Sunday 26 July 2020: Corella Dam to Burke & Wills Roadhouse 244 km
A wild camel suddenly appeared beside the road as we were driving towards CloncurryWagon Wheel in Cloncurry – established as the Prince of Wales Hotel in 1876Leichardt Hotel – built in 1926, the original facade has been classified by the National Trust43 km north of Cloncurry the Quamby Pub was built as the Customs House in the 1860s Now abandoned, it has these wonderful murals on the front porchBurke and Wills Roadhouse, halfway from Cloncurry to Normanton for a night stop
Monday 27 July 2020: Burke & Wills Roadhouse to Karumba 279 km
Early morning driving requires extra careCrazy Amount Of Termite MoundsSome of Normanton’s historical buildings The Westpac Bank (Bank of NSW), Burns Philip & Co, the Purple PubBest Barra Burger we’ve ever had – from Gobble and Go in NormantonBirds and waterlilies at the Mutton Hole Wetlands near Normanton Birds and wallabies share a waterhole near Karumba, one of the few waterholes with waterThe famous Karumba Sunset in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Tuesday 28 July 2020: Karumba to Croydon 232 km
The Mutton Hole Wetlands the next morning – different birds, different light Black Bull Siding – 1890, Normanton to Croydon Railway Line The line utilized revolutionary steel sleepers to which the rails were bolted, no termite problems!Club Hotel Croydon, 1887Croydon started with the discovery of gold in 1885; many original buildings are preserved Former Police Station (1886), Lockup (1889), Town Hall (1892), Butchers (rebuilt 1996), The streets of Croydon were curbed with hand cut sandstone and lit with kerosene lamps
Wednesday 29 July 2020: Croydon to Forsayth 188 km
Cemetery Swamp about 4k out of Croydon in the early morning Not much water in the Gilbert RiverThe Cumberland Chimney, built by Cornish miners in 1889, about 2 km west of Georgetown It dispersed smoke from steam driven engines that crushed gold bearing rockWild pigs beside the road between Georgetown and ForsaythKnobbly tree on the way to Forsayth
Thursday 30 July 2020: Cobbold Gorge
The road to Cobbold Gorge is unpaved for 40 km and not permitted by our campervan rental agreement so we took a tour from Forsayth.
Cobbold Gorge from above
The Gorge is 800 meters long and < 2 meters wide at its narrowest; the walls 10 meters high
Life in the Gorge
Friday 31 July 2020: Savannahlander Train & Forsayth to Mt Surprise: 133 km
Today we took the Savannahlander 3 hours to Einasleigh, returning to Forsayth by bus then driving on to Mt Surprise. The train uses restored 1960s rail motors with the classic streamlined front ends, a delightful experience.
Savannahlander ready to depart ForsaythEnrouteView from the driver’s seat Etheridge Shire wildflowers we saw todayWe leave the train at Einasleigh but it continues on across the River Einasleigh Hotel and petrol stationCopperfield Gorge at Einasleigh The river eroded a channel through an ancient lava flow
