Return to Queensland

16th May 2025

Larrimah to Threeways

Distance: 468 Km

Fuel: 51 L

The wind has been my enemy, the fuel consumption has gone through the roof, headwinds all the way.

Stopped briefly at Daly Waters Roadhouse to stretch my legs, bought a Dagwood Dog to eat as I drove.

Filled up at Elliot at the unattended truck stop – reasonable at $2 a litre. Visited the Elliot WWII Staging Camp.

The rest of the journey was through changing landscape

Finally arrived at Threeways where I paid for a night’s stay.

17th May 2025

Threeways to Camooweal

Distance: 450 Km

Fuel: 91 L

I considered going south from here but the 0° night time temperatures in Alice Springs put me off.

So turning left it was!

One fairly long delay due to roadworks.

First stop was Barkly Homestead for fuel, by then I had less that a quarter tank because of the crosswinds, have made such a difference to fuel consumption, much worse than the last trip to Uluru.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

Checked into the Post Office Hotel Caravan Park instead of the roadhouse, it cost $5 more than the latter, not sure it was worth the extra except that pub was closer.

Once set up spent the evening in the pub. Had a pleasant enough meal there.

Out & About in Darwin

9th May to 15th May 2025

Spent a few days with my son and his fiancé in Darwin where they currently live.

This is my third visit to Darwin, a city I like very much however I have never visited in the wet season, all my visits have been in what you might call the shoulder season when the monsoon has ceased but the crocs have not been moved from some of the tourist swimming spots and the night time temperatures are still on the warm side, however the humidity of the wet season has gone.

This trip was visiting family so tourism was not high on the agenda however I did visit a couple of very interesting museums, the Seabreeze Festival and the WWII tunnels built to store oil and protect it from the Japanese bombing.

The tunnels were first on the list, my son hadn’t seen them before.

The Oil Storage Tunnels

Seabreeze Festival

Over the next couple of days we went to the Aviation Museum and the Military Museum as well as other Darwin social activities.

The Military Museum

The Aviation Museum.

The museum had a B52 decommissioned after the Arms Limitation Treaty with Russia, it was massive.

The Mangrove Boardwalk

Similar to the Jervis Bay Mangrove Boardwalk but with the added attraction of crocodiles (we didn’t see any).

On my final night there we visited the local pub where I had a very nice steak on their Steak Night Special.

Sorry, I ate a bit before I thought to take a photo.

The Top End

9th May 2025

Distance: 502 km

Fuel: 44L

Larrimah to Darwin

Today was basically a drive to the finish. No bookings tonight, am staying with my son and his fiancé. As they don’t get home from work until 4pm (ish) so there is definitely no rush.

Filled up with fuel in Katherine which will get me to Darwin.

The rest of the drive was uneventful, I stopped a couple of times to stretch my legs, as I got further north the vegetation got more lush.

Darwin traffic was just the same as any city.

Arrived at my destination just after 4pm and parked my camper on the grass verge. Then reversed my car into a tree! (I was too busy making sure I didn’t hit my camper.) Put a ding in the tail gate. Ho Hum.

The Pink Panther

8th May 2025

Distance: 467 Km

Fuel: 45L

Threeways to Larrimah

Originally was going to take three stops to get from Camooweal to Darwin but decided to do it in two because the last stop was only a couple of hours drive from the destination.

Today headed for Larrimah Hotel which I had pre-booked through the G’day app on my phone.

Set off about 8am after the usual shower and breakfast. First stop the John Flynn Memorial – he founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Almost immediately came across the cyclists I passed yesterday, I had pulled to the wrong side of the road to overtake a road train when it began to signal and pulled out in front of me as it passed the cyclists, once it had completed that it moved over and I was able to pass.

The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, I stopped to make tea a few times, stopped at Elliot for fuel (at an unattended truck stop). My fuel consumption for the last several days has been exceptionally good with tailwinds making my fuel consumption below 10 litres per 100kms which is better than I normally get just driving the car alone.

Arrived at the Larrimah Hotel at about 1pm, I have to say it is not what I expected from a G’day Parks caravan park, nothing wrong but I was expecting something a bit more up market whereas it was much the same – a roadhouse with older facilities.

Into the NT

7th May 2025

Distance: 448 Km

Fuel: 31L + 20L (from can)

Camooweal to the Stuart Highway

Another fairly long drive today, this might become a habit as I am thinking of reducing a three day trip to Darwin to two days.

Today’s drive is basically from one roadhouse to the next but one along a straight road.

Didn’t want to set off too early because the NT is a different time zone, half an hour later than AEST.

Stopped at the Barkly Homestead (a roadhouse) for fuel.

Came across some cyclists in the middle of nowhere.

Before continuing onto Threeways and the Stuart Highway.

Where I stayed for the night.

To the edge

6th May 2025

Distance: 451 km

Fuel: 46 L

Julia Creek to Camooweal

A long drive today (and tomorrow) so early shower and breakfast. Packed up relatively quickly before setting off.

Another lovely morning with a beautiful sunrise. Pleasant drive through changing scenery.

Only one town to get through today – Mt Isa. At I approached the industrial mining scope of the city became clearer, from a faint smoke smudge on the horizon to the industrial complex.

Stopped a couple of times in rest areas along the way but still arrived in Camooweal at 1pm.

Checked into the roadhouse caravan park, with hindsight I should have tried the pub’s caravan park as I have stayed at the roadhouse before.

Once set up I filled up with fuel then walked down to the pub for a couple of beers and to enjoy their aircon. Apart from the roadhouse and the pub the town has pretty much closed down though there are some tourist attractions nearby.

Spent the late afternoon reading and listen to music on Spotify.

Camooweal is about 12km from the NT border, tomorrow I will be in a different state. and time zone

Julia Creek

5th May 2025

Distance: 3.6 Km

Fuel: 25 L

A Rest Day

After my morning shower I hand washed yesterday’s clothes plus my towel and hung them on the line even dripping wet I suspected they would be dry by midday (and they were).

After a lazy breakfast drove into town to get fuel and have a look around. Julia Creek’s population is about 550 so it is not a big town. Probably its main feature is the Wine Glass water tower at one end of the town and a windmill at the other. While I was buying fuel I couldn’t resist a crumbed sausage!

After getting back t0 the caravan park had a cup of tea then went for a walk (and remembered to take a water bottle with me).

About midday decided to set up the car’s awning, while I was setting it up, I remembered the side awning that had arrived with it. I had never even taken it out of its bag never mind set it up. Actually it isn’t bad, my only complaint is that it is two metres wide whereas the awning is 2.5 m. The whole lot cost less than $200 so can’t complain.

It was nice sitting in the shade reading, had a couple of beers and a cup of tea – very restful.

Taking a Break

4th May 2025

Distance: 265 Km

Hughenden to Julia Creek

What a difference a day made! Lovely sunshine this morning though quite a brisk, warm wind.

Definitely no rush to leave today, less than 300km to travel so didn’t leave until after 9.30am. Easy drive just heading west.

Most of the time it was a flat drive across Queensland plain country (with the occasional train in view).

The only interruption to my smooth progress was a convoy carrying two massive mining trucks with a police escort that completely blocked the road.

Made one stop on the way but it was too windy to make tea. Didn’t mind the wind I am sure it improved my fuel economy. The problem with Queensland roads in my opinion is that they have fewer rest areas and rely on “Stopping bays” which are just like the UK’s “Layby” just a roadside stop with no facilities at all. Rest areas on the other hand have shelters, rubbish bins and sometimes toilets.

Arrived in Julia Creek before 1pm so after setting up it was straight to the laundry to get some washing done. Pleasantly surprised to find the machines only cost $4 (often they are $6) my washing was all on the line by 2pm and dry by 4pm. very pleased with that as my clean clothes will now last me until Darwin.

Am staying in Julia Creek for two nights just to give me a break from driving. I think my age is showing as these long driving stints are really tiring.

Further North

3rd May 2025

Distance: 435 km

Fuel: 48 L

Barcaldine to Hughenden

After breakfast made a quick visit to the local supermarket to get milk and some tea bags.

Quite a long drive today, over 400km to Hughenden, going up the recently reopened Aramac to Torrens Creeks road. Set off in brilliant sunshine, turned toward the little town of Aramac – this town has a fascinating history with its own tramway and museum which I had visited on a previous occasion.

The weather was fine for the first 100km or so but then dark clouds started gathering in the distance until spots of rain started to fall. I wish I had checked the forecast but I had assumed sunshine was the order of the day.

I was a bit concerned on two counts the further north I got. Firstly it was single lane so one had to get off the road for road trains I worried about getting bogged as it had not been that long since the road was closed because of flooding. Secondly if it did really rain then it was possible that the road flooded again and I would be trapped. In the event neither happened even though it did rain very heavily and large puddles started to appear on the road and verge.

In fact the most northerly part of the road had only been sealed last year so it was two lanes wide which was terrific, none the less it was nice to get on to the main east west highway heading for Hughenden.

After arriving at the caravan park and pleasantly surprised at the $27 a night rate, it was still raining so I sat in the car for about half an hour until the rain ceased.

Put my new weather shield on the side of the camper so it may get a test tonight.

Drove into town to get fuel and look around, when I saw the FJ Holden Cafe I remembered being here before.

Turning West

2nd May 2025

Distance: 388.8 km

Fuel: 39 L

Springsure to Barcaldine

Not much change to my usual routine, up about sunrise and straight to the shower. This is followed by breakfast of cereal or porridge depending on the temperature. It is cool in the morning but not cold.

Just under 400km to travel today so set off at about 8.30. Annoyingly my old sat nav that I use for these trips decided to give up the ghost fortunately I still had my newer model but not pleased! Note: It came good a day later!!

Easy drive to Emerald but when I turned east the road changed to a much narrower strip of bitumen, still two lanes but narrow. Considering this is one of two east west routes it is surprising. However getting closer to Barcaldine it is obvious that major road widening is being carried out and the road was much straighter.

Enjoyed the Fatigue Trivia:

Found the caravan park after driving straight past, the sat nav said it was on the right hand side of the road so that was where I was looking, it was on the left.

After setting up drove into Barcaldine looking for fuel, stopped to see the Tree of Knowledge and call in to the Tourist Information Office to find out if the Aramac to Torrens Creek Road had re-opened after being closed by flooding. It is open so that was good news.

At the back of the tourism building was a tower which I don’t remember seeing before. I climbed it (naturally the lift was out of order) but the view was less than spectacular however it passed a pleasant enough 15 minutes.

Found one of those truck refuelling stations that use credit or fuel cards, Diesel was 17c a litre cheaper than at the local servos.

I forgot to call into the local IGA for milk and some snacks, it will have to wait until the morning. I did remember to book a site at the Hughenden caravan park for tomorrow but I am beginning to suspect that it really isn’t necessary at the moment the caravan parks are not full.