Cloncurry to Undara Lava Tubes



Have just exited the pool after a great swim here at the Undara resort, this is our second night here and during our stay we visited the LavaTbes and climbed a extinct Vulcano anyway I am getting ahead of myself as usual, we have meandered about this part of the country now for 15 days.

After leaving Cloncury, where we stayed for four days and took in some of the sightsie. the Look out and Lake and stayed in a great caravan park, we almost took on a Caravan park caretakers job that is on offer but it is to early, had it been next year. yes we would have,

Anyway replenished and stocked up once more we headed of to Charters Towers as we decided to go clockwise, to Korumba and Normanton on the Gulf.

Before getting to CT we stayed at a Caravan park in Hughenden,

we found out there is a great gorge to see called Porcipine Gorge and it was spectacular, 65K of dirt road but worth every Km to get there,refer Photos

For Joshua

after 2 nights we left for Charters Towers and guess what, it has a Cow at the beginning of town coming from Townsville (could not resist this comment).



We to stayed 4 days, did a day a trip to Townsville great drive and great Town,



drove up Castle Hill to see the sprawl of Townsville what a view no such sprawl 30 years ago when we were up there.

The Charters Towers CP we stayed in offered Morning Tea and at night the Rotarian's offered a 3 course meal very cheaply and we met some very nice people whom we will meet again in the West.

After our stay in CT we moved on to Fletcher Creek free camp



We stayed 3days days we camped right next to the river, put some nets in and caught some Red Claw a little bigger than Jabbies in Victoria.
Had a camp fire each night, the weather was great untill the last day when it drizzled most of the day and a little rain at night.

For Joshua

It was time to hit the road the next dayand drove to Undara we had been told the road was bad, due to road trains and narrow road conditions etc. however we did not think it was to bad, don't know what the fuss was all about, if you move over of the road for these large road trains when you see them coming, no problems.

Undara Lava Tubes

Don't know where We will stop next.

Bianka & Sig

Rubyvale to Cloncurry


Wednesday 6th we departed Rubyvale and headed for Longreach and ended up traveling with Brian and Jan whom we met in Rubyvale, stopped in Alpha for a look, ended up staying overnight at Jericho by the River had a great night with Brian and Jan dinner by a great log fire under the stars.



Four of us travelled on to Barcaldine and visited the Tree of Knowledge
(the beginning of the Labor Party so they say) had lunch than onto
Ilfracombe stayed at the Ilfracombe CP. and spend 3 days here.


Great Stay and laughed our heads of at Happy hour as the owner and her children put on a show doing peotry readings with al the actions to make one double over with laughter this park well recommended.
Ilfracombe is a great little place with lots to see and all free even the Artision Spa in the main street is free.

We parted here with B&J, from here we travelled to Longreach visited the Qantas museum

and Stockmans Hall of Fame.




Than onto Winton and free camped at the back of the North Gregory Hotel, note the wall behind the pub goes to show never throw anything away,


2nights with Monday being cold and wet.

On the way to Cloncurry at McKinlay the Pub used in Paul Hogans Crocodile Dundee movie had a nice cold beer here.


Now we are in Cloncurry and have seen the sights CP is great Cloncurry a small town with a few interesting sights ie Chinamans Creek Dam interesting Cemetery but not much else.

Great start of the day breakfast on the Caravan Patio

Till next time

B&S

From Carnarvon Gorge to Rubyvale Qld

Hi once again from us here in the mid north of Qld we are presently in Rubyvale the place to find your fortune but before I show you some of the history as to where we have been since our last entry.

Carnarvan Gorge,

After a 12 Km, dusty rough road we arrived at a park situated among tall trees and loads of dust and decided to stay for 2 nights as we wanted to do a number of walks into the gorge one of these was a 11Km long walk to the Cathedral with a couple of side treks.





Bianka and I attended the Dawn service on Anzac day, which was held at the lookout in the park, when the service was over, the sun came up over the Gorge.





We headed of approximately at 9 am for our walk into the gorge, the path took us along the river and criss crossed from one side to the other 21 times, one way. Water flowed but was very low,





we diverted into


The Moss Garden Gorge which due to the dampness, beautifull mosses grow and this was awe inspiring.




Three and a half hours later we arrived at:


The Cathedral which has a lot of aboriginal paintings, worth the walk (lost another 3 Kilos) then heading back it, became hard as walking a total of 26 Km and crossing 42 water crossings ie no mean fete, but we did it,





I also diverted into the Amphitheater which was absolutely fantastic to see especially after having had to climb ladders and it was up hill al the way.








Anyway we did it although I must confess we felt pretty sore and a chardonnay fixed most of this at happy hour.








A well deserved Rest Next day and Sunday the 26th we moved on to Emerald for a 3 night stay, interesting place as this is the town with the largest Paint Easel and a painting of a vase and flowers in the main park.











The park we stayed at is Maraboon CP which is by a lake and is famous for trapping Red Claw, and its warm nights, thus see the photo of a great sunset over the Lake then Dinner and a show

Friends in the park








Saying farewell on the Lake Dam wall






From Emerald we moved a short distance to Rubyvale (45K) where we are staying till Wednesday ie. seven days. Rubyvale a small town where fossicking for Gem stones, ie. Sapphires, all kinds of colour are
found here red, yellow, blue being the dominant colour.








We went to the Miners Cottage and purchased buckets of Wash This you wash in whats called a Willy Wash

than sort




and find, great fun, we spend a many an hour at this and managed to get a few stones.









From this:










to this.








A typical Mine in Rubyvale QLD









Friends on the road from Saphire to Rubyvale






A few more days of relaxing and on the road again and heading for Longreach mid week, so see you from there.