Queensland and Northern Territory

Finally I have some time and telstra service to update this blog. I apologise for toomuch in one episode friends. I am taking it easy after our first COVID jabs yesterday here at Kununurra. No vaccination availability until now. And can’t get the second one until we’ll down the WA coast. Go figure!
Emerald to Ilfracombe 

21 April

Along the Capricorn Way Mitchell grass lines the road, green at the base to yellow to pale burgundy tipped a valuable grass for pastoralists. 

So much less roadkill than we’ve ever seen due to drought breaking. The Drummond Range is beautiful country - where we lived fir a while on Skye station back in 2013. 

Ilfracombe van park is unexpectedly full due to a mostly women’s group including a singer but the owner found a beautiful grassy corner found for us. Love the Ilfracombe pool and spa!

Queensland Rail boys in cabins beside us. Up fairly late talking and drinking and then gone before 6.00 am. Not much of a life for a young man?

22 April

Ilfracombe to Winton

Matilda Way today. Breakfast and hardware visit in Longreach. It feels as vibrant and resilient as ever. 100 centenary of Qantas means VIPS eg Alan Joyce visiting Longreach and Winton where Qantas was founded. Much about this on local ABC radio. 

Not happy to find battery power not working after setting up camp behind North Gregory Hotel. Can’t even work the water pump and toilet without it. Also bloody hot. 

Moved to Tattersalls Hotel van park with power to identify the issue. Omegelec charger not working.  Service guy in Mt Isa will advise and refer to auto electrician if need be. Meanwhile Colin working it all out in his clever head. 

Mr Searle of Searles Hardware at Winton was ‘out to lunch’. We’ve heard that before 😂. Didn’t get back to try again. We love to hear the local news from him but missed out this time.

23, 24 April

Winton  to Mount Isa

Highlight along the way was Walkabout Hotel at McKinlay used for Croc Dundee. 

At a pit stop We meet ‘Travelling  tribe,’ a young family home schooling while they travel. 

Our song for today is Jimmy buffet - I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead. 

First termite nests sighted this trip. I’m sure there will be many more. Not many dressed up this trip. No one here to do it.  

Good road conditions. Mostly 110k limit. We do about 95k most of the time. Relatively little traffic. Plenty of chick’n ‘awks. 

Wikipedia:

‘Mount Isa is a city in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia.[3] It came into existence because of the vast mineral deposits found in the area. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) is one of the most productive single mines in world history, based on combined production of lead, silver, copper and zinc.[4]

The land around the present day city of Mount Isa was home to the Kalkadoon aboriginal tribe. The Kalkadoon tribe led a subsistence lifestyle on this land that the white settlers looked at as nothing but poor grazing land, with the odd mineral deposit. As settlers and prospectors pressed further into their lands the Kalkadoon tribe members set out on one of Australia's most successful guerrilla wars in a fight for their lands. Their success continued until at Battle Mountain in 1884, with what some historians have called a rush of blood, the tribe attacked a fortified position in large numbers and suffered terrible losses. The weakened state of the tribe made their land more vulnerable to the settlers and soon much of the land was lost. Armed patrols chasing the surviving tribe members and poor grazing lands for the settlers made times hard in the area over the following decades.’

Pleasant drinks with Penny and Paul (mathematicians), Averil and Glen, and Peter and his dog 18 year old Misty 18. The two couples are heading to WA so we will likely see them again. 

The servicing of our van wheel bearings and brakes went well. Good recommendation from a fellow Jurgenite. 

25 April Mt Isa to ‘somewhere along the

Barkly Highway’The only populated places are Camooweal and Barkly Homestead.  Camp spots are bores and radio towers. Similar country to before Mt Isa. WW2 historical sites, bituminised road for war supply transport 

Crossed into NT just after Camooweal. First 130k speed limit sign. We just kept going for an easy 8 hour drive toThree Ways. Too hot to stop without power for aircon. Colin is excited as we’ve had the wind on our tail so we should get good mileage. 

26 AprilBanka Banka

Very gusty day  expected with crosswind so only 74 k up the Stuart Highway today to Banka Banka Station. Cows can wander on the highway hereabouts. Seen one dead. Haven’t seen a live roo on this trip so far except for the mob that lived at Hidden Valley farm, Yandina. Same story with emus. 

Banka Banka Station is alive with birds. Galahs, crows, peewits, Willy wagtail like bids (twitcher cousin Beth knows their name), two old donkeys and several horses in the paddocks, a woman walking her little brown dachshund.  In fact it is simply alive. Two brothers play-fighting with pool noodles, growling fiercely at each other. Dad joining the fun, a happy travelling family. Earlier these three were cavorting under the sprinkler. All this I absorb from under the awning. It’s a hot day but a strong wind keeps it cool enough to sit outside away from the aircon in the van.  A variety of trees around us including a boab we are told will glow like metal later in the day. 
Off to explore the waterhole - a 2.5 k walk. Beautiful. Having company on the way was great. 


A huge circle of happy campers around the campfire. Our dinner cooked over it. Sublime sitting outside under the annex with a full moon in view making the trees sparkle. 
 Banka Banka Station fabulous. Waterhole, bar, huge fire circle. Perfect.This is our best camping experience so far this trip. 

27 April Banka Banka to Daly Waters. 

Starting to feel a little concerned re getting into parks in WA. We need to make some phone calls to tourist Info centres and parks to book some blocks of time in key places. Caught up with Averil and Greg (Mt Isa) here. 

28-29 AprilBitter Springs, MatarankaOne of our all-time favourite places to experience the springs of NT. A short walk out of our van park to the crystal clear spring-fed river that floats you gently down to where you climb out, walk back and do it all again. The path has been paved since we were last here in 2013 making it an easier walk back. Lovely to meet a couple of fellow Jurgens owners Peter and Warren in our park. We knew from our Jurgens Facebook group they were around somewhere in the NT. 

30 April to 2 MayKatherine

Lovely spot to relax for a few days. We love this van park and have fond memories of being there with our friends and neighbours Edna and Karl back in 2013. Unplanned reunion as we headed to Darwin and they returned from their big loop in WA. We enjoyed a great Italian meal here. 

A day trip to Edith Falls was fabulous. The waterfalls are strong after a good Wet season. Devonshire tea at the kiosk - how wonderful. 


We got some great tips from a WA man in the pool including Roebuck Roadhouse for accomodation at Broome. 

Acquaintances of years, Sue and Warwick Hoban, arrived in the same park. We had bumped into them at Charters Towers back in 2018. Amazing! It was lovely to chat over early morning coffee at our van. Colin fixed the van emergency brakes which needed a new switch. He identifies and fixes every little issue that turns up with great equanimity. 

3 May 

Katherine to Timber Creek

We are going west with the morning sun behind us on the Victoria Highway. For the first time this trip we are on a road never travelled by us. New territory. It’s exciting. 

Luminous salmon Gums. Very different looking mountains. Iron in he rocks. Dark red escarpments covered in green at top 

Passing Boats being towed back the other way to Katherine etc after fishing comp at Timber Creek. Lots of recent slow burns along the highway before dry season 

Freshie in this last pic. Hope you can see it. Blogger is rather clunky for blogging but I’m stuck with it for now. 
We hope all our readers are well and enjoying life wherever they are. 

Off to the Isa

Monday 19 April. 

We are feeling very sad to leave Kerryn and Olivia today. We have had a wonderful time with them on the Sunshine Coast. Olivia is back to school today. We hope she makes the transition from an action-packed and emotional school holiday period. We swear she has grown considerably in the six weeks we have been here. Lovely age and she’s a fabulous kid, if occasionally a bit Jeckle and Hyde with her moods. 

Cooroy No Worries RV park and Hidden Valley macadamia farm are two fabulous new finds for us to return to next time we bring the van up here. Norbut the emu was a great source of laughter at Hidden Valley. Colin thought he had made a hit with Norbut putting his head over Colin’s shoulder and kneeling down. Turns out it’s breeding season 😂🤣. Norbut set fire to his feathers reaching over someone’s gas stove to grab bacon and eggs.

The Burnett Highway takes us to Biloela once we leave the Bruce Highway soon after Gympie. It feels good to be getting going on our long caravanning odyssey and into the routine of daily driving and exploration. Towns today include Gaynda, Eidsvold and Monto.

The scenery today is characterised by undulating  land supporting grain crops, and pasture for lots of poddie calves. Farmers are clearly restocking their cattle herds this year. 

We enjoy the quieter roads and the healthy bright greens of the paddocks and bush visibly benefitting from recent heavy rains. There is evidence of both fires and floods,  including bridges being built higher above rivers that had flooded and closed major roads. Also sadly, closures of small businesses in little towns such as Kilkivan, no doubt due to COVID impact on movement and tourism. 

Clear dry weather is pleasant after the humidity back near the coast. Warmer days and cooler, drier nights. 

Tuesday 20 April

Our stay at Queensland Heritage Park Biloela has been peaceful. In the morning bebore we leave we take a look at and a sniff 🧐 of the historical collection housed at the former Biloela Railway Station.we are travelling north on the Leichhardt Highway till we turn west onto the Capricorn. Familiar territory as we head to Emerald for the night. Emerald was our nearest town when we volunteered at Skye station in 2013. Only three hours to do a big shop or go to the dentist! Our seven year old distance education student is now a tall 15 year old and his sister a lovely young woman finishing high school. 

The landscape palette has changed to eucalyptus blues and yellow to cream grasses. The occasional glimpse of red earth. Waterways are full which is great after years of drought in the Capricorn region. Towns we pass include Duaringa, (gateway to Central Queensland Highlands, oldest town here and named after a type of Strinybark), Dingo (on the junction of the highways), Blackwater (coal - tons of it, enormously long coal trains over 3 k taking it to Gladstone) and Comet (named after its river and boasting an art school).  Everything is super-sized. The road trains, trains and machinery (See the grader on the back of truck). 

2021 Wilkinson’s Wander in WA

It’s 16 February 2021 and we are gearing up to leave for Queensland in a couple of weeks.  The title of this blog is optimistic as we may be stopped in any state if borders close on us. We hope to make it across the border to NSW and then QLD between COVID Lockdowns.

Our original plan was to do the big loop this year going via South Australia. However now, thanks to the COVID pandemic, it’s been over 18 months since we’ve seen our precious daughter and granddaughter who live at Eumundi, QLD. We will spend quite a while with them in what has become a second home town. Catching up with other family and friends in QLD will be lovely too.  

 From Eumundi we will head northwest via Longreach, Winton, Mt Isa and Katherine before we turn to the west and the Kimberley.

The usual arrangements for securing the home and our furry family and having catch-ups with family and friends here are underway as well as preparing the van and truck for the journey. Oh and ourselves with a plethora of medical/dental checks. Everything is in best working order so we can enjoy and come home safe and sound. 

I haven’t written a blog since our 2013 voyages on SS Delphian in Indonesia and Malaysia with Cec and John. I am inspired to write one again as I read our yachtie friend Jacquie Hope’s wonderful book ‘Just me at sea’. She sailed around the world singlehanded. We are just travelling on land two-up. 

This trip will have some unique challenges such as many more caravanners on the road than usual, including lots of newbies, and possible border and quarantine issues. We will have to plan ahead and book more than usual, especially during school holidays. We are fully selfcontained so free camping is the norm. 

Greater distances and less internet range require extension of communication options to UHF radio. 

Having said all that, our aim is to have another huge adventure and lots of fun meeting plenty of  travellers and local characters along the way and enjoying the incredible sights and experiences this country has to offer. 

Hope you enjoy sharing. 

Episode 3 family time at Eumundi

The Eumundi Showgrounds are a great spot to camp and very handy to town but limited to three nights at a time. So after an explore on WikiCamps we find this little gem - Cooroy No Worries RV Stop. Big sites with blue stone (so no puddles), squares of real grass to put pegs in for annexes and artificial grass to step out onto. Beautiful gardens and a lake with lily pads. Lots of undercover relaxation and communal cooking spaces. 

Our days start meeting Kerryn and Olivia at one of the favourite coffee spots where we chat with locals of all ages, and Olivia plays with friends in the park before they head over the road to start school. The usual chores, shopping, reading and visits to local towns and attractions fill our days until we take turns to read to Olivia at bed time. We find it’s easier to go back to our van to sleep so two humans and five animals at Kerryn’s can keep in routine. 

Our truck has been easily recognised in town by the blue kayak on top and Olivia’s red canoe on top of that. Her canoe has come down now and she has successfully had a paddle on the river at Noosaville. We had hoped she would be down for lots of visits to Mount Martha to use it at our bay beaches but sadly COVID has prevented that so now it will stay in Eumundi. 

We are off for a few days to Brisbane to see our Vanuatu friend Ann and then Colin’s cousin Liz at the Gold Coast. 

Home to Eumundi

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