It's a long way to the top, On the Road, Qld

It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe

Day 67 Monday Aug 11th 2014 Winton to Ilfracombe

The clouds haven’t been given back to us yet. The long straight road is flanked by the railway line and Mitchell grass to the horizon. The road is littered with kangaroo carcasses, the most we’ve ever seen. Eagles and crows lift from the road as a flock as we approach each ‘freshie’.

About 30kms out of Longreach the landscape changes to red soil and scrubby trees. We cross the Thomson River and are surprised to see water. The flood plain and bridges stretch for about a kilometre. This must be quite a sight in the wet.

It is exciting to be in Longreach and the town is busy and vibrant. Ah, a large town at last!

It is only 27kms east to the tiny hamlet of Ilfracombe and its famous caravan park. We put up our feet for the afternoon and enjoy the peace of this little spot. In the evening the owner Cathy and her young son entertain the guests in the old tin shed. They have us in stitches with their bush poetry and yarns. Yes, Cathy is an authentic bushie having grown up on a property of a million acres out west of Winton.

Cathy’s explanation of the Min Min Lights: an emu with a torch up its bum.

Towing Kms: 207Kms

2021 Note: Longreach is situated on the Tropic of Capricorn. The Ilfracombe Caravan Park is a little beauty, so welcoming and friendly that we returned again in 2018.

Min Min Lights: a strange light phenomenon sometimes seen in the outback.

Window view of the park exit. “Thanks for stayin’. May the winds be up ya. I mean behind ya. Hurry Back.” And yes, that is a real truck up there.
Ilfracombe. Map Source: WikiCamps

7 thoughts on “It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe”

    1. The critical number is the ‘Head per acre’ and they certainly have a lot less per acre up there than we do down in the greener south in Victoria. If ever you see a TV series called Outback Ringers have a look, it gives a tremendous insight into life on those huge cattle stations in the Northern Territory.

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    1. When there’s a bad drought the paddocks are reduced to dust, not a shred left to eat. Overnight dew runs off the bitumen roads, just enough to grow a little grass. Wild animals feed on this and sadly get clobbered by trucks. Travelling these roads at any time of day one needs to keep a sharp watch. Our mate El Prado calls it KEG Watch. Kangaroo, emu and feral goat. Being retired and not in a hurry we try to avoid the kangaroo feeding hours of early morning and late afternoon.

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