Clem Walton Park

12 - 13 September 2017

We first visited in 2014 and fell in love with the place, so we were keen to return. The turn-off is about half-way between Cloncurry and Mount Isa, and is well signposted. You have to drive through a gate at the start of the road, then turn off to Clem Walton Park and go through another gate. The road is narrow, unsealed and windy, but it is worth it to get to this spot. Don't confuse Clem Walton Park with Corella Dam which is accessed from the same highway turn-off, but the dam campground is usually chocka-block full of caravans and not nearly as peaceful as the smaller and harder to get to spot on the creek.

Because we weren't far away at West Leichardt Station we arrived well before lunch time and there were a couple of caravans and camper vans in the main picnic/camping area, and some more further along the creek. There are toilets at the picnic area so we picked a spot there and were lucky to get one right on the creek - with water views. Last time we visited there was only a few puddles but this time there was a creek full of water. Unfortunately it was also full of weeds so a swim was out of the question.

Much more water present than our first visit.

Even more unfortunate, we had arrived in the middle of a heat wave - with temperatures expected to reach the mid-thirties for a few days. We were hoping to stay for two or three nights, but after experiencing 37° in the shade and 49° inside the tent during the afternoon we decided to have just one night before finding somewhere cooler, or with a pool. As luck would have it though, we still had ice-creams in the freezer so it wasn't a complete disaster of an afternoon.

This was a great birding spot when we first visited. With only a couple of water holes remaining, birds were more concentrated and easier to get close to. The same birds were about but were drinking on the far side of the creek among thick vegetation.  

We heard camels coming in to drink in the early hours of the morning but did not see them. Mick

There were plenty of Hardheads in the creek.

Even room for a Pelican.

Quiet cattle roamed through the camp in the afternoon.

There were a few Mertens' Water Monitors around this time.

The one positive of warmer temperatures is that it is much easier to pack up the camper trailer when the canvas is warm so we made a reasonably early start in the morning and headed towards Cloncurry.