Hi all:)
We have been traveling up the East coast from Caloundra for rhe last 9 weeks and at present at Port Douglas.
We are thinking of traveling back after cooktown down The Great Inland Way via Charters Towers Emerald etc. But not sure if it a worth while drive in view off the vast distances between places. We will be definitely going to Canarvon national park.
Any info welcome please
Have a great day and safe travels
Troy and Kim
spida said
05:24 PM Jul 11, 2017
great drive - do it :)
RustyD said
06:33 PM Jul 11, 2017
Done Charters Towers to St George (pretty spot on a river) and on to the Nindigully Pub (free camping). Go see Lake Maraboon s/w of Emerald. It's huge.
brickies said
07:29 PM Jul 11, 2017
Charters Towers ,Clermont , emerald,Rolleston ,Injune,Roma,If you are going back to Caloundra you could head for Kilcoy to miss Brisbane .
wendyv said
07:55 PM Jul 11, 2017
Definitely worth doing. If you have time for a detour, go a little west to visit Mt Surprise - Bedrock Village Caravan Park there is great, and does good tours to Undara Lava Tubes. If you time it right, can also do a half day tour based on the Savannahlander train. Also tours to the nearby topaz fields, if that interests you.
If you have not toured the Atherton Tablelands, is worth spending time there and exploring - Atherton is a good base for this.
Charters Towers - much history, wonderful old buildings.
You could turn off at Clermont or Capella and cut through to the sapphire fields of Rubyvale, Sapphire etc - worth visiting. Those are good sealed back roads.
Emerald is really just a service centre but Lake Maraboon is pleasant for a stay.
macka17 said
12:32 PM Jul 12, 2017
As said above.
Great ride.
Plus. Get half a doz "Yabby pots" (legal number and cheap as)
for Maraboon.
The van park used to pack them in like sardines when we went over there.
BUT.
If they've stopped them bloody greedy Southereners
packing their freezers with the Yabby's to take home.(Greedy Bast---s.)
You'll get a coupla good feeds.
Tinned dog food. Banana's and mango's great bait.
Even WHITE raw Potato's.
Equal to Lobster. (Crays here) (2 min's boil then out. Yum)
PeterD said
04:15 PM Jul 12, 2017
tadau68 wrote:
Snip , , at present at Port Douglas. We are thinking of traveling back after cooktown down The Great Inland Way via Charters Towers Emerald etc. But not sure if it a worth while drive in view off the vast distances between places. We will be definitely going to Canarvon national park.
About the only vast distance you have (a full days travel) is between Charters Towers and Clermont or Capella. There is plenty to interest most people through the Atherton Tableland and then from Clermont down. Don't forget to divert into Mt Surprise (the train trip is on Thursday, ring to see if they are getting the numbers.) There is a sealed road from Capella to the gem fields, a worthwhile diversion. You don't really want to retrace your steps down the coast do you?
I'm not sure if the coal mine tours are still available from Clermont CP. If interested ring them on 07 4983 1927.
brickies said
04:33 PM Jul 12, 2017
When we went to the Undara Lava tubes we stayed at the caravan park at the Undara Lava Tube , Great place to stay and right on the spot .
msg said
05:11 PM Jul 12, 2017
No pets at Undara CP. Bedrock village allows pets.
Wild1 said
05:43 PM Jul 12, 2017
Give the coast road a big miss - all the good stuff is inland. Country towns and pubs and friendly people. The distances aren't that vast and you can break them by finding a spot by the road to camp under the great Southern Cross.
Kev Pearce said
11:37 AM Jul 15, 2017
Great trip. Take your time. Charters Towers is worth three days. If going from there to Clermont, only fuel is 200km south at Belyando Crossing. If you go via Hughenden, Winton, Longreach, Tambo, Mitchell, Chinchilla etc, is a really good trip with excellent van parks. As they say, it is God's own country.
tadau68 said
09:30 AM Jul 16, 2017
Thanks for all off your replys. Much appreciate. Have a great day
If you have not toured the Atherton Tablelands, is worth spending time there and exploring - Atherton is a good base for this.
Charters Towers - much history, wonderful old buildings.
You could turn off at Clermont or Capella and cut through to the sapphire fields of Rubyvale, Sapphire etc - worth visiting. Those are good sealed back roads.
Emerald is really just a service centre but Lake Maraboon is pleasant for a stay.
Great ride.
Plus. Get half a doz "Yabby pots" (legal number and cheap as)
for Maraboon.
The van park used to pack them in like sardines when we went over there.
BUT.
If they've stopped them bloody greedy Southereners
packing their freezers with the Yabby's to take home.(Greedy Bast---s.)
You'll get a coupla good feeds.
Tinned dog food. Banana's and mango's great bait.
Even WHITE raw Potato's.
Equal to Lobster. (Crays here) (2 min's boil then out. Yum)
About the only vast distance you have (a full days travel) is between Charters Towers and Clermont or Capella. There is plenty to interest most people through the Atherton Tableland and then from Clermont down. Don't forget to divert into Mt Surprise (the train trip is on Thursday, ring to see if they are getting the numbers.) There is a sealed road from Capella to the gem fields, a worthwhile diversion. You don't really want to retrace your steps down the coast do you?
I'm not sure if the coal mine tours are still available from Clermont CP. If interested ring them on 07 4983 1927.
Give the coast road a big miss - all the good stuff is inland. Country towns and pubs and friendly people. The distances aren't that vast and you can break them by finding a spot by the road to camp under the great Southern Cross.
Great trip. Take your time. Charters Towers is worth three days. If going from there to Clermont, only fuel is 200km south at Belyando Crossing. If you go via Hughenden, Winton, Longreach, Tambo, Mitchell, Chinchilla etc, is a really good trip with excellent van parks. As they say, it is God's own country.