You will have or should have read "Mena Creek to Pilliga Scrub Via Hervey Bay".
Well we turned right off the "Bruce" just after Bauple and headed in the direction of Kingaroy. Our first overnight/free camp is Kumbia with power @ $1- per hour, toilets and hot showers. The offerings in way of free camps/low cost accommodation so far is just unbelievable with every small town making the effort to attract the traveling $.
Today "Fathers Day" we have moved further west to "Westmar" some 120klms West of Dalby and about 120klm short of St George. We are at rest stop opposite the pub, that has flushing toilets and free hot showers neither required.
Tomorrow we will pass through St George and camp around Dirrandbandi before reaching Lightning Ridge on Tuesday.
Temps around 20 and 10ml of rain in the last few days makes the country side look absolutely beautiful and guess what we are in the "Darling Downs" one of the great food bowls and you can see the attacks from the coal seam gas operators threatening this great part of Australia that has big black/bold soils and heaps of cattle.
Currently parked up at Balonne Minor Bridge. Just South of Dirranbandi with about 6 other vans. No facilities available however we are self sufficient and self contained. There has been a lot of rain through this area and vast stretches of water along the road verges and in paddocks. Tomorrow we arrive at Lightning Ridge and the reason we came this way. The "hot spring pools" and afternoon/evening relaxing in 38 degree spring water.
Tomorrow we opt for CP just up the road from the Hot springs.
Opted to stay at Opal Caravan Park @ $32 PN with Top Tourist Discount. This park would be one of the best country park's that we have stayed in. We were here about 5 years back and the park has only improved. Understanding this the park is at 100% capacity and we were lucky.
The park is about 300 meters from the Artesian Bore Baths and the reason we are in Lightning Ridge. A swim in the baths around dusk with water temps of 40/42 is not for the fainted hearted.
Tomorrow we move on to Barren Junction and more Artesian Bore baths and some what cooler at 37/38 water temps.
Packed up Lightning Ridge and headed to Walgett fuel @ 1.19 (Independent) then to Burren Junction. Artesian Pools are some 3klms East of town. A bit like warm bath water and some what dirty with algae. Decided to move on to the Pilliga Nature Reserve via Wee Waa and Narrabri. Road side rest area with drop toilets unfortunately on the Newell and trucks all night. Never mind on to Dubbo and then to base camp. We have worked our way down from Innisfail to Hervey Bay then out to Dubbo. 13 nights being 9 free camps and 4 CP's. Total cost $155 accomm.
These posts were to benefit members traveling the Bruce Hwy and inland to NSW listing free camps/access to water, dump points and doing the less traveled way in some respects.
