Karumba to Blackall

July 16 to July 23

We left Karumba on Sunday and there was very little to see as we drove south. The Burke and Wills Roadhouse is the mid-point of a 400km stretch of nothing, as you drive towards Cloncurry on more single carriageway bitumen.

Our free camp that night was Jack and Lil’s Rest Area, another 100km from the roadhouse and incredibly isolated, still some 140km from Julia Creek on the Wills Development Road. The stars that night were simply spectacular with no other light interfering with the view. We had this experience a number of times through remote WA, it was great to have the experience again.

We were headed for two towns we missed on our trip last year, which make up the Dinosaur Trail. Richmond was first with Kronosauras Dinosaur Fossil Museum. A number of important dinosaur fossil discoveries have been made in areas around Richmond, Hughenden and Muttaburra.

Lifesize Replica of a Kronosaurus, Richmond

The dinosaur museum displays some rare collections including a recent (initially discovered in 1989) Polycotylid skeleton now on display.

Polycotylid Fossil, Richmond

What he may have looked like

We stayed in Richmond for a few days as there was plenty to see and do. We visited one of the public fossil dig sites, and came across a number of professional palaeontologists following up a fish fossil find from the day before. This area was under 60 metres of water during the Cretaceous period so most fossils being uncovered are water based.

Fossil dig site, near Richmond

Hughenden has the Flinders Fossil Discovery Centre and houses a couple of very interesting fossils, including the Muttaburrasaurus.

Muttaburrasaurus, Hughenden

Both towns offer low or no cost RV Parking in town so they attract a good numbers of travellers. Certainly Richmond have made the town very inviting and has prepared historic walks and other points of interest apart from the fossils.

Sculpture outside the new Council Chambers, Richmond

From Hughenden it was another long drive through fairly featureless terrain to Winton. As we were here only 12 months ago we only stopped in for lunch. It was great to see the Waltzing Matilda Centre being re-built after being destroyed by fire a few years ago. It was still a clear site last year, and is due to reopen in the next 12 months.

New Waltzing Matilda Centre taking shape, Winton

We spent a day in Longreach and nearby Ilfracombe. We didn’t spend too much time in Ilfracombe last year so enjoyed the historical machinery museum and the Wellshot Centre, showcasing the wool industry through the 20^th century.

Part of the Ilfracombe Machinery Museum, a 500 metre long display

We finally started to travel new territory when we turned south from Barcaldine, and arrived in Blackall on Sunday morning. When you look at the map we certainly travelled a long distance in a week, but given the spread out nature of Central QLD it’s hard not to.