Greynomads

3 night's in Mt Isa, did an enjoyable tour learnt about past and present of town. Very pretty drive from Cloncurry to Mt Isa along & through ranges, very similar to Pilbara in WA. Not a lot to see from Isa to Camoweal, Barkly homestead roadhouse, Three Way's Roadhouse and Banka Banka Station stay where we stayed for the night. Great spot live music and camp fire. Katherine stop for night, no sightseeing this time, as we have been before and did wonderful cruise on the gorge. Darwin for 6 nights R&R.  Car serviced, hair cut etc before we head back to WA border next Sunday. Again no sightseeing except visited Mindil markets last night for yummy food and plenty of stalls to browse between for any bargains. Great weather, listened to RAAF band perform after flypast at Mindil beach as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2022 with 15  countries taking part in the exercise.  

Back to Normanton from Karumba, Burke & Will's Roadhouse and finally Cloncurry, just pastoral country along the way with lots of cattle. Staying 2 nights, the Cloncurry River along side the town. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was established here in 1928 by John Flynn based on its proximity to the mining camps and scattered pastoralists poorly served by any kind of medical services. The town continues to derive its main income from mining & pastoral industries 

After 3 night's in Atherton headed west for Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Had a night at Georgetown and then Croydon caravan parks, both small towns ideal for a night's rest.  Normanton typical outback town, very wide main street, lots of caravans on the roads. Karumba on the Norman River is a great fishing spot and has wonderful sunsets and Barramundi discovery centre & Hatchery.  Met a lovely couple John & Di from Coonamble in NSW along side us in caravan park.   Sunset Tavern had good fish on the menu, we enjoyed the sunset and meals 2 nights. Ferryman River Cruise was enjoyable, good to have local guide give us some history going up the river. A few beers, wines, nibbles & prawns and sunset finished off the afternoon, saw a croc, plenty of birds, well worth doing the cruise.

 Enjoyed our 2 nights at Dimbulah at the caravan park, plenty of room, very clean amenities one of the best parks we have stayed in since leaving WA mid April, only downside no dump point in town.  Had a great day out  in the Atherton Tablelands, such a picturesque area. Herberton not far from Atherton has a fabulous Historic Village set on 16 acres, with 60 restored period buildings & thousands of original items displayed reflect everyday life from 1880's onward, such a great place to visit could spend hours there reflecting on our childhoods. Has been voted by TripAdvisor as one of top 10 museums in Australia. Millaa Millaa falls was our memoribilla stop having visited in 2004, just as beautiful as we remembered. Zillie Falls which is close another wonderful sight. Last stop today the amazing Curtain Fig Tree in all it's gra...

Enjoyed our stay, did usual things, lookout over town with great views however very windy which apparently is quite normal. James Cook Museum is housed in old convent which was a boarding school originally, the building fell into disrepair after the war and was nearly demolished, thank goodness it was saved !! Isabella Falls north of  Cooktown a lovely drive and picturesque place apparently a great swimming spot. The Lion's Den pub well worth visit for lunch, very popular for photos. Kept touring nearly down to Wajil Wajil many more senic views. Dimbulah for 2 nights, great spot at  caravan park in small town.