Even Further South

Winton to Blackall

20th May 2025

Distance: 403 Km

Fuel: 44 L

Two fairly long drives for the next couple of days both about 400kms each day. As you can guess this trip is now about getting home.

Left the Winton Wanderers Caravan Park about 8am to drive to Blackall

Stopped in Barcaldine to fill up with fuel at the self serve diesel only tanks.

Didn’t stop at Longreach but passed the Qantas Museum.

Finally saw the Blackall town sign.

Arrived at the caravan park about 1pm and immediately realised I have stayed here before – for some reason I get Blackall and Blackwater muddled up. Anyway set myself up in a nice spot. The place has these new(ish) unisex toilet/shower all in one facilities which are very nice but can fill up at certain times. I am not a fan I prefer separate facilities.

Drove into Blackall to look for fuel even though I only needed about 8 to 10 litres, it is comforting to start each morning with a full tank.

Blackall to Wyandra

21st May 2025

Distance: 405 Km

Fuel: 36 L

Today is once again well known territory.

Stopped at Augathella as I always seem to do, took a few of my usual photos, discovered the pub coffee shop didn’t open for another half an hour so went on my way.

Filled up with fuel in Charleville at another of those self serve diesel only stops, same company as at Barcaldine, must have a look on line to see if they have a map showing all their sites, they are so much cheaper than the regular servos.

The sky started to cloud over and I thought it might rain but eventually the clouds dispersed and the sun came out again.

Went past the wrecked railway bridge at Angellala – a truck carrying fertiliser caught fire and exploded. It wiped out the road and rail bridge, only the road bridge was replaced, the railway line was abandoned.

Wyandra is a funny stop, very rudimentary facilities but only $20 a night behind the post shop.

This will be my last night in Queensland, just two more nights in NSW before I am home.

Blackall

28th May 2024

Distance: 415 Km

Fuel: 50 L

After breakfast I drove into Winton to get bread from the local bakery, they had fresh sliced wholemeal loaves which looked very nice and cost only a little more than Woollies own brand so I was pleased with that.

Set off about 8am for a reasonable drive to Blackall.

Stopped briefly in Longreach for a short rest at the Qantas Museum, didn’t go in, have been a couple of times before and the display never changes so took a photo of the planes outside (no better than HARS in Shellharbour.

Next stop was Ilfracombe and their Machinery Mile, they keep the display nicely painted – no rusting hulks.

$Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile Ilfracombe$

Drove through Barcaldine but drew a line at the seeing the Tree of Knowledge, the founding place of the Australian Labor Party, the road south turned off before you got there.

Arrived in Blackall about 1.30pm, soon found the caravan park and checked in before going on a tour of the town and buying fuel. Another town I had forgotten I have stayed at in the past.

19th May 2019–Blackall

Distance: 318km
Fuel: 33L

Slept a bit too well last night and didn’t wake up until nearly 7am, usually by that time I have showered and had breakfast, not that it mattered because there is no rush today. Heading north to Blackall.

Left the caravan park just after 9am and didn’t stop until I reached Augathella (where the writer of the Smiley stories grew up). Stopped there for a coffee and snack at the pub and a bit of a walk about to stretch the legs. The coffee was OK but the scone had seen better days (I suppose it is Sunday) – should have stuck to coffee and raison toast for $6.

Anyway after a decent break set off again. There had been signs warning of cattle droving on the road and so there was.

Arrived in Blackall about 1.30pm found the only caravan park. I have not stayed here before but I guess apart from mining it is famous for being the site of the ‘’Black Stump”. Also had a look of the original pioneer bore which only produced water unsuitable for drinking then came across the current bore which does supply the town water. I have got used to showering in water smelling of sulphur and the water furring up my kettle but whether artesian bore water is drinkable is debatable in my opinion but they seem to have plenty of it because sprinklers were going all over town.

BTW The flies are terrible thank gawd for Aerogard.