Queensland Gorges/Gulf Road Trip 2020

Due to not being able to leave our state because of Covid and the borders being closed, we decided to do this trip within Queensland.

Day 1: Home to Rockhampton (648km) Today was just a travel day.

Day 2: Rockhampton. Today we just spent the day with David's parents and did the last bit of trip preparation.

Day 3: Rockhampton to Barcaldine (566km) We headed west on the Capricorn Highway. We passed through the towns of Gracemere, Westwood, Dingo, Bluff, Blackwater, Comet, Emerald, Alpha and Jericho. We stopped along the way at the Drummond Range Lookout. Once we had set up camp, we walked into town to see the "Tree of Knowledge" both in the daylight and dark.

Day 4: Barcaldine to Hughenden (353km) We let Barcaldine on the Landsborough Highway towards Aramac. The land was very dry and barren. Arrived in the town of Muttaburra. Here we saw some cool sculptures and the Muttaburrasaurus. We then hit our first gravel road of the trip (around 200km long) before arriving in Hughenden. We went for a walk into town but wasn't much to see.

Day 5: Hughenden to Cloncurry (513km with a detour) We headed 60km north up the Kennedy Development Road and went to Porcupine Gorge Lookout. We then drove back to Hughenden and headed west on the Flinders Highway through Richmond and Julia Creek and then arrived in Cloncurry. We set up camp, went into town to grab some essentials from the supermarket before driving 70km towards Mt Isa to check out the ghost town of Mary Kathleen and the uranium mine. The mine ceased operations in the 1980s and all the building and houses in the town were auctioned off and removed leaving only the concrete slabs. It is a popular place for people to free camp as long as you are self-sufficient. The dam there is an amazing turquoise blue colour because of the uranium.

Day 6: Cloncurry to Adele Grove, Lawn Hill (317km) We headed north to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse. We then headed west to Gregory Downs, then further west again to Adels Grove at Lawn Hill where we are spending 3 nights. We went for a wander down to the creek and David had a swim.

Day 7: Adels Grove We drove down the road to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park. We did a 5km loop walk to Indarri Falls, Indarri Falls Lookout and Duwadarri Lookout. This place is amazing. We also has some rest time back at camp.

Day 8: Adels Grove I got to see the sunrise. We then went back to the National Park where we went on the boat cruise. Yesterday we were up the top looking down, today we are at the bottom looking up! This place is an oasis in the outback. After the cruise, we did the Island Stack Walk (2.5km).

Day 9: Adels Grove to Karumba (382km) We headed east back to Gregory Downs and then turned north to Burketown. From Burketown we crossed the Albert River and then stopped at Leichardt Falls. They weren't flowing but still a beautiful place. We then drove on to Normanton where we saw the Big Crocodile and the Purple Pub. We then went on to Karumba, on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Tonight we went for a drink at the Sunset Tavern and watched the sunset over the water. Magical!

Day 10: Karumba We went to the Barra Discovery Centre. This was a very interesting place and we both enjoyed it. We went back to the Sunset Tavern to watch the sunset which was very different to the night before due to some clouds around.

Day 11: Karumba to Undara Lava Caves (502km) We travelled back towards Normanton stopping at the Mutton Hole Wetlands on the edge of town. We stopped and got a photo of the car and van in front of the Big Crocodile, checked out the Gulflander train and saw the Big Barramundi. We headed east on the Gulf Development Road (Savannah Way) to Croydon. We then crossed the Gilbert River to arrive in Georgetown. From there we went over the Newcastle Range, through Mt Surprise to then arrive at Undarra Lodge. We set up camp then went for a walk around to check out the place!

Day 12: Undarra We drove 20 minutes down the road and did the Kalkani Crater 2.5km rim walk. We then did the Pioneer Track walk (3.6km). This trail follows the route of the telegraph line that was built in the 1870s and takes you to the Heritage Hut, a replica early pioneer dwelling. We had a relaxing afternoon then shouted ourselves dinner at the Undarra Lodge Bar.

Day 13: Undarra We went on the 8am lava tubes tour. We went into the caves that were lava tubes found in the remnants of a rainforest. This was amazing to see and very informative and interesting. When we got back, we decided to do a bush walk before lunch. We walked the Bluff Track and Lookout and part of the Swamp Walk. As we walked back into camp we passed the train carriages that are used for accommodation. That night we sent on the Sunset Wildlife Tour. We drank champagne as we watched the sun go down and the moon come up. We went to Barkers Cave where we got to see micro bats fly out. An amazing experience. Would totalling recommend both tours.

Day 14 Undarra to Cobbold Gorge We headed back to Mt Surprise and then turned down a dirt road. We saw a lovely spot called Jardine Lagoon Camp. This dirt road lead us to Einasleigh and Copperfield Gorge. We popped into the Einasleigh pub for a coffee and I was impressed by the chandelier in the ladies! We went and explored the gorge - a beautiful spot. We then drove through Forsayth and then arrived at Cobbold Gorge. We set up camp, had lunch and spent some time in the infinity swimming pool.

Day 15 Cobbold Gorge In the morning we did the 3 hour Cobbled Gorge tour. Another amazing place! The afternoon spent relaxing by the pool before we hit the road again tomorrow.

Day 16 Cobbold Gorge to Charters Towers (463km) We drove back through Forsayth and Einasleigh and then down another dirt road to the Kennedy Highway. We set up camp, grabbed a few things from town and then drove up to Towers Hill Lookout. We saw some WW11 bunkers and an old gold mine site. We drove around town to look at the historical buildings. Went back to camp for a little while before heading back up to the lookout for some sunset photos.

Day 17 Charters Towers to Emerald (542km) Today was all about driving and starting our journey back home. We headed down the Gregory Development Road with a quick stop at Belyando Crossing, then onto Clermont where we had a drive around the town. From there we went to Capella, then detoured off the highway and did the tourist drive through Rubyvale (where we picked up a freshly baked Austrian apple !), Sapphire and Anakie. We arrived back at the Carpentaria Highway which took us to Emerald.

Day 18 Emerald to Carnarvon Gorge (235km) We headed south through Gindie, Springsure and Rolleston to arrive at Carnarvon Gorge. We set up camp, caught up on some washing and went for a walk around camp to the Platypus Pool and a lookout.

Day 19 Carnarvon Gorge WOW! Carnarvon surpassed my expectations. After all the amazing places we had been we were worried that we may be let down but that was certainly not the case. We drove down the road to the National Park for a bush walk. Our bush walk ended up being 6 hours long and covered 17km including plenty of stairs, creek crossings and a couple of ladders. We headed out on the main track and walked out to the Art Gallery first. From there we walked back, doing the side walks as we went - Ward's Canyon, Amphitheatre, Moss Garden. Each of the areas were so different from each other and each so amazing.

Day 20 Carnarvon Gorge Today David drove me to the National Park where I went for a bushwalk on my own to Boolimba Bluff. This track is steep, has over 900 and some short ladders which gave me a good cardio morning workout. The view from the top was stunning. It ended up being a 8km walk which I completed in 2 hours. David came back and picked me up. We stopped in to look out the Rock Pool (short 300m walk). We spent the afternoon relaxing at camp (a well needed rest). That night we drove 5 minutes down the road to Sandstone Park campground where we got some sunset photos. Could very easily have stayed here much longer.

Day 21 Carnarvon Gorge to Dulacca (431km) As we drove out from the Gorge we stopped and looked at the plane wreck. We started down the highway and then decided to detour through Arcadia Valley. We went and had a look at Lake Nuga Nuga. We stopped at the Lonesome National Park Lookout and then back to the highway to Injure where we stopped for lunch. We then drove through Roma, Wallumbilla and Yule before arriving in Dulacca. We stayed the night behind the Pink Dulacca Hotel.

Day 22 Dulacca to Home (391km) We left Dulacca, headed down the Warrego Highway through Miles, Brigalow and Warra. We then detoured off the highway to catch up with a friend that worked at Jimbour House. We were very lucky to have our own private tour of this magnificently restored home. We had lunch in Dalby, then continued down the highway to eventually arrive home.