Gulf trip Mark 11

Hi Patrick

http://www.action-graphics.com.au/matilda/matmap.html
this link is very helpful.....click on towns.....will give you details of history etc

A good book.......Explore Australia by 4WD.....They have a 2004 edition.....we have found some errors in the one we have so make sure you double check with another source also, we do.

Where to start......lol....get a good book and pick and choose what you want to see along the way as well as tips from here. Best advice, spend what time you can while you are in an area unless you are going to go through that area another time and can do it then.

We had already done most of it along the way before, Black Stump, Hall of Fame, so and so on. This time we did the Thomson R cruise in the paddlewheeler, best to book for this in advance otherwise you will go on the Yellowbelly, a normal boat. We had a great night and it was well worth the money spent, bit expensive. Gunadoo CVP has a bush poet/storyteller in most nights for the cost of a gold coin. If you are going to Lark Quarry check the TOUR TIMES. We stopped in at the Burke & Wills R/house for a hot dog, these are $6 each....lol....yes we paid the price just for a bit of nostalgia, 6 hot dogs and a plate of chips only = $39. There's Combo Waterhole where Banjo Patterson penned Waltzing matilda near Kynuna As you would've read Lawn Hill is good, best to spare 2/3 days there to do most of it. Riversleigh is worth a drive, quite intersting too and the circuit is easy and not long. The Gregory R is @ 100klms east of Lawn Hill, it's a nice place to pull up for a while. Before you get to Normanton there is the Burke & Wills Dig Tree No 119. Don't forget in Norman tonto check out the purple pub, the hugh croc, the railway etc. Karumba is very pretty and good for fishing if you are lucky with lovely azure blue water. If you're lucky you might see the big fishing boats all rigged together. Walkers Ck on the way back from Karumba might get you a barra, so we have been told. We have never had the time to stop and have a throw in at Walkers Ck, but next time we are going too. If you have time for a day visit you can go up to the Gilbert R from the Normanton/Karumba road just veer off onto the Mareeba T/Off along the Burke Development Rd, this is also another way to go to Cairns. This road is dirt with some bulldust and rough patches but it was very well graded this year in June, we did 80-100klm on it and then sometimes at 60klms. The Gilbert R is quite a pretty river with a good chance to catch a fish and if you're lucky you may see a croc, we did this time. (If you decide to go to Cairns this way coming from Normanton or Karumba you will need to stop halfway overnight, this is a days drive, trust me. Best advice is turn left and head along Palmerville track to the Mitchell R about 30klms in and camp there on the riverbank, come back out the way you went in and head to Carins the next day OR continue on the road to Chillagoe if you want to go to a CVP. If you stay on the Mitchell R that night make sure you drive just up and around the corner the next morning, Mt Mulgrave station is there. It is their property you go through to get there as well as other owners but the river and road are for public use, so stay on them. You might even be lucky enough to catch the guys who come down to the river for a bit of a muckaround after a days hard work, they are really nice and harmless. Don't forget, Leave Gates How You Find Them.) If you are heading to Cairns back along through Croydon/Georgetown along the Gulf Development Rd, it's bitumen all the way. There are heaps of things to see along this historic road. When you get to Carins check which way you want go and check out what is on the tourist path. As you will find 3 weeks is just not enough but enough to get you interested in planning your next trip.
Have fun.

Cya
Tripp'n
:)

Hi Patrick

Never race......find out what you can do and do the what you want too.
The coast road home has heaps to do on it also.

Cya
Tripp'n
:)

Patrick,

You could spend a week in Winton area alone. Lots to see: Waltzing Matilda Centre, Tatt's Pub(meals out on the footpath, watching the world go by), Searles's Outback Store(good service and they have virtually everything!).

Then there is Lark Quarry, Old Cork Homestead/Waterhole, Diamantina Lakes N/P, Cawnpore Hills and Middleton Hotel.

All this and no crocs to worry about!

Hooroo...