30 - Winton to Rockhampton

Entry 30 – for 2016 - 17^th October 

Moving on from Porcupine Gorge we propped for a couple of hours at Hughenden to attend to all our electronic needs, (uploading blog, responding to Steve’s birthday messages and attending to several phone calls) all now a regular part of our ‘Grey Nomad Travels’ whenever we are able to obtain phone/internet reception travelling the great Australian outback. One of the important electronic correspondences was an application for a government issued senior’s discount card now that the 60 years was officially upon us. 

It was time to consider a travel plan for our next main destination, climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge, some 3,000 kilometres south of our present location. We could have easily spent several months even a year exploring the many highlights around this region of Queensland. Consequently we had a reason for returning to this area at a later time to continue our ongoing enjoyment of viewing and soaking in the fabulous Australian outback. 

We decided to deviate a little from a more direct route towards Sydney and travel through areas unexplored by us still stopping for a quick look, but without spending the week or two we would normally occupy at the different locations. 

We were now on the move taking a couple of days to get to the township of Winton, (about 250 kms). We filled several hours walking around Winton and spent the night a couple of kilometres out of town at a non-commercialised camping area, the Long Waterhole, where we read through all the local paraphernalia we had obtained from the local information centre publicizing the local attractions. 

As a bonus, ‘pick me up’ after a long day, Steve’s birthday damper was still being appreciated with a splashing of golden syrup.

Winton’s main fame is promoted as the Dinosaur capital of Australia. Leaving Winton, traveling towards Longreach we stopped for an interval at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs for a couple of hours, where we participated in a tour of the laboratory with people cleaning recent found dinosaur bones. It was a painstaking, slow, laborious task.

People pay money to participate in a dig, which are booked out for 2 years in advance. At the present time they can only allocate a time period each year of 3 weeks for a dig as it takes over a year to process and clean the findings in the laboratory.

It was fascinating viewing and just as interesting was the collection room with some great specimens on display.

We now officially have access to a slightly cheaper rate with our certified recognition as a senior.

Our next port of call was at Longreach, most famous for its Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum which we had previously viewed. We walked around the township, obtained information available about the area and after scrutinizing the information found nothing jumped out at us to spend time at other than some nearby bush locations which were unavailable due to road closures in place from recent rain. 

Moving on from Longreach we noticed the vehicle parking area at the Qantas Founders Museum to be almost deserted which enticed us in for ‘that photo shoot.’

Our next location we decided on Lara Wetlands a bush camping ground on a Station Property about 30 kilometres south of Barcaldine. 

This location had also been closed for a period of time due to rain created issues and had just been reopened the day of our arrival. On an initial inspection of the lake we saw very little bird life but as time progressed we were seeing more and more birds. 

We spent plenty of time engaged in our surrounds, regularly walking around the lake, paddling the free canoes on the lake, re-energised our bodies with several therapeutic dips in the hot artesian pool and naturally some chatting with other happy travellers. 

We relaxed sitting in the shade from trees admiring the view with different species of birds moving around between the outer scrub perimeter and the lake.

What a great location this turned out to be with a best description presented by photographs.

Under normal conditions for us Lara Wetlands would probably entertain a week of our time where we would absorb its environment and setting. Unfortunately we were on a mission, moving after a couple of nights. 

Returning 30 kilometres up the road we propped at Barcaldine touring the Australian Workers Heritage Centre and a walk along the main street. A time check showed it was 2 pm with us still at Barcaldine. We decided to push on, driving about 86 kilometres to Jericho where we stopped for the night, over the driving but happy we were progressing with our required kilometre rate.

It seemed the land was quite green from all the recent draught breaking rains but the paddocks were empty of stock. Other than the consideration for expenses the stations would incur with the restocking of their land the grass was of poor quality due to the present greenery, classified as weeds and it would still be some time for the pasture grasses to recover needed by the stock.

Jericho with a population of 100 had put some colour into the township, through colourful murals around town.

Then it was onto Sapphire for a couple of nights camping near the town common at a free camp location. Sapphire and its surrounding area are famous for the mining of sapphires. 

There were many shanty building set ups with all manner of sorts of advertising bill boards touting for your business around the district. We did pay for a bucket of wash which is gravel sized rocks from the armfest mine to noodle. It was an interesting experience sieving through your allocated bucket of wash, so much so that we went back for a second session noodling.

Quality grading

Moving on we next stopped in coal mining territory at the township of Blackwater. We walked into their coal centre and within 15 minutes we were onto a bus participating in a coal mining tour where we got to view an open cut coal mine in full operation.

250 tonne loads X current price $75 per tonne

Our next destination was to be near Rockhampton where we were hoping to catch up with fellow travellers Brian and Anne who rescued us from a bogged tow tug and caravan 12 months prior. 

We camped at the Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat in a beautiful bush setting where we had sole use of the complex to the 4 of us. 

The day of our arrival Anne just happened to be discharged from hospital from an unplanned hip replacement which resulted with us all being close together enjoying constant chatter while Anne was resting during her recuperation. As an added bonus we also enjoyed the feet up time out.

Retreat setting

Steve, Brian, Mary & Anne

Camp host Debbie delivering scones & jam to Anne for brunch

Our scones & jam with camp host David & no scraps

Our last evening with Anne and Brian we all went to the theatre to see a bagpipe performance by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards who are regular participants at the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh, Scotland.