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.

More Queensland

18th May 2025

Camooweal to Cloncurry

Distance: 332 Km

Fuel: 41 L

Up as usual just after 6am for a shower but not a long drive today so didn’t need to leave until after 9.30am – had a leisurely breakfast and read some of my book before packing up.

The hills surrounding Mt Isa are really nice but soon the town came into view.

Topped up with fuel in Mt Isa then it was on to Cloncurry.

Stopped a couple of times along the way before arriving in Cloncurry. Had to do a U turn after driving past the caravan park entrance.

After setting up had a look around town, I have been here before and remembered visiting the Museum (shut on Sunday) so drove out to Chinamans Dam

19th May 2025

Cloncurry to Winton

Distance: 354 Km

Fuel: 45 L

Left the park about 8am.

Shortly after leaving Cloncurry turned right toward Winton for a pretty uneventful drive, only stopping a couple of times.

Arrived just before 1pm.

The caravan park is a couple of kms outside Winton so drove into town for fuel and a walk around, it hasn’t changed much.

Winton

27th May 2024

Distance: 362 Km

Fuel: 41 L

Woke up late this morning, didn’t matter it was still dark until after 7am. Had my usual shower and breakfast then at about 7.30am drove to the local IGA to get bread and milk. Got the last lite milk in the fridge but there was no wholemeal bread so gave it a miss.

No big rush to leave as Winton is less than four hours drive away. Notice that the road to Julia Creek is still labelled “Caution” fortunately we are not going that way.

Pleasant enough drive, not much traffic, most of it going the other way.

Disturbed a Wedgetail Eagle on the road. They’re a big bird.

Made a couple of stops on the way to stretch my legs.

Arrived at the caravan park just before 1pm.

After setting up drove into Winton for fuel and a walk around, walked past a grog shop so bought a six pack.

I have always liked the Queenslander house on stilts, even the modern ones

20th May 2019–Winton

Distance: 405km
Fuel: 39L

Woke to a spectacular sunrise. Went for a walk first thing to the local bakery to buy a fresh loaf and a couple of rolls for lunch.

Heading north today, wasn’t sure where I would stop so just set off. BTW At the moment I am listening to a John Grisham audiobook called, ‘The Whistler”, not a bad story.

First major town is Barcaldine but I stayed there not that long ago so didn’t stop at all and headed toward Longreach.

Stopped for a while at Ilfracombe and took some pictures of its machinery mile and walked round the town before having one of my cheese rolls – wish I had bought more, they were excellent.

$Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe$ $Road Train, Ilfracombe$

Drove on to Longreach where I stopped again for a break.

Arrived in Winton mid afternoon and booked into one of the not very promising caravan parks that the town has to offer. The main street is undergoing major renovations, the entire eastbound lane has been torn up and a detour in place.

Minor domestic disaster, my china mug has cracked, must have endured one bump too many.

9th May 2018–On the Road to Barcaldine

Distance: 518 Km
Fuel: 46 L

Left ridiculously early because of a chain smoker in the next site, his smoke blowing constantly toward me.

It was a long day today, my original intention was to stop at Longreach or Ilfracombe but after I had visited the Longreach I decided to press on the extra 100km to Barcaldine because it makes my plans for tomorrow easier.

Driving south from Hughenden the country was quite different to the northern parts, it was open grassland with only occasional trees. The road paralleled a disused rail line.

Winton

First stop was Winton the home of Waltzing Matilda, or at least near where it was put to music. When I was here last the Waltzing Matilda Centre had just burnt down and was just a space in the streetscape but now a brand new building had been erected. Entry was an astounding $27.

To be honest it was a bit of a stretch to associate some of the contents with Banjo Paterson but they did – certainly a place you only need to visit once.

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Longreach

Next it was on to Longreach and the Qantas Founders Museum. There has always been a bit of a debate between Winton and Longreach as to where Qantas was actually founded but the latter has this museum.

There was a small exhibition about past adoption practices in Australia. Quite sad.

I didn’t visit the Stockman’s Hall of Fame because I have been before and unless you have a fetish for leather and old saddlery then you don’t need to visit twice.

It was 3pm when I left the Qantas place and I was in two minds whether to stay here or move on further however, as I said earlier, decided to press on to Barcaldine were I found a caravan park for a couple of nights.

After setting up drove the 1km into town for milk and beer. Opposite the caravan park is a steakhouse which I think I might visit tomorrow night.