Campers Road Trips

[Camper]

So to finish off the last trip first.


I left Cape Trib heading south, no real plans on where to stay or see, stopped in at Port Douglas and Palm Cove for a quick look, I liked Palm Cove more, Port Douglas has always felt to rich for my taste.


It was raining again, I had thought of camping at Tully Gorge, got near there early in the day and looked up white water rafting tours but ended up driving past.

Started taking photos of Hinchinbrook Island just south of Tully at a tiny National Park I found by chance, just saw a sign and pulled off the road.














Top little park, right on the beach, looks like it does not get many visitors, no camping but I reckon if you were quiet you'd get away with it.


Stopped at Caldwell by the beach just to take more photos of the Island








Then a kinda hidden lookout off the highway just south of Caldwell, well worth the stop and short walk





These might be some of my favourite photos from the whole trip








If I didn't know about all the Crocs and Stingers in that water I might call it paradise, reminds me a little of Jurassic Park

[Camper]

That's pretty much it for that trip, as I mentioned I stayed in motels on the way home, nothing too exciting to share, I do have some photos though.

[Camper]

Next it was off to Winton, it was immediately apparent that the scenery would be different this time, less rain forest more "wide brown land".




First real stop was 5hrs in just outside Longreach, at the Thomson river.





There is a rest stop here, it was chockas with grey nomads and their caravans, this was to be a theme for this trip.





On the way out I noticed a big dirt pile, probably an old roadworks stockpile, looked like people had been trying out their 4wd's on it, I had to give it a go.





King of the Hill! onlookers seemed surprised I made it up, did it easy.


Back on the road for the last couple of hours to Winton.








There is a whole lot of nothing out here, which would be the main theme of this trip.

In my usual style had not booked anything, did a lap of town and chose the Pelican Caravan Park and Fuel Stop as they are close to the Pubs. Got the last spot they had for the night.





This was actually the 3rd night, every other night I had people either side of me here, busy little town just now. It's an older park and the facilities are tired, the water is from a bore and is unfiltered, stinks of sulphur. Smelt worse after a shower than before, but it wears off fairly quick.

Walking around town;




















There is a group of 3 Brolgas that hang around town, seem pretty tame and will ark up at cars, funny to watch.








The Winton Hotel, nice little pub.

[hxbunny]

Great pics, you've done a lot of peoples bucket list there.

Power's beer though, I haven't seen that since about '88 hehehe.

Cheers.

[Camper]

Power's beer though, I haven't seen that since about '88 hehehe.

Cheers.

Thanks yeah, they don't stock Powers, not sure its even around anymore, I was gonna have one for my step dad. I remember nicking his as a kid, the full strength though. I had to explain to someone the other day that there was a time before light beer.

[Camper]

Winton by Night







Very wide streets and the main drag runs east/west so I reckon the right time of year you could get a stunning sunset shot here




Tattersall's pub, on the right you can see the famous Pelican waterhole, legend says the guy who founded the town kept seeing pelicans landing in the area and was convinced there must be water, found a waterhole and started a town, the town runs off the same bore water today and they have made a permanent waterhole in the middle of town for the birds.




Open Air cinema on the left and the North Gregory (the Waltzing Matilda Pub) on the right.




the town lights up for the festival and really supports and welcomes tourists








View in the Theater, great venue for Movies, nice clear cool night.


During the day movies were held in the Town Hall

[Camper]

The next morning I went out to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, kinda like a museum mixed with a sober theme park.

It was a great experience, really worthwhile, 20mins out of town and $55.00 for a half days worth of tours.



Locals and Ubiquitous road works




The Museum is on a "Jump Up" and you can see for miles, Winton in the distance















I love this shot, I nearly fell off the cliff trying to get a 360 shot here




Here you can get a feel for just how big those A pillars are







Main entrance, the buildings are made of gigantic sandstone slabs
The statue is made of bronze.

[Camper]

Inside there is a souvenir shop and some actual fossilised bones to look at, turns out a farmer found the first ones while herding sheep, now they have thousands and 40 odd years of work in front of them to catalog them all.





Old mate gives a little talk about them



There are a couple of videos then its back outside for a short walk to the lab.



The Main building is at the centre of a horse shoe like jump up and there are some great views to be had





If you squint you might see the main building in the pic above

and zoomed in below



There are some fossils in the lab part that you can touch, very cool

then walk back to the main building for a bus ride over to "Dinosaur Canyon"

[Camper]

Dinosaur Canyon, a guided walk past some life size bronze statues







It's all really well done and had only just opened in April, I feel this is going to become one of those must see spots







Pterodactyl's apparently only ever got to 12cm tall





Interspersed with some iconic Aussie scenery






These guys reminded me of a Wombat





There is another spot nearby that has the foot prints of a Dinosaur stampede, they have tried to recreate the scene, I think the artist has done very well to make it feel lifelike and give a sense of movement




















As always the big ones chase the little ones


As I say it's all really well done, they give you a little souvenir book and you can do rubbings of each dinosaur that kinda look like fossils












We waited here for the bus, a nice cool spot to sit, cold water and toilets available





Check out the trees, the trunks are so gnarled they twist back on themselves





That was pretty much it for the Dinosaurs, I raced back into town for the Matinee Movie - 4 Aussie Movies a day for $40

[Robbo]

Great photo's once again, another place I must visit too.