I’m intrigued with the grand names of cattle and sheep stations. Often named by homesick settlers, properties the size of small countries have been named after villages and landmarks in England. This one in Queensland however does not fit into that category. Continue reading Naming Rights
On the Savannah Way just west of Georgetown, Qld there is a delightful oasis. Beside an historic mine chimney you’ll find a lagoon filled with water lilies and wildlife in abundance. Get there early for a view. Continue reading Cumberland Mine Site
I’m sure all Queenslanders know of the Nindigully Pub. West of Goondiwindi, south of St George and not far from the New South Wales border Nindigully sits at the junction of the Carnarvon and Barwon highways and on the banks of the Moonie River. As far as iconic Aussie bush pubs go this one ticks all of the boxes.Built in 1864 on a well used stock route and river crossing there is now little else but the pub in what was once a Cobb & Co staging post. The long low pub has a wooden floored verandah and hitching rails … Continue reading Nindigully Pub
The joy of being out in the bush is when you give up your chair to the locals. Continue reading Up Close and Personal
Emerald has beautiful Botanic Gardens lush green lawns and palm glades overlook the Nogoa River. Amidst all this beauty is a 24 hour free camp between the highway, the river and the Botanic Gardens. This gives us quite a giggle because the vans are parked between the road and railway bridges and it seems that the prime spot is right underneath the railway bridge. Heaven knows how anyone could get any sleep there. As well as that the main use of this line is for carrying cattle and the railway line in town is covered in pungent cow manure. I … Continue reading Emerald, Qld free camp
When we’ve pulled into the Kynuna (Qld) Roadhouse the two very funny ladies who run it have warned us not to feed the brolgas and no sooner had we parked the van than a brolga wandered over and took ownership of us. We were warned “When you leave the toilet close the door the brolgas poop in there and then people complain when they step in it. They don’t like brolga poop between their toes.” Thus I’m now eating lunch while a big grey brolga peers through the window at me, I daren’t eat outside or else I’ll lose my … Continue reading Eating with Brolgas
We were wandering about Central Queensland when I heard a story on ABC National about the mating habits of brush turkeys. Brush turkeys are those curious native chooks that inhabit coastal NSW and Qld. The interviewee went on to describe that the nesting mound is made from several tonnes of leaf mulch piled up by the male bird to attract a mate. The guy with the best pile of leaf litter gets the girl basically. A few days later we are watching clay target shooting in Roma and I ask one of the club members mothers what the odd shaped hill … Continue reading A Turkey Shoot?
As we turn into the Undara National Park the bush is very sparse and dry and reminiscent of the Bendigo goldfields area way down south in Victoria. Undara Lodge is on the Savannah Way in northern Queensland. It borders the Undara Volcanic National Park and is owned by the Collins family, cattle farmers who first settled here in the 1800’s. They run a slickly professional operation and provide accommodation in restored historic railway carriages as well as cabins, on site tents, dongas and camping facilities. Dongas are like shipping containers with several individual air conditioned rooms, similar to those used … Continue reading Undara
Port Douglas in Far North Queensland has a fascinating, beautiful and well kept cemetery. When walking past the cemetery one tombstone stands out from the rest. That is the one of William Thomson “who went to his death by cruel and treacherous murder”. The farmer William Thomson was murdered by his wife Ellen and her lover John Harrison in 1886. They were both hanged. Ellen was the only woman to be hanged in Queensland. Continue reading Death in Paradise
We drive out to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria, the remotest point of our trip. It is a 70km drive north from Normanton through savannah land and then the flattest flood plain of grassland and salt pans. In the savannah there are contented cattle and spider webs as big as flags that take ownership of their host shrubs. On the flood plain we spot a flock of Brolgas in a small swamp. Of course I’m breathless with excitement and I say to Woody that all we need now is to see a Jabiru and I’ll be happy. All of … Continue reading A stalking stork amongst the stalks
itchingforhitching 