Lawn Hill

Wow! This is for me the most beautiful place yet. After lots of arid dusty K's you arrive at the most beautiful oasis. The camp ground is dry native vegetation but the creek is where it blows you away. The national park amenities are good too. Flushing loos and cold showers, rubbish area and plenty of taps. It even has a phone signal and the whole area is well maintained.
Down at the river the water is emerald green with massive old paperbarks, pandanas, palms and gums. They have four swimming platforms with ladders along the creek.
From the swimming hole you can see the high red cliffs of the gorge.
We have really loved kayaking between these cliffs up the creek.
There are smalls pretty waterfalls about half way along. You can swim here and get the kayak out to bypass the falls and continue on for the rest of the gorge.
On this second stage we saw a fresh water croc that was about 2.5 meters long and a good size turtle.
At the end there are several small waterfalls and a little beach.
Words and photos don't do this place justice. I'm glad we managed to get 6 days here. The temperature each day has been in the mid 30's, the water is a pleasant temperature too.
Lots of walking trails to explore also.
On the way here we spent the night at Gregory Downs.( Named after my wonderful brother.) We camped down by the fast flowing creek with heaps of other nomads.
It was a lovely spot to cool off. Lots of big shady old trees and very clear water. It was fun getting washed down the creek with the flow. This is another place I would love to return to.
Bye for now.

Savannah Way.

Hi again. After leaving Lake Tinaroo we have been travelling along the Savannah Way. We stopped in and stretched our legs at the lovely and wide Millstream Falls. This area was a historic military base too.
As we continued along the Way the landscape gradually changed. It became less hills and dryer the further we travelled. Most of the road was a good single lane bitumen surface with heaps of annoying road works. The landscape was undulating red soil and rocks with heaps of termite mounds. The vegetation mainly, short to medium height gums and acacias with long dry grass. Cattle,roos, tourists and roadtrains were all frequently seen. The roadtrains come towards you flat out and don't move over at all. They stay on the skinny strip of bitumen while the cars have to get off onto the dirt. All other vehicles coming head on, each drop a tyre off the black.
The area is remote, hot and strangely beautiful in it's ruggedness. The dryness takes a bit of getting use to again, after being in the rainforest.
We set up camp at Gilbert River, spending the next day taking advantage of water and sunshine by doing our washing. We enjoyed a splash and cool off in the shallows under the bridge. The temperature was in the high 30's.
The next day we drove through flater but similar terrain via Normanton and then out toward Kurumba. We found a good free camp out on this road, on the Walker River. Lovely large ghost gums and a deep creek. Looked like croc country, so we kept out of the water.
Next day went to Kurumba. The area is flat, hot and dry, with hardly any trees apart from mangroves. There were heaps of Brolga's and some Royal Spoonbills. I liked Karumba, the ocean was very calm and a really beautiful aqua colour. We dropped a line in at the boat ramp pontoon but apparently no one has been catching much apart from catfish and grunters lately. It was lovely just being there enjoying the sunshine, breeze and pretty coloured water.
Tweety flew out the window at lunchtime, to see some large green parrots in a nearby tree. They weren't as friendly as Tweety wished. We could see a brown hawk over head too. Tweet was calling from a tree about 30 feet up, then flew down and landed on Garrys arm.
The public toilets had free hot showers that we enjoyed. That night we camped further along the Savannah Way at Little Bynoe River. A beautiful spot with river views and lots of roos and bird life. It is close to Burke and Wills last camp.
The road from here became red dirt corrigation. The air vent in the van roof lifted and filled all of our worldly goods with dark red dust. It was worth having the poo shaken out of everything though. Leichhardt River Falls is a beautiful area. Rocky sandstone riverbed with numerous beautiful pools of water. The landscape dropped away to form several waterfalls. The geography shows clearly the power of the water in the wet. I wandered around, loving
the colours, heat and tranquility of this place. The only draw backs were crocs and a dead pongy bullock in the scrub. It was even warm enough in the evening to shower under the stars, with a bucket of warm water and cup.
On the road to Burketown, then Gregory River tonight. On our way to Lawn Hill.
Hope all is ok at home. Heading south from here via Tennant Creek Alice Spring.

Waterfalls, Lakes and Gorges.

Hi all. We have spent the last couple of weeks in the most beautiful places.
From Innisfail we headed inland and saw heaps of lovely waterfalls and rainforest. We camped at Henrietta campground in Wooroonooran National Park. The forest was fantastic. Undamaged by Yasi for a change.
We have lost count of how many waterfalls we saw but they were all beautiful.
From here we went to Lake Tinaroo in Danbulla National Park. This area was so peaceful. We camped in Kauri Creek, an area ideal for kayaking. Glassy water surrounded by forest. We managed to get some more Redclaw and enjoyed exploring this beautiful dam.
Had a couple of great day trips from here too. We enjoyed the Cathederal Fig tree and the Crater lakes. On another trip we explored Barron Falls and Karanda. Then onto Port Douglas and Mossman via Cairns.
Mossman Gorge was beautiful but we had to enter on a short bus trip.
The gorge was spectacular with rainforest, fast flowing crystal clear water that looked luminous as it caught the sunlight. The water flowed over large boulders. There were several deep swimming holes but we forgot our togs and the water was icy cold. Had a fantastic time though.
We have loved this area but from here we are heading towards home via Lawn Hill and The Alice.
Cape York will have to wait until we have more time next trip. There are a few chores that need to be done in Goolwa before grain carting starts.
Well bye for now. Looking forward to seeing everyone in a couple of thousand k's. Xxxxx.

Murray Falls, Tully Gorge and Mission Beach.

Howdy. Garry and I are now camped at Murray  Falls. It is a good camp at a really lovely large waterfall. The swimming hole is pretty, with fast flowing, clear, cold water. There are alot of granite boulders along the river.
Yesterday Garry changed the oil in the Navara. We hid down a side track near a cane train track, amongst the sugar cane. We then had our fingers crossed that the old hot oil wouldn' t melt the plastic milk bottles. It worked out well.
We went for a drive to Mission Beach today. It was as lovely as I remembered it. White sand, palm trees and Dunk Island off shore.
Then we went up Tully Gorge. It was really beautiful. Fast flowing white water of Tully River between rainforest covered hills. Tully has banana and sugar cane plantations every where. Such a beautiful area with clear skys at last. Nice and warm.
Bye for now. Xx