Langbaker’s Cottage- oldest building in Ilfracombe. The highest rated motorhome in Ilfracombe. Emu welcoming visitors to Longreach very much wired to local news. The QANTAS Founder’s Museum looked interesting and not at all plane. QANTAS Boeing 707 – “But my heart keeps calling me backwards; As I get on the 707; Ridin’ high I got … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 16 – Longreach
The fortnightly Winton markets were in the main street in the morning so before leaving I bought this lovely piece of Winton petrified wood… and picked up a local date…or two! Farewell to Winton as we head south-east on the Landsborough Highway. The roos were still about beside the highway…. …along with some bustards. The … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 15 – Muttaburra
The volcanic rock basalt forms a capping on many higher parts north of Hughenden. Another close encounter of the herd kind. Short walk to the top of Bottle Tree Ridge off the road to Porcupine Gorge. Broad-leaved bottle tree (Brachychiton australis) – very stunted form growing on basalt at Bottle Tree Ridge. Savannah plains near … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 14 – Porcupine Gorge
Not sure who Old Mate was (no sign) but he pointed the way to Julia Creek. Did I mention we have seen a few black kites…. …and lots of road trains? Julia Creek (locally known as The Creek) is about an hour and half east of Cloncurry on the Flinders Highway. We were up early … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 13 – Flinders Highway
The previous day in reverse. We had our car serviced in Mount Isa in the morning. While the car was serviced, we visited Outback at The Isa which has a Riversleigh Fossil display from the time of Australia’s megafauna. The Centre also displays Mount Isa’s mining heritage. After the iphone and ipad comes icattle – … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 12 – The Isa to the Curry
A slower day today with 122km to Mount Isa. Yoda’s favourite bakery in Cloncurry. Cloncurry is a beef and mining town. There are 11 working mines in the area. Original QANTAS hanger at Cloncurry airport On the road out to the airport there were a couple of corellas. At the Cloncurry River, three founders of … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 11 – Cloncurry to Mount Isa
Today was a drive of 350km north-west on the Landsborough Highway. But first we bid farewell to Winton and our motel brolga. Ayrshire Hills butte and mesas north of Winton One is the butte of all jokes….. …. but the other is a high form of flattery. What did erosion say to the landforms? I’ll … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 10 – Waltzing Matilda on the Landsborough Highway
Map: Qld Department of Environment and Sciencce Winton has the best rubbish bins even though dinosaurs are dead on their feet. Long Waterhole outside Winton. Now a preferred habitat of Grey Nomads (dressed in camouflage in 50 shades of beige), its claim to fame was once being used as the site for the biennial World … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 9 – Bladensburg National Park
Lark Quarry is 110km south-west of Winton. Lark Quarry is the name of the excavation site that uncovered the Dinosaur Stampede. The drive is half bitumen road surface and half gravel. We started fairly early and met a few animals at breakfast time. Lots of road kill on the way out to the Dinosaur Stampede … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 8 – Dinosaur Stampede
To start the day, we went to the local Poo Ponds (end point of town sewerage treatment) as they are listed as a great place to see birdlife. We stood for a while as there were no chairs – only stools. There wasn’t much variety but there were a lot of Darters. Whistling kite – … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 7 – Winton
Main street of Barcaldine with the Comet windmill, Tree of Knowledge canopy and the Shakespeare Hotel (the Shakey). The Tree of Knowledge with the hardwood planks that “chime” when they move with the wind. Striking Shearer statue – after a bit of protesting, the next stop the baabaa shop. The Artesian Hotel was closed – … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 6 – Age of Dinosaurs
The road to Aramac – Aramac is 68km north of Barcaldine and the district is the birthplace of my great grandmother in 1863 at Aramac Staion which existed before the town of Aramac was founded. On the way into town near the racebourse is Red Crayon the horse sculpture. Reminds me of the nurse who … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 5 – Aramac
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