilling that contract a year early there were no more orders so it went into caretaker mode. Later it was again opened when further contracts were gained.

Almost all the deposit was mined and the mine was then permanently closed. The pit with deep blue water remains. The water is contaminated and now seeping out into the environment. This problem is not solved at this time.

Nearby the ghost town of Mary Kathleen is concrete slabs and bitumen streets. All the buildings were sold at Austin and are still in use in Cloncurry or Mt Isa.Read more
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Day 70
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 8:26 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 195 m
Australia Chinaman Creek -20.71484, 140.4766420°42’53” S 140°28’36” E
Chinaman Creek Dam, Cloncurry
October 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
We left Clem Walton Park early and decided to have breakfast here. The lake is quite pretty at the moment.
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Day 70
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 9:48 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 218 m
Australia Mount Leviathan -20.70405, 140.4855620°42’15” S 140°29’8” E
Old Cloncurry Water Tank
October 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Many places now have Silo Art and water tank art. Here in Cloncurry, high atop one of the hills is the old long disused water tank. It has been given a new lease on life. With a nice lookout over the town, you can walk around and enjoy the artwork.Read more
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Day 70
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 1:21 PM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: 127 m
Australia Julia Creek -20.65778, 141.747520°39’28” S 141°44’51” E
Julia Creek Memorial.
October 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
A traveller had tried to explain this to me a few days back. A clockwork or geared horse made no sense at all. Turns out it is a clever sculpture.
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Day 70
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 5:56 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 156 m
Australia Nonda -20.68372, 142.478620°41’1” S 142°28’43” E
Nonda Camp Billabong
October 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Another nice spot out of the blue! We had planned to stop at Julia Creek but since we had a very early start decided to head on a bit further.

This is a stock route watering point still in use to this day. Often there are huge mobs of cattle here for a night or two. The billabong is topped up by a flowing artesian bore. Water exits at about 45 degrees and flows into the BILLABONG where cools down ready for the cattle when needed.

Nearby was a thriving little township in days gone by. Mostly railway workers and their families. Now all the houses are gone leaving only the old school building that is privately owned

Someone has dropped 4 domestic ducks here. They are hanging around hoping for a handout. Probably they do better with other travellers than us.Read more
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Day 71
Monday, October 7, 2019 at 7:41 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 567 m
Australia Flinders -20.40004, 144.4232620°24’0” S 144°25’24” E
Whistling bore
October 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Today the bore is having some quiet time. Usually though, when conditions are right it hums or whistles.
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Day 71
Monday, October 7, 2019 at 11:07 AM
⛅ 34 °C
Altitude: 313 m
Australia Three A Bores -20.85991, 144.2062620°51’36” S 144°12’23” E
Hughenden
October 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C
Some nice murals in Hughenden. Just to the west a very short windmill. Windmills are a bit of a thing in these parts.
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Day 71
Monday, October 7, 2019 at 6:50 AM UTC
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 637 m
Australia Flinders -20.34496, 144.460520°20’42” S 144°27’38” E
Porcupine Gorge
October 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
About ten years ago we camped here for a few days. We walked down to the Gorge, a hard 1.2km track down some fairly steep ridges. The great view of the Pyramid Rock and checking out the many waterholes was quite worthwhile. At night we were visited by bettong while we sat quietly in the camp with the lights very low.

Fast forward to 2019 and we are here for another visit. The track was steeper than we remembered and due to a late start we did not go right down onto the gorge this time. We did get some great views of Pyramid Rock and saw the waterholes from a couple of hundred meters away.

We turned back to ensure we were not returning in darkness. Back at the camp we lit the artificial fire and made a cuppa. It was getting fairly dark and as we sat a bettong appeared. She had a joey in her pouch so heavy she was hopping a little oddly. Reckon junior will have to find ih own feet soon.Read more
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Day 72
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 8:00 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 493 m
Australia Bottle Tree Waterhole -20.46469, 144.4025520°27’53” S 144°24’9” E
Bottle Tree Ridge Lookout
October 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
On the way back from Porcupine Gorge, we stopped for a walk up the ridge. There is good views over the surrounds. One cam walk along the Ridge to get other views of the area. On the end are the bottle trees. Today the local Happy Jack families flew in. Probably a hundred or so. They chattered merrily as they waited in the trees for the stragglers to catch up. Soon they all left.Read more
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Day 72
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 9:28 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 315 m
Australia Three A Bores -20.84293, 144.2007720°50’35” S 144°12’3” E
Windmills and Dinosaurs
October 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Hughenden is the town of windmills and dinosaurs. As part of the Australian dinosaur trail they are proud to tell everyone they too were home to the Muttaburrasaurus and quite a few others.

Windmills were an essential pard of developing the outback. They reliably pumped water from hundreds of meters below the ground to water the growi g cattle and sheep industries. There are now very few operating windmills but some have been saved from the scrap heap and are on show.Read more
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Day 72
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 10:10 AM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: 311 m
Australia Three A Bores -20.8428, 144.2010420°50’34” S 144°12’4” E
FJ Holden Cafe, Hughenden
October 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
From the first moment you hear about the FJ Holden Cafe, you are curious. As you walk in the fist thing you see is a Golden Fleece petrol bowser, synonymous with the era of the great FJ. The next thing you notice is the front cut of an actual FJ. Then you notice all sorts of interesting items including quite a bit of Elvis memoebilia.

The rear end of a monaro made into a lounge chair is quite unusual but in here would not raise a brow. Many models are safely displayed in cases and the walls are packed with info and curios. An old jukebox on display was imported from the USA. Even more curious is that it played 78rpm records.

The Cafe is owned by the local people, the Holdens. FJ & JA Holden in fact. Francis and Jan have brought a wonderful and quirky idea to life.

It doesn't end there though. This is a real cafe and the coffee and food is excellent. If we are ever in Hughenden, this is a must do stop.Read more
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Day 72
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 6:16 PM
🌙 33 °C
Altitude: 238 m
Australia Barcaldine -22.10977, 145.19522°6’35” S 145°11’42” E
Forest Den NP
October 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 33 °C
Four Mile Waterhole camping area.

We arrived here a bit late after driving from Porcupine Gorge and stopping for coffee at the FJ Holden Cafe. At Torrens Creek we had lunch then on to take a look at another prospective site for another trip.

There is water in the creek but it is very low. There are birds around so we hope to see some in the morning.Read more
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Day 74
Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 9:16 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 199 m
Australia Muttaburra -22.5828, 144.5650722°34’58” S 144°33’54” E
Pump Waterhole, Muttaburra
October 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Probably this was one of the waterholes that was used to pump water to the town. Later an artesian bore was sunk and still provides all the water needs of the town.

The creek is home to many bird species that were quite noisy this morningRead more
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Day 74
Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 10:53 AM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 207 m
Australia Muttaburra -22.6153, 144.5095722°36’55” S 144°30’34” E
Union Hole and Camp
October 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
In March 1891, around 400 striking shearers camped not far back from this waterhole. This is where they collected water for the camp. The camp was about a half mile back towards Muttaburra.
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Day 74
Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 11:15 AM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 205 m
Australia Muttaburra Airport -22.59385, 144.5462322°35’38” S 144°32’46” E
Muttaburra
October 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Years ago we made a visit here. We met the man who discovered the Muttaburrasaurus. Things have changed since we were here. Roads are better and everything is more accessable.

There are a lot of art pieces around the town. We found over 20.Read more
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Day 74
Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 1:49 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 207 m
Australia Muttaburra Airport -22.59201, 144.5432522°35’31” S 144°32’36” E
Muttaburra Sculptures
October 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
We went to Muttaburra to check out the many art sculptures that have appeared since we were there over ten years ago. 18 were mentioned in a booklet from the council office, but we discovered there are more that have appeared since the booklet was published.

Muttaburra has changed a bit and seems to be an attractive spot for tourists. The hospital tours are still part of the scene with a huge "centre of Queensland" marker and memorial walk.

Not far away there is the site that is to become a huge RV self contained freedom camp. This place has a nice feel and a few spots to investigate.Read more
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Day 76
Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 2:32 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 275 m
Australia Barcaldine -22.75009, 145.475322°45’0” S 145°28’31” E
White Station Healing Circle
October 12, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
This healing circle is connected to 6 others around the world. As you sit in the circle you can meditate or just relax in the forces of the planet.
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Day 78
Monday, October 14, 2019 at 11:30 AM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Australia Lochnagar -23.57059, 145.6689423°34’14” S 145°40’8” E
Back Creek bore
October 14, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
On 8/5/1886, this was the site of the first artesian water. At a depth of 250m it had a flow of 321,728 litres per day.
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Day 78
Monday, October 14, 2019 at 12:38 PM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: 347 m
Australia Jericho -23.60221, 146.1268923°36’8” S 146°7’37” E
The Trumpeter
October 14, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
Jericho is an obvious place to have a trumpeter. In the same style as many other sculptures, this barbed wire creation is very well done.
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Day 79
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 8:39 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 355 m
Australia Alpha -23.64863, 146.6418323°38’55” S 146°38’31” E
Alpha
October 15, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Alpha is billed as having lots of murals. While this is true, many are now quite old and could do with a bit of a touch up. There are some newer murals and the punlic toilet block is impressive.

The newest attraction is the barbed wire bull sculpture and the petrified forest. Not quite what I expected the "forest" is carved pillars with petrified item inset.Read more
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Day 79
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 10:50 AM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 251 m
Australia Anakie -23.55222, 147.7448223°33’8” S 147°44’41” E
Saphire
October 15, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Saphire is one of the gem fields towns. A new gem adorns the park at the turn from the highway. The town itself is now very quiet with the tourist season well over. There is a heritage trail to ecplore but this time we cheched out just one spot.Read more
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