Daly Waters to Normanton

Wednesday 20th July 2011: From Daly Waters we turned east and travelled along the Carpentaria H'way for a few days. Stopped at the Heartbreak Hotel in Cape Crawford (this being the only thing there) and thoroughly enjoyed a scenic helicopter flight over 'The Lost City'. The flight takes you over the Caranbirini Conservation Reserve and Abner Ranges. Caranbirini is a remarkable reserve,protecting a large number of inhabitants within its small area. It features different sandstone habitats, such as 'The Lost City' formations and less dramatic hills and ridges. It also includes examples of woodlands, wetlands and riverine areas.

Travelling further east to Borroloola - a small aboriginal township and then out to Bing Bong (an accessible place to view the western side of The Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory). The road to Bing Bong is good bitumen road out to the port of Bing Bong to facilitate the McArthur Mine where there is the McArthur Mine Loading facility.We walked along the sandy bay (No swimming - salt water crocodiles inhabit this area). As this was the end of the road we travelled back to Cape Crawford then turned south travelling along the tablelands H'way for a couple of days to the Barkly Homestead. One of our campsites along the Tablelands H'way was at Brunette Downs where we experienced, around 7.30am in the morning, the mustering of cattle by low flying aeroplane over our motorhome. The campsites/rest areas along a lot of the H'ways in the NT and Qld are on large cattle properties as the H'way passes through the properties.
After a hearty lunch at Barkly Homestead we headed across the NT/Qld border back to Camooweal where we stayed for 3 days resting on the bank of the Georgina River and once again enjoyed the magnificent birdlife. We got our bikes down from the motorhome and rode into the tiny Camooweal town and visited the Drovers Shed - an interesting exhibition of droving in times past and present. The Camooweal pub offered a delicious counter meal.
Finally we travelled back to Clem Walton Park and stayed a further four days by the Corelle River - another magic spot.
Then back to Cloncurry, then turned north travelling along the Burke Developmental Road (aka Matilda H'way to Normanton). One of our overnight stays was at Bang Bang.............now we have been to Bing Bong and Bang Bang !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parts of the road to Cape Crawford - red and dusty - with lots of birdlife enjoying the wet low lying areas.

The birdlife on the wet low lying areas

A loose bull strolling down the road towards us

The McArthur River taken from the helicopter on our way out over 'The Lost City'

The impressive sandstone spires of 'The Lost City' formation

'The Lost City' from the ground

Aerial view of Cape Crawford -

on the red dirt on the corner of the road our motorhome and on the opposite corner The Heartbreak Hotel........ yes that's Cape Crawford!

Aerial view of our motorhome

The helicopter and guess who!

Chris filling the motorhome with water at the Borroloola airport.

Bing Bong - Gulf of Carpentaria - in the background the McArthur Mine Loading facility

Strolling along the shore in Bing Bong

At The Heartbreak Hotel - Cape Crawford

Chris cooking a delicious evening meal

It was delicious.

Sometimes the road is long and the scenery........well!

Brunette Downs - early morning cattle muster - by plane

The plane came over very low

You get the long road then out of nowhere an oasis in the middle

The peaceful Georgina River in Camooweal

Well, well, well..........

The Drovers Shed at Camooweal.

I cycled to the shed from our campsite - explains the fluo cycling shirt and riding pants.

Inside the Drovers Shed

Cycling around Camooweal

Clem Walton Park - camped alongside the Corelle River

Clem Walton Park - Chris cooking in his camp oven a lamb roast dinner.........very yummy.

Reflections in the water at Clem Walton Park

The colours of morning at Clem Walton Park