Carnarvon to Mackay Via Mining Country

DRIVE: Carnarvon Gorge to Mackay (628km)
Another big drive ahead of us today so our usual 7.30 start. We visit Rolleston petrol station again to refuel. Must get me a loyalty card. The price of petrol has gone up from $1.30 at the start of our Aussie Adventure to $1.57 and we are paying bush prices. If our car could run on pure coal we would be ok as this is mining country. Maybe someone could invent the steam engine...

The road ahead is long but occasionally, we pass rugged mountain ranges and inland National Parks to visit another day. Every so often, there is a turn off and a sign directing to a production mine. Although we don’t see many mines, road trains pass us by often carrying or collecting mining material and everyone out here has a work ute or a twin cab vehicle. We see a rail depot with a few kilometres of hauling carriages waiting to start their journey.

We pass through Emerald, Capella, Middlemount, Nebo. These are some of the rural towns that rely on farming and mining to sustain their communities. They are all neat and tidy towns and they live and breath the land.

CAMP: Big 4 Mackay Marine Tourist Park / 1 night
We only have one night in Mackay, a stop over point before heading tp Proserpine and Airlie Beach tomorrow.

Mackay's magnificent world-class Marina Village has a tropical ambience, with leafy palms lining the waterfront esplanade and a view beyond to luxury yachts, sailing boats, blue skies and tropical islands.

The marina is next to sandy Harbour Beach and home to the Pine Islet Lighthouse, one of the only working kerosene lighthouses left in the world.

It’s sunset and the locals are having a canoe race on harbour side (see video).Read more