Archive for the ‘Interesting Locations to visit’ Category

We enjoyed getting up early for sunrise, with a few other enthusiats and watching the fisherman trying their luck.

Sunrise at Stockton, Newcastle

Within two hours of Brisbane there are many outdoor activites that can be enjoyed by all.  Today we enjoyed whale watching, with the added benefit of seeing sea turtles and dolphins.  We were lucky enough to go in our own boat, but if you are visiting, there are many whale watching boats that can take you out.  For those with a few more days in Brisbane, perhaps before you pick up your campervan or motorhome, you could even spend a few days on Moreton Island.  There is a whale watching boat that can pick you up from Tangalooma also.  Currently the humpback whales are migrating north.

Humpback Whale off Moreton Island

When travelling in your campervan or motorhome around the Mission Beach area (south of Cairns) consider staying at Bingle Bay, about 5 km north.  There is a beautiful council run campground, complete with toilets and a hot shower.  It is a fairly small campground, and only $15 when we visited.  Being so close to Mission Beach where there are a number of campgrounds, it is worth the risk to see if you can fit into this camp.

We enjoyed our lamb kebabs on the communal BBQ, after a relaxing few drinks enjoying the colourful sky from sunset.  The location was so beautiful, we spent a relaxing few hours enjoying the view before heading south to Mission Beach.

Bingle Bay

Recently, on our last campervan adventure we joined Bruce’s Daintree River Cruises and this was definitely an experience to remember.  The cruise was for an hour, with our sole goal of spotting a croc.  We were not disappointed, but today I want to share another unexpected delight.

green tree snake, attacks tree frog while butcher bird tries to steal the kill

Picture this…we’re cruising along in the boat, in a side arm to the Daintree River, after just seeing our third croc.  We’re all back in our seats, when we hear lots of screeches.  Quick as  flash, Bruce turns the boat around and takes us to the other bank.  A snake’s got a frog, he tells us.  There’s another almighty but different shreech this time.  A butcher bird is now trying to steal the frog from the green tree snake.  What a commotion!  We’re right amongst it.  Bruce spots the snake first, and we’re all rattling of a few photos.  The large frog is hanging out of the snakes mouth, and it is still live.  It’s trying to get away from the snake and the bird.  The snake keeps sliding through the branches.  How it doesn’ fall, I don’t know.  It’s retreating onto the banks of the river, deeper inside the mangroves.  This is the only chance the snake will have to keep it’s lunch.  We can see perfectly, and manage to rattle off a few more shots.  We don’t hear the butcher bird anymore – I guess the big white boat has scared it away.  It’s not long and the frog is dead, the snake slides away with it’s tucker.  The whole show only lasts a minute, but seems much longer in the moment.

What a treat nature provides to the interested spectator.  If you’d like to know more about cruises on the Daintree River, let us know.  We can package this tour with your camper hire  which will save you money.

If you’d like to read other articles for tips and inspriation of where to travel when you hire a camper van in Australia, have a look at our regularly updated blog.

What are the min min lights? 
Well, its an intersting question…and we’re not sure that anyone REALLY knows.  There’s an excellent attraction in Boulia which depicts the different theories as to what causes the Min Min lights.  Ask some of the locals to get their take and you might be surprised by their answers.  It is a strange spectral light that can appear, hover, disappear and reappear with an eerie will of its own.

Most often it has been described as a hovering luminescent ball and has teased travellers, road train drivers and locals for years.  It never approaches close enough to be clearly examined and scientists are babble to explain this phenomenon.

If you are travelling through Boulia in your campervan, pop into the Min Min Encounter display.  It costs around AU $15, but we thought was worth it.  You walk through a number of displays which come to life, telling the story behind the different theories.  This also gives you the opportunity to see what they are really like.

If you are travelling from Winton to Mt Isa, there are two route choices.  The first being via Middleton and Boulia for spectacular scenery, historic sites, wildlife and the wonderous Min Min Lights.  The second is along the more worn path of the Landsborough Hwy via McKinlay and the Walkabout Creek Hotel .  Both roads are sealed and perfect for campervan travel.  We chose the former, and were not disappointed at all.  The scenery and wildlife was spectacular, however the Middleton Pub was the hidden gem.  The owners of one of the most isolated pubs in Queensland, Les and Val are very welcoming.

Hilton Hotel at Middleton

After a day behind the wheel, we decided we’d stay at the Hilton Hotel, which is a parking space and shed across the road from the Middleton Pub.  Les even has a fire place there to keep travellers toasty warm.  Outside the pub is one of the former Cobb and Co coaches, which is a reminder this was once a staging post.  The small town that grew up around the hotel has since disappeared, but Les and Val are still going strong, having been at the pub for six years, and in the area for many.  Both are very welcoming, and a cold beer is on the bar quick smart as we enter the old pub.  The walls are lined with photographs from the region and a few opals are even for sale.

Les and Val, publicans at Middleton Pub

We enjoyed chatting with a road train driver who popped in for this coffee and two pies – his rig was 50 metres long.  At the same time, one of the local landowners was also passing, so popped in for a beer.  We wondered how much land he had….‘oh, a million acres or so’….WOW!  He can run anywhere from 2000 – 12000 head of cattle, depending on the season, but generally it’ s between 10000 – 12000.  We also found out from the road train driver and property owner that there are usually 12 – 13 head of cattle loaded per deck.  In times of drought or stressed cattle, they would usually drop that to 11 – 12 head of cattle incase one falls, it can then get up again.  The road train driver makes a huge difference to the state  of the cattle on arrival at their destination. 

We also met surveyors and road workers, working in the area.  They were staying in the motel units out the back of the Middleton Pub.

The scenery around the pub really is quite spectacular.  Les also told us about where you can see a natural rock bridge from the road…but hey, you’ll have to pop in and say g’day to Les and Val to find out about that beauty.  Ask him to show you the pictures of the camels too…he’ll know what what you mean.  And tell him the team at Gallivanting Oz say ‘hi’.  Enjoy!

sunrise, Middleton

This is a little gem worth checking out if you are exploring the outback of Queensland.  The turn off to Tregole National Park is 10 km south of Morven, on the Morven - Bollon Road – or to put it in the bigger picture about 160km west of Roma.

Tregole National Park is unique for it’s rare Ooline trees.  These trees have rain forest origins and it is unusual to see them in an arid area.  The park conserves almost pure stands of the attractive Ooline.  The Ooline is a medium to large tree with bright green leaves and rough tile patterned bark.  The tree has rain forest origins dating back to the Pleistocene Era when most of Australia was much wetter than it is today.

The National Park does not allow camping, however has a day use area and a peaceful spot to stop for lunch.  On our visit there was also a bit of wildlife like sand goannas and plenty of butterflies and birds.  There’s a nice walking circuit through the area (2.1 km) and information of the plants/wildlife that you would expect to see on the walk is provided.  Enjoy!

Ooline Trees, Tregole National Park

Has anyone been to Blackall?   On our last campervan adventure, we enjoyed the Woolscour, a historic wool washing plant http://blackallwoolscour.jimdo.com/ and the only complete operation of its kind left in Oz.  The tour is worth doing where you learn all about the Golden Age of Wool and a tour of the complete area, including the shearing sheds, and woold scour.  They even fired up the old steam machines while we were there.  The wool scour also has one of the few remaining examples of a free flowing artesian bore.  They also do bush dinners on selected nights during the week – check out their website for more information.  Judging from the smells coming from the kitchen, you would want to plan your campervan visit to Blackall to include this.

Blackall Woolscour

Also famous for the ‘black stump’, and an old fella we met there – Doug Henderson – an old opal miner who gave us a few boulder opals, plus … a few stories of his time mining…but then thats another story!  It’s so fantastic the characters you meet in the outback.

Finally an excellent place to camp if you’d like a nice freedom camping spot is Douglas Ponds Creek, which is 23 km N of Blackall.  If you are using the Camps Australia Wide Guide, (which we give to you for FREE if you hire a campervan with us over 21 days, check our website for more info!) the number is 687.  (On the maps it seems to be marked as day use 627.)  It’s a great spot for self contained campervanners where we enjoyed another fantastic evening with a campfire.  We were also treated to a spectacular sunrise in the morning – only for the early risers!

Camp oven in the hot coals

Memorial to the Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ but have you heard of Barcaldine? About 100km east of Longreach is the home of this famous landmark. The 1891 Shearers Strike took place beneath the shade of the old Ghost Gum, better known today as the Tree of Knowledge – this then led to the formation of the Australian Labour Movement. The 170 – 200 year old tree was poisoned in 2006, and now there is a ‘memorial’ to the Tree of Knowledge.

Barcaldine has a population of 1700, is a town filled with history and colour.  It is often referred to as the Garden City of the West because of its beautiful gardens and wide tree lined streets.

Memorial to the Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine

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