Down the Queensland Coast and Inland - Bowen, Cape Palmerston, Rubyvale and Charleville

Bowen

23 - 24 August 2018

So here we are, on the road again. This time we plan to be away for many months so we have a garden-loving house sitter who will stay as long as we are away. We plan to travel all the way to the south-west corner of Western Australia, before moving on to Tasmania to spend time with our daughters, then eventually make our way home. Which way will we travel home? Only time will tell.

We set off from Townsville for the short journey to Bowen to meet up with my sister and her partner. They had spent some time travelling up the Queensland coast and were headed south towards their home in Sydney, so Bowen seemed like a nice spot to camp with them for the first time. We chose a caravan park close to town, and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon walking along the waterfront, marina, and finally up to the pub for a very nice meal.

Drinks in Bowen.

Along for the journey this time is our daughters' Pooh Bear. So, this trip will be known as the 'Big Pooh Tour'. Pooh by the marina.

Being our first night in the camper-trailer since September last year, we were a little rusty, but were confident we would soon have all the things we have to do for a successful camp, sorted within the first few days.

A walk along the jetty was very pleasant and we saw some egrets and a Brahminy Kite. Mick.

Cape Palmerston
24 - 25 August 2018

We left Bronwyn and John to do some further exploring in Bowen, and kept going further south to Cape Palmerston, meeting them at Sarina for lunch. The Visitor Information Centre is well located, and you are welcome to sit and have lunch on the shady verandah of the Arts and Crafts building. The very hospitable volunteers even offered tea and biscuits!

Moving on from Sarina, we made our way to the caravan park at Cape Palmerston. We had looked in once before but not stayed – seeing little shade on a really hot day, but this time, on checking in, we discovered a lovely open area, at the back of the park, with lots of trees around. A short walk through the bush takes you to a lovely stretch of beach – although the VERY low tide meant we didn’t touch the water. It was a nice spot for Friday drinks at sunset though.

Enjoying Friday drinks and a nice sunset.

John

In the morning we parted ways with Bronwyn and John and headed back to Sarina, then to the Peak Downs Highway for the journey through the coalfields.

A Sacred Ibis showing off the sheen on its wings.

Rubyvale
25 - 26 August 2018

    

We drove through the coalfields and eventually stopped for lunch at Isaac River Rest Area, a typical rest area with toilets and tables. We then drove on to Clermont where we stopped for a walk around Hood’s Lagoon. Typically, Mick stopped to chat to a fellow bird photographer who recognised his name and accurately recalled some of his work from a bird photography site. We had thought we might spend the night in Clermont, but decided to press on to Rubyvale. This took us along some back roads to the small town in the gemfields.

Great Egret

Australian Pelican

Darter male

Rainbow Lorikeets check out a nest hollow.

We settled in to the caravan park, and even ventured across the road to the pub for a drink. After a couple of nights of clear skies, and knowing we were in the middle of a drought, we were very surprised to see rain clouds gathering and the first drops of rain falling just as we started preparing our dinner. We hastily erected the awing, and carried on. The rain was really just a few small showers at intervals throughout the night, but no doubt appreciated by locals.

Charleville

26 – 27 August 2018

We left Rubyvale and made our first stop just down the road at Sapphire where the Sunday Markets were being held. As expected, there were lots of stalls with sapphires and other gems, as well as lots of jewellery. Some of the usual markets wares were also for sale – books, bric-a-brac, fruit and veggies, craft etc.

From Sapphire we drove on to Alpha where we stopped for morning tea in a park in the town. Just a short stop and then back on the road again, on another back road, to Tambo. This road was a mix of sealed and unsealed but was the most direct route. We stopped in Tambo at the roadside stop on the edge of town, and enjoyed the excellent facilities – toilets, picnic tables and a walk along the lagoon. Again, we decided to keep driving, with Charleville as our destination.

Emu at the turn off to the caravan park.

Grey Butcherbird

 After stopping for fuel in Augathella, we reached Charleville and set up at a caravan park in a bush setting. We prepared for a cold night ahead knowing that this was what we would be encountering for some time to come, as we travel south and west.

We left Charleville for the relatively short drive to Cunnamulla, and stopped for lunch at a spot known as The Beach, on the Warrego River near Wyandra. From there it was on the Bowra, via Cunnamulla.