Outback QLD Camping

Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 12:38
ThreadID: 80050 Views:3407 Replies:4 FollowUps:1
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Any trip advice would be muchly appreciated.

Here are our pending trip details:

Day One: Toowoomba to Charleville
Day Two: Charleville to Windorah
Day Three: Windorah to Birdsville
Day Four: Birdsville
Day Five: Birdsville to Boulia
Day Six: Boulia to Winton
Day Seven: Winton to Longreach
Day Eight: Longreach
Day Nine: Blackall
Day Ten: Property out of Blackall
Day Eleven: Blackall to Toowoomba

Does anyone have advice on preparing for this trip? Places to camp? Things to see? Travel times? Should we stay at places longer?

We really have max of 14 days (fortnight)

Other info:
Just my husband and I.
Travelling in 2001 Rav 4
Camping in an Oztent RV3

Any help would be much appreciated.
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Reply By: Member - Amy G (QLD) - Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 14:09

Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 14:09
Looks fairly similar to a trip we are taking in a couple of weeks (ours has been re-worked about 14 times so far!)

I'd add a couple of days to make up your fortnight (can you include both weekends for an extra two days as well?) as that is a lot of km from Toowomba. I'd look at more things around the Western corner- there are lots of good places to see in the channel country, including

- Diamantina Lakes National Park (big, leave at least a day there)
- Welford National Park (Winton-Jundah Road) or Lochern NP (same road)
- Lark Quarry (off of Winton-Jundah Road)
- Old Cork Station (North of Diamantina Lakes or ~80km west of Lark Quarry)
- Bladensburg NP (close to Winton)

You could drop into Salvator Rosa section of Carnarvon NP from Blackall as well- diverts from highway around Tambo on the way back to Toowoomba.

Be careful with fuel stops too- no idea how many km you get out of a tank in a Rav but you might need to plan them or take a couple of jerrys.

It really depends if you want to spend your whole time on the highway I guess- have you planned the things you want to see in and between each of the towns? It looks like a lot of driving and not much time at all to see what's there when you get there... calculate the km per day travelled and then estimate your speed for that leg and you can find out how many hours you're likely to spend in the car.
AnswerID: 423895

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 16:34

Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 16:34
You can free camp on the Cooper, with toilets & water, just outside Windorah.
Camp free also at the Middleton Hotel, showers for donation to RFDS. Spend an evening with Lester & the family ..you will not be disappointed, he is an icon of
that country. A slab of beer $50, may get you a chopper ride as well.
The Min Min show in Boulia is well worth the money as is the Stockmans Hall of Fame in Longreach. Great machinery museum in Ilfracombe, you cant miss it..takes up the main street.
You will be busy, but your itinerary is doable..enjoy....oldbaz.
AnswerID: 423909

Reply By: Holiday Hound - Thursday, Jul 15, 2010 at 21:21

Thursday, Jul 15, 2010 at 21:21
Definately add Lark Quarry to your list-it is fascinating.
Out ofWinton you could stay in the National Park- Bladensberg on the way to Lark Quarry . In Winton if you want to stay in a caravan park there are just two. in Winton there is the Waltzing Matilda museum and some great pubs where you will be very well fed.
In LOngreach we stayed at a big Caravan park there, and in a cabin as it was middle of winter! You can free camp just out of town on the river, but its a very crowded spot.

Up around Birdsville, we covered Innaminka and Coongie Lakes which we loved. You can just keep going though-so much to do!
AnswerID: 424154

Follow Up By: oztours - Friday, Jul 16, 2010 at 08:45

Friday, Jul 16, 2010 at 08:45
Lark Quarry!! How far out of the way is it? And how long should we spend there?
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FollowupID: 694583

Reply By: Qldrrr - Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 at 20:28

Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 at 20:28
Hi guys, have just crossed the Donahue / Plenty Highway to Alice from Boulia. Went to Windorah with plans to get to Birdsville but road was shut - at any rate by all accounts its a mess out there - the camp grounds are boggy and you can't get to big red. Drove from Windorah to Bedourie - this road was a bit wet and boggy but you'd do it ok now - 4 days ago it was high 4WD access only. Stay at the council park at Bedourie as you drive in just on the left - $6.40 per person great showers / toilets / washing machines - that's a decent day's drive on a bit of a dodgy road. Can't help after Boulie - nice clean little town - good luck and happy travels.
AnswerID: 424340

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