Birdsville track

 

Gidday all,

Headed out for Birdsville, just down the road came across some emus, they ambled along beside us for a while then took off across the plane.

 

 

 

 

A lonely boot tree growing on the planes.

 

 

Nearing Birdsville, a stand of Waddie trees, these trees are very rare and only found in a couple of places and only around this shire. The wood is extremely hard and has been known to break axes and damage saws, almost impossible to drill once dried out.

 

Entering Birdsville, some outback art greeted us. Had a drive around, checked out the whole town, didn’t take long. Then found the bakery and pulled up for lunch, curried camel pie, not to bad.

 

 

Headed out on the track, the landscape changed to clay pan and scrub then sand dune country, the track in not bad shape, some loose sand patches but mostly packed clay. The country changing from clay pan to sand dunes and back again.

 

 

Came to Karrathunka water hole, just a muddy puddle but would be beautiful in the wet. Good enough for us, so camped up for the night.

 

 

Off again in the morning, through the sand dune country, still clay track, traveling between the dunes, then some sand patches crossing small dunes. Going well, not even in 4wd.

 

 

Came to Burt Dam, small amount of muddy water, three pelicans were circling overhead checking out a landing spot. The strong wind let them stay up there effortlessly, we must have worried them cause they circled some more then drifted further away, so we headed on leaving them to it.

 

About 12ks from where the inside track meets the main track the clay pans and sand dunes give way to gibber planes, covered for as far as the eye can see with small rocks or gibbers. Camped at a creek crossing just after joining the main Birdsville track.

 

Off again in the morning, starting to cross Sturts Stony Desert, aptly named, on the main track, or should I say road, it’s now a wide, graded, gravel road. A little rough because of the rocky terrain, but hardly a track. About 70k on we stopped at the lonely Mungerannie road house, out on it’s own in the middle of nowhere. A sign out front says McDonald’s opening soon, the owner assured us it was just a joke. We treated ourselves to a burger each and a beer, (Din had a scotch), because it was our 20^th wedding anniversary.

 

 

Camped on Cooper Creek for two days, nobody about and the weather clear and cool. Will have one more overnight stop before reaching Marree , seven  days to do the Birdsville track, must be unusual in this day and age, but who’s in a hurry.

 

Last camp, Lake Harry ruins, it has an open air shower next to the artisan bore. All the hot water you can use. We took the opportunity to shower and fill up the washing machine.

 

 

Lake Harry was the site of a date palm plantation around 1896. After some years of problems with pests and drought, the venture was abandoned. Hard to imagine the oasis it was in this harsh country.

 

 

Boulia to Birdsville

 

Gidday all,

Out past the park boundary and on to Springvale station and Boulia. Back to desolate planes, and seeing forever.

 

 Drove into Boulia, complete with emu roaming the main street, topped up on groceries, refuelled and filled up the water. Had a good look around and a cup of tea then took the road to Birdsville.

 Just out of Boulia, saw some scrub off the road some way so headed over to it and camped up for the night. Off again in the morning. The familiar flat Mitchell grass planes extending before us. About 100ks on a rest area high on a lonely hill called us up to have a look. The views were excellent, the look of the country from here confirms this is an ancient sea bed.

 

Back on the road and some km on the flat planes gave way to spinifex dotted red sand hills. Bedourie next stop. Camped the night at the council rest stop, it has water, toilets and SHOWERS. In the morning headed toward Burnsville, 68k on pulled in at Cuttaburra crossing, a river crossing with a permanent water hole. Lots of birds, a flock of budgees landed in front of us and started feeding on the grass seeds, a great moment.

 Eagles also swooping on prey unseen by us.

 

On to Carcoory ruins, one of the first properties Sir Sidney Kidman purchased in 1899. After years of drought and the loss of many cattle he abandoned the station.

 

 

Just down the road is an artesian bore, spewing out boiling hot water into a network of channels and into a large pond. Stopped to soak a while. The water is like getting into a very hot bath, very invigorating after you get out, a natural hot tub. Din even got in, the water temp was “just right” she said.

 

Just a little way from the pond, two brolgas strutting about.

 

Followed a little track for a bit beside one channel and came upon a lovely camp spot beside a long water hole, so we set up camp. Nice clean water, nobody around for miles, birdlife and fish. What more could you want. Had a go and caught a few small perch, then released them to grow some more. Spent three days there. Monday, time to pack up and get to Birdsville.

 

Gidday all,

Travelled west from Winton to the Diamantina River Road junction and headed on down.

 Vast flat treeless, and grassless, plains as far as you can see greeted us.

After some klms the landscape changed to short scrub and small hillocks dotted about. Quite beautiful, crossing numerous dry creeks, we stopped at one for lunch. Quick nanny nap later we carried on, found a small stand

of short trees off the road a way and pulled up for the day, we had done over 120k after all.

 Sunday, started off the day lying in bed listening to Macca on the radio. Finally had breakfast then set off down the road. The grassless plains have returned, but dotted with low scrub. Still beside the Diamantina River, mostly dry except for the occasional billabong. Arrived at Old Cork Station homestead and pulled up for an explore. Only small but very grand for it’s time.

 An old wood stove sits out the back, the same model as the one we use at home today, not a lot left of this one though

 A permanent water hole is at the back of the homestead so we drove down and camped up. Around 60k for the day, but hey it’s Sunday.

 Tuesday, and it’s time to move again, flat scrub country with rocky outcrops dotted about, some with amazing shapes. Then red sand dunes and spinifex, an ever changing countryside.

 

 

 

Reached the park boundary and on to a lookout with views of the river. On to the ranger station, a quick chat with a ranger then on to the campground next to a water hole with rock cliffs and pelicans. Staid one night then off to Boulia.

                              Great sunset just outside Winton, the photo doesn't do it justice

                                           In Bladensburg National park out on the salt pans

        Skull hole, the site of a massacre of a local tribe in the early days of the settlement of Winton

 Plan to head down to Diamantina National park, the big green bit on the map, long the Diamantina development road next to the Diamantina River, passing through Old Cork Station homestead then on to Boulia.

Termite like formations in White Mountains National park but they are rocks.

Gidday all,

Stayed another night at White Mountains National park, just because we can, then on to Hughenden, some smoko and down the road to Winton. Found a camp just out of town and settled in for the night.

Topped up on fuel and water and a few groceries, then headed out to Bladensburg National Park just south of Winton. So far we plan to skip over to the Diamantina River and follow it southwest to Old Cork Station homestead (you know, the John Williamson song) then to Diamantina National Park and on to Boulia.