Author: Merelyn Terlich

Blackdown Tablelands Qld

A few weeks ago, Chris, myself and another couple, got organized, like 6Am organized! Packed a picnic lunch and had a day out in Blackdown Tablelands. It was a 12 hour, good day out. Chris has been wanting to go back, since being there in 2013.

From Springsure we went down through Rolleston, this cute little coffee shop wasn’t open, so went on to a bakery stop later.

From there, back up through some small towns in the tablelands, coming out on the highway near Blackwater. After the bakery stop and not far from Bluff we turned into the National park. We had not long pulled into a car park when this cheeky little fellow came looking for food.

He was happy that Chris shared his Anzac biscuits with him. When the treats had all gone, he slunk off into the bush again, waiting for the next visitors.

After a bit of fun feeding the wildlife, it was time to do the 5klm walk down into the Gorge. The bush track started out ok ,with some good views out through the trees

At other times, the undergrowth was very thick

Thankfully I didn’t see any creepy crawlies on the trek

Further into the Gorge, the track as such, ends, and there is 240 steeps down into the base.

Plenty of nice ferns to look at down here, even though the area is in need of rain.

Close to the bottom of the Gorge the rock formations and colors are great for photos and a bit of fun.

No not wally, just Chris being a Wally.

After the wet season, the rock area would be covered in falling water and pools that you could cool off in . But sadly for us not much water at the moment

After spending some time wandering around, taking some photos and pleased with ourselves that we had ticked off another challenge, it was time to climb all those stairs and make our way back to the cars. Buggered !! We had a well earned late lunch and cuppa, somewhere further down the track, in a bush clearing.

The boys decided that the way out of here was to go the 4 wheel drive track . And that it was, a rough, often all rock track, but as Chris says “nothing frightens the Triton”, as for me ,hmmm well, I was able to take my mind off the isolation and maneuvering through washouts and over rocks by taking some photos along the way.

Not many wildflowers out yet, however the rock orchids were still in bloom. A bit hard to get good photos of as they were mostly high up in the rocks. Some were visible well into the bush, and too hard to get to.

In all it was a great day out, shared with friends. Maybe next time we will go after the wet season so we can see the rainbow falls at their best.

More from Springsure and Emerald Qld

Hello from Springsure again, have decided to add some photos taken locally over the last few weeks. These little possums live in the park and are quite tame. Often on the roof of the van or in the annex.
They will come down out of tree for Chris to feed, take the offering, then scamper back up to eat , rather cute I think.
Makes me wonder if this next one has had too much to eat or is full of baby. love this photo of her.
Fathers Day 2020
Chris had a day off for Fathers Day , which was nice, in the afternoon we went down to the local for some live music and a great meal.
More friendly locals
Our neighbors last week had 2 cats, so this was their way of keeping them under control just as well as we enjoy the bird life around here.
First van I have seen with a cat door !
The car has just clocked up 30,000 km, so I drove to Rockhampton, 4 hours away to get it serviced. I stayed overnight in a motel, basic but handy to shopping center.
This is my favorite view on the drive back from Emerald, just out of Springsure.
The walk from the park into town is nice at the moment as all the trees are in full bloom,

getting a bit hot though as most days are around 30deg.

Last for tonight is this very busy Emu mum, strutting about behind the van with her family.
The chicks appear to be teens now with a mind of their own , think there is 7. I see them most days now. Hopefully add another post tomorrow night.

Having a look around Rainworth Fort

Rainworth Fort is only about 10 km from Springsure Qld, A settlement from the 1860s, and well worth a day visit. Chris and I love looking around old towns and villages, and this place and its history is very interesting . The buildings are in reasonable condition, they have been restored and are now under a heritage listing.

However its a shame to see so much old machinery and carts lying around and deteriorating, especially the old carts.

It was a nice winters day for a wander around with the camera. So here are a few photos .

The bath house was interesting with its beaten lead bath, and tin shower overhead. Just what’s needed after mowing the lawn with the hand mower sitting on the front verandah.

Wouldn’t like to be in a hurry to go downstairs in the middle of the night! When the building was restored, they even included the ventilation holes that could of been used to fire rifles through, hence the name fort.

wrought iron beds and baby cots were the norm back then, although I have seen some timber from that era.

Kitchen and pantry appeared to be well equipped.

The parlor maid didn’t have anything to say, under strict rules no doubt !
Lots to see in the old school house, just a small timber building, with desks of all shapes and sizes .
I’m thinking that the phone on the wall has been a newer addition as was in too good a condition for this building or mid 1800s. maybe wrong ?
And of coarse the newest phone on site, was being used while Chris sat on a log and waited, and waited, while I wandered with the camera.
lots of old relics to look at, loved the scales.

Not sure about the gun. The tool sheds and stables had a good collection of old gear in them.

Well that’s it from me and my blogging for tonight, Chris is on night shift ,again…., so I will try to post some more from the area tomorrow night.

Keep well , log in with your email and let me know what you think of the places we visit, I think you will also be notified of any updates.

Minerva Hills National Park

Minerva Hills National Park is a only a few kms from town. We headed out the gravel road that winds up through the hills. Stopping at a number of walks and lookouts along way.

When you reach the top you get a good view of Springsure from the lookout.

One of the walks, and the longest, is a track around the hill to a point where you get a good view of Virgin Rock

Not many wildflowers out at the moment, maybe the drought has taken its toll. However lots of these prickly little fellas everywhere.

The Virgin rock looks better from the park below in my opion, but was interesting to see it up close.

Other walks took us to lookouts over Gaps and Gorges. In all a good day out.

This cute little fellow crossed our path on the way out. Just had to stop and take his pic, after all he just stood there poseing nicely.

Outback Drive

When Chris has a day off we usually go for a drive, on this Sunday it was to be a short drive towards Tambo. Of course not on the main road, we took the back roads through cattle station after cattle station.

Nice drive, but quite lost, even had to stop and ask the only car we came across, how far to the main road. The pair in the Ute couldn’t make up their mind if it was about 70 kl or more like 100 !! Great !! Big decision do we keep going or turn back and redo the last couple of hours. Time for me to go for a wander with the camera, it helps with the anxiety of Chris’s getting us lost adventures.

The cattle seemed contented, and before long, like 80 kms long, we passed the station buildings, then back onto the main road.

Nothing like a short drive to fill in a Sunday.

Springsure Qld

Springsure is in central Queensland inland from Rockhampton , a pretty little town with lots of pathways, for walking and an abundance of bird life.

The caravan park is not far from the town and serves as a truck stop as well, so always plenty of activity around. There are about half a dozen permants here and most nights the park is full, now that Queenslands border is open. Also about a dozen onsite cabins. The park itself is adequate for what we want, and I fill in my time looking after Chris who is doing long hours, and when he is asleep or working the birds keep me company.

They haven’t been told about social distancing, and will even sit on my chair or try looking right into the camera if i’m taking photos.

The main attraction for those passing through is a stop at a park with good views of the virgin rock in Minerva National Park

We usually go for a walk and have a camp fire on Chris’s days off. Apart from that I keep myself busy doing photos and I have also finished a queen size crochet blanket, that I started more than 10 years ago. Now i’m tackling a tapestry, that I started 18 years ago !!

Back to the blog!

It’s just taken me about an hour to log back into this account. Been so long since I added any photos, need to get them into some sort of order. Haven’t even sorted our trip of New Zealand, from last October yet. Will get around to them next. Currently we are staying at Springsure in Qld, where Chris is back driving road trains for Kalari. He started work here at end of January, but I didn’t come up till after his break in June. Too much garden to look after at Casino. He brought the caravan home and had a couple of weeks off, before we got our border passes, a must have due to Covid 19, and headed back north.,taking our time and having a couple of nights at free camps on the way.

travelling along the Warrego Hwy, nice to see wide open plains again
It was good to be out travelling again, just love the wide open plains. This photo was taken somewhere along the Warrego Hwy.

We stayed at a nice little park in Warra the first night.

The beautiful old Warra Pub

Morning tea the next day was at another small town . we got talking to a chap and he asked me to look after his dog while he went to get his coffee. good dogie !

Some more site seeing in the Isla National Park, had a wander around and some photos of Isla Gorge. Nice views although it was a bit overcast for photos.

We stoped in Moura, and took a photo of the towns painted water tower. Next it was on to Springsure caravan park, a quick set up, and chris was able to have a well earned beer.

More across Queensland

Before leaving we did a drive around the town. Nicely done up to encourage the tourists.

These next couple of photos I took with you in mind Yolande.

From town we headed out to the woolsour. For someone who has never had much to do with sheep, I found it so interesting and a great look back in time. Glad Chris found it and we took the time to do the tour. The shearing sheds have all been restored and the machinery is all working. An inspiration by some townsfolk that has turned out well.

The sheep and one extra friendly billy goat just wandering around and lapping up all the attention from the visitors.

On to Augathella to stay the night. Not much here but we do like this little town with it’s claim to fame of being the town that the movie *Smiley * was about.

If you are wondering what this is its a meat ant. .. ok.

After a quite night, our first stop next day was in Mitchell. Had a very nice relaxing spa in the hot artesian water . It was 40c.

Its been looking like rain, so we pulled into a camp spot at Miles, and went to bed with the chooks.

Next morning there was evidence of the overnight rain, which was music to our ears on the van roof. Morning tea at Cecil Pains then on to see the artwork in Millmerran.

Now for our last night before home. It was raining and cold for our liking. So a quick walk around the park in Leyburn and an early night.

Was it cold this morning !! Only 2c . And frost all around. Car windscrean covered in ice. Brrrr. Thats it folks, only a few hours to Casino, and the comforts of home. But hey I would not change this lifestyle and experience for the world . For those that have followed us in the last 18mths, thank you for your support. Good health and remember to *LIVE Life Large.*

Queensland small towns

After leaving Mary Kathleen, our first stop was at Chinamans Dam.

Back into Cloncurry, who should we run into but Stacky on his way to Townsville. So pulled up in a side street for a cuppa. Not getting far, but thats ok.

On our way again, next it was up to get a pic of the painted water tower and a view over Cloncurry township.

Finally we made it into Winton, and settled on a camp spot beside the long water hole. Lots of birds there, I especially like watching the little ones in nests, squarking for their dinner.

In the last photo you can see a bug in the mother’s beak, that she is about to feed the squarking chick. Wish it was a clearer photo. A nice relaxing place to spend the night and watch the sun set. by

The next day was through a few more small towns, then a lunch stop in Longreach. Seems strange to see clouds in the sky after clear blue skyes for months.

A pink truck in a park somewhere caught my eye while topping up our water tanks.

Next we went out to see 12 mile dam. Very interesting how they placed rocks to build spillways and hold water. Must of been so back breaking, manually placing the rocks.! As we travel around, it truly is amazing seeing the work that was done in the early days.

Back to nature …looked up to see these little ones in their mud nest, and a neat one at that.

If your not sure what this is …it’s a big yellowbelly fish at Isisford ..hmmm.

Next we made it into Blackall, and set up camp on the Barcoo river, not much water, but a lot of other travellers.

MT ISA QLD

Over the border and into Queensland, and yes we’re still seeing lots of cattle on the roads. We have been in touch with a chap that worked with Chris in Port Hedland and is now working out of Mt Isa. Stacky talked us into going out and staying in the transport yard where he’s working. We had a lovely catch up and a barbecue that night with some of the other truck drivers. Not sure what time the boys finished up, but when I left to go to bed, they were all telling tall stories around the gidgee camp fire.

While staying in Mt Isa we did some sightseeing. Went out to Moondarra lake. There are lots of picnic areas and plenty of beautification being done. I especially liked Peacock park, with all its peacocks wandering around. I had fun with the camera ther, just love their colours .

After a relaxing time in the parks we went out to find the old uranium mine. Took the 4 wheel drive track up the side of the cliffs. Started out not too bad, but then started to become scary. I think we took the wrong road !! After more climbing and the track almost diminishing, we were sure that we had taken the wrong road. I tried to settle my nerves by taking photos of the spectacular views. Didn’t help much, especially when Chris had to do a 10 point turn, when the rough terrain got the better of the Triton.

Phew !! Was I glad when we finally got back down and found another road in. What a great sight to see the blue water and rock work around the old open cut mine.

After our stay in Mt Isa, the next day we travelled out to Mary Kathleen. The old town site, built to accommodate the miners and their families, when the mine was open. Apparently there were over a thousand living there back in the 50s. It is now privately owned, but opened to the public for free camping and fossicking.

There is a map showing what buildings were where, including shops, churches, school and other facilities. All the buildings have been removed, leaving just the cement slabs, perfect for parking a caravan on. We intended to stay a day and ended up staying 5 I think . Once Chris got his metal detector out and started finding old coins and little treasures, he didn’t want to leave.

I was happy just to wander around seeing the remains of swimming pools, gardens and pathways. The tennis courts are still visible and some town centre rock walls. The creek is dry and is edged by white gums.

Of an evening the cattle come wandering around. We had camp fires each night and I also liked watching the birds come and go from their nest in trees nearby.

Corella Dam is another area not far down the road, we had a day visit, but decided that Mary Kathleen was a the best place we have free camped in some time.

Guess Corella Dam area would have more birds as there is water running through the park, also a very pretty area.

We really must get a move on if we are going to be home by the end of the month.