Looking round Longreach and travelling north........

We arrived at the campground in Longreach and were amazed by the number of vans here.  Once again this is a campground set up by the town and for the grand sum of $3 per night you can join the masses and stay a while.  We paid for three nights and set about making ourselves comfortable.  Not quite the peaceful river front address we were imagining but with so many of the roads closed by the heavy rain we were lucky to have this.

The camp is beside the Thomson River and many of the people are here to fish as well as to see all that Longreach has to offer.  We had a walk down to the river and while we found found a lot of fisher folk we did not see too many with fish.

Longreach is known as 'the heart of the Queensland outback' and surrounded as it by vast arid plains and outback stations it is easy to see why.  It is also home to a large number of attractions all set to separate the tourist from their dollars and we joined the many others happy to oblige.

We decided that while we were here we wanted to have a look at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and so drove down on Saturday morning to see The Outback Stockman's Show first.  Wow, what an amazing place.  We enjoyed the show which is meant to educate and showcase the skills of the stockman and his animals.  Lachie Cossor, a third generation breaker, (from Yackandandah) is the featured stockman.  Together with his horses, sheep, dogs and Jigsaw the BIG Brahman, (there is 1100 kg of beef in this docile beast) he keeps you entertained and enlightened.  Lots of laughs were had as he talked and sang his way through the next hour or so.

After the show we decided that there was just too much too see all in one day and so picked up a pass for the next day and headed home for lunch.  We returned later in the afternoon and had a look at the Hugh Sawrey Art Gallery showcasing outback artists.

Taking a break from all things Stockmen we crossed the road to have a look at The Qantas Jumbo.  This Boeing 747 together with a 707 and a DC3 stand in front of the Qantas Founders Museum.  We did not go in this time but will leave that for the next time we pass this way.

The next morning we returned to The Hall of Fame and continued our look at all things Stockmen.  The stories of Australia are shared through a number of galleries which include Discovery, Pioneers, Outback Properties, Life in the Outback and Stockmen.  The Royal Flying Doctor Service display is a very popular attraction as well.  I really can't tell you which area I enjoyed most, it was all so well done and the many interactive displays really add an extra element.  I must say picking up a handset in the telecommunications display brought a smile to my face when the cranky voice on the other end said 'can't get this bastard phone to work'.  Seems like there have been issues from day one!

A new exhibit this year celebrates the contribution of indigenous stockmen and there are a collection of videos you can watch and hear as many people tell their story.  All very well done and two days were not really enough, you could easily lose a week in there if time permitted.

Back at home we got sorted in readiness to leave the next morning.  It had been a nice break but it was time to keep moving northward.  While the sun had shone for two days it was still freezing at night and long sleeves and jeans were still the dress of the day.  Where is this warm weather we are seeking?

Another feature of this campground are the resident roosters.  Apparently the five that were here last year have become fourteen and whilst they are very handsome chaps they are not what you want under your awning in the morning.  As they were this morning!

The next morning saw us pull out of camp and into Longreach, fill up with water and shop before hitting the road again and heading up to Winton.  Just out of the town we stopped for the night at Long Waterhole and while it was a nice place to stop for the night we were soon tucked up inside with the heater on.  The nights continue to be under 5 deg and though the days are getting sunnier they are not much warmer yet.  We are still in jeans and jumpers!

The next morning we made our way into town and found the Courthouse where we had to cast our vote in the upcoming election.  With that done we had a look at the Banjo Paterson sculpture in the Main Street.  The Heritage listed Corfield and Fitzmaurice building takes centre stage and certainly stands out.

A couple of blocks away we found Arno's wall.  This two metre high wall has evolved over the years.  Built by a quirky local it is made from rock from Opaltown and studded with whatever seems to be lying around.  There is even a kitchen sink!  

A few blocks away on the edge of town we found The Musical Fence.  This unusual attraction gives us all a chance to let the hidden muso in us out for a short while.  Bill almost mastered the fence but I think he made a better drummer.  No, he's not bringing them home with him.

We drove on stopping for lunch at a series of rock formations which wiki camps called The Pinnacle.  I couldn't find any information at all to know if this is the real name but it certainly stood out on the otherwise flat landscape.

Our next stop was just up the road in McKinlay.  This little town and it's hotel became famous as Walkabout Creek in the Crocodile Dundee movies.  The hotel was renamed and it is a fun place to stop  and check out The Never Never Tour Company where the old truck is still parked out the front.  

It was the 30 year anniversary of the movie this year and apparently Walkabout Creek Hotel was the place to be.  Shame we were a few months late but we still enjoyed a hot shower, a nice meal and a glass of red with many other fellow travellers.

The next day we drove on to Cloncurry where we stopped to look at Mary Kathleen Memorial Park.  The visitors centre is here and an outdoor display featuring historic mining, rail and farm equipment.  There is also a bronze plaque commemorating Burke and Wills who together with their companions King and Gray were the first known Europeans to come to this area in 1861 on their ill fated expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

We drove a few km out of town to have lunch at Chinaman Creek Dam, an absolutely beautiful spot on a sunny day.  Bill found some birds to play with while I made lunch.  The view across the dam with Mt Leviathan centre stage was lovely too but we had to keep moving, no camping allowed here.

Just 50 km up the road we followed the signs to Corella Dam and Clem Walton Reserve.  Camping was allowed here and we were going to take a break for a few days if we could find a spot.  The first place at the dam was like surburbia and didn't look appealing at all so we followed the directions to the reserve itself and found our own little piece of paradise beside the Corella River.  

We stayed here for four days and really enjoyed just chilling out with the birds.  Lots and lots of budgies nesting in the white gums beside the river.  

Cockatiels by the dozen looking for nesting sites in the same trees.  Rainbow Bee Eaters and Sacred Kingfishers, Red Wing Parrots, Pelicans, Herons and a pair of Whistling Kites building a nest all kept Bill and his camera busy for most of the time.  

One of the days we drove the 70 km into Mount Isa to have a look around this iconic mining town.  On the drive from Cloncurry to Mount Isa the landscape changes dramatically from the vast flat grazing land to the red rocky hills synonymous with mining.

While there we drove up to the Lookout where the view over Mount Isa Mines on one side and the growing town on the other is pretty special.

Back on the ground we checked out 'The Outback at Isa', The Miner sculpture and the shopping precinct.  Of course no matter where you were you could always see the 270m smoke stack towering over the town.

Back at the river Bill also practiced his camp fire skills as he lit a fire and cooked two of the nights.  I think I could get used to this.  We left on Sunday morning and made our way back into Cloncurry where we spent the day in one of the caravan parks to wash the clothes and the hair.  Back into the wild again tomorrow.

until next time........