A very showery day greeted us on day 4. We set out westwards on the Barrier Highway. The Pinnacles are on the western side of Broken Hill are near an enormous solar farm. Rock sida growing at Thackaringa Hills outside Broken Hill. The horizon from the Barrier Highway near the South Australian border. A wedge … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 4 – Into South Australia

A crisp morning of 5 degrees greeted us on Day 3. After a quick trip for a loaf of bread at Cobar Hot Bake, we set out on the Barrier Highway through a changing landscape of cypress pine, mulga and saltbush. Typical of outback highway travel, the journey from Cobar to Broken Hill sees one … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 3 – The Barrier Highway

This long day saw us traverse four highways, south on the Newell from Moree to Gilgandra; west on the Oxley to Nevertire; north west on the Mitchell to Nyngan; and west on the Barrier from to Cobar.  The morning took us past the great Nandewar Range (containing Mount Kaputar National Park) and onto Narrabri – … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 2 – Four highways

  It’s a long way from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to the Red Centre of Australia but the roads less travelled have their rewards. After a later start than expected, the twin tunnels of Airportlink and Legacy Way had us back on time. The road west from Brisbane crosses the Great Dividing Range at Cunningham’s Gap … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 1 – Across the Great Divide

After three and a half weeks in North Queensland, we journeyed from Mackay to Rockhampton. Most of the morning was spent at Old Mackay Cemetery locating grave sites of past direct ancestors on both sides of our families. A very helpful Council employee was on hand to help our searches. Sarina is a big sugar … More FNQ 2016 Day 28 – Return to Capricornia

Whitehaven Beach is the third best beach in the world according to the massed public opinion on Trip Advisor. We took a cruise to check it out. A 7am departure from Airlie Beach meant an early start as we had to vacate our accommodation. We cruised on the Orca  – a good omen for great … More FNQ 2016 Day 27 – Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is a crowded strip with cars swarming back and forth, but we prefer the road less travelled so headed off to Cedar Falls and Conway Beach in the Conway Ranges off the road to Proserpine for the day. Cedar Falls is a popular spot especially in summer as it is croc and marine … More FNQ 2016 Day 26 – Conway Ranges

There are RAMSAR listed wetlands close to Townsville and we spent the morning visiting two of these internationally recognised areas. Magpie geese were in abundance – the multitude with their gentle honking adding to the experience. Great egret and jabiru on the hunt for breakfast. The pandanus of the woodlands and swamps of North Queensland … More FNQ 2016 Day 25 – Coastal Wetlands

The drive south from Cairns was in reasonably heavy rainfall. We did visit the Babinda Bakery – recommended by a work colleague from Cairns – welcome on a wet day after walking in rainforest in heavy rain. Babinda Boulders is another granite gorge below Bellenden Kerr, Queensland’s second highest mountain. Devil’s Pool cascades in the … More FNQ 2016 Day 24 – Rainforests in the rain

The younger members of our travels headed to the outer reef for the day. Walsh’s Pyramid and Bellenden Kerr Range from Trinity Inlet. Michaelmas Cay is a permanent sand cay with some vegetation above storm surge level. It is a vital bird breeding habitat and most is restricted for visitor access. Three species of tern … More FNQ 2016 Day 23 – Reef and colour

We were joined on the weekend by a family member who flew in from Cooktown. She expressed interest in seeing where her grandad had lived and worked on the Atherton Tableland so we did a circuit up the range to Kuranda, across the tableland north-south and back to Innisfail before returning to Cairns. We revisited … More FNQ 2016 Day 22 -Deja vu

Granite Gorge is a private campground west of Mareeba with a granite gorge cut by a creek that in places disappears under the massive granite tors. It is unusual to those accustomed to Girraween landscapes to see pandanus and tall cycads growing amongst the boulders. Split Rock from the lookout. A walk with coloured dots on … More FNQ 2016 Day 21 – Granite Gorge