Sunny Coast to Longreach

May 25 to June 1

Back on the road! We were delayed by another week with some final issues being rectified on the motorhome. I thought I was on top of the planning …….! Still, better getting these last things done while at “home” before they could disrupt us on the road. Our first day was a short one up to Kilkivan, north-west of Gympie. First cold night of the year, about 4⁰C. Shared the camp at Fat Hen Creek with one other travelling couple, who have been on the road for 14 years, they had some advice we soaked up.

Springsure, Virgin Rock Camp Spot

 We have travelled this area before so we didn’t need to dawdle, so the next day drove some 500k’s via Gayndah to Monto (where we found a nice looking council run, low cost camp right in the middle of town, will have to go back there) and on to Biloela and Moura. Leah hadn’t been through here, so it was fun to show her some of the spots I frequented in my early Nalco mining days. They now have a great viewing platform to see the open cut mine working. Overnight outside Moura and the morning in Moura, then on to Rolleston and Springsure. The Lions Park at Springsure is in the shadow of the Virgin Rock (apparently one of the formations “looks like” the Virgin Mary) is a handy free camp. 
They have massive solar powered flood lights that light up the rocks at night, pretty cool. The Springsure Show started the day we arrived (I love a local event!), we watched the evening fireworks from our camp before attending the show on Saturday (dagwood dogs and wood chopping …. Awesome!). This show is the second longest running rural show in QLD (beaten only by Toowoomba). A second night in Springsure before heading to Emerald.

Blending in with the murals in Alpha

We visited Lake Maraboon and the Fairbairn Dam outside Emerald for our compulsory daily coffee stop. This dam has allowed massive improvements in mining and agriculture development in the area, and the drive takes you over the dam wall as you continue into Emerald. Spent the rest of Sunday walking the town and botanical gardens and stayed in the “RV Friendly” overnight park in town.

Redbank Camp, Jericho

Did some re-stocking of supplies in Emerald Monday morning before heading west in earnest. From here the thought of “ambling” and enjoying “mo-touring” changes. It is 100km between small towns, and nothing in between. We visited Anakie and Sapphire in the gem region before we headed to Alpha. A wander through Alpha to view the murals (didn’t take too long) and on to Jericho to stop at the highly recommended Redbank camp spot on the river. Incredibly serene and peaceful. Jericho still have an operating Drive-in theatre (mind you, only once a month).

Barcaldine, note the river in the gutter

It started drizzling rain that night, something a bit foreign to Western QLD as they are in a severe drought. As we drove to Barcaldine the next day the rain increased and hardly stopped until the next morning. We visited the sites in “Barcie” before stopping there overnight. I had to get a Next G Telstra sim while in town, as the “Telstra carried” Aldi sim’s don’t work on the outback Telstra network. No one seems to know this, and the shop in Barcaldine does a roaring trade!

Leah and the Tree of Knowledge

In all they got just shy of 50mm in 24 hours between Barcaldine and Longreach, enough to muddy the place up and shut the highway twice in 24 hours (we were wondering why the camp spot got so busy late in the afternoon). It was still under cautionary open in the morning, and we drove through two shallow “water over road” spots as we approached Longreach on Wednesday.

State of Origin night in the Longreach Tourist Park, a chance to do some washing and watch the game. The park put on a big screen and complimentary sausage sizzle, chicken wing and wedges. Very hospitable, given there was some 400 people at the park that night! We will spend the next couple of days in Longreach before heading to Winton.