We are sitting 50 KLM north of Rockhampton at the moment heading south. Should be at the old mans place in the next few days. It's been raining all down the coast which has made a pretty crappy time. We haven't done much sight seeing because of the rain.
The Bruce highway is a terrible road to travel on but we wanted to do it to say "we've done it!" kind of thing. Now I can add my two cents worth when people are discussing it. There is so much roadwork you are forever stopping and starting. Not good for the fuel ecconomy.
The car and the van are going great, had a stone from a roadside slasher thump into the passengar door and left a few good scuffs for me to repair! Apart from that all good!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Savannah Way..........DONE!
We are sitting in Cairns tonight after completing the Savannah Way from Broome to Cairns. Thoroughly enjoyed it! We free camped along the way managing to avoid the caravan park until we got to Atherton in the tablelands surrounding Cairns.
Cairns is quite nice, Tracey and I aren't too impressed with the amount of people and "stuff" around here. I think we have become quite accustomed to being in small towns. We will get the car serviced at Toyota in the morning the head off the day after, make our way down the coast towards Brisvegas.
We had a look around Atherton and went to a great coffee spot called "Coffee Works". We paid to get in and had unlimited coffee, liqueur and chocolate tastings. We had an excellent arvo with a b great lunch.
Must go clean the car of the Gulf Country dust and prepare to hit the road again.
Cairns is quite nice, Tracey and I aren't too impressed with the amount of people and "stuff" around here. I think we have become quite accustomed to being in small towns. We will get the car serviced at Toyota in the morning the head off the day after, make our way down the coast towards Brisvegas.
We had a look around Atherton and went to a great coffee spot called "Coffee Works". We paid to get in and had unlimited coffee, liqueur and chocolate tastings. We had an excellent arvo with a b great lunch.
Must go clean the car of the Gulf Country dust and prepare to hit the road again.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Savannah Way
We continue our journey east along the Savannah Way towards Cairns. When we get to Cairns that will be the complete Savannah experience from Broome to Cairns. Another track to tick off the list! If you follow this link you will see we have pretty much done the lot.
http://www.savannahway.com.au/resources/swmap.pdf
We left King Ash Bay for Normanton, mostly dirt. The car and the van were champions as there was no trouble with either of them. We free camped along the way with a stop at Hells Gate Road House.
From Hells Gate we continued on to Burketown via Doomadgee (where the fuel bowsers were fully encased in a steel cage!) and had a look. Burketown was very important in the early settlement of Australia as it provided the country's only port in the Gulf, a lovely little town.
From Burketown we headed for a free camp on the Leichhardt river. It was a great camp at the falls. Our lounge room this time was of the falls and a heap of whistling kites to keep us company.
From our free camp we headed to Normanton and on the way visited Burke and Wills camp 119. This is where Burke and Wills turned around and headed south again to Cooper Creek, never to make it of course. They surveyed and reached the Gulf waters from here. We went and had a look at Kurumba as this is the only sealed road to access the gulf. We went and had a look at the sea and decided to head for a free camp in between Kurumba and Normanton. Kurumba was like a resort town, full of fishing boats and caravans for the winter.
The view of the Gulf Of Carpentaria from Kurumba.
I am writing this in Normanton waiting for the fuel truck to get here as there is no diesel in town. It's due at lunch or mid afternoon. The cars fuel light is on so we don't have too many options.
http://www.savannahway.com.au/resources/swmap.pdf
We left King Ash Bay for Normanton, mostly dirt. The car and the van were champions as there was no trouble with either of them. We free camped along the way with a stop at Hells Gate Road House.
From Hells Gate we continued on to Burketown via Doomadgee (where the fuel bowsers were fully encased in a steel cage!) and had a look. Burketown was very important in the early settlement of Australia as it provided the country's only port in the Gulf, a lovely little town.
From Burketown we headed for a free camp on the Leichhardt river. It was a great camp at the falls. Our lounge room this time was of the falls and a heap of whistling kites to keep us company.
From our free camp we headed to Normanton and on the way visited Burke and Wills camp 119. This is where Burke and Wills turned around and headed south again to Cooper Creek, never to make it of course. They surveyed and reached the Gulf waters from here. We went and had a look at Kurumba as this is the only sealed road to access the gulf. We went and had a look at the sea and decided to head for a free camp in between Kurumba and Normanton. Kurumba was like a resort town, full of fishing boats and caravans for the winter.
The view of the Gulf Of Carpentaria from Kurumba.
I am writing this in Normanton waiting for the fuel truck to get here as there is no diesel in town. It's due at lunch or mid afternoon. The cars fuel light is on so we don't have too many options.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
King Ash Bay
After a night or two in Borroloola we headed for King Ash Bay, right near the Gulf. The drive was a short 50 K or so and had us camped on the McArthur River that leads straight into the Gulf. We found ourselves in one of the best camp spots so far, our loungeroom this time was an excellent view over the river and spectacular sunsets.
We were lucky enough to meet up with a couple beside us with a boat and spent a day fishing. Didn't do too good, only caught a couple of catfish. The weather had cooled considerably and all the fish had gone to ground. So much for these "No Brainer" fishing spots!!
We had a great few days there and will head off East along the Savannah Way to Normanton, going through Burketown. This will include a visit to the iconic Hells Gate Roadhouse on the way. Can't wait to head bush again!!
We were lucky enough to meet up with a couple beside us with a boat and spent a day fishing. Didn't do too good, only caught a couple of catfish. The weather had cooled considerably and all the fish had gone to ground. So much for these "No Brainer" fishing spots!!
We had a great few days there and will head off East along the Savannah Way to Normanton, going through Burketown. This will include a visit to the iconic Hells Gate Roadhouse on the way. Can't wait to head bush again!!
Making our way into Gulf Country
After leaving the Bungle Bungles we made our way to Lake Argyle. The caravan park there is like a resort, it even had an horizon pool looking out over the lake. We spent a night there and moved on the next day.
After seeing the lake we traveled west to meet up with a couple of friends of ours from Brisbane. We met up with Darren and Nat at Big Horse Camp ground. We spend a lovely couple of days with them, caught up a went our separate ways. We, East and them West to do the Gibb River Road.
BAck into the N.T and into Katherine to stock up on food and beer. Just down the road we turned left toward the Gulf and towards Borroloola. This is uncharted territory for us as we have not been this way before. Borroloola is the gateway to the Gulf and we plan to go from there to visit King Ash Bay, then Burktown and onto Normanton. Gradually making our way to Cairns.
After seeing the lake we traveled west to meet up with a couple of friends of ours from Brisbane. We met up with Darren and Nat at Big Horse Camp ground. We spend a lovely couple of days with them, caught up a went our separate ways. We, East and them West to do the Gibb River Road.
BAck into the N.T and into Katherine to stock up on food and beer. Just down the road we turned left toward the Gulf and towards Borroloola. This is uncharted territory for us as we have not been this way before. Borroloola is the gateway to the Gulf and we plan to go from there to visit King Ash Bay, then Burktown and onto Normanton. Gradually making our way to Cairns.
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