Outback Adventure Week 4

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Day 22 Emerald

We went to the gemfields and went fossicking for gems. What an amazing experience. At first I had no idea what I was looking for, they all looked like a bunch of wet rocks. Little miss lasted about 5 minutes before she left it all to me. I loved that they have a cafe there, with really reasonably priced food. We had morning tea and lunch while we were there. I was a little surprised at the signs with the stray livestock, and the main street of the sapphire having stray cows just wandering around. Little miss asked why the farmer didn't put them away. We went past a few big things to get s few quick photos and then back to the park for a little abc kids. We don't always have good reception so took advantage while we did.

Accommodation:  Emerald Cabin and Caravan Park

$30

  • Smaller sites for tents
  • Amenities block was great with individual ensuite type rooms (shower and toilet in each room)
  • Quiet location
  • Camp kitchen
  • There was a singer performing, little miss loved dancing to it
  • Next to the golf course
  • The showers in one block were cold but the others were nice and hot
  • WIFI

Would we visit again?

Definitely!

Day 23 Barcaldine

We officially made it to the outback, which was more exciting for me. We stopped in Alpha for a quick lunch before continuing on. We couldn't get into Longreach so stopped for an overnight in Barcaldine and I'm so glad we did. We went and visited the AUSTRALIAN WORKERS HERTIAGE CENTRE (which was amazing) before going to see the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE and the Shearers Strike Memorial. We were back in time for damper and billy tea at the caravan park. Little miss wasn't sure about trying it but after trying one bit she couldn't get enough. 

Accommodation:  Barcaldine Homestead Caravan Park

$26

  • Clean amenities
  • Small sites but plenty of room
  • Basic camp kitchen
  • Shop and cafe on site
  • Close to town
  • Campfire billy tea and damper in the afternoon

Would we visit again?

Yes!

Day 24 Longreach

We headed to Longreach and were amazed at how busy it was, the main street was packed. We headed to the QANTAS FOUNDERS MUSEUM before checking in. Once we checked in, I attempted to peg down our tent and bent every peg I used. I ended up weighing it down with our stuff and hoping for the best. There was a big rain cloud heading our way and instead of staying in a tent while it rained we closed it all up and headed into the main street. We had ICE CREAM and little miss stopped to talk to a police lady (little miss loves to see girls in different jobs). It poured and we waited until it slowed down and headed to the camping shop and got some stronger pegs. I was surprised how much water was on the dips in the road. We headed back and the tent was still there. So I pegged it down with my new pegs which didn't bend and with the little bit of rain and made it easier. Little miss wanted to play with the sludgy mud. 

Day 25 Longreach

We had an early start to the day. We did an OUTBACK PIONEER COBB AND CO Stagecoach experience. What an amazing experience. The best by far. After almost a full day out with the experience we headed back to the caravan park. The sludgy mud from yesterdays rain was starting to dry up. Little miss was playing with the rocks and the mud before the local brolgas visited the park. They were quite inquisitive and taller than little miss. She didn't like them and ran away from them a few times. 

Accommodation:  Longreach Tourist Park

$110

  • Modern and spacious ensuite sites
  • Large sites
  • Swimming pool (not heated)
  • Not sure what the amenities block was like, we didn't go in
  • Heaps of different sized sites
  • Close to town
  • Really hard ground (bring strong pegs)

Would we visit again?

Yes

Day 26 Winton

After trying a whole bunch of caravan parks and not being able to get in we got the very last room in Winton. It was expensive but what else do you do. When we arrived I found out why it was so busy, Opal Festival was on. The main street was closed and lined with stalls  covered in rocks. Little miss's idea of heaven. After looking at the stalls, Little miss picked out a nice and shiny rock. She did want an opal but I couldn't justify the price. We headed off to the WALTZING MATILDA CENTRE before heading back to the bakery for lunch. There wasn't a lot left so we picked out a couple of sandwiches and some slice. The bakery was full so we headed out to a bench on the street. Another family sat on the other side and I spent the next 10 minutes telling Little miss to eat while she tried to talk to the little girl in the other family. Greg from Opal Hunters gave Little miss an Opal. We had a look inside an Opal shop and little miss had a chance to spray the rocks and pick out another rock. Next we headed out to AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS. Back to the hotel for a little entertainment, a drink and dinner from the pub before heading to bed.

Accommodation: North Gregory Hotel

$189

  • Nice sized room (we had a queen and a single)
  • Bar in the pub
  • Restaurant 
  • Friendly staff
  • Beer Garden
  • Camping sites for caravans out the back
  • Live entertainment
  • Bore water used 
  • Warm toilet seat if you flush the toilet
  • Balcony off the room

Would we visit again?

Definitely!!!



Day 27 Hughenden

Before leaving Winton we went past the MUSICAL FENCE. The road to Hughenden was the thinnest road I've driven on. It was great being able to see for ages, you could see the road trains coming and pull off the road for them to pass on the middle bit. Somewhere along the way the fridge plug fell out and everything defrosted. After setting up we headed out to the HUGHENDEN DINOSAUR MUSEUM before grabbing a few things at the local foodworks for dinner. We ended the night with a movie in bed and little miss stuck a coco pop up her nose. After not being able to get it out we got to visit the lovely nurses in the ED of Hughenden. It took a while to try and get it out, and we weren't really sure it was out but headed back for bed

Accommodation: Hughenden Allen Terry Caravan Park

$25

  • The ground was harder than Longreach (I broke my hammer)
  • We could choose our own site
  • One amenities block was older
  • The other was newer and single shower and toilets
  • They had an open camp kitchen
  • Camp fire in a pit
  • They seemed to have a lot of local workers staying in the park and they spent a long time drinking around the camp fire
  • Next door to the swimming pool and skate park

Would we visit again?

No

Day 28 Townsville

Little miss had made a friend with a girl next door her age and they spent a long time playing before we headed off to Townsville. We passed 68 road trains between Hughenden and Townsville (not counting regular trucks). We stopped at Charters Towers for a quick lunch. It took most of the day to get to Townsville and we were later leaving than usual. We had time to head out for groceries in Townsville before heading to back for an early night.

Accommodation: Secura Lifestyle Magnetic Gateway Townsville

$36

  • Good sized amenities block conveniently located
  • Smaller site, larger ones available for caravans
  • Library
  • Swimming pool
  • Close to shops

Would we visit again?

Yes

Accommodation: Cloncurry Caravan Park Oasis 

$70


Total km 1422

Total Accommodation $416

Total Ice Cream $7

Total $1332.41

Best thing we did: The Outback Pioneers Stagecoach experience (worth every cent) and fossicking for gems in the gemfields

Best thing we saw: Tumble weeds on the highway to Longreach (I didn't think they were actually real)

Best thing we ate: Chicken Parmie from the North Gregory Hotel

Lesson we learned: The outback wasn't what I expected it to be, I was pleasantly surprised. Also road trains are amazing

Total Km: 4419

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