Wednesday 04 May 2022: Boulia to Dajarra Dam 170 km
We passed this way on our first outback road trip in 2020. Photos here.
The country is changing, more grasses and shrubs but still flat and stoneyWe stopped at Sulieman Creek, 100 km north of Boulia……watched by this White-necked heron Dajarra Hotel, 140 km north of Boulia, has been serving beer since 1917We camped in the shade beside Dajarra Dam, the only ones there The water was much higher than last time A beautiful place to spend a nightDajarra Dam: Willy Wagtail, Ducks doing what ducks do, Galahs having a drink
Thursday 05 May 2022: Dajarra Dam to 50 km west of Mt Isa 190 km
A wedge-tailed eagle and a crow share a kangaroo on the roadAnother bumper crop on the Bike Tree 70 km south-west of Mt Isa A fine sample of outback humour to some, littering to others53 km west of Mt Isa beside the Barkly Highway, a good shady campParcels of Moroccan Chicken cooking on our brazier We open the parcels and eat them from the foil – no water needed for washing dishes (tastes good too)The Mt Isa to Camooweal road was built and then sealed during WW2. 10,000 vehicles a day travelled this East-West route then. Here, a section of the road has been preserved as a Memorial. The original 16-foot wide road (left) closely hugged the contours of the land. In contrast the adjacent new road (right), constructed in 1994 cuts through the hills and fills the dips.
Friday 06 May 2022: 50 km west of Mt Isa to Gregory 260 km
Originally we planned to go to the Miyumba Bush Camp to visit the World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Site. There’s three creek crossing to get there and the Department of Transport reports “water over the road in various sections” and “long delays expected”. So we decided to miss the fossils and take the longer route to Lawn Hill via Gregory.
Today we passed 11 cars, all of which had left the road There’s about 100 km of gravel, corrugated but better than we expectedThe “River Crossing” but today the water was below road levelNative Australian Tropical waterlilliesA flock of little birds hiding in a treeThis was the only “water over the road” so we were glad we went this wayThe annual Gregory River Canoe Marathon starts here 43 km from The Knobbies to The Pub, record stands at 2 hrs 43 minsThe Pub – Gregory Hotel, established 1887 was a Cobb & Co stopGregory River free campground is very popular, easy to see why
Saturday 07 May 2022: Gregory to Lawn Hill 100 km
There’s about 80 km of gravel between Gregory and Lawn HillCows seeking shelter from the heat
Lawn Hill
We’ve wanted to see the Lawn Hill Gorge in the Boodjamulla National Park situated in the remote north-west highlands of Queensland for many years. Finally after driving 3,000 km from Brisbane we are here.
First up, we hired a canoe to see the Lawn Hill Gorge from belowApproaching the GorgeIn the GorgeCabbage Tree Palms seem out of place after the dry, dusty roadTo cool off in the afternoon we went for a swim in the Lawn Hill Creek
Sunday 08 May 2022: Lawn Hill to Gregory 100 km
We were going to stay tonight in Lawn Hill but the bridge to the Island has gone so half the Lawn Hill walking tracks were inaccessible. Afternoon temperature at our camp site was 36°C. There’s no shade. We decided to walk to the Upper Gorge (7 km) in the early morning and head back to Gregory in the heat of the afternoon.
A curious White-gapped Honeyeater on the steps of our vanCabbage Tree Palms grow 25 meters high along the Lawn Hill Creek Steps up to the Dawadarri LookoutPam’s at the Lookout This is what she sees – Lawn Hill Gorge from above High levels of calcium carbonate give the water a jade-green colourNext – Indarri Lookout This is as far as we got in our canoe but you can drag the canoes over the rocks and continue along the upper CreekIndarri Falls – it’s possible to swim under for a free massage 10 days later a man was attacked by a freshwater croc hereBack down to Lawn Hill Creek: green water, red cliffs & blue skyAnd up to the Upper Gorge Lookout Before returning inland through spinifex dotted with wildflowersBirds we saw on this morning’s walkFlowers in Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park
