Lawn Hill National Park and Camooweal

Having done all we can to minimize the dust problem, imagine my reaction when upon reaching our camp site at Adels Grove, I open the caravan door and see a glass from the oven door lying on the floor! We didn't think the road from Gregory Downs was very rough, a bit corrugated perhaps but not overly so.

However at Adels Grove which is on the edge of Lawn Hill National Park, they cater for the traveller. We have individual caravan sites marked out with rocks. They allow dogs here and even offer a dog sitting service for folk entering the National Park for the day.
Someone here has a great sense of humour. In the toilets they have the usual sign about not putting anything in the toilet that has not passed through your system then added "except for the toilet paper.... of course".
At the end of the information brochure about the park they say "We advise also that for your comfort we do not permit mozzies here during the dry season." (thank goodness for that!)
Having made the decision to hire a canoe and paddle up the Lawn Hill Gorge, we put Brandt's waterproof camera on the charger (through the inverter). Next day we set off, got our canoe and paddled upstream. Brandt handed me the camera to take a photo of the beauty of the gorge. The camera would not turn on. I have been blamed for the malfunction as I took the lead out of the camera before switching off. The battery is flat! We will see if it will take a charge once we get back to ordinary 240 volts. (and it did, so I am off the hook)
The paddle up the gorge was very interesting, once we got over the wobbles and began to enjoy the scenery. Towards the end of our return to base were told a fresh water croc was sunning himself on a rock about 50m away. However we did not see it. Quite pleased with ourselves though as we paddled the 6km in two and a quarter hours and it is advertised as a three hour round trip.
On returning to Adels Grove we wanted to check out some info on the internet, so walked to lookout hill, the only place at Adels Grove where you can get mobile phone coverage.
It seems to be an Australian custom for everyone to contribute to a pile of stones. There were some amazing piles there





Who would have thought, only a couple of years ago, that I would get a photo like this:-


Yes, it IS Brandt sitting on a pile of stones on Lookout Hill, using the iPad!

Reached Camooweal late afternoon and set up at a free camp on the banks of the Georgina River.
Next day took in the Drovers Camp tour. The guide is an ex drover and talks about the days of driving cattle (almost from one end of Australia to the other). Very interesting and very hot as the "tour is really been shown through a collection of drover essentials, housed in a big shed.

To Burketown, the barramundi capital.

Before departing Normanton, we made the trip down the main street to view Krys, the Savannah King





Brandt just couldn't help himself. He just had to do what all tourists do



Stopped at Leichhardt Falls. The river was scenic, but there was very little water flowing over the falls. Probably when they are flowing well the only way to get there would be by helicopter.








We travelled most of the 221km on dirt road. When we got to Burketown there was dust throughout the caravan, on the benches, on the bed, caught behind the tap in the shower. Swept the floor twice but can still feel dust under my feet. Next day when I opened up the hatch to do some washing, the washing machine was covered in red dust. There is even some that has settled in such a way as to refuse to be cleaned off.

Burketown is claimed to be the barramundi capital of Australia. The people who went out in boats were bringing back Barra, but none were caught by a hopeful kiwi fishing from the banks. The caravan park owner gave us a mud map and so Brandt headed off to his recommended spots. First day came back with a Queen Fish and a Catfish. The next day he took our camping neighbor with him. Marty tells the story that when Brandt hooked an Archer fish, and a good sized one at that he said to Brandt, "that's a pretty rare catch. You're lucky to get one of those".





Brandt actually got 12 Archer fish, and when we left the caravan park Marty was still shaking his head and saying the haul was incredible and that he was going off to buy some soft bait for himself.

At one end of Burketown is an artesian bore that has been in service for over 100 years and is reputed to be the longest running bore in Queensland.


It was originally used to supply water to a bath house. The hot mineral water was mixed with cold water (Brandt put his finger in the water and says it is ****hot! Notice the colours at the foot of the bore.


Also, the kerb appears to have been built up over the years as the mineral deposits have also built up.

And so, onwards.....

Life at Leichhardt Lagoon

The first day we were here at Leichhardt Lagoon Brandt and Michael went fishing and came back with a load of fire wood. (no fish) Even though the nights here are comparatively mild, it is still nice to have a camp fire.



The camp caretaker came round and offered a "fireplace" made from a cut down 40 gal tin.


The next day Brandt went fishing, I went with him. As we arrived at his second spot a couple were leaving and just happened to say that they thought they'd seen a croc there. So.... What do you think? Is this a croc in the middle of the photo or not? (still no fish)


There is a lot of bird life here. As I approached this egret was so still that I was beginning to think it was a statue, but it did eventually move and caught the food it was stalking.



We are one of five grey nomads who have met up here at Leichhardt Lagoon, another couple and a single. Our vans and motor home are almost forming a circle. What do we do all day (apart from some going fishing)?


Some are really roughing it away from the comforts of home. Cheryl looks totally relaxed as she takes time out to read.


Her husband, Brian, must have drawn the short straw as he got to sit on the van step to do his reading.


All the while an industrious Brandt whips up another batch of scones.


He then put the oven tray to soak by the tap. Look who thought it was for them....


Each family did washing today, using Michael's twin tub machine, powered by his generator.





And what about the dogs, Angel and Molly? I guess you could say they just lead a dog's life.


One night we eventually remembered that we had bought some marshmallows to roast over the fire. (enjoyed by all)



Another night we gathered round the campfire for a BBQ. The camp caretaker had organized to have a chimney log (hollow log)


Cheryl took some magnificent sunset photos



So you can see.....it's a hard life, but someone has to do it.

And what about the fishing? Someone has suggested (via Facebook) that there are no fish coz the crocs have taken them all




Look closely and you will see there are crocs on the far side. I wasn't there and the others tried to tell me that Brandt was trying to hit a croc on the head.



I was also told there were three crocs swimming and when one submerged and didn't reappear all three human adults there took a big step back from the water's edge!
Put your minds at rest, the ones in the photos are fresh water crocodiles.

Not to be outdone, Brandt found a good hollow log and we had our own chimney fire a couple of nights later


Michael, Cheryl and Brian have all moved on now but we will never forget the fun we had playing Mexican Trains with them. That's a game we highly recommend and will be purchasing when we find one at the right price.



Farewell Leichhardt Lagoon


Still no fish!

P.S. We spoke to one couple who come here every year for the fishing. They have been here 10 weeks and have caught only one fish!

Start of Savannah Way

Intended to stay one night in Ravenshoe and ended up being there four nights. A costly day in Atherton on Monday as I decided it was time to get my necessary prescriptions seen to. We don't know now well off we are in NZ. The doctor's fee for typing out a prescription was $68. The there was the cost as the pharmacy - $47.75. The up side is, that I won't need to go back to a Dr for 400 days, apart from seeing to an annual check next May. Australia doesn't have Eltroxin so I am now on Thyroxin, which needs to be kept under refrigeration. I queried this and was told the tablets would go to powder if not kept at the correct temperature so we now have my med in the car fridge as we seem to be good at freezing things in the caravan fridge, or we have the setting too low and the goods in the freezer compartment don't freeze.
Wednesday moved a short distance down the road to another free camp at Archer Creek. Parked the van there then went back towards Ravenshoe to view the Millstream Falls - Australia's widest waterfall


The 340m to the falls viewing platform had a rather steep gradient


The falls are in a National Park. And this is where troops were trained during the second world war





Hopefully you can enlarge the photo and read all about it.

Set off again on Thursday and called in to Undara (www.undara.com.au) and took a tour of a part of the lava tubes there. Originally the lava tube was 100km long but as the outer layer cooled there were roof collapses and now there are 72 tubes with a total length of only 1.5km (unless I am remembering incorrectly). It is, on average, only every 20 years that there is water in the tubes. We were lucky enough to see water. In fact we couldn't go to the end of the boardwalk in the first tube we entered as the water has. It receded enough yet


Notice the reflection on the water in the bottom of the tube.
Next photo shows a part of the roof that didn't collapse, but the vegetation growing on the other side


In the final tube that we were shown into, were markings on the walls that resembled drawings (but weren't)





From the lava tubes proceeded to Mt Surprise where we stayed for the night. The proprietor was away for a day and the sign at the gate said if no one there, just find a place to camp and catch up later. If still not there when you leave, just put money in the honesty bucket - which I eventually found chained to a post. Sincerely hope he, and not someone else, got our money.

Then on to Georgetown where we met up with fellow travelers, Brian and Cheryl, whom we had met previously at Mareeba. Stayed that night at a free camp on the site of historic Cumberland mine. The landmark left is the chimney


Cheryl got me a little interested in the birds there, in particular, the red tailed black cockatoo





Saturday we continued to 24 km SE of Normonton and booked in to Leichhardt Lagoon camp area. Wow! They had a three course meal at the homestead at the incredible rate of $5 per head.
What a lovely setting





The food was great too.

On the road again

Amazing how departure day can go from Wedesday to Saturday! Each day went back to the office to pay for one more night.
On Wednesday we had a pot luck dinner with the other 14 grey nomads who were also staying at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. There was so much left over that we then had "left-overs" night on Thursday.
So finally left there about 11.30 on Saturday.

Let's backtrack to Friday when we decided to go for a day trip. This took us on what is known as the wheelbarrow route. Evidently during the gold rush prospectors would put all their possessions into a wheelbarrow and off they would go to the gold fields. We turned off at Petford and headed towards Herberton. Along the way we discussed how the miners would have survived, where would they get supplies. Then we came upon an historic site....the answer was that Cobb & Co would have taken supplies to them


There is still evidence of buildings


The next point of interest we came to was at a small settlement of Irvinebank. We were astonished to see the following in the middle of the road


Sure there is tar seal in the above photo but most of the connecting road from Petford to Herberton was gravel.

So Saturday comes and we are on the road again.
At Malanda Falls they have concreted the edges and there is even an access ladder or two, with the result that they have made a swimming "pool". There were locals, or tourists soaking up the sun on the banks.



Now we missed going to the open day of the Te Uku wind farm but never mind, we got real close to the first wind farm installed in Queensland.


It was both windy and cold there. Windy Hill wind farm generates enough electricity to supply approximately 3,500 homes. Created on the extinct Windy Hill volcano in 2000, it's 20 wind turbines take advantage of the consistent winds.


So, here we are at Ravenshoe the highest town in Queensland

Location:Ravenshoe