Qld Channel Country Tips, Pls

Jack,
How far north & west are you looking at?
What do you consider as the Channel Country?
Longreach, Winton, Lark Quarry, Windorah, the Dig Tree and Cameron Corner are worth a visit.
High clearance is the go with those roads in the dry. Watch out for roadtrains (some with three trailers).
For what its worth.
Jon W

Stop at the pub at Windorah and have a meal. Biggest steak you'll see :)) There's fairly cheap cabins in Windorah if you need somewhere to stay.
Check out the local tourist trail down by the Cioopers Creek, and have a yarn with the publican and possiblt the local copper. Both nice people.
If fuelling up there, you might be lucky enough to be served by a blind fella, so go easy on him when he asks how much fuel you put in :))
If buying diesel in Quilpie, don't do it on a weekend as they close at 12.30 Sat and dont re open again till Monday.
Oh and stay out of the Channel country if there's been a lot of rain.

If you are travelling Winton to Windorah there is good camping and fishing at "rocky crossing" where the Mayne river crosses the road. You will recognise it when you come to it.
If going down to Thargomindah, turn off the Quilpie road at Thylungra and go across to the Kyabra waterholes, top camp spot with a huge water area, bird life, fishing etc. Continue on this road to Eromanga for a beer at the Royal Hotel then on to the Thargo. rd.
At Noccundra, more good camping and fishing on the Wilson river.
If going through Quilpie, Lake Houdraman on the eastern side of town is another top camp spot. All the channels around the area abound with yabbies, dont forget your opera house nets!
The 2 supermarkets in Quilpie are very reasonably priced with specials every week. The butcher is the best in W.Qld.!
We will be in the area from next week, but opal mining.
As mentioned, keep a good lookout for road trains and triple tankers. Those roads are quite narrow and the truckies on a tight schedule. They appreciate you pulling over, stopping if needed. Always a clue to look at the wind direction and pull off on the upwind side of the road. The amount of dust those triples carry along is incredible.
furph

Hi Jack
I think talk back radio and news in Brissie yesterday had quite a bit about closures in the Carnarvon area to cull 4000 to 6000 brumbies by gunmen in a chopper. This could take a bit of time, so if you haven't looked into area closures for this horse annihilation, it may be worth your time.
Cheers

thanks. Obviously have not heard anything about it this far south, but will enquire before we leave just to make sure. Fortunately we have no time constraints, but being stuck somewhere you don't want to be stuck can be a pain.

Jack

G'Day Jack,
We love the Channel Country...make sure you see and camp at Currawinya Nat Park on the Paroo River just North of Hungerford on the Border....the waterholes are many and filled with wildlife and birds. Currawinya is home of the 2 huge lakes that sit side by side...Lake Wyara and Lake Numalla...one is fresh and the other is salt.

We did 3 weeks in the Channel Country last year in September and have about 8 pages of pics and story on our web siyte if you're interested.

www.nomadznow.com

Cheers
Rick

A few useful links for you, I have collected these as I will be following behind you by a few weeks. I have not included one for Quilpie as theirs has been off the air for a few weeks.

http://www.barcoo.qld.gov.au/

Diamantina Attractions

Site Link

http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/links.html

Lake Eyre Yacht Club

http://www.paroo.info/Home.aspx

http://www.kilcowera.com.au/index.htm

http://www.windorah.net/

PeterD

I am grateful for all the replies on this thread. It certainly supplements the material I have already put together, and am certain it will be a terrific trip.

Thanks to all for your helpful responses.

Travel safely!!

Jack

Jack,

On top of all the other suggestions you've had, these are few others, some just being a point of interest along the way.

JC Hotel ruins, west of Windorah;
Mt Henderson (hole in the hill) W of Windorah.
Lake Machattie By-pass road. North of Birdsville, good change from the straight road up to Bedourie. Doubt if there would be much, or any water in the lake, due to dry season this year.
Waddi trees, south of Boulia. Wood of these trees is as hard as.....
Diamantina Lakes NP.
Mayne Pub
Cawnpore Hills lookout, between Boulia & Winton.
Min Min Pub ruins
Middleton Pub
Old Cork waterhole & Old Cork Ruins
Lark Quarry
Waltzing Matilda Centre & Museum, & Corfield & Fitzmaqurice Store & display, in Winton.
Bladensburg NP
Road up through Coorabulka(wide open spaces-guaranteed!!!), from Bedourie. thence to Boulia, or Springvale & Diamantina Lakes.
Fair bit to see around Boulia, Stone House, Old Police Barracks & Min Min Centre
Hamilton Pub ruins, east of Boulia.

Those few ought to keep you going for a while, Jack. Oh, and don't forget to stop @ Tatt's hotel in Winton, for a feed. cold beer, and with the tables outside, you can relax and watch the worrld go by.

Safe trip,
Hooroo,
Bob.