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Old cork station

We found old cork when we were looking for a remote campsite to visit in western Queensland, looking at a map of campsites there was this little icon that said “abandoned homestead” and while researching it we discovered that there was some history here and two of our friends had passed through when droving cattle many years ago, one of them Allan Carrigan had some stories to tell so we decided that this was a must see place, and I can say we have not been disappointed with the decision.

So through Winton on to Old Cork, there are a couple of roads that go to the area and we decided on the old Diamantina river road which eventually after over 400k joins the Quilpie Birdsville road and follows the Diamantina river all the way down to the channel country, as we got near the turnoff we spotted a road train moving cattle, I said to Jacky I’ll bet this one is going to turn off on the road we are and sure enough it did.

one of the things you can count on with the drivers of these large rigs is that they will always help you pass but you have to remember that they cannot get off the narrow dirt roads to do it, so I called him up on the radio and he directed us past on the up wind side.

The country through here is spectacular, flat plains mountain ranges and plenty of wide open space.

When we arrived at the homestead one of the first things we noticed was the birds so many species but first set up camp, there were already a couple of camps well set up but a good spot was not hard to find looking out over the waterhole

A couple of the camps appeared well set up and we found out that a couple had been there for 6 weeks and one couple had been there for 3 months as they apparently do.

The homestead

Old cork homestead must have been a sight to see when it was built in the early 1800s,beautiful sandstone and it appears laid by a mason or Someone experienced in laying these large blocks, the property was well grassed when we were there and you can imagine how the people that settled and built the house would have viewed their prospects of a prosperous cattle property the house was inhabited until 1980 and then abandoned and a new home base set up on what is now new cork closer to Winton. The water here is the key though and what is now the road was used as a main droving route from New South Wales to the Northern Territory because it is said that the waterhole has never been seen dry in white mans time, in fact while we were there a heard of cattle was watering there while being pushed north.

Exploring

we decided to explore the road south, you can drive all the way to South Australia if the mood takes you but we went about 200k down the track to where the Diamantina and the Georgina fiver join to form the Warburton, this is a very important river system and I will insert a piece from Britinaca with some stats “ theDiamantina River and the Georgina River (from the north) merge to drain along the channel of Warburton Creek southwestward to Lake Eyre. The Diamantina’s principal tributaries are the Western and Mayne rivers. The Diamantina’s average annual discharge at Birdsville is 890 cubic feet (25 cubic m) per second, ranging from 50,000 cubic feet (1,400 cubic m) per second in flood to nothing in dry years.” The trip is a bit long but plenty of history, like the pub with an underground cooler/cellar (no ice out here) built in 1835 to meet the needs of thirsty drovers billabongs, birds it’s just a great drive.

  • Just a block of concrete in the middle of nowhere

Homeward bound

well after over a week we have to move on it’s starting to warm up and the flies have found old cork station, we have taken a different road out and soon arrive in Winton spending the night here to humanise again, Winton like most of the outback towns are really embracing the travellers the town is busy and the hotels are making the most of it we are booked into a van park and had dinner at one of the pubs, great meals great service first beer in 8 days. Next leg of the trip home is the last we call in at Hughenden for lunch at the FJ Holden cafethen home

This is a trip we will definitely do again

Jericho central west queensland

Jericho is at a three ways, east to Biloela, west to Barcaldine south to Blackall not a big place population about 115, Jericho is one of Western Queensland’s old towns that is gradually shrinking not a lot to see has a pub, Main Street the smallest drive in theatre and a well used camp ground.

  • Shady camp by the river
  • Australia’s smallest drive in Jericho

During the tourist season the camp ground gets busy and at times I imagine that a riverside campsite would be hard to get but we fitted in ok and even though it was dry the weather was good nice and cool with plenty of friendly people, there was nothing to catch in the river but was good for a few days of paddling aril did watching the wildlife

we stayed here about a week, filled in time kayaking, bushwalking and visited the cemetery and discovered that Jericho has been here for a while and with some characters it would seem

  • Must have been real crook
  • Jericho history
  • Shady camp by the river

After Jericho we moved on to Barcaldine for morning tea and then to longreach to top up the groceries.

  • Barkaldine

Next town Winton but fuel stop and straight through to our destination Old cork station

Kroombit tops national park

We were looking for a place to visit in central Queensland that would be cool have a place to put the kayaks in for a paddle, not crowded and quiet, so we asked mr google and he found us Kroombit tops national park the web site showed all the things we were looking for so off we went.

There are three roads leading in to this NP one from Calliope one from Monto and the one from Biloela, I would suggest that if you have a small van or trailer you steer clear of the latter, we went for a drive on this track and it was rough there is a sign that bans trailers on it and with good reason, mind you there are no smooth roads in this NP, this photo does not do the road justice you are either looking down on the bonnet, or up at the skyundefined

The camping area was great short grass we only had a few neighbours and none of them close but the creek was dry not a drop of water in it.

  • campsite 🏕

There is plenty to see and do here tracks to explore, lookouts, plenty of photo opportunities, the old bomber wreckage the wildlife.

One of the things we miss in the north is cold weather both Jacky and I are always looking for the opportunity to visit somewhere that’s we can sit around a campfire on a cold night, and at Kroombit tops we certainly got that one morning we woke up to find our gear and car covered in ice.

  • Ice on car

we stayed at Kroombit NP for about a week before heading down to civilisation at Biloela, and then on to Jericho.

The August triP (Notch point)

As with most trips we had a basic plan some plans change but nothing like this, the original plan was to head south for a bit then go over to Tambo and then to a camp at Carnarvon national park, then many on to somewhere out west, but first on to Notch point, a friend in Mackay suggested this camp, we have passed the turnoff many times but never ventured in.

The turn off is at Ilbilbi about 45k south of Mackay then another 20k further in to a Gare and it’s all dirt from there, there are confusing tracks but most lead to the point and those that don’t are signed private. It’s a good plan to check tide times as there are two spots that can have water over them so until you see how they are it’s best for the first time go at low tide if possible, the track is not bad we saw some quite large vans there

  • No crocks here apparently
  • Notch point
  • New fishing reel
  • The night camp

All in all a great spot fishing was good plenty of firewood no mosquitoes or sand flies, but summer may change that no noisy campers plenty to do and a bit to see in the area, we stayed here for a week and decided to move on to Stanage bay

STANAGE BAY

After leaving Notch point we head to Stanage bay a friend used to rave about this place so I had high expectations the thing is no one mentioned the road in rough! I used to think the road to WIpa was crook but the road in here is to say the least not good. to be fair the army also use this road and they had just completed a big exercise but everyone we spoke to said how rough this road is, it about 75k long mostly dirt corrugated and some short steep crossings.

Stanage bay is beautiful

Once you arrive at Stanage you find that it is made up of three distinct little villages, the first is just residential and borders on the military training ground the next is residential also and then there is the town area that really only consists of a pub with attached shop camp ground with shower and basic toilet a few houses a boat ramp and that’s it.

when we were there the dept of transport were upgrading the boar ramp and facilities which we’re pretty basic. We had a look at some spots in this park but were not impressed so we asked around and found out there is a bush camping area that is not on the camping sites so back to the residential area in the middle and on to the little esplanade down a dirt track and there was a great almost deserted beach camping area , happy days

Now unless you have a boat there is not a lot to do here except find a fishing spot or a pub and relax, we managed to do both he wind was very strong so we had to find a track to the creek for a fish our hopes were up as Stanage bay is recited to be a great fishing spot and has so we were told the biggest and best mud crabs in Queensland, we found the creek beautiful spot but no fish in fact we could not find anyone who had caught anything the whole time we were there.

We did manage a couple of trips to the Crab pot bar, just for research, and we found it pretty good value, cold beer good selection of wine for Jacky we did not eat there but the food looked and the menu was stacked with seafood options and looked good , as I wrote there is not much to do so we spent our week here walking the beach and taking photos.

  • Old property fence
  • Old property fence
  • winter afternoon
  • winter sun

So back down the dirt and off to Kroombit tops

Bowen river camping

Jacky and I were introduced to Bowen river by Wendy and Allan (Boyser) Carrigan it started out on a camping trip to lake Elpingstone for a few days, with the Carrigan’s and their grandchildren but as with all plans things can change

Lake Elphingstone is west of Mackay in central Queensland, big camp ground probably fit a couple of hundred people, the lake I’d a good size with plenty of room for ski boats and stuff there are a couple of species of fish and some red claw

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unfortunately the weather was not great windy and the lake had an infestation of blue green algae , the kids were enjoying going out in the boat so we stayed for a couple of days

Allan drives a truck that delivers Molasses to cattle properties and one of his customers has a large property with the river running through and he found us the best spot.

what a great campsite room for the kids shady, cool and sandy walk straight in to the water this is one of the best camps I’ve seen for a while central fire easy to keep an eye on the kids. (and you had to) young Eddy was a handful but after a bit of attitude adjustment he had a ball.

  • The terror

The river was cool and flowing a terrific spot for the kids, also a large stretch of calm water to paddle the kayaks, first day I paddled about one and a half kilometres up stream and could have gone many more but the further you go the further it is back. On the way back I noticed a lot of fairly large fish around the snags so next morning paddled up to the snags to cast some lures, this is an awesome fishing spot most casts got a hit and then next cast a fish and good sized ones at that all sooty grunter and fat as.

  • Fishing in kayak
  • Very fishy snags
  • Nice fat sooty

Allin all a great camping spot I think a return this year is on the cards

Some combined trips to Murray falls

We have visited Murray falls quite a few times, a couple of times before we retired on long weekends but now week days are the go, less people

quieter and finding the best camp site is never a problem.

  • Murray falls

Booking at this NP is best online so you can see how many people are booked in, the best time for here is in the wetter months so that you get the best of the falls and swimming, and if it rains then just relax with a book or let the rain help with a little nanny/poppy nap.

The swimming at MF is terrific fresh and running, there are a few areas to chose from some with rapids and deep holes some quiet little areas , but when the falls are really flowing the water can be a bit swift at some places

Its not far from MF to Tully or Cardwell if you feel the urge to go shopping or just find a cafe, one thing you will see at all our National parks are signs telling you to take your rubbish with you and do not leave food or scraps out if you leave camp there are plenty of birds like scrub turkeys small birds and sometimes very large birds that will come in to your camp looking for anything you might leave out, on our last trip we were fortunate to get the largest of the rainforest birds to pay us a visit.

  • Cassowary

One thing about Cassowary’s is that they are big and they just go where they want, we just let this bloke do his thing, he had a look for some food then moseyed over to another camp to see what was on offer, later a ranger told us that he had been hanging around for a couple of days

We always enjoy Murray falls it close and if the mood takes us we can be there and set up in a few hours, so we will be returning sometime in 2020