Budgewoi

Budgewoi, New South Wales

The route will cover:

Our final destination before arriving home is Budgewoi. We thought a few days by the Ocean would be good for clearing the outback dust from our lungs, hair, clothes etc. We take the Golden Highway, passing through Coolah, Sandy Hollow, Jerrys Plain, Warkworth, Mount Thorley, Broke (how apt!) and then the Broke/Cessnock highway onto Nyngan once again (or is it a case of what goes around, comes around!) and finally a small distance using the F3 Freeway until branching off onto the Wyee Road then the Central Coat Highway to Budgewoi.

The caravan park

Budgewoi Holiday Park, Weemala Street, 

Budgewoi, NSW 2262

This caravan Park was far and away the best location of the whole trip. The toilet/shower block would not have been amiss in the best hotels. Friendly staff, discount on the third night, great park layout on grass, scenic outlook over the lakes, very well laid out for children, pristine b-b-q's free to use - the list goes on.....

Budgewoi Caravan Park

Mobile and TV reception:

Mobile coverage:

Optus - 3 bands

Telstra broadband - 3 bands

TV reception includes:

All Main Digital Channels, ABC (No SBS)

Rates: 

$65 for three nights which included a 50% reduction for the third night

Surrounding area:

Lake Munmorah

The Lake at sunset.

An (unnamed) Island which we walked and enjoyed.

Lake Munmorah through the Island trees.

This was the path we walked, usually led by Buddy.

A sample of the Island bird life.

.... and then there is the sunsets.

Sunset, Lakeside

Coonabarabran

Coonabarabran, New South Wales

The route will cover:

Actually, we changed this route by going East from Bourke until arriving at Walgett, then South to Coonabarabran. It was the same distance (462 Kilometres), on ‘B’ roads but we wanted to avoid revisiting Nyngan for no other reason that we had stayed there on our outbound journey.

The caravan park

Telephone

0268 421 635

FAX

0268 424 788

Postal address

John Oxley Caravan Park

           Newell Highway

Coonabarabran NSW 2357

Electronic mail

Information & Bookings: info@johnoxleycvn.net

I would rate 3 stars

We are booked into the park for three nights giving us two full days to explore as much as we can.

On our arrival we took a quick drive into the town centre to get a 'feel' of the layout, however no time for any photographs - These will come during the next two days

Mobile and TV reception:

Mobile coverage

Optus - 5 bars

Vodafone - 5 bars

Telstra Broadband - 3 bars 

TV reception includes:

Various Digital channels including 7, 9, 10, SBS and ABC

Rates: 

$28/night for two adults

Buddy welcomed

Surrounding area:

Warrumbungle Observatory

Crystal Kingdom

Garrawilla Volcano (about 200 million years old)

Warraumbungle Volcano (about 17 million years old)

Pillaga Nature Reserve (Sandstone Caves)

Pillaga pottery (about 33 alms North of Coolabarabran)

Siding Springs Observatory & Exploratory Centre

Warrumbungle National Park

Various Wineries

Sunday 11th August

We drive to the Warrumbungles to view the sights of the volcanoes and check out Siding Springs observatory.

Walking and driving through the Warrumbungles gave us a chance to see how the fires had affected to area and , fortunately, how the area is rejuvenating. Many of the photographs are of an area served by a 255 Million year old volcano.

One of many information plaques providing useful knowledge of the surrounds. During our sightings it was so apparent that a fire had ravaged the area, and yet, how the grass and mountain flowers were wining the battle of survival.

"Split' Mountain is part of the volcano region. We were aware of just how quiet this area was being void of any significant numbers of birds. Hopefully they will return.

Siding Springs Observatory sits atop, yes, you guess it, Siding Springs mountain which is the optimum position for this telescope to view the universe.

Inside the Siding Springs Telescope.

Part of the township of Coonabarabran.

Coonabarabran town centrepiece.








Monday 12th August:

Pilliga Pottery.

We ere invited to enter the actual pottery and watch a potter at work. It was very interesting and informative.

The 'Swiss Cottage' accommodation, looking quite unique. There was another accommodation called 'The Poets House'

Charleville

Charleville, Queensland

The route will cover:

We continue on to Charleville using the Landsborough and Mitchell Highways via Tambo. Having stopped at Longreach we decided to give Blackall a miss and drive 570 kilometres to Charleville. We had three coffee breaks and arrived at the caravan park around 4:30pm, which was a little late to do anything.

On arrival at the caravan park (great service from the lady on duty), we chatted to a fellow caravan owner who had already stayed at the park for a month and was due to stay for a fourth month. We gathered that he must like Charleville.

For tea we decided no more washing up tonight, so we headed off 2 blocks away to ‘Fat Freddy’s’ take away and ordered a couple of Pizza’s (which were great). We also got a discount by presenting a voucher provided by the caravan park management

The caravan park

Bailey Bar caravan park

196 King Street

Charleville

No photographs from this location

Mobile and TV reception:

Mobile coverage 

Optus - 3 bands

Telstra Broadband - 3 bands

TV reception includes:

Several digital channels (no ABC or SBS)

Rates: 

$34/per night

Longreach

Longreach, Queensland

The route will cover:

We were due to drive to Blackall but decided to drive just 190 kilometres to Longreach as, in our opinion, this location offered more to see.

We arrived fairly early in longreach and decided to do our sightseeing first then find a caravan park. First destination was the Qantas foundation museum and then across the road to the Stockman’s hall of fame

The caravan park

Longreach caravan park

180 Ibis road

In my opinion I would rate the park 2.5

The management were most helpful and managed to guide us into a small site. A country singer with guitar sand a few songs for us.

Mobile and TV reception:

Mobile coverage

Optus - 3 bands

Telstra broadband - 3 bands

Vodafone - no service 

TV reception includes:

None

Rates:

$28/night (Seniors concession)

Buddy goes free!

Surrounding area:

We managed to park right outside the Qantas foundation museum, shaded by the local tree.

One of the many exhibits in the museum.

We walked inside this aircraft to look around.

This engine brought back memories as I worked on this development project (RB211) when I worked for Rolls Royce.

Inside the original Q.A.N.T.A.S hanger at Longreach.

A visit to Longreach would not be complete without walking through the 'Stockman,s Hall of Fame'

A monument to the Stockmen.

I thought this was worth recording!







Tomorrow we will drive through Blackall and head straight for Charleville

Winton

Winton, Queensland

The route will cover:

This part of the journey will cover about 460 kilometres, passing through Cloncurry, which we felt was far enough to drive and, once again, to take on fuel

The caravan park:

Matilda Caravan Park

43 Chirnside Street, Winton Queensland 4735

Mobile and TV reception:

Mobile coverage:

No Optus service

No Telstra broadband

TV reception includes:

Analogue and Digital channels

Rates: 

$35/night for 2 adults

Dog was free

Surrounding area:

We were fortunate to be entertained by two lady poets/comedians (Mel and Susie) who performed in 'the shed' for 1.5 hours. Whilst the performance was free they looked forward to donations. we thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment.

Winton is the place for 'Banjo' Paterson and Dinosaurs.

I was going to ask for two to take away, but thought better of it!

A testament to 'Banjo' Peterson, with the word and sheet music of 'Waltzing Matilda in the background.

....... and then there were Dinosaurs!

Told Ya!

dinosaur country where most of the bones have been found to date.

Having mentioned bones, I thought I'd better show some of the exhibits.

Mt Isa

Mt Isa, Queensland

The route will cover:

Having decreased our stay at Tennant Creek by 1 day and deciding not to stay at Camooweal, we now have 2 days up our sleeves to use as we wish on the remaining journey. Today we would leave the Northern Territories and enter Queensland

We were lucky to get into the caravan park as it was almost fully booked out (There is a rodeo next week). However our good luck continued as we managed to get a site with its own en-suite.

The caravan park

Discovery Holiday Park, Mt Isa

185 West Street

Mt Isa, Queensland

Phone: 07 4743 4676

My rating - 4 star

Mobile coverage:

Optus - 3 bars

Telstra Broadband - 3 bands 

TV reception includes:

5 Analogue channels

19 Digital Channels

5 Radio Channels

Rates:

$39 per night with en-suit

Surrounding area:

Exhibited inside the Mt Isa Information centre.

Commenced building the stack in 1977(Centre of photograph). 270 metres high, diameter at base, 22 metres. Used 5000 tonnes of crushed ice in the build!

Mt Isa with the 'Hard Times' mine shown (centre left of the highway).

The mine was named after the horse (Hard Times), belonging to John Campbell Miles.

City Clock

Information plaque to John Campbell Miles

Monday 5th August:

Spent the morning visiting the underground hospital and museum.

Information plaque regarding the hospital. Built to provide medical assistance to the population in the event the Japanese invaded the lead producing Mt Isa mine. In fact the hospital was never used. The hospital was finally opened 50 years after the original opening day. All furnishings inside are the same as when the hospital was first opened.

The receiving ward.

Maternity ward.

"Tools of the trade"

Newspaper clipping dated 1942.

Camooweal

Camooweal, Queensland

The route will cover:

The distance between Tennant Creek and Mt. Isa was considered too long for comfort and for the Petrol we could carry in the tanks, so we planned to spend a night in Camooweal to brake up the journey, rest our heads and to replenish the fuel.

We were advised by some fellow travellers that a stay at Camooweal may not be what we would want to do, so on arrival (with little more than a few litres of petrol left) we topped up the petrol tanks ($1.98/ltr) and set off for Mt. Isa which was just another 190 kilometres along the road. 

No photographs of this location