We have just about finished the Queensland part of this trip and will in a few days cross the border into NT. So far this has been an extraordinary trip, I imagine lots more to come. Being my first time this far north I am gobsmacked at each turn.

Each spot we camp in has something more memorable than the last. We are now at the Billabong at Camooweal having come from Mt Isa after a very exciting time doing the road from Winton - Boulia - Mt Isa. Will stay here a few more days to allow Billeeee and Jules and also Mel to catch up. They are still in Mt Isa while Billeeeee gets some work done on the van.

Steve, Colleen and I are having a great time here at the Billabong with cameras at the ready at all times. Such a tremendous array of birdlife and animals e.g. horses. Will pop into the big smoke of Camooweal tomorrow for showers, water, dump point, fuel and anything else we can think of. Hope we don't get lost..

Every night all the camp sites fill up and in the morning when I get up they are empty again. So peaceful here, Oh the serenity.

This is the billabong at Camooweal

Brolgas

Bobby the Budgie

Is this spot at Camooweal on the long waterhole or is it somewhere different? It's beautiful! 

Cheers Dianne 

They call it the Billabong Dianne. But yes I presume it to be the same one. Over the bridge when heading to NT and hard left after the bridge.

I'm having trouble getting photos uploaded, will try again on this one. Too hot to sleep.

He caught a fish.

Last nights moon reflected in the water.

Hey ,,,, Happywanderer ,  

 Make sure you enjoy  the outback trip ,many kilometers. to se so little  ,

  the experience  is worth every kilometer traveled

cheers  from Paul

Nature is a wonderful thing. We were at the very same spot last September during drought. Very different photos. So happy to see nature at its best. 

Enjoy, Dianne 

HW, looks like you are enjoying yourselves too much, make sure you do not run out of film 

NeilandRaine wrote:

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We are thinking of doing the Winton - Boulia - Mt Isa detour on our way to Darwin next month. What is the road like through there for a normal old standard type van.
Don't you love how big the sky is in the outback

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Gday...

You will be very pleased you took that "detour". The road is a sealed, single lane road which, when compared with other QLD roads, is (or was) in good condition when I travelled it last. Very little other traffic but if any other traffic is encountered, it not a problem to pull off the seal and sit, wait and let them pass.

It is the best outback country I have travelled through, and that includes the Nullarbor.

Here is a photo of the road -

Cheers - John

Gday...

The photo is taken from Cawnpore Lookout in the Lilyvale Ranges. This is about 140km east of Boulia - sort of half-way between Winton and Boulia.

Great Stray-yen outback

cheers - John

If you don't go Winton - Cawnpore - Boulia - Mt Isa, you will be missing out on one of the great experiences of a lifetime. The road, although narrow is very good, plenty of room to pull off the road if you happen to come across a car or truck, very rare though. We would have been lucky to see 4 cars and 1 truck in a day.

As Rockylizard said worth the trip. Make sure you stop at Middleton Hotel, camp across the road and have a meal at the pub. Val will look after you well.

I will go back next winter for sure.

Moon just out of Mt Isa.

Marj and the others who have one the Winton - Boulia - Mt Isa trip have just about said it all - it is an amazing part of this beautiful country - flat topped mesas, grasslands, absolutely fantastic scenery - there are a couple of free camps along the way - The Hilton opposite Middleton Pub - Hamilton ruins (now called Hamilton Channels) which has beautiful water, toilets and a (cold) shower, picnic tables under cover - beautifully kept, with plenty of pretty level parking - the little burrs or 3 cornered jacks are a bit of a nuisance though - seem to get stuck on everything!

Happywanderer wrote:

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Moon just out of Mt Isa.

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Gday...

Hey Marj ... ya gettin' damned good at this photography stuff. VERY impressed. It must be that fantastic QLD outback air

OH yeah ... to quote someone vaguely familiar on the forum - Stay excited ... and keep on keepin' on

cheers - John

Hi Paul, there have been a few k's done but so much to see.  The area between Winton and Boulia is extraordinarily beautiful.  A must do trip at least once.  I am having a great time and so happy Sheba encouraged me to meet up with you all at Bedford Weir.  Hope your travels are going well, cheers Colleen

Some very good Photo's in that Lot..

Brings back some memory's of my winter of 2011.. and my trip..

Would I do it again, yes I would..

I made the decision to build my Bus instead of doing another trip to the USofA..

I'm not regretting it as I have something that will give me the freedom to see more of Australia in better comfort..

Hey that enough of me stealing the show..

- As I think I said I love the Photo's that you have supplied us with.. the close up of the Lily flower's[Purple one's] I love.. nice detail there..

Juergen

Birds at the Billabong Camooweal

you sure are giving that camera a workout. 

you will need a new one when you get over to WA 

Hi to all those who have done out-back Qld, Mt Isa / Camooweal area.

I am currently planning such a trip, bur am daunted by the enormity of the area in question.

For example, how much Drinking water should one carry, how much spare fuel (I only have a 80 tank / 4.8 litre Nissan Patrol / 300 - 350 l range);

How many petrol stations and how far apart.

Any answers I hope will help before I leave. Cheers, KB

Happywanderer wrote:

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Start looking now wombat. I will be celebrating my birthday while over there.

I don't know what Bird No 1 and No 2 are. Any ideas?

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 OK, for a new camera I suggest the Nikon D800, just got one 4 weeks ago

I do not know what birds they are but I do know they are not the type I like to see