Charters Towers QLD

Wednesday 15th May

 After breakfast at the cafe run by the North Gregory Pub we hooked up and headed out to The Musical Fence again to take some more photos as Rob is hoping to be able to build something like this for the boys when we get home. We had decided to stay the night in Hughenden (216km from Winton) at the Hughenden RV Parking area (camps 7 QLD 289). We arrived in just before 11am and called in to the tourist information to the to pay the $6 camp fee. The lady explained that is just the parking lot to the showgrounds and there are no facilities there so you need to be fully self contained. So after setting up and having a drive around town we headed back and made some lunch. It was almost time for A to have his afternoon sleep and no other campers had arrived. We didn't get a nice feel about the town and had been told never to camp on your own and we weren't comfortable in doing so, so we packed up and headed into Charters towers along the Flinders Highway.

J with the Big Muttaburrasaurus in Hughenden

So another 252km (468km for the day, a big day for us) we set up camp at the Big 4 Aussie Outback Oasis Caravan Park. We had booked in for 3 night on a powered site and planned to head into Townsville on the Saturday ( as A has a medical appointment on Monday) but J met 3 lots of travelling families, with children his own age, we booked another night so staying a total of 4 nights as it was cheaper to stay here than in Townsville. 

The Pool at The Aussie Outback Oasis Caravan Park

We really didn't do a lot here, we had a look around the Town, the boys got their hair cut but the most time was spent at the park with the boys either on the jumping pillow or in the pool or just playing with new friends. It was great to see the boys back playing with children again, something we missed out west.

The stock exchange building built in 1888 and was the only regional stock exchange

Friday night, one of the travelling families put on a sausage sizzle for the kids.  Marshmallows were cooked on sticks on the fire and they boys were given glow sticks and sparklers to light when it got dark.  Saturday we said goodbye one of the families as they headed to Townsville and up to Cairns, hopefully we will catch up with them on our travels up that way. We are planning to come back to Charters towers and The Big 4 Aussie Outback Oasis on our route back from Far North Queensland and the Atherton Tablelands, so we can explore more on our return the likes to Tower Hill, Ravenswood and the Burdekin Dam. 

So next stop.... Townsville 

Winton QLD

May 13th 

We left Longreach and drove 179 km to Winton. We pulled up not long after 11am to the free campsite behind the North Gregory Hotel. The hotel is famous as Banjo Paterson first played "waltzing Matilda" in public in 1895 in the pub 

This free camp isn't in Camps 7 but I found it on the wikicamps app for the iPhone listing all caravan parks and camping spots over Australia with reviews, prices and photos by other travellers. We had also been told on our travels that this was the place to stay when in Winton. It's not a large site with only 16 van sites and showers and toilets available at the Pub. The Hotel has strict rules and must be followed

1) no awnings out

2) no generators

3) 6ft max between vans

4) gold coin donation upon registration at the pub

5) max of 72hrs

We pulled up and took the site to the right of this photo along the fence which looked out to Arnos Wall which contains almost every household item including the toilet and kitchen sink. It reaches 2 metres high and 70 metres in length. The wall also includes lawn mower parts, sewing machines, typewriters and motorbikes. 

Arnos Wall the view out our caravan door

We then took a drive out to the Hughenden Road to see the Diamantina Heritage Truck and Machinery

Museum. 

Behind the heritage truck museum is The Musical Fence. A rare free activity for the whole family to enjoy. The boys had a ball banging with the sticks and pipes. They even have the instructions on the fence how to play "Waltzing Matilda". We think a must see for families travelling through Winton. 



The boys having a jam session



Tuesday 14th May

Today was the day J had been waiting for, every week was "how many more days till the Dinosaurs at Winton?" We head back about 10km towards Longreach before turning right and following the dirt road 14km up the "jump up" which is a Mesa plateau to the Australian Age Of Dinosaur Museum which sits on top of the Plateau. 

J with a replica of Banjo the dinosaur first discovered in Winton

We booked in for a 10am guided tour which spends 30 minutes in the collection room then a 30 minute break which allows you to walk to the prep Laboratory and another 30 minutes here.

The collection rooms houses the fossil collection actual bones not fakes of the dinosaurs the museum has named Banjo and Matilda. This collection is the largest in the world of Australian dinosaurs. 

You are shown a couple of videos of how they discovered the bones as well how the museum started. 

J was amazed as were we that we were indeed looking at real dinosaur bones, it felt very surreal. 

The Laboratory is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and currently has about 30 years work ahead of them with the fossils that they have found so far.  The museum has Prep a dino where you can become a honorary technician after spending 10 days of training for those 12 years and older and Dig a dino where you can go to an actual dig site and help discover the bones but you must be over 18. Many of the lab technicians are retired and come up every year during winter to volunteer their time. (The museum is a non for profit organisation). 

We returned back to camp for a late lunch and afternoon sleep for A. After A woke we took a drive out to Bladensburg National Park before dinning in at the Pub for dinner

That concludes our time in Winton, we didn't do the Waltzing Matilda museum unfortunately, the boys were a bit over museums. Next stop....Hughenden 

Longreach QLD

Thursday 9th of May We left Barcaldine and travelled 107km to Longreach. One our way we stopped for morning tea at illfracombe and to see the Magic Mile of Machinery and the Wellshot centre. A great free attraction with wonderful displays.

Menu from the Wellshot station museum

Menu from the Wellshot station museum

Back on the road to Longreach. The free camp here were we told had no shade and was very dusty so i rang and booked ahead The Longreach Tourist Park for 4 nights on a powered site. We payed $30 per night and children under 5 was free. This is a huge caravan park but our site was lovely with trees boarding the site and across from the clean amenities and the spas. We set up them went into town for lunch and to so some grocery shopping as well as booking our tours before returning to the park for a swim while A had his afternoon sleep

Longreach Tourist park - view of our site

One of the many Brolgas that wonder the caravan park

Friday 10th May Today we had booked in at 10am for the Kinnon and Co Royal Mail Gallop a 45 minute stagecoach ride. A little on the expensive side at $59 each per adults and J was $15 as he was 4 and under. Rob and the boys sat in the stagecoach while I sat up the back. They provided ear phone and commenting during the tour and the boys had such fun.

Saturday 11th May. 

Today we decided to go to the Stockmans Hall of Fame. This was one place Rob had flagged as a must see when in Longreach. 

We arrived at 9.30am and booked into the museum and the outback stockmans show and the Hugh Sawery Art Gallery. Admission was adults $45 and under 5 were free. The show didn't start till 11 am so we wondered through the museum looking at the various exhibitions. J loved the touch screen audiovisual presentations showing the history of the outback and the children's discovery drawers where he could touch some of the museums collections while we explained what they were. Within the museum there is a section dedicated to the Royal Flying doctors service. Both J and I found it interesting listening to 4 different call outs from isolated stations ( chest pains, diarrhoea, asthma and a snake bite). The doctors explained what treatment and medications to use and each station has their own medical chest containing a range of pharmaceutical and non pharmaceutical items which is all numbered allowing the people on the station to easily find it.  11am the cow bell rang for the Outback Show, the boys thought it was great with all the singing and performing horses, dogs and a steer but I found it a tad lame  in trying to represent the past. 

After the show Rob went and got a past out which is valid for 2 days allowing re entry into the museum if need be. Doing museums with children especially young children you do miss things. Rob went back that afternoon to continue reading and exploring. 

That night we decided to go to the restaurant ( more like a pub) that is in the caravan park. Great meals, with a kids area and the the guy from the outback show at the stockmans hall of fame was signing as the entertainment. He was actually a very good singer and has his own album out

Sunday 12th May Mothers Day

Mother's Day, the boys were told not to get me anything but I woke to two little boys with a large box of maltesters on my bed and $3. The $3 was for pancakes that the caravan park put on for breakfast and the money going to The National Breast Cancer Foundation.  So we headed over and had pancakes before heading over to our tour at the Qantas Founders museum which I had booked on the Friday.

Admission was $54.50 per adult and children 5 and under we're free. This was for the Museum entry and the guided Jet Tour which went for an hour and was very interesting. I think both Rob and I won't look at a 747 the same now( all in a good way). 

The tour guide showed us the Catalina a floating type boat used between 1943 and 1945, the 747 which starting flying in 1979 and after 2000 trips was retired and is now on display here in Longreach and the 707 which was built in 1957. The tour guide took us through both the 747 and the 707 and also underneath the 747 explaining what each of the implements both inside and out we're responsible for. We then had our photo taken inside the number 1 engine jet of the 747 before returning and going through the museum and out it the original  Qantas Hanger. 

The Qantas 747 plane

Douglas C-47



The Qantas 707 jet



After exploring the museum and it plane we decided to have the roast lunch at the McGinness restaurant at the museum before heading home for a to have a sleep. Like the Stockmans Hall of fame you are able to have a pass out to come back and explore the museum the next day. 

This concludes our time in Longreach, next stop Winton

Blackall and Barcaldine QLD

Saturday May 4th - Blackall

We packed up early and got on the road for what was to be a bit of a long trip for us given the short distances we had previously been doing. First stop was Augathella to get a photo with the big meat ant for J's all things big album.


The Big Meat Ant Augathella



We arrived at Blackall just before Lunch. We had a look at the free camp on the Barcoo river and decided to stay. (Camps 7 QLD 623). This is a self contained free camp with no water or power but there are free hot showers and toliets about 300 metres away in short street. Payment is $6 a night payable at the info centre and someone usually comes around each night to ensure everyone has paid.

It was show day in Blackall, so we went across to the showgrounds for a look see. I show and bred horses so we travel throughout Victoria most weekends (October to April) to compete at the Agricultural shows in order to gain qualifications to compete at the royal shows both interstate and at Melbourne. I was pleased to see a number of quality horses competing in the classes I watched. Although it was only a little show it was good to see the local community there supporting it, the whole town must of been there. After we had a look at the show we took the boys home for a afternoon sleep and rest with the intention of taking them back to the show to watch the evenings entertainment but A decided not to sleep and therefore we all had an early night

Sunday 5th May

We awoke this morning to see another travelling family had come in late last night. J was very excited to see they had 3 boys and got dressed and out of the van super fast to see if they could play. ( we haven't camped with any other kids for 3 weeks). We had intended to do the Wool scour and the pool today then head off Monday morning to Barcaldine but given J had made some new friends we decided to have a play day and let the boys have some fun. Bikes were ridden around the camp, the local skate park got a work out then we headed to the pool for the afternoon. Lovely artesian water pool and spa with the temperature of the pool at 26 degree and the spa at 29. Entry to the pool was $11 for a family pass. One returning to the camp site the J and his friends went fishing but once again nothing was caught. 

Mcfayden boys and J

Monday 6th of May

Today we waved goodbye to our new friends the McFayden family. They have almost finished their travels so we hope to visit them in there hometown in the near future. We then headed off to the Blackall Wool Scour for a guided tour, the entry fee was $15 A and as my boys aren't of school age they were free. The wool scour was operational from 1908 till 1978 washing the wool from merino sheep prior to being baled. It is the only steam-driven scour incorporating a shearing shed left in Australia. 

Wool Scour

Steam from the wool scour

One our way home went to the black stump

We returned the the campsite for lunch after our tour of the woolscour, then headed back to the pool for a swim after A had his afternoon sleep.

Tuesday  7th of May - Barcaldine

Today packed up and headed to Barcaldine along the landsborough hwy, only a short drive at 107km. We decided to free camp again and head out to the Lloyd Jones Weir (Camps7 Qld 337) for 2 nights. We had hope to do some fishing but due to the lack of summer rains this is the lowest the wier has been in 40 years a regular told us.

 Lovely spot out in the bush, no power or showers here but a very clean toilet block. There aren't too many campsite out here and with some travellers staying at least 3 months its a free camp you really need to be there early.

After setting up we heading into Barcaldine to see the tree of knowledge reported as the the birth place of the Australian Labour Party during the shearers strike in 1891. 

Was sad to see someone has poisoned the tree in 2006 and this was all that remained. Had we been a couple of days earlier we could have attended the Tree Of Knowledge festival, oh well that happens when you travel.

Wednesday 8th of May

Today was a bit of a rest day after morning tea and a play at the playground in Barcaldine. With the help of fellow campers we were worked out why our solar panels weren't charging and then many of them passed on valuable information of where to stay what to see and more importantly which roads to take for our travels. 

We only planned to stay 2 nights here so next destination is ........Longreach 

Mitchell and Morven and Charleville

 Mitchell / Morven / Charleville

Wednesday 1st May - Mitchell

Back on the Warreigo hwy for 87km continuing to head West our next destination was Mitchell at the Neil Turner weir (Camps 7 QLD 591) which is a free camp. We arrived nice and early mid morning and set up camp just next to the chained off area which was lovely and green thanks to overnight sprinklers. We decided to go to the Great Artisean Spa for the morning. There was two spas one at 31 degrees the other at 26 degrees.



looking back towrds the toliets and the grass area at Neil Turner Wier




Our campsite at Neil turner Weir

After our spa we went to the supermarket and the bakery to get fresh bread for lunch. The afternoon was spent doing our washing and and reading while A had his afternoon sleep. We have a little 5kg twin tub washing machine that I bought off eBay which we run off the generator ( 2kva Honda inverter) when no power is available. This has already payed for itself as by the time you do 3 loads of washing at the caravan parks or laundermats at $4-$5 a load it soon adds up especially when I have two boys who are attracted to dirt and water.


J helping with the washing

The weir was low in water so the boys didn't bother about trying their luck at fishing instead they play soccer on the lovely green grass that was for once bindy free.

Thursday 2nd May - Morven

We packed up and left Mitchell on route to Morven to the free camp at the Morven Recreation ground (Camps 7 QLD 597 ). What a great free camp with a fenced and covered playground and a skate park. The amenities here are very clean with lovely hot showers. There is limited power available at a charge of $5 a night which you leave in a box besides the amenities. It's walking distances to town but with the temperature in the early 30 s we decided to drive in and have a play at the playground on the highway which was more suited to A. I found out about these playgrounds via an app on the iPhone called "playground finder". Great little tool to have while travelling. We then went to the supermarket to get ingredients for home made pizzas again at Js request before heading back to the park for lunch and A to have a sleep. J headed over to the skate park with his scooter.

J on the skate park at Morven rec Ground



J at the Playground at Morven Rec ground



Friday 2nd of May Morven - Charleville

Today we had planned to go into Charleville for a look around but I had done my sums wrong and by staying at Morven we were going to do an extra 100km when we headed up to Blackall. This was only figured out as we were about to set off for the day. So at 9am usually when we are leaving we did the fastest pack up and hooked the Van up and set off for Charleville. 

100kms later we reach Charleville and we book into the Bailey Bar Caravan park for 1 night on a powered site. It was $34 for 2 adults and $5 per child 4 yo and older per night. The amenities were super clean and the staff even help you back in which is great as its only a small park. 

We went into to town to have a look around and have lunch at the bakery. I would have loved to go into the Cornes hotel to look at but with 2 young boys thinks like that bore them. Back to the van park after lunch for A to have a sleep. Then an early dinner and bed ready for a big day of driving to Blackall  in the morning. 

The historic Cornes Hotel

Chinchilla and Roma

Chinchilla 

Sunday 28th April

We only travelled a short distance today (133km) from Jondaryan to Chinchilla and then out to the Chinchilla Weir (Camps 7 QLD569). We arrived not long after 10.30am and began to set up. What a lovely little free camp this is, with power available for $5 a night, payable at the information centre in town, which we chose. There is no showers nor drinking water but the toilets we clean. We spent the afternoon just relaxing, the boys had a little play in the shallows of the waters while we watched the locals water ski. While I cooked dinner (homemade Pizzas in the baby webber q) the boys went fishing. Sadly no luck on getting anything to bite but they had fun.

Monday 29th April

We left today to head to Roma and travelled 180km. We stopped at Miles to fill up with fuel before containing to Roma. We decided to stay out at Meadowbank museum farm stay (Camps 7 Qld 581) a 4000 acre working beef farm with a museum of collectables including old machinery, which you can have a tour though by appointment only. We booked in for 2 nights with power at $20 a night and as the boys aren't of school age (which was only an extra $2 they were free). When you arrive you write your name in the registration book and the owners come of a night to collect when they fire up the donkey (the wood fire heater) for the hot water for the showers. (About 5pm both nights) So if your a morning shower person this isn't the place for you. The amenities were very clean and the showers as you would expect where hot . We spent the afternoon at the farm just exploring.



Donkey heating up the water for hot showers at the farm




Sunset on the Farm



Tuesday 30th April

Today was the day Rob had been looking forward to since arriving in QLD. The Roma cattle sales which run on Tuesday and Thursday. The sale started at 9am so we went out of breakfast prior. The sale yards are the largest in the Southern Hemisphere covering 50 hectares. Today's yarding was 10,500 cattle from QLD, NT and SA. Interesting to note that unlike home where both Koonwarra and Pakenham are all undercover there was only the walk ways and the scales that were under cover.


Roma Saleyards - Auctioneers at work



Roma Sale yards - just a snap shot of the amout of cattle for sale



Roma Saleyards - Scales



After the sales we went to the Big Rig. A museum on the oil and gas industry. Unfortunaety there was technical  difficulties and we didnt get to see the night show.


Bronze statue out the front of the Big Rig




The Big Rig - US built EMSCO working between 1929 and 1941


Next Attraction was the largest bottle tree in Roma, Roma’s  which measures 8.9 metres around and was transplanted to it current lcation in 1927. Its been suggested that the tree orgibated from the 19th century as it was well established prior to removal.



Roma's largest bottle tree



After some lunch and shopping we head back to the farm stay so both boys could have a bit of a rest and sleep.

Wednesday 1st May

While we were packing up, the owners approached us to advise that due to shortage of water that tonight would be thier last as operating as a farm stay. Not only were they low on water for the campers they were also low on water for the cattle. Though there is plenty of feed out here the lack of rain over summer has left them dry coming into winter and up here unlike Victoria they rely on the rains over summer. The owners unfortunately aren't sure when they will reopen.  

Next Stop Mitchell