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North Queensland then West
  • Rob and Pam T
  • Rob and Pam T

North Queensland then West

This trip starts from home and does a near lap of Queensland. The furthest point is the Dig Tree, nearly to the South Australian border. Approximate duration, six months. Read more
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  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Elim Coloured Sand Hills

    May 29, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We are stopped right now near Hope Vale. A small creek is providing a neat background noise as I write in some description and upload the photos from the last couple of days.

    Yesterday afternoon we walked quite a distance along the beach, north of Elim Beach. In all we clocked up well over 10k for the whole day.

    We have been to the Coloured sands before but rest assured, it really is worth a second visit. About 300 meters along there is a massive ravine eroded into the multicoloured sandhills. Even though photos barely show the majesty of it all, a walk in is very humbling.

    Some places on this planet are beautiful beyond words. Description is difficult as there seems no descriptive narrative to convey the feelings and awe such a place inspires. All I can suggest is to take the time and make the effort to visit places like this, that they may enrich your journey through life.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Chilling by a Creek

    May 30, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    The creek crossing at Hope Vale had a bit of a road cleared in where the water trucks get filled. We backed the van in to stop and have a cuppa.

    With the white noise background not much else can be heard. The sounds of various birds is nearly completed muted. The water is rushing through the three large pipes in its haste to make it way to the sea.Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Endeavour Falls

    May 30, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Heading back now towards Cooktown, we decided to stay one night at Endeavour Falls Tourist Park. It is a nice spot with large sites.

    Just a short walk down the track to the creek is the Falls. Not a huge by any means but quite wide. Recent rain means quite a huge flow of water cascading over the edge.

    We are once again with no mobile phone coverage. This does not bother us too much but we do like to keep friends aware that we are OK. Next part of the trip after we leave Townsville and start heading west, we have even less communication and ecoect lonelier roads. This is when we will activate a satellite tracking and emergency call system.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Mount Carbine

    May 31, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    From Endeavour Falls we headed south,, stopping at Mount Carbine in the caravan park. Nice area with birds happily flitting in the background. It would be easy to stay here for a few days but we are heading further on tomorrow. Pam has plans to recheck one of the known bird habitats on the way to Mareeba.

    For a bit of exercise we decided to take a walk alongMt Spurgeon road. Not a fast exercise, fat burning pace, but a smell the roses kind of speed. We covered about 4k in a bit over an hour.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Quaids Lagoon

    June 1, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Quaids Lagoon has a causeway built out a bit of a hill. The road has been blocked to traffic but it is possible to walk out. Today there are a few water birds and many tiny honyeaters. The view over the Lagoon is spectacular and well worth the walk.Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Hasties Swamp

    June 4, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    It's a while since we last dropped in here for a visit. Last time there was no water so we did not stop.

    Its a seasonal swamp with many birds visiting at different times. Right now there are lots of ducks on the water. Perhaps later in the day other birds will visit.

    The bird hide is two levels. The lower level gives a suberb view of the swamp while the upper level offers a glimpse into the taller trees close by. Today there are small honyeaters feeding off the flowering trees.

    The bird hide offers dreat views with plenty of seating.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Forest Walks and Tea Plantations

    June 5, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Across the river from our camp is access to the Malanda Falls. Closed at the moment due to recent flood damage. Nearby is a mosiac, part of many on a town trail.

    Across the road a forest walk. Turtles in the creek and sometime platypus. We spotted a local bird. The spotted cat bird is so named because of his cat like call.

    Earlier in the day we drove out to the Nerada Tea plantation. Lunch there was very tasty washed down with local green tea. The tree kangaroos had been sighted minutes before we went looking but alas we could not find them. They are very hard to spot. Usually the nearly one meter long tail dangling is the first clue they are there. Later when we walked in the Malanda forest we did hear them.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Mena Creek Falls

    June 6, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Mena Creek is where Paronella Park meets the water. This historic place is well worth stopping for a night or two. Today though we are tourists. We walked down and took a photo. There is a lot more water than we have seen on previous visits.Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Meunga Creek

    June 7, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Years ago, another car, another trailer, it was epic wet weather. We had just purchased Wikicamps and discovered that this place existed.

    We were heading north and had planned to stay here. The trip thus far had been wet. Very wet. A couple of nights at Platypus camp had gone bad. The camper became a wading pool and everything was wet. Fortunately our bed had stayed dry and we thanked the goddess of Karma for small mercies.

    It rained most of the way here and was pelting by the time we pulled up. The owner was quite understanding as we explained we just would find it impossible to face another wet camp. We promised we would return one day and shoved off to find a cabin in Tully.

    It has been a long time since then and we are back. It did rain most of the night but in a van that was no drama. This morning is overcast with moments of subdued sun but the temperature is very pleasent. After the biting wind at Malanda in the late afternoon it is a welcome change.

    In the creek beside us there is flowing water. The birds are very active and cheerful. Just on daylight around six o'clock a local kookaburra decided to be my alarm. I was awake after he announced loudly that he was ready for the day.

    This is the kind of camp where you could easily chill for several days.

    The second photo here is the new mozzie zapper. A few seem to get in every night and this seems better than aerosol sprays. There were quite a lot of those little insects that seem to fly through the screens and annoy us while reading.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Toomulla Beach Revisited

    June 7, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This is a free stop for a night or two. Good grounds, toilets and potable water. We have stayed here a few times now.

    There is plenty of walks and even opportunity to do a bit of crocodile spotting. I don't think I would be keen to launch a boat here.

    We did see the smaller croc sunning on the mud bank on the opposite side of the creek.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler
    1

    Grass Hut Station

    June 8, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    What an interesting place to stay. The camping area has a luxurious turf area that begs to be walked on barefoot. Sinking in like a foam mattress it relaxes and soothes the feet.

    This is a working property with horses and cattle. We are taking it easy getting ourselves rested for the long weekend ahead.

    Last night we had a fire in an unusual fire pit created for the property. The temperature was low enough to enjoy sitting around the fire chatting.

    Barry and Elizabeth are great hosts and I expect we will put this on our favourite list.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Ravenswood.

    June 9, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We have been here before. What we were not expecting was the mine mullock heap right up to the town. The old pit can still be viewed from the lookout but this new hole looks like it may well engulf the entire town.

    That would be a shame since this very old gold mining town has heaps of history. Today it is huge noisy machines moving thousands of cubic meters of earth every day.

    Mining was in its Hey day in the late 1800's. 1987 Carpentaria Gold recommenced mining in the old areas. Over the last 30 or so years various old pits have been underground mined. 2016 Carpentaria Gold announced plans for the Ravenswood Mine Extension project.

    This might be good news for the local economy but it seems to me that very little effort is made to restore the area to a safe landscape and revegitate after the minerals have been won from the earth.

    Small consolation, but the gold and copper from here will probably keep our citizens supplied with smartphones, tablets and EV transport computer components for many years to come.

    Permits to mine some of the purest silica sand is presently being sought north of Cooktown.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Smokin' Sunset

    June 9, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    A fiery pit just below the horizon with a massive steam trail drifting of to the north. The gold for the leprechauns is being smelted to make crocks of gold coins to place at the ends of all the rainbows of the world. I'm still waiting to find my pot of gold.

    Sunsets here are often very detailed shows of fiery reds and orange that delight the senses.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Palm Creek Festival.

    June 12, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    No photos today. The network has a good connection with 2 bars of 4G.Trouble is with so many people here the system is overwhelmed. Just the management data for so many devices would be massive. The link is probably under light use most of the time.

    We are at Foots Hill Station, the new site for the festival for at least the next 10 years.

    Once we get back to Townsville we will do some catching up. The next part of our trip is about two weeks with patchy communications and no shops.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Palm Creek Festival

    June 14, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Well, we have grooved for 4 days with hardly any internet at the Palm Creek Festival. It is now held at Foots Hill Station, about 80k from Townsville, turning south at about 60k along the Charters Towers road.

    The music was very good with many of the acts being local due to covid lock downs. There was no dancing though it was allowed with 2 square meter "bubbles". That meant family could dance together. With no mosh pit nobody bothered.

    We camped quite a distance from the action in the far end of the camping area, so easily clocked up our exercise distance. Even going for a shower was a decent walk. There were plenty of options for food with many food vans present, but we mostly self catered.

    The theme this year was "Under the Sea" with quite a few costumes in theme. Laser light shows projected images into trees and behind the stage.

    This Festival has been running for 30 years and still as strong and popular as ever.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Townsville for Doctor, Dentist and more.

    June 17, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Part of our clever plan on this part of the trip was to return to Townsville for a couple of days to have a routine blood test.

    Meanwhile back at the ranch, or in fact on the way to the ranch a few days earlier, we got a large chip in the windscreen. First day back in Townsville, that chip decided to run from bottom to top, effectively making the windscreen unsafe. Cue the sad music for a two hour phone session to organise replacement. Eventually we had an appointment in two days time to have the screen replaced.

    One of my fillings had parted company with my tooth a few days earlier so cue some scary music for a dentist visit. I was fortunate to get an appointment to have it refilled.

    Pam also got in the act with a few personal appointments so even more to do.

    The "to do" list was growing faster than I could check it off.

    We are seeing friends, getting things done and Pam mentions that we really need to do a shop for one month. Cue even scarier music for shopping centres.

    Scary music aside, we managed to extend our stay for an extra day. Not easy with everything booked out. We finally got everything done the evening before we rolled out of Townsville.

    Cue sad music... The grand plan to spend another day at Magnetic Island did get abandoned.

    Cue adventurous music.... We are on our way with the pantry crammed. The fridge ckockers and the water tanks overflowing. Next stop Blue water Springs.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Harvey Range and Tea Rooms

    June 18, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    On our way to the west, we drive over the Harvey Range. First there is a beautiful panoramic view over the Townsville area.

    Next stop at the top is the Heritage Tea Rooms. It is very popular with many people here for a day trip. The building is quite interesting with old displays.

    Certainly worth a stop for a mug of coffee.

    Addennum.... We decide to have coffee, very nice and since it was so close to lunch we ordered food. It was all excellent.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Burdekin River

    June 18, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Rivers here are often without water but swell way out over the surrounding areas when rain comes. It's not long since there was rain in this area so there is still a fair flow of water.

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Stockyard Creek

    June 18, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Stockyard Creek is the site of a memorial to the connection of Townsville to the west. One of many developmental routes these roads reduced the isolation of the graziers who lived and worked in such remote areas.

    The roads and time we take to move around are a far cry from the time it took to go řlatively short distances in the past. The Hervey Range Road to Basalt to the the west is fast, safe and in good condition.

    This trip would have taken bullock teams many days and been extremely hazardous in parts.    Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Lucky Dam

    June 19, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    A quite scenic dam by the side of the road on the way to Jervois Station. There are quite a few birds here such as ducks darters ans others.

    We are driving across one of the large stations in the area. This is one of the dams where the cattle come each day to drink. The old windmill is evidence that some time in the past water was pumped from here to somewhere else.Read more

  • Rob and Pam TNorth Queensland then WestTraveler

    Smoky Dam @ Jervoise

    June 19, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Jervouse Station has numerous dams that are mostly with reasonable water after quite a good wet season. The creeks and rivers in the area are mostly still running.

    Smoky Dam is one we visited last time and has quite a variety of birds visit. It is also quite picturesque with many great photos of reflections. We visited afternoon and the next morning.Read more

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