We picked up our Apollo Euro Tourer, packed it and at 10am we were on our way west on our 6,500 km 5 week road trip through outback Queensland.
Charleville to Winton
Heading further west beyond the black stump passing through Tambo, Blackall, Barcaldine, Ilfracombe, Longreach to Winton.
Winton to Mt Isa
From Winton via Middleton (pop 2) and further west to Boulia, a small town on the edge of the Simpson Desert. Then north through Dajarra to Mt Isa and further east to the Corella Dam. Long distances between towns but interesting nevertheless.
Mt Isa to Forsayth
After Mt Isa we passed through Cloncurry, stayed overnight at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse halfway to Normanton. Then on to Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Next stop Croydon and two nights at Forsayth for Cobbold Gorge and the Savannahlander train.
Atherton Tablelands
We spent a few days travelling around the Atherton Tablelands. Unfortunately it was dull and raining most of the time but that’s what gives the Wet Tropics of Queensland its unique flora and fauna. Quite different from the dry open spaces of the outback.
Cairns to Carnarvon Gorge
From Cairns we headed south passing Innisfail, Tully, Caldwell and Ingham to overnight at Jourama Falls. Then inland through Charters Towers, Emerald, Clermont, Springsure, Capella and Rolleston to Carnarvon Gorge.
Carnarvon Gorge
“Hidden in the rugged ranges of Queensland’s central highlands, Carnarvon Gorge features towering sandstone cliffs, vibrantly coloured side gorges, diverse flora and fauna and Aboriginal rock art.” – Department of Environment and Science, QLD. We spent 2 full days there to walk the trails.
Carnarvon Gorge to Brisbane
Carnarvon Gorge via Injune to Roma, Chinchilla, via Dalby to the Bunya Mountains and our last night at Crows Nest Falls National Park to return to Brisbane after 5 weeks and over 6,000 kilometres.
Toowoomba Street Art
We came to Toowoomba to see the gardens prepared for the annual Carnival of Flowers and discovered some amazing street art. In February 2014 local and world-class artists put paint to walls at sixteen locations. Now there are many more.
Carnival of Flowers
Since 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has flourished like its flowers. Even though I had lived in Toowoomba for many years, I had never paid any attention to the Carnival. Over 170,000 flowers are in full bloom across the city’s major parks. So this year ….