Dinosaurs & Camels

 The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is about 25km out of Winton. Home Page (australianageofdinosaurs.com) We purchased a VIP Pass so that we could do the tours on offer at the museum and also go to Lark Quarry. Also purchasing the tour for the Gondwana Stars Observatory. 

We began with our first tour on at the Fossil Preparation Lab, this was a very interesting tour learning about the discovery David Elliot made of an odd looking rock has ultimately resulted in the area becoming known for its fossils and the discovery of Australian Dinosaurs, best known "Banjo" and "Matilda" but also others.

The Fossil Preparation Lab has volunteers (as well as employees) working on uncovering bones from dig sites, you will usually see them busy at work. There is over 10 years worth of work to get done now, so if you have time and think you would maybe like this opportunity at some stage contact the AAOD museum and speak to them about the Prep-a-Dino experience and perhaps go on to become and Honorary Technician. Australian Age of Dinosaurs | Prep-A-Dino  

Once we had finished here we went back up to Reception and onto the Collection Room tour, where we saw Banjo and Matilda's bones and watched a presentation on them.
After that it was on to the Jump Up for the March of the Titanosaurs exhibition, an amazing look at an actual prints of dinosaurs that has been moved to the area from where it was discovered - to keep it preserved in a specially built building that keeps the temperature at a stable 25'c. 

The large piece of earth was moved to the area over a three year period and it is wonderful that we can view this 95 million years after it occurred!

Once the tour had finished of this we were free to go and look at Dinosaur Canyon, a great walk with replicas of dinosaurs in the environment. When you are given the books for this tour there are "rubbing" pages as there are plates at different sections. You are provided with pencils so that you are able to do this and even the big kids enjoy this activity. You return to reception and it is a great opportunity to look at the shop (many great gift/souvenirs here) and have something to eat and drink at the Cretaceous Cafe whilst enjoying the view.                                                                                                                                              

We were fortunate enough to be in Winton for the Camel Races on the Saturday and after the AAOD tours, we headed to watch a race! It was quite an event! They also had some novelty races for everyone to participate in too. In the evening we were picked up from where we were staying by Vicki from Red Dirt Tours Red Dirt Tours - Red Dirt Tours - Winton Day Tours to go to the Gondwana Stars Observatory Tour, this is up at the Jump Up at AAOD and the area is Australia's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary Australian Age of Dinosaurs | The Dark Sky It is in this tour you will come to begin to understand the history of the stars we see today, how far they are away and have the opportunity to see some through the telescopes or special binoculars! Even to see the surface of the moon. Make sure to bring warm clothing as it can get quite cool up there at night! It was a wonderful experience and very informative. 

The next day we headed 110km from Winton to Lark Quarry Conservation Park. Homepage – Dinosaur Stampede (dinosaurtrackways.com.au)  Check the road conditions with the the AAOD museum or the Tourist Information Centre - it had only been recently regraded before we travelled on it. The first approximately 50km from Winton is sealed road and from then on it is a mix of graded road and sealed road. Be aware that it is a no fence area for most of it so you need to be aware of cattle grazing and we also saw a Kangaroo and joey as they went across the road in front of us. Road Trains can also be found on this road. This all being said we found both the journey to and from the Quarry fine. Once there we went on the Stampede Tours, the building has been built around the only known Dinosaur Stampede site on the planet! If the March of the Titanosaurs had not impressed us (which obviously it had) this was on the next level! To know a dinosaur of "Banjo's" species was involved (because his foot skeleton fits the footprints found here so it is with great certainty they believe this).

The tour begins with an audio/visual presentation of the history of how it was discovered and how the building came to be built over it and then you get to see it whilst the tour guide explains the various footprints and shows you which are which!

After the tour it is a good opportunity to grab a drink and then go for a walk to the lookout and then around the Spinifex walk back to the carpark. For those with time and energy there is a longer 3.5km walk that you can do.

Keep your eye out for wildlife too, few very small lizards can be spied if you are looking!

Winton

Day One: We had a relaxing day. We headed up to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum so we knew the timing and where to go before Work Experience began on Monday. Then we went to the North Gregory Hotel to see Gregory North, who is a Bush poetry performer. Gregory North - Bush Poet

We heard about A.B. Paterson's life with his poetry scattered throughout. If you are ever in Winton, see if Greg is performing - you will not be sorry. He performs three different shows and we have been able to see two! Usually 4.30pm-6pm in the beer garden at the back of the North Gregory Hotel. The North Gregory Hotel is where it is said the first ever performance of Waltzing Matilda took place! North Gregory Hotel – Winton Qld We stayed to have dinner here and the food was really good 

Day Two: Discovered the three shops in town for supplies Spar Convenience Stores | Australia | SPAR Australia Ltd Orlando Orchards (for fruit and veg and currently meat as the butchers has closed. Meat is mainly from Hughenden butchers and is great) (8) Facebook and Shoprite (8) Facebook (We have mainly used Spar and Orlandos). 

Had a drink at the Tuckerbox Cafe attached to the Tourist Information Centre (have returned multiple times since!)(8) Facebook Then off to Balamara Bakery for a pie and a loaf of bread! (8) Facebook Nice bread and worth the stop for a pie or a bakery treat!

The rest of the first week: Visited Winton Opal Gems, if you are looking for some opal jewellery or to just look at some opals go here. Home (wintonopalgems.com) Steve here is really helpful!

If you need a gym while staying at Winton go to the Neighbourhood Centre, they can help out. Not sure of casual cost, but if staying for a week or more current cost is $20 per week and $25 deposit for the fob! Gym is located at the end of Vindex Street and is 24/7.

We finished the week off by going to the Royal Theatre Winton Home - The Royal Open-Air Theatre Winton (royaltheatrewinton.com.au) and seeing Flash. This is an experience, there is no roof and the seats are canvas, they have a Candy bar with Jaffas, popcorn, chips, drinks, lollies. It is open during the day so you can go in and see some history and opens for John Wayne movies on Sundays; recent movies Fridays and Nostalgia nights Tuesdays and Wednesdays! This is a not for profit and it is great to see them keeping this historic theatre going!

Also should note that Winton has most Free to air TV channels.

Longreach to Winton

Distance Travelled today 209kms 
Distance travelled so far 2,276 kms

Today we left Ilfracombe and headed for the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, but could not get in to the museum until 12pm. So we headed over to the QANTAS Founders Museum to see it and got straight in, as we only wanted to see the museum not the airfield. Qantas Founders Museum | Longreach: The home of QANTAS (qfom.com.au) 

Again a wonderfully curated display of the history of QANTAS from the area it originated in. The information we learned here about the beginnings of the airline, should be taught to all our children in school, it shows resilience, determination, entrepreneurship, even the fact that there was a female pilot! The story doesn't just belong here though, there is a Winton connection which we will note in a later blog! The museum has part of an old QANTAS owned plane they bought back from Kuwait after the war began there; a simple computer interactive program where you can try your hand and take off and landing; examples of the seating back early on, a lot of photos and displays of uniforms and again ORAL HISTORIES!

Well worth visiting even if you only have finances and/or time for the museum part. We spent about an hour and a half and could have spent a little longer! Outside the main museum there is a Catalina and the heritage listed hanger that has the office set up as it would have been as well as wooden skeleton of a plane a couple of planes too as well as machinery they used.

We then went back over to the Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame Welcome - Australian Stockmans Hall Of Fame 

On arrival you are given an mp3 player and some headphones, the whole museum part is self guided and again very well curated with oral histories and stories. They even had a whip maker on site, so we got to see a whip being made and as a couple of people purchased one, out the back we went to see how they are cracked!

What an added bonus to see The Master whipmaker Anthony Rennick (5) Facebook 

We also learned that the crack of the whip is a Sonic Boom!

(Note: both Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and QANTAS have online bookings so if you want to guarantee the airfield and the Stockman show book before coming)

We then headed out of town, filling up for $2.04c per litre first! Onward to Winton where we watched the temperature rise to 27'C by the time we arrived!

We have lovely accommodation in Winton in town and unpacked everything - that is a nice feeling...if only for a couple of weeks...to not have to live from a suitcase!

Dinner was 9" pizzas from The Australia Hotel, very filling and nice!

Looking forward now to our Winton Adventure!

Emerald to Barcaldine (Barky)

Distance travelled today 313 kms
Distance travelled so far 1,920 kms

Emerald is a town with it all, it has Big W; Best & Less; Reject Shop; Woolies and Coles and plenty of places to eat! We took the opportunity to get a few extra clothing items as we did not get the opportunity for laundry at the Gorge! For dinner we had Red Rooster!! This is all handy information to know if you are heading inland as it is probably your last opportunity to go to these stores.

We have headed inland now on the Capricorn Highway, a slower pace today as it is not a great distance this leg.  We stopped on the way out of Emerald to see the Van Gough Picture Easel in the park! This is bigger than we had imagined! Onwards to Alpha! We decided it would be the lunch stop and they had murals to look at but the bakery had no food due to waiting on a part for the mixer and the Cafe was closed. It is a lovely little town if you turn right instead of left at the Cafe and perhaps if we get back this way we will stop in and try the bakery eats!

It was then onto Jericho on the banks of the Jordan River! Stopped at the Tourist information Centre which is joined to the Post Office and saw the miniature clay village in there of the town. Outside is a sculpture of Joshua and on the other side is a sandstone circle installation which tells the Biblical story of Joshua and Jericho although it needs some TLC as some pictures have faded.

Here there was a Telstra payphone too - so I called my parents for free!

Onwards to Barcaldine and stayed at Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park Contact Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park - Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park we stayed in a nice cabin equipped with microwave; electric frying pan, kettle; cutlery including a bottle opener and can opener! It was a comfortable stay. We headed up to IGA for some stores for dinner and got 2 large Rump steaks for under $7 for both. It is one thing we have found out here - meat is reasonably priced as a lot use local meat.

After dinner we headed up to see the Tree of Knowledge which is really lovely at night with the lighting. Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Festival ... Bring Back the Sheep

Another morning with time to look around town. We went to the Local Museum; Masonic Lodge; Anglican Church and Elm Street before heading to the Australian Workers Heritage Centre which is a museum with many exhibits - a Police Cell; Railway Station; Shearers Strike information display; The Young-un which is a Tree that Primary Industries used the Tree of Knowledge's DNA to grow! It has a one teacher school room, Display of Women at Work & Emergency Services.  The location is great and you could spend more time than we did/had to take it all in. Australian Workers Heritage Centre - Barcaldine Outback Qld's Premier Heritage Museum 

We went to the bakery before going to look at the Radio Picture Theatre building, worth the look as it is made from tin but designed to look like bricks! It still runs today, but sadly not on the night we were there.

We headed up the top of the lookout tower at the back of the Information Centre and then headed onwards to Ilfracombe. 

Ilfracombe Caravan Park was our home for two nights and very comfortable. Recently taken over by a lovely couple I am sure it will only get better! (But well worth the stay now).  Accommodation Ilfracombe 

As it was 26'C on our arrival we decided to take the opportunity to wash. The laundry here is great - 2 big machines and dryers but also plenty of line space for hanging. We didn't have pegs but clothes stayed on by just throwing them over! Be aware though that there is only one channel on the TV here!

We had dinner at the Wellshot Hotel next door - best crumbed steak and a great works burger too! Do yourself a favour if going through and eat here!! Home (wellshothotel.com.au)

Longreach

Early start to our day as we needed to be at Longreach Outback Pioneers for 8.45am!
Home - Outback Pioneers 

We went on the Cobb & Co Coach Ride - This experience began with freshly baked scones and tea/coffee!

Then we headed outside to the Coaches! Old Cobb & Coach Coaches driven by five horses! My husband and daughter nabbed seats at the rear on top and I was quick enough to get a seat up front with the driver! This is a MUST do experience! They even get the horses up to a gallop! But do not wear a hat!

After the Coach ride we then went in to watch a movie "Smiley gets a gun" made in the 1950's starring Chips Rafferty it was enjoyable to watch and then it was back out to the back listening to an 80+ year old (who was one of the triplets born in the area all that time ago) tell some stories. 

Then it was time for the Tent Show and our Billy Can Lunch! The lunch is an extra $15 but worth it - Sandwich; Fruit; huge cornflake biscuit and Ginger Beer - you eat while you watch the show which is really good! Old Vaudeville type humour!!

We then waited in town until 4.30pm when we were picked up to go out to the Thompson River Cruise & dinner! Also booked through Outback Pioneers. What a wondrful experience the riverboat up the Thompson River and back down to see the sunset.When we arrived back on shore the fire was roaring and Bill told some stories and poems. 

Then the beef stew was ready to be dished with a piece of bread and mash potato! There was even the option of a second helping! This was superb! It was then followed by apple pie, ice cream and custard (you can ask for a piece without the extra). 

Once you have finished eating you move on to the film and light show. Unfortunately there were some technical difficulties the night we went (hazards of having cockatoos and other animals around) but it was still a great event and we got to hear more poetry from Bill.

After this and returning to the fire freshly cooked damper, that we had seen put into the camp ovens earlier was all cut up and drizzled with golden syrup ready to eat with some freshly made Billy Tea!

Feeling as full as a boot, we made our way back on to the bus and got dropped back at the pick up point before heading back to Ilfracombe (first night driving we have done and saw a roo beside the road) carefully - arriving back at the accommodation without incident!

Roma to Emerald

Distance travelled so far 1,599 kms

After checking out we headed for IGA, the only supermarket open on Sunday as Woolies is not, and got a BBQ Chicken so we had meat for the next two nights at Carnarvon Gorge and then stopped at Bakearoma for a meat pie, apple scroll and some scones. Not as good as our previous bakery experience but still worth a visit - scones were very fluffy and a great size! Bakearoma - Bakery & Coffee Lounge 

Before leaving Roma we headed to check out the Big Rig, we did not pay for the tour just looked at it. The Big Rig - Experience a Slice of Roma's History (bigrigroma.com.au) 

 
Note however that it has a great Information Centre attached where we were able to get more information books about the trip ahead. We fueled up at Liberty Fuel (the cheapest in town and also the most convenient to hit the main road again as it was just up the road from our motel!

Liberty Oil Roma

www.libertyconvenience.com.au

72 Quintin Street, Roma Queensland 4455

(07) 3123 5049

After leaving here we were back on the Carnarvon Highway and headed to the Gorge! We stopped at Hendriks Park in Injune for something to eat, a lovely little park with a seats and tables and a lovely big circle of sandstone blocks you can sit on. It also has a tribute to a man who was a mechanic but also an Aboriginal Rock Art expert and travelled widely. (Stay tuned for more details as I cannot find the name but will update with it once I find it). 

We then went to the Information Centre, lovely lady there. We questioned about the trip to the Gorge and got a map and pamphlet on it too! Sadly, as it was Sunday, the Cafe was not opened!

A relatively uneventful journey to the turnoff except a "hero" who thought overtaking us and then the 3 caravans ahead was a good idea - every time risking their, and our lives but doing so while going up a hill or near bends!

We turned off to the Gorge road and were again met with a sign we have become used to "no fencing" now this is the past has meant there are sheep that graze  on the side of the road - not so this time - this time it was cows! A fair few of them too along the 40km stretch!! We also stopped for a group of 4 kangaroos (not quite a mob) that seemed to be having a bit of a chat on the road!

We arrived at The Breeze (formally Takarakka Bush Resort) BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks - Carnarvon Gorge | Book Direct & Save With BIG4

We were in an Explorer Cabin - be warned no TV and wifi for Perks+ members only and only available near the reception building. (Which for us was fine! Not so for the teen!). We headed up to the lookout at the park and enjoyed the views and the quiet! 

We also headed to the Creek around 5.30pm to spot Platypus -which we did! 

Then back up to the lookout for the sunset! 

The next day was the walk of Carnarvon Gorge - we left the car at the Visitor Centre carpark, looked in at the information at the Visitor Centre and headed off. The walk is long but worthwhile - we did not start till 10.30am as there had been an electrical outage in our accommodation and we needed to ensure it was fixed. (Joys of living remotely). But we did walk out of the park just before 5.30pm, it was still light and we had not rushed at all during the day! 

We walked up to the Art Gallery amazing Aboriginal Art - painting and carvings, protected by a barrier and a platform with seats that you can sit on and enjoy the art and have a well earned rest from walking. To get to this point in the walk we had crossed 6 water crossings - all with stepping stones you need to cross these on the way back so a total of 12 crossings if you just did the Art Gallery but there are 2 more crossings that you cross twice - so 16 water crossings if you do all the branches back to the Visitor Centre. Art Gallery walk | Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

Our next stop was Ward's Canyon - a steep walk up and by the time you finish this walk you are getting tired of stairs...by the end of the day you will not be happy to see them - but again every step is worthwhile to reach the end point.

In Ward's Canyon you will see the world's largest King Ferns and it is like stepping back in time! Ward's Canyon walk | Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

Back down the stairs (much easier than up) and you head down the path until you reach the Amphitheatre track - it is about 600m from the main track and when you arrive you have to climb up a metal ladder (which you will need to climb backwards to get down) But the reward for this trek is truly an amazing experience and well worth the time and effort! Amphitheatre walk | Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

Last stop on the way back is the track to the Moss Garden, travelling to this you will see a rock whose roots are wrapped around a rock - at the end of the path you will be treated to a waterfall and water continually dripping from the cliff which the moss love and the trees have reached out too to get!

Moss Garden walk | Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

The last part of the trek home seems to take a while - signs on how far you are from the Visitors Centre would be a great incentive, but enjoy the bird sounds and look around! 

It would have to be the best advice - LOOK - left, right, up, down - you just don't know what you will see!

We slept very well that night!

The next morning after checking out, we took a quick trip to the Rock Pool, which is only 300m from the carpark! Beautiful and worth the effort! Rock Pool walk | Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)

It was then out of the Gorge, past some cows who ran across the road or were grazing right beside and back on the Carnarvon Highway and on to Rolleston for lunch! 

We stopped at Beazley Park and got drinks from The Cart in the Park (5) ABC Capricornia | Facebook and made our lunch which we enjoyed there! There is also an old hut on the site Purbrook Hut!

It was then onwards to Emerald! Now on the Dawson Highway until arriving at Emerald where we turned onto the Capricorn Highway. 

We arrived in the afternoon at The Central Hotel Emerald Central Hotel This is a very well situated hotel, comfortable rooms and is currently going through some updating which are sure to make it even better!

This marks the end of our journey on The Great Inland Way - Tomorrow we change direction!