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.

Clem Walton Park

31 July - 1 August 2014

Back home! Well, it felt a bit like that after Mt Isa. After only one day in "The Isa" we'd had enough - I really can't see any reason to visit there ever again. Another peaceful night - with the best view, then on to Cloncurry.

The creek bed is mostly dry, concentrating wildlife at the few remaining pools.

The light on the rocky hills at sunset and sunrise is amazing.

Clem Walton Park (half way between Cloncurry and Mt Isa)

28 - 30 July 2014

The following morning we headed off on the short drive to Clem Walton Park. We had both read about this place in different places (birdwatching magazines, travellers' blogs and tourist websites). The main camping area is at the Corella Dam, but there are no toilets there so we made our way to the park which is by the creek. It is by far a much nicer place to camp, even though there is very little water left in the creek. The toilets weren't working when we arrived - the tank was empty so we carried buckets of water to flush  - as did the few others camped there. We pitched the tent on the edge of the picnic area, near the remaining pools of water. 
 

Our humble camp

The others were camped further along at the dry end of creek bank so it was a fairly private camping spot. We were visited several times each day by other campers coming to collect water - all really nice people who stopped for a bit of a chin wag. We heard later that they referred to us as the "young couple". The view was magnificent as the water attracted lots of birds and other wildlife.

Didn't want to let the birds drink alone

A wonderful place to watch and photograph wildlife

A great variety of birds make a home in this dry, rugged country. The scarce waterholes become the focal point of their existence.

Kangaroos regularly came down the rocky hillside to drink

We packed up and pottered around on our last morning - thinking maybe we could have stayed longer when our peace was invaded by a group of three caravans. In no time they had "parked the wagons in a circle", hung up washing and generally taken over the space - we were right to be moving on.

We will definitely be back - hopefully when there is some more water - but before it gets crowded with travelers.