Lawn Hill Gorge

If you take it easy you would have no trouble.

Brian:

just watch the trucks from the mine bombing up and down the road and there's one particular dip in the road to watch for where you could scrape the vans backside if going too fast. Otherwise, it's not too bad at all.

We travelled this road last August. We had done about 14,000 KM by this stage, about 8,000 KM off bitumen. About 50KM from the end of the dirt (last dirt of the trip) a road train passed and although we pulled right off the road and stopped, a stone flew up and broke our windscreen. Well sh1t happens. Didn't dampen our spirits.

Other than that, the road was fine. Some corrugations, but if you take you time you should be OK, but be warned, the road trains don't slow down. Plenty of 2WD sedans in there when we visited.

Lawn Hill is a fabulous spot. We stayed at Adels which is quite good.
Don't miss the canoe hire at the Gorge and go as far up as you can. Get there real early and get the first canoe out. That way, your pics will have no other canoes in them and the water will be perfectly still. The reflections are a sight to behold.

Kathryn was up front with her digital SLR. I think I paddeled the whole way up while she took about 400 pics. Some of the best of our 16 week trip.

Have fun.

Haven't been one the road for a while so can't tell you the condition,

When you get to Gregory downs ask, if it is corrugated leave the van there.

The Ape

There is a road conditions site for Queensland. I'm travelling up there soon and checked recently. The road in was closed to all vehicles last weekend but is now open to vehicles with high clearance. I wouldn't take a road van in there but by the same token I wouldn't take an on-road van to Birdsville either so my opinion doesn't really count for you I guess. I'd certainly take an off road van if I had one. My plan is to leave the van at Mt Isa and take the tent.

Hi, don't know the current road condition but have been there a few times. Take it slow and you should be ok, lawn hill is a great place, we were last there 05 at the start of April so we had the place to ourselves. You must do the canoe trip up the gorge(can hire), DO BOTH GORGES), the guy who hires them say's you can't but he is just worried you will drag the canoe rather than carry it up the portage way.
Enjoy the walks,you must do the "stack" if your legs and health with do it!!
Enjoy Lyndon & Bernadette

Hi Brian,
I can't say anything about the road conditions but I can say I'm green with envy. I have to wait till mid August before we get to Lawn Hill. Have a great trip yar lucky bugger.
Regards, Monkey.

Yeah you bugger, we won't be there until mid sept.
Have a great trip..
Regards
Tour Boy

Brian DJ, just picked up your post today. We were there about 5 weeks ago - a highlight of our trip so far. Endorse the comments above re the bitumen "strip" roads - have found them more dangerous than the gravel and bulldust because of the speed of others. You can still camp on the river at Gregory Downs by the way, but be a bit cautious about the locals down on the river on Fri or Sat nights - can be a bit unpleasant. It's a beautiful spot but we spent a sleepless night there.
Adel's grove is great - we spent 4 nights there - walked around the gorge every morning and swam in the water hole at Adel's.
The Riversleigh trip is well worthwhile - you get a lot of info about the flora and fauna on the way, and some tips about some less frequented spots to go. The camp ground at Lawn Hill itself isn't much chop.
The road from Greg Downs to Lawn hill is fine, as long as you take it slow and give the big guys plenty of room. The road from Lawn Hill to Camooweal is pretty rough in spots - I wouldn't take a caravan on it - but I saw one person doing it.
Hope this helps.
Craig M

Brain

Go! Well worth the trip, having done so ourselves in May this year.

I'd only add that before canoeing up the gorges, you do some training and use of potentially not often used lower back muscles. I didn't, and had to have canoe tipped on its side after three hours so I could get out. Wasn't the only one either - and my back was out of kilter for many days afterwards - ain't it grand being in your 50's?

Regards,