Words and photos: Alison Huth
Alison Huth shares her 37 day diary charting her Queensland wild country adventures, on & off the bitumen
Kilkivan to Noccundra
The Huths undertake a butcher run, mark a RFDS win, warm up by and dine over coals while dodging black soil!
Day 1: From the Kilkivan bush camp, we made our way to Chinchilla Weir. A few powered sites but lots of unpowered. It has a good amenities block and water views. The only problem is the black dirt for some unpowered sites, not a good choice if it’s wet.
Day 2-3 Moved on to Mitchell and set up at the Neil Turner Weir. Massive place, the amenities block was way down the other end! The butcher is brilliant and it’s well worth stocking up the freezer with his meat. It rained, and then rained some more! Stayed 2 nights.
Day 4-6 We stopped in Charleville Bush Caravan Park for a camp oven dinner. This place allows no pets, so those with dogs went to Evening Star Tourist Park which has the biggest campfire I have ever seen. What a place! Also a very special visit to the RFDS to hand over ‘cheque’ for $10,602.90 raised at the Lotus Owners Group national gathering. How did we get 90c?
Day 7-8 Cunnamulla, great spot. Well worth a visit to the Railway Station for their film.
Day 9 Off to Noccundra for a night on the river. Huge camping area and really popular. Hotel and fuel are over the road. That’s it for places to see. We arrived late and the rest of our group had found spots, we went further along the river bank and found Sharon and Geoff, friends of ours from way back. So, we spent the evening catching up, love it.
Cameron Corner to Betoota Hotel
A fuel wait, the Dig Tree delivers, big bash preps and more black soil
Day 10 Tyres down, convoy formed for dirt road driving. We arrived at Cameron Corner and it was freezing cold. Sadly, no food or alcohol available. No fuel either, but the tanker arrived next morning delivering plenty for our next drive.
Day 11 Innamincka, last time we were here, two campgrounds were open. This time the caravan park with a dump point was closed off due to water over the road! While some of us had camp oven scones, others did a dunny run to empty cassettes without causing health problems.
Day 12 On the way to our overnight free camp we stopped at the Burke and Wills Dig Tree site. Looks a bit rough until you get to the site itself, it’s really well signed and looked after. Something to put on the bucket list if you haven’t been there already.
Day 13 Ah, Betoota Hotel, what can I say? Big bucket list for me and it didn’t disappoint. We were there on the night of the State of Origin decider, so there was lots of noise in the bar while the game was on. I stayed outside! Eight big road trains came through the dark with all the things needed to put on the Birdsville Bash. Impressive sight.
Birdsville to Winton
Packing fresh rolls for a big dune a rare glimpse of a flourishing outback
Day 14-16Birdsville, another bucket list item. Loved it there. Hotel had great food, the bakery lived up to its reputation, and we drove up Big Red. We arrived a week after the bash which gave the town time to restock food and fuel!
Day 17 Simpson Desert Roadhouse overnight in Bedourie. Rain has transformed the outback into a green land. Such a pleasure to drive through it like this.
Day 18 Crossed the Tropic of Capricorn to Boulia, home of the Min Min lights, which we didn’t see! Nice town though, worth stopping in.
Day 19 Winton, only one night, not nearly long enough. Luckily we are coming back later this year. Dinosaurs, Banjo Paterson, and great food. Stayed at the park over the road from Tatts Hotel.
Balcaldine to Lara Wetlands
It’s time for top ups at Barcaldine before hitting the sculpture trail then scones for happy hour goodbyes
Day 20-21 Next, we stayed at Barcaldine for a couple of nights, time to do some washing, and get some food on board. Free camping isn’t so easy at the moment as our fridge isn’t working on gas. I have some space in the beer fridge. I know, food in the beer/wine fridge! Sacrifices must be made.
Day 22-23 Lake Dunn Sculpture Trail. If you’ve seen it, you know how great it is. If you haven’t–put it high up on your bucket list. The only thing to look out for is wet roads as there’s a heap of black dirt out there. Some say that black dirt is 50% glue, and I’m not going to argue with that!
Day 24-26 Last stop for the group was Lara Wetlands. The road had been closed because of rain, but it opened again and we made it through some pretty rough patches, but we all got there. Campfires, scones, happy hours, and a final dinner and show. What a great group trip. From here, we’re on our own.
Jericho to Chinchilla & Home
On their own, the Huths hit the gemfields, scoring strudel in Rubyvale and van-friendly shopping in Emerald
Day 27-28 Travelling through Jericho and Alpha, it was sad to see the coffee shops closed.
Day 29-31 Booked into Anakie Gemfields Caravan Park because other Gemfield parks were fully booked for the two nights we wanted to stay. Two Nights! Ha! Really friendly place and guests. We met Cheryl and Wes from the convoy in Rubyvale, fabulous catch-up. Had the magical apple strudel in Rubyvale. Stayed an extra night and would have stayed more if we had the time. We were there for the Gem Fest–huge celebration. Go to Anakie, it’s magical.
Day 32 Food shopping in Emerald is easy. Central Highland Market Place has caravan-friendly parking. So clever. Lots of caravans coming and going because it was easy to park, shop, bring things back to the van and put everything away. Overnight in Theodore, camping next to another Sunland. Kathy and Noel knew us before we said hello, they have been following the posts! Hi Kathy and Noel.
Day 33-34 Set up at Juandah Historical Site, a great spot with the history of the old homestead all around the campsite. Very quiet, very calming so we stayed a second night just to do nothing. You need days like that.
Day 35 Nearly at the end of the trip and we had one of the most amazing nights in Meandarra. Went to have dinner in the hotel and met the locals. I want to go back!
Day 36-37 Back in Chinchilla, the weir was so wet, we went to the showgrounds and our great friends Shelley and David Ridgley joined us. Meeting friends on the road is such fun. Last night was at Toogoolawah Showgrounds.
Day 37 Home again to long grass. Our neighbours have miniature horses and are short of grass. So Blackie and Duke join us everyday and go home to their stable at night. Happy people and happy well fed horses!
