The Pat & Kurt 10 day Camping trip in the North Queensland Outback and the Gulf

The Pat & Kurt Gulf Camping Trip

Tues 30 July

It was mid morning by the time we had packed the car and set out on the trip. 

The first stop was the Coffee Works at Mareeba for their great local coffees. We had lunch in the park and then set out on the drive to Chillagoe.

The last 20 kilometres was unsealed so the car got very dusty and we were very thirsty by the time we had put up the tent. We had a great camp site and even had small kangaroos hoping around.

Our first drama was the little electric air pump was not working to pump up the air beds. We went down to the servo and pumped them with the compressor pump for car tyres.  It must have been a sight with us carrying our air beds back to the camping grounds.

That night we had fish and chips for dinner.

We had a few drinks and played Checkers and called it a night about midnight. We always seem to be the last folk in the parks to go to bed.

Wed 31 July

 We went exploring the old smelter and the caves after a beaut brekkie of bacon snags eggs and toast.

It was late morning by the time we left Chillagoe for the dusty drive to Almaden where we called into the old pub for a drink and as we were the only patrons there and the publican had the gift of the gab it was hard to get away.

We drove on to Dimbulah and had lunch in the park and then continued on to Mareeba where we bought a new air pump. 

Then it was a long drive to the Innot Hot Springs where we set up camp for the night. We tried out the spar pools. The hot spring water was a perfect refresher for our weary bones.

We had a great meal and a few drinks at the old nearby pub then returned to the campsite for night caps and our game of checkers. It was about midnight by the time we got to sleep.

Thur 1 August

We went down to the old river bed to watch the steam rising from the hot springs and take some photos. Even the river sand was very hot. 

Kurt found a warm pool and had me photo him in it. In all the excitement my smart phone fell out of my shorts pocket into the hot river water. Wow, Kurt was so fast and fished it out and dried it. It didn’t want to go but after a few hours on the dash board in the sun it made a complete recovery later in the day.

Kurt cooked up another delicious brekkie. After brekkie and cleaning up we went to the spa pools for a swim before leaving.

We got away about 9.30am for the drive to Mount Surprise where the tourist rail motor had arrived.  This made a good photo stop.

 We had some coffee and then set out for Georgetown where we had lunch in the park.

We were now driving into the western sun and we had to be cautious as there were many roos hoping across the road.

We made a stop at an old Smelter chimney where there was a lagoon full of bird life.

 We arrived at the Croydon Council run park and set up camp. The manager looked after us as we were the only ones in a tent and gave us free power. 

All the grey headed nomads had their big motor homes or caravans with all mod cons.

After a few drinks we went down to the local pub where I had the biggest seafood platter I have ever seen and for only $15. Thank Got Kurt has hollow legs and was able to help me finish it off after his big steak.

After the long day I had only one night cap back at the tent and had an early night at about 10pm.

Fri 2 August

We used the facilities of the camp kitchen to cook our brekkie before packing up to do some sightseeing around the historic mining town. 

Their little museum is well worth the visit.

We then set off for the 2 hour trip to Normanton where we took some photos and had lunch at the old Albion Hotel. They make the best steak sandwiches in town. 

Then it was off for the final 70 kms to Karumba.

We set up the camp very quickly then went down to the pub to get supplies. Of course we had a few at this great tavern well known for its fantastic sunset views.

We caught up with Ken and Jan and then went back to the Tavern for the sunset before a big feed of salt & pepper squid.

We joined Ken and Jan at their site for night caps and then Kurt and I returned back to our site for a few games of Checkers and more drinks. We called it a night well after midnight and after a visit from our new friend.

Saturday 3 August

We had a sleep in and didn’t get up until after 8 am. I must say we were a bit sluggish but after another beaut brekkie and a shower we came good.

After a sight seeing drive we had some great barra burgers for lunch. 

 

This is Barramundi fish country up here in the Gulf.

Kurt went fishing in the arvo 


and I decided to have a rest on the stretcher under the awning and was cooled by a nice sea breeze.

Late afternoon we met up with Ken & Jan to go down to the Tavern before the sunset. We got beaut spots to photograph and watch this fantastic sunset.













Unfortunately there was a little cloud on the horizon so we didn’t witness the green flash.

After the sunset we had a beaut meal and a few drinks at the Tavern. As we all had long journeys the next day we decided to have an early night. 

Kurt and I only had one night cap and one game of checkers back at the campsite before going to bed.

Sunday 4 August

Karumba to Cloncurry

By the time we had brekkie and packed up we got away just after 9 am and drove the hour into Normanton where we took photos of the large Croc, and bought fuel. 

After a sight seeing drive around this old historic town and making photo stops we headed down the Matilda Highway for the 375 km drive to Cloncurry (The Curry).

Our first stop was the Burke & Wills roadhouse after 2 hours driving where we had a yummy bacon and egg burger. 





We caught up with Ken and Jan as they had also stopped there on their way out to the Lawn Hill National Park so they headed west and we continued south to The Curry.

We arrived about 5 pm and set up camp before going out to the lookout hill just out of the town to see the sunset. We got some splendid photos.

 

 It was well and truly dark by the time we got back to the campsite. We cooked up another feed and had a few drinks while playing checkers. The nights in the inland get very cold and I reckon the temp dropped by 10 degrees C within an hour of the sun going down.

It was beaut to have a hot shower and called it an early night about 11 pm.

Monday 5 August

Cloncurry to Richmond

Oh what a cold morning, the warm shower warmed us up. Once the sun is up it warms up quickly and we had another one of Kurt’s great cooked brekkies.

 

We set out to take in the sights the Curry, which included the mining museum, the Flying Doctor museum and other old buildings around the town.

We then left the Curry for the 138km drive to Julia Creek (The Creek). The road just headed east and was long and straight. 





At the Creek we had lunch and a bit of a look around and then it was on to Richmond another 150 km down the road.

As there was so much to see at Richmond we decided to stay here for the night and we found a great camping site by the lake and only a 10 minute walk into town. 








We set up camp had a few drinks and then went down to one of the towns old pubs for dinner.





 One thing about the country pubs they serve up great grub (food).

Back at the campsite we had a few night caps and a game of checkers. Boy oh boy it was another cold night so I had the trackie and hoodie on to try and keep warm for the night.

Tuesday 6 August

It was freezing cold during the night and it was good to get a hot coffee into me when I woke up. I got some beaut sunrise photos of the lake

 We cooked up sausages and eggs for brekkie, packed up the camp site and then went to the Richmond Fossil and Dinosaurs Museum.

 This is a great attraction and we spent a few hours there.

We drove to Hughenden and had a late lunch at the FJ Holden Café before having a look around the town.

The large dinosaur statue in the main street was a great attraction. It is a recreation of Queensland’s own dinosaur that’s fossils found in the nearby area of Muttaburra.

Then we drove another 3 hours down to the Charters Towers (The Towers). On the way we checked out a dry river bed. Note how high the bridge is for flood times.

 On arrival at the Towers we decided to book into a cabin in a camping park to escape the cold.

We had dinner at a local pub and then retired back to the warm cabin for a few night caps.

It was good to crawl into a warm bed for a good nights sleep.

Wed 7 August.

Kurt cooked up another of his scrumptious brekkies in the luxury of the warm unit. It was so easy to pack up and then we went exploring the historic gold town of the Towers. There are so many historic buildings and attractions.

Late morning we departed the Towers for the 134 km drive east to Townsville and noticed the country changing as we approached the coast.

We bypassed the City of Townsville and headed north to Ingham where we had a late lunch and then continued on for the remaining 300 km north to Cairns.

 After all the dry brown conditions of the inland it was a welcome change to be back in the lush green cane fields of North Queensland.

We arrived home just after 5 pm and unpacked the car and then set about giving it a good wash and clean after the 4,000 km trip.

As we were both very tired we had a light supper a few beers and called it an early night.

My sincere thanks to Kurt for helping make this fantastic and unforgettable camping trip happen and for his great company.

Kurt stayed on in Cairns until Saturday morning when he flew back to Brisbane. He went out to Green Island to do a few dives on the Great Barrier Reef on Friday. 

On the Friday evening we went down to the Local Pub for a few drinks and the Last Supper.