Hughenden to Mt Isa

Submitted: Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 21:16
ThreadID: 84686 Views:2809 Replies:4 FollowUps:2
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G'Day. We are heading to the NT and Kimberleys in May and are tossing up whether to head straight to Mt Isa on the Flinders Hwy or going via Winton and Cloncurry, or Winton and Boulia. First trip over that way.

Towing a self-sufficient van, we're giving ourselves three weeks to get to Darwin from Townsville. Any thoughts or suggestions on road conditions, things to see or pllaces to stay would be appreciated.

Cheers
Donga
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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 21:49

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 21:49
you also can go via the "Savannah Way" and take in Lawn Hill/Adels Grove, Kingfisher Camp to Booraloola to Daly waters pub and to Katherine.....
Turn in from Isa or turn in at Cloncurrie or even before that, your call i guess, 3 weeks is a decent amount of time to do it ......
You can also cut from Boorloola to Roper River, also an interesting drive........
Not sure what type of car you have ???
Cheers
Joe
AnswerID: 446943

Follow Up By: Member - Michael John T (VIC) - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 22:37

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 22:37
Depends what you mean by self sufficient van. If its a caravan then the Savannah Way via either Booraloola or Roper River would NOT be suitable.

Regards,

Mike.
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Reply By: SDG - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 23:33

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 23:33
I stayed at Richmond a couple of years back. Halfway between Townsville and Mt Isa. Stayed at the caravan park which was cheap. Really nice Blue Clawed Yabbies in the lake, and the best snags I have ever had from the local butchers. Went fosiking for dinosaur bones and came back with a flipper from some water animal (can't remember the name) and some sharks teeth. All around the area is what known as the dinosaur trail or triangle as it is also known. Any dinosaur bones found can be legally kept as the Government does not want them.

Stayed in Winton as well. They have the attraction of a preserved dinosaur stampede which Stephen Spielberg studied to make his film Jurrasic Park. (Stampede scene) They also have a museum for Banjo Patterson.
AnswerID: 446961

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 00:33

Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 00:33
Hi Donga

We were heading in the other direction to you, but on our big trip 2009 we chose to go to Boulia, Winton and Hughenden to see the fossil country which was a priority on our trip.Lawn Hill was also a highlight and we spent a few days in Mount Isa.

Our Queensland trip included: Lawn Hill, Mt Isa, Boulia-Winton-Hughenden fossil country, Porcupine Gorge, Longreach, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Blackall, Barcaldine, Carnarvon Gorge, Mt Moffatt, Roma, Miles, Jondaryan, Oakey, Nobby, Clifton, Girraween NP.Blogs not done yet :(

Considering the rain, I don't expect roads in Queensland to be good for a long time. As it was, in the Queensland clay country, roads and even the highways had a lot of subsidence, making a rock and roll and when towing, harder driving than corrugated dirt roads!

Motherhen
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AnswerID: 446967

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 11:33

Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 11:33
Longreach is a bit out of your way but we thought the Hall of Fame and the Qantas museum were both very good. Anything to do with the dinosaur triangle (Hughenden, Richmond, Winton) is hugely impressive to me - each place has displays and info for visitors - Lark Quarry, 100k out from Winton is truly amazing. Richmond and Hughenden visitor info centres can put you on to a couple of fossiking sites - it's good fun to bring gazillion year old critters home from such a trip :-o). Cloncurry has an important history - there's visitor info there too.
AnswerID: 446995

Follow Up By: Member - Peter B2 (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 21:40

Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 21:40
Thanks everyone for your replies. Would like to get to Winton and Lark Quarry, but I guess it all depends on the weather and road conditions. With the wet season not finishing till April, who knows what will happen between now and then. Pretty wet in FNQ with flooding and highway closures.
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