Northern Territory & Qld

An open-ended adventure by Duncan Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Oldest first

Footprints
Photos

Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 27
Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Australia Nourlangie Rock -12.86702, 132.811412°52’1” S 132°48’41” E
Kakadu -part 1
May 20, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Today we took a tour to Kakadu, 240 ks east of Darwin covering 20,000 square kms. Kakadu is dual listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its outstanding natural and cultural values. It's archaeological sites record the skills and way of life of Aboriginal people over tens of thousands of years. Nineteen Aboriginal clans still reside in Kakadu. It is home to 2,000 plant species, around one third of all Australian bird species and one fifth of all Australian mammals. Some of the animals found in Kakadu are threatened or endangered and many are not found any else in the world. Our morning was filled with culturally significant rock art viewing and being immersed in the majestic landforms Just stunning !!Read more
TravelerSo cool 😎
5/22/21Reply
4 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Monday, May 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 62 m
Australia Coomalie -13.04606, 130.8556613°2’46” S 130°51’20” E
1
Litchfield National Park -Day 2
May 17, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Pictures:
* Duncan in front of Wangi Falls -not open for
swimming at the time - too early in the season as apparently water currents are too strong.
* Beautiful pink colored rockface near Tolmer Falls.
* Tolmer Falls.
* Duncan having a relax at Bluey Rockholes.
* Beautiful wild Sturt Desert Rose in Litchfield NP- it is
the floral emblem of Northern Territory.
* A Rainbow Lorikeet at the Batchelor Caravan Park.Read more
Trip One No crocs I hope!!
5/18/21Reply
TravelerLooks so nice!
5/19/21Reply
3 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 128 m
Australia Buley Rockhole -13.11168, 130.7882313°6’42” S 130°47’18” E
Litchfield National Park
May 16, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After spending a few days travelling and not doing much else we pulled into a gorgeous little place called Batchelor, near the entrance to Litchfield National Park. Just before the little township was a massive solar farm-by far the biggest either of us has seen. The Litchfield National Park is just over 100 kms south of Darwin and features rugged sandstone escarpments, perennial spring fed streams, monsoon rainforest, waterfalls and majestic termite mounds.
Pictures :
* Florence Waterfalls.
* Park entrance-Mawson having the top vantage point.
* Sandstone escarpment near Florence Falls.
* Swimming plunge pool below Florence Falls -something like 170 steps below the viewing platform ! Yep what goes down must come back up! Sore legs next day- plus the water too cold for Ange to swim in !
* Stream at area called The Cascades.
* Ange and Mawson check out a Termite mound.Read more
TravelerWow so pretty!
5/19/21Reply
2 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 16
Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 3:38 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 349 m
Australia Sunset -20.70806, 139.4951620°42’29” S 139°29’43” E
Riversleigh Fossil Centre -Mt Isa
May 9, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Riversleigh World Heritage site, which Sir David Attenborough described as a treasure house of palaeontology, attracts palaeontologists from the world over. The fossil deposits are one of Australia's richest and most important fossil field discoveries. Twenty-five million years ago, the area was a lush rainforest teaming with life and included the ancient ancestors of our koalas and kangaroo together with other flauna and fauna specimens.
Mt Isa's Riversleigh Fossil Center provides easy way to get a better understanding of the sorts of animals whose fossils have been discovered at Riversleigh 250 kms away, via its state of the art facility and interactive displays.
Pictures:
* The importance of fossils.
* Short faced kangaroo ( Sthenurinae ) approximately 12 million years ago.
* The Madtsolidae snake was a giant predator, similar in size to a South American Anaconda.
* Palorchestes was a large marsupial that probably used it's huge claws and trunk like snout to feed on leaves and twigs of the trees.
* Ancient koalas, Nimiokoala, had longer snouts and were about a third of the size of today's koala - they weighed only 3-4 kgs. Picture depicting the two different skull sizes.
* Marsupial lions were present in Australia at least 24 million years ago.Read more
2 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 14
Friday, May 7, 2021 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 192 m
Australia Cloncurry -20.7071, 140.5093720°42’26” S 140°30’34” E
Winton to Mt Isa
May 7, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We drove through mostly flat landscapes with small trees and herbage on our way to our over night stop at Cloncurry. What a surprise to find the Blue Heeler Hotel at Kynuna - a little place consisting of a pub and roadhouse.
Cloncurry is home to the birth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service ( RFDS ) we visited the John Flynn / RFDS museum followed by a visit to the Mary Kathleen museum, with memorabilia in regard the Burke and Wills expedition, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria displayed - those poor people those poor horses such terrible conditions ! Also were references to the Mary Kathleen uranium mining, gem and mineral collections.
The landscape from Cloncurry to Mt Isa was just over 100 kms of rocky outcrops, sparsely vegetated as far as the eye could see - poor Burke and Wills !!!
Mt Isa -well well -I think it's fair to say the best thing to see about Mt Isa is when it's in the rear vision mirror !!!!
Pictures :
* Blue Heeler Pub
* RFDS Station medical chest late 50's
* Rocky outcrops -smaller ones as others too difficult to photograph with no roadside stop available
* Monument depicting the area Burke and Wills crossed.
* Brahman bull statue with Mawson getting ready for the next bull riding competition.Read more
3 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 12
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 3:09 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 270 m
Australia Winton -22.4776, 143.1838922°28’39” S 143°11’2” E
Australia Age Of Dinosaurs - Winton
May 5, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Home of the world's largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils and the most productive preparation laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. The Museum is located on top of an ancient mesa- called The Jump Up - an isolated flat top hill which is bounded from all sides with steep escarpments and stands directly above the surrounding plain.
We joined a fantastic 3 hour guided tour which included the dinosaur collection, fossil preparation laboratory and Dinosaur Canyon. Fantastic design makes the entire area seem part of the surrounding landscape. Preparation has already commenced on a further star gazing space complete with sophisticated telescopes to view the night sky. Added to the dinosaur museum are plans for an ancient plant exhibit and further dinosaur exhibits. Duncan and I are already planning our future volunteering positions ! - these actually exist- as part of a site dig team or in fossil preparation. After some education you can begin your journey- equipped with a small hand held drill and uncover pieces of 95-100 million year old fossils !!!! How cool !!!!
Following photo's include actual fossil bones found in nearby digs, creatures created from fossil bones found nearby and a crab fossil- this specimen is somewhere between 95-100 million years old - it's just like we we would find it today- obviously mother nature developed this design just right so long ago. !!!Read more
2 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 4:23 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 186 m
Australia Winton -22.38746, 143.0390122°23’15” S 143°2’20” E
Winton
May 4, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Winton is located in Central Western Queensland about 180 Kms northwest of Longreach. The area is home to diverse landscapes, beautiful red earth, spinifex, undulating plains, flat toped ridges with steep escarpments and dry channel beds waiting for the wet season, and of course FLIES ! ! ! Rich in history with links to the Great Shearers' strike, Waltzing Matilda and Qantas. The area has a new added attraction of even older history, in fact ancient history with the discovery of Dinosaurs !!
Photos attached
Early Qantas reference
Horse and buggy rides in main Street
Duncan playing his version of "Waltzing Matilda" on an outback junkyard set of drums.
Banjo Paterson Statue outside the Waltzing Matilda Center.
The North Gregory Hotel where the first recital of Waltzing Matilda took place on April 6th 1895
The Tattersalls Hotel - Winton's oldest public bar was at the site of this hotel in 1882-the lower floor of the current hotel dates back to 1885, second floor to 1914.Read more
TravelerNice drumming dad
5/5/21Reply
2 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 10
Monday, May 3, 2021 at 11:56 AM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 176 m
Australia Longreach Airport -23.44438, 144.2654223°26’40” S 144°15’56” E
1
Stockman's Hall of attempting Fame
May 3, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Having some fun with Mawson !!!!
Trip One 😂😂😂
5/3/21Reply
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 10
Monday, May 3, 2021 at 11:35 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 175 m
Australia Longreach Airport -23.44433, 144.2653523°26’40” S 144°15’55” E
Stockman's Hall of Fame
May 3, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame was established in 1988 in recognition of the contributions that people of the bush have made to Australia.
We chose pictures featuring :
*The iconic Ringer statue near the entrance.
* A roof suspended Flying Doctor plane.
* An Afghan merchant wagon.
* A doggie leather shoe, worn by working dogs so they could work over burrs etc.
* A wool press- made in Geelong Victoria.
* A photo and story of the brave Annie Harlow, who all alone gave birth to twins in a wool wagon. Her experience inspiring her to later travel for miles side-saddle to assist fellow women, working as a midwife.Read more
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 9
Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 1:12 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 176 m
Australia Longreach Airport -23.44431, 144.2654823°26’40” S 144°15’56” E
1
1
Longreach Qantas Museum
May 2, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
On 16th November 1920 a small airline was established named Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service ( QANTAS ). The early founders and staff of this company had a vision for the airline to service and connect the remote and isolated parts of the Outback-little did they imagine how the airline would actually TAKE OFF !!!!!
Pictures featured below :
* Company name on early aircraft.
* 1935 International refueling truck.
*1964-69 hostess uniform.
* Replica of the first Qantas aircraft ( an Avro 504K c/n D1.
*Duncan doing a flight simulation in one of the exhibits.
* The Catalina flying boat - the last flying boat operated and built by Qantas 1943-45.Read more
Trip OneWe flew that plane too! I crashed it !!
5/2/21Reply
Traveler What a great pic
5/8/21Reply
Traveler Love this also
5/8/21Reply
3 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 190 m
Australia Quilpie -26.62168, 144.2745726°37’18” S 144°16’28” E
1
Sunset at Baldy Top
April 29, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Located a short drive from Quilpie township is Baldy Top Lookout. There is nothing more beautiful than an outback sunset and we were not disappointed . Perched on top of a rugged rocky outcrop we witnessed a glorious sunset.Read more
TravelerAmazing sunset!
5/2/21Reply
Traveler Stunning
5/8/21Reply
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 155 m
Australia Eromanga -26.6661, 143.2678226°39’58” S 143°16’4” E
Eromanga Natural History Museum
April 29, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
95-98 Million years ago dinosaus walked the Outback , the skeletal remains of Australia's largest dinosaurs were found here on a local station. A Titanosaur called Cooper - named as he was found near Cooper Creek was Australia's largest dinosaur. In this working museum, we watched fossil preparation and viewed different types of fossils. We saw the tail bone of a Titanosaur named Zac - he was discovered on an Anzac Day , and another fossil with obvious teeth still insitu. A recently completed stage One of the Natural History Museum will have a second building which is currently under construction, with a link between the two planned, showcasing a full size Cooper exhibit.Read more
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 8:00 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 189 m
Australia Quilpie -26.63488, 144.2461526°38’6” S 144°14’46” E
Quilpie to Eromanga
April 29, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
This area is in Queensland's South West Channel country. A blaze of color, wide open spaces, Mulga and unspoiled bushland. The name Channel Country comes from the intertwined rivulets in that area of the Great Artesian Basin. It is well known for its beef production , with cattle seen mostly shading near Mulga trees, away from the heat.
There were a few quirky experiences to have - passing an old car with a rocket shaped devise welded to the bonnet- just for a laugh, an old truck with a fake arm out the window and some wonderful station names.Read more
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 8:00 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 195 m
Australia Quilpie Airport -26.61713, 144.2641626°37’2” S 144°15’51” E
Quilpie
April 28, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Quilpie is a great little rural town on the edge of the Channel Country in Queensland. It is famous for the Boulder Opal, this beautiful gemstone dates back one hundred million years ago. The Great Western Railway Line brought life to Quilpie town. Wartime restrictions lead to Quilpie being the end of the rail line. Vibrant rich colours light up the skyline at sunset. Like all these rural towns, cattle and of course the " Local "pub, are always a feature.
We chose pictures of the local cattle yards, the opal alter at Finbar's church, a cattle roadtrain, the local pub and lastly our nights campfire entertainer Mel, a fantastic country singer / songwriter.Read more
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 296 m
Australia Racecourse Bore -26.389, 146.222826°23’20” S 146°13’22” E
Historical House , Charleville
April 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
The house , in Alfred Street , was built in 1889 for the Queensland National Bank. A well was sunk for water, and a stable, tack room and buggy shelter were also built for the bank manager. Today the house serves as a local Museum and in brimming with memorabilia. The beautiful old building stands largely as it was built, complete with marble fire places, cedar doorways, ceramic door knobs and classic high ceilings.Read more
Trip OneNo photo of historical house🤷‍♀️
4/27/21Reply
0 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Monday, April 26, 2021
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 307 m
Australia Charleville -26.4011, 146.239626°24’4” S 146°14’23” E
Charleville - 2
April 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Along the way to Charleville we passed a big herd cattle-at least 500 head with 3 drovers- the modern day female drover was talking on her mobile whilst riding alongside the cattle. We also passed many large paddocks of healthy looking crop. Our visit to the Cosmos center was a hit - we visited the planetarium, participated in a guided viewing of our most important star-the sun , and spent the evening enjoying a presentation and viewing of the Outback night sky over Charleville.Read more
0 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Monday, April 26, 2021 at 7:00 PM
🌙 20 °C
Altitude: 304 m
Australia Charleville -26.40114, 146.2395626°24’4” S 146°14’22” E
Charleville - 1
April 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
One of the largest towns in South West Queensland 750kms from Brisbane is Charleville, in the heart of Mulga country. It is located on the banks of the Warrego River and is part of the Great Artesian Basin. Some of the towns attractions include Holding Secrets in regard US Army Air Force during World War 2 . Boasting clear night sky's- an astronomers delight to view stars, planets , the moon and the milky way. Charleville is also noted for being the home of one of the country's most threatened marsupials-The Bilby.
It was a Cobb & Co change over station and home to the Charleville Base of the Flying Doctor. We viewed the automated weather balloon release at the weather station. Our photos feature a Longhorn cow with her twin Santa Gertrudis calves, a great pub and The Queenslander.Read more
0 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Australia Roma -26.5732, 148.7984426°34’24” S 148°47’54” E
Roma
April 25, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The township of Roma is 299 meters above sea level and 476 km by road from Brisbane, just over 1000kms from where the Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory borders meet and has a population of just over 7000. Roma is on the northern end of the Murray Darling Basin.
Roma is famous for its cattle with the biggest sale yards in the southern hemisphere. It is also famous for Queensland's biggest bottle tree, a relative to the boab tree of the far north Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Oil and gas exploration are part of the region , and of course , The Queenslander house and pub !Read more
Trip OneStay safe and enjoy 😊
4/25/21Reply
2 likes
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 10:45 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Australia Roma -26.5732, 148.798426°34’24” S 148°47’54” E
Anzac Day Service at Roma
April 25, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
We joined many others to remember the Anzacs at a large gathering in the country town.
1 like
Northern Territory & Qld Duncan Grant
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1
Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Australia Banora Point -28.21266, 153.5327128°12’46” S 153°31’58” E
Banora Point to Roma
April 24, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Off on our 10 week adventure, happy days ahead ! Little Mawson our travel mascot has his bags packed to all ready for an adventure.
Unfortunately a few hiccups day one with caravan fridge not wanting to do it's thing- after a few hours and offers of assistance from Julia and Adam we managed a working fridge. The problem being with the operators not the actual fridge ! Leaving late left us in the unsavory position of arriving tired and in the dark. We managed to stay somewhat sane and set up for night one. On the way to Roma, first stop, we passed some beautiful farming land, and some magnificent views of the Great Dividing range. We passed by an expansive solar farm, paddocks of crop, cotton, sorghum etc and ploughed paddocks of rich dark red soil.Read more
2 likes
Trip start
April 24, 2021