Leichhardt Lagoon

10 - 11 August 2014

We had front row seats to the beautiful Leichhardt Lagoon sunset

We arrived early at our camp for the night - Leichhardt Lagoon. It is a really nice spot if you can ignore the cranky and rude caretaker. Camp spots are allocated along the lagoon which hosts an abundance of bird life. Again, there were lots of friendly people there. The facilities are basic - but clean - and the showers have hot water, which is a bonus. Mick spent a good bit of time with the camera, including capturing the lovely sunset. Don't be put off by the signs warning of fresh and salt water crocodiles and venomous snakes inhabiting the place - the most unfriendly beast we came across was the caretaker.

Eastern Great Egret hunting

Comb-crested Jacana

White- necked Heron

Karumba

8 - 10 August 2014

We had intended to stay at the same caravan park at Karumba Point we stayed at last time we were there but realised we had booked in to the other one which is further from the point beach. We checked in and were shown to a camping sport wedged between two caravans and a fence separating us from the clothes lines. It was then we decided we really don't like caravan parks! Too many people, too close together. Having said that, the people at the park were very friendly. For dinner we made the obligatory visit to the Sunset Tavern to see the sunset over the water. It is a beautiful way to spend an evening. 

On Saturday we spent the day visiting various "birdy" spots - well Mick did, I was the taxi driver, dropping him off and picking him up later. I can now add the Karumba dump to the list of beautiful spots Mick has taken me to! We joined other travellers - and many who had set up fairly permanent camps - at the caravan park for the Saturday Night Free Fish BBQ. You take your own salad, plates etc and they provide fillets of fresh fish. It's well organised and there was a generous serving for a free event - and the opportunity for seconds. We only stayed a little while for the home grown entertainment.

On Sunday morning we rose early and packed ready to leave. A quick visit to the beach and then the markets (at the tavern) and then into Karumba for a specialist birdwatching cruise with the Karumba Ferryman. Unfortunately there weren't many birds about but the skipper kept looking and looking to get as many for us (Mick) as he could. 

Mangrove Gerygone

Mangrove Grey Fantail

Rufous-banded Honeyeater

Female White-breasted Whistler

Wilma the Black-necked Stork

Red-headed Honeyeater

The expected two hour cruise turned into almost three hours. We stopped at the park for an early lunch and then moved on to Leichhardt Lagoon.

Normanton

7-8 August 2014

After a long drive we decided to get a cabin for the night but there was nothing available so we took a motel room. Very expensive - but what we needed. We checked into the visitor information centre and were given lots of good information about local bird watching spots.

After a relaxed start to the day - no packing up camp - we headed out to visit some birdy spots (the back of the dam and wetlands along the road) and then on to Karumba. 

Adel's Grove

5 - 7 August 2014

The drive from the National Park to Adel's Grove was probably the worst section of the unsealed road from Gregory Downs to Boodjamulla, so it took us about half an hour to travel the 10 kilometres. We had been booked into the grove section and instructed to pick our own campsite, which we did. The grove is really shady and closest to the creek - but it was oh, so cold! Mick ventured up to the other camping area - the one where we had been camped last time we were here 12 years ago - and decided it was much nicer. He was right so we requested a move to site number 6, and moved our camp. We had set up and packed up twice in one day - so we though that deserved an ice cream. That's one of the reasons for staying at Adel's Grove! We had a lazy afternoon (it was too cold for a swim) - which was very much appreciated after all the activity of the last few days.

In the morning we ventured out on the walk up to Lookout Hill. It was a fairly easy walk that takes you up to the only spot where you can get mobile phone coverage. We did what others were doing, and used our phones for the first time in a few days. The view from the hill is fantastic. 
 

Communication starved pilgrims feel compelled to erect a cairn commemorating their conversation

  We walked back down and turned off to return to camp via the "nature walk" which takes you along the creek. It's a lovely, mostly shaded, stroll. 

Because it was much warmer we decided on a swim. We went to the "beach" area as it is much easier access to the water - and shallower. After the initial shock to the system we enjoyed a pleasant - but short - swim, followed by another ice cream!

Buff-sided Robin is common along the creek

Long-tailed Finch came in to drink along the nature walk in the afternoon

 We made the effort to get up early in the morning as we knew we had another long drive ahead of us. It was about 640km from Adel's Grove to our next destination - Normanton, with not much in between. We made good time and made the drive - without incident - in about 6 hours. 

• Although expensive, luxuries like ice cream as well as more basic supplies like bread, gas, petrol and ice are available
• Fires are allowed
• Good birding

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park

2 - 5 August 2014

Unfortunately the "Crazy Lady" thought we should go back through Mt Isa - which might be a shorter route but is definitely 4WD only - thank goodness for maps, sign posts and a little bit of local knowledge! We stopped for petrol and morning tea and Burke and Wills Roadhouse and then moved on to Gregory Downs where we had lunch. Then it was on to the unsealed road to Boodjamulla. Parts of the road had been recently graded and most was in fairly reasonable condition so we arrived at Boodjamulla by about three in the afternoon. It had been a big day's drive, with a cold tailwind all the way.

We decided our first walk would be the Indarri Falls walk which we had done with the kids when we last visited 12 years ago. We headed out straight after breakfast before the day started to warm up too much. The walk, if done in the clockwise direction is rated as "moderate" so of course we went that way. We both remembered the steep descent and had no desire to do it as an ascent. We rewarded ourselves with a swim at the falls before the climb along the cliffs and then along the flat back to camp. 

Indarri Falls swimming area

We managed the walk well enough for a couple of old folks. It seemed to more difficult in my memory - but then it had been near 40 degrees and the girls were only 8 and 6 last time. 

Ring-tailed Dragon seen on the walk

One of the amazing views on this walk. The swimming area is on the left.

Mick had been hoping to see a spinifex pigeon for some time and we couldn't believe our eyes when two walked right across the path in from of us. On closer investigation, we realised there were five moving about in the spinifex - so a good bit of time was spent stalking them with the camera. 

Later in the afternoon we walked down to the cascades - which weren't cascading due to lack of water, but it was a nice walk anyway. We finished the afternoon with a swim in Lawn Hill Creek, back at the camp site.

During the night the wind had come up and the morning was really cold. We were glad we had decided on taking the electric powered boat tour instead of canoeing. The boat tour has only been operating for a few weeks and was a great way to see the gorge from inside - without battling the elements, and besides, Mick wouldn't have been able to take the camera in a canoe. The tour took about an hour and afterwards, the wind was still blowing, and it was still quite cool, but we decided to walk back towards Indarri Falls, and then on to the Upper Gorge track. This track is rated "difficult" so we opted to do the easiest part along the creek and then back over the hill onto the flat ground. It was well worth the effort, and parts of this walk were quite different to the Indarri Falls walk.

On our final morning we walked down again to the cascades to take some photos of the cliff faces with the morning sun on them, then headed off for the short drive to Adel's Grove.

The Cascades

Cloncurry

1 -2 August 2014

This was the weekend of the "Cloncurry Merry Muster" so there were lots of visitors in town - and country music playing in the streets. We chose to have a night in a cabin at a caravan park so we could get everything ready for a long day's drive to Boodjamulla. Washing, shopping, sitting in air conditioned comfort, checking emails and enjoying a bit of luxury. Beer in the fridge, ice in the freezer, pantry stocked - ready to go.

We were able to make a reasonably early start, after picking up fresh bread and take-away coffee.

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.