• Morven
• Blackall
• Isisford
• Jericho
• Rubyvale
• Emerald
• Carnarvon Gorge
• Miles
• Maidenwell ( Bunya Mountain)

Carnarvon Gorge is an amazing place geographically, more about it later. We have not added to our blog due to the fact not a lot has been going on. After Wanco Station we went further out into  Queensland's western country.  We stopped at Morven, Blackall (Fantastic artesian swimming Pool ), on the Barcoo at Isisford, Jericho, ( watched the partial eclipse but couldn’t quite capture a pic) and Rubyvale (didn’t find any sapphire’s neither) then on to Emerald. Our intentions were to head towards Innamincka but after doing a lot of driving and sitting beside the Barcoo for a couple of nights we decided to get somewhere booked for Easter (Emerald).

As good as it was to see out west we were deprived of anything to do during the day as it was quite hot, Dawn and Dusk are the best times to be active but they don’t last long, AND THE FLIES.

Emerald sounds likely to be a lovely stop for Easter but it is a town which we were struggling to find things to do after we ticked off their Botanical gardens and the big lake (Fairbank). We did a bit of walking to keep up some fitness and to pass the time. (We couldn't get accommodation at Carnarvon Gorge until after Easter).   It was good to move on to Carnarvon.

   


Aboriginal art at Carnarvon



Magnificent scenery

 



Lunch at Big Bend Carnarvon Gorge



Quite a few river crossings about 20!

Support crew!

                                  

Qld has beautiful Butterflies



And another

Here we are at Carnarvon Gorge, set up camp at Takarakka Resort and then went and had a look at one of the shorter walks into Mickey creek. The following day had a big hike into the gorge, 22 km return and 8hrs later we were done!. In the morning we caped off the walks with The Bluff - top of the gorge to look at the gorge from above, massive sandstone cliffs and great views looking towards the coast.

Great view at the top of the gorge 

We hit the road again and after passing a lot of mining traffic and an over night staff at Miles, we made our way to a town on top of a hill called the Maidenwell Pub. I would like to say that Diane’s ability to organise a pig on a spit for my birthday was something! (The local Sat night fair). We had a nice time and great to hear from family and friends . While we were in Maidenwell we went on a day walk around the Bunya Mountains.  Fantastic to see these magnificent Bunya trees in their natural forest system.




Bunya Mountains walking through the rainforest

 

Next stop will be somewhere on the Sunshine Coast - the beach again will be nice.

Hooroo 

• Lake Dyer – Laidley
• Toowoomba
•  Millmerran
• Talwood
• Nindigully Pub
• Bollon
• Eulo
• Wanco Station, Quilpie

 

After spectacular views at Mt Warning and such a beautiful coastline we decided to head outback Queensland in the hope of less people and traffic.   So we bypassed Brisbane (but still got the road tolls) we pulled up for the night a Lake Dyer, Laidley a  lake Russ Mosetter  use to ski on .   On to Toowoomba the next day.  What a beautiful town.  Lovely parks and gardens and georgous old houses.

Next stop Main Range National Park or so we thought – after all the rain, we had to bypass this one and therefore we ended up at Millmerran Showgrounds for the night.  Ended up taking the long way
around. 


Millmerran show wood chop left overs

                            

The start of some freebies – Talwood – population 4???  For an icecream at the only shop and a drink at the pub for a hot shower – not a bad deal.

 

Talwood rec ground this is probably in good nic!

Nindigully – a pub on the Moonie River – free camp and showers.  An extremely old pub on the river with plenty evidence of flooding only a couple of days prior.  Being a Friday night it was quiet noisy and a bit of a truck stop too.

 

Pub was used in one of Hue's Aussie movies" Paperback Hero"
Yep that's the camp site!

 

 

 

Next stop Bollon – we’re starting to get a bit more outback – the soil is getting redder, the trucks bigger and the roads narrower.  Bird life everywhere and cattle (big big cattle) just looking at you on the very edge of the road.  Camp for the night – the cemetery.  Hot showers in town, toilets, water and a river not a bad place for a couple of nights for a donation.

 

Pretty Dead spot!

 

The Brolgas calls are a nice way to wake at first light.

With a stop for supplies at Cunnamulla next camp – Eulo besides the Paroo River – no toilets/showers here – just a bit noisy as water trucks filling from the river continually.  I don’t think we’ve found a road without road works since leaving Bendigo.

 

Some of the locals at Eulo out for evening stroll

 


Paroo River on sunset

 

 

 





Lake Houdraman Dawn



Really Pretty lake even with flies.

Wanco Station, Lake Houdraman,  Quilpie – such a beautiful lake.  From pelicans, black swans, spoonbills, and broglas to water lillies, green tree frogs  and of course the big red cattle oh and the flies, many many flies.  Outside Nomad season has its benefits no other campers here yet . It’s very hot here so a dip in the lake was a necessity.

Tomorrow on the Charleville for supplies then on to Blackall via Morven.

Hooroo

Happy Birthday Jessie