Towards Innamincka

After our unscheduled six-night stopover in Longreach, we headed south on the Thomson Development Road. Stopping briefly in Stonehenge before continuing onto the Swan Vale rest area 40 km north of Jundah and 176 km south of Longreach.

We passed by this site many years ago and its remained in the memory banks since then. 
Its a great overnighter with plenty of room even for larger vans. There are sweeping views towards the north and the sunsets from here are very special.

A brief stop in Jundah before continuing on towards Windorah. Our plan was to camp on Cooper Creek south of town but the very strong winds that were blowing put paid to that idea. It was impossible to escape the dust being blown about and we would have spent the remainder of the day locked inside the van. 

A quick trip into town to camp in a non-powered site at the local caravan park was really our best option. The park surface was similar to blue metal so it afforded some degree of escape from the clouds of dust. The vans were positioned to escape the setting sun and the strong westerlies. 

That afternoon we wandered down to the local pub for several beers and by chance, a couple who I have been following on YouTube turned up to spend the evening. Here is a link to a series of clips they have produced. MrHunterjagter

They were heading to Birdsville to cross the Simpson Desert. We will be in a small snippet they shot outside the pub whilst enjoying our beers.

Camping beside the Kyabra waterhole has been on my bucket list for years. 
 I've read threads about how beautiful it is and we were not disappointed when we arrived. The waterhole is 45 km north of Eromanga and the once dirt road that connects the Diamantina and Cooper Development roads is now all bitumen. 
Our group were the only ones here that night and whoever had camped here before left an abundant supply of firewood that we gratefully used. Lamb cutlets cooked over the open fire that evening were certainly hard to beat.

Just under an hour after leaving Kyabra Waterhole we arrived in the small town of Eromanga. 

This small town of 400 people has the claim to fame of being the furthest town from the sea in Australia. More recently discoveries of the largest dinosaur bones ever found in Australia have been located on a property nearby.

We were just passing through but we wanted to take a tour of the Natural History Museum. The museum opened in 2016 and funds have now been approved to expand the facility with larger display areas for the growing number of discoveries that are currently taking place.

Part of the expansion that is hoped to be completed by 2020 includes upmarket accommodation and a caravan park with all facilities.

Dating has confirmed that this 'Titanosaur' is between 95 and 98 million years old. Its name is 'Cooper' and the following photograph shows its actual size compared to the Royal Hotel in the main street.

The Eromanga Natural History Museum provides guided hand on tours through the workshop laboratories and collection room. The hour long tour for $25 is very informative and enjoyable.

After finishing our tour we continued south west on the Cooper Development Road towards Noccundra, the pub is the last remaining building in this once small township. 

This is our fourth visit and we couldn't believe just how busy it was with vans lining the waterhole, but then we normally pass through here later in the year. 
Even though its almost in the middle of nowhere its just wonderful to have water views when so much of the surrounding countryside looks half dead and lifeless.

On our second day we enjoyed a few Cooper's Sparkling Ales at the pub before returning later that evening to enjoy a meal and a nice bottle of red. The pub has been serving beer since 1882 but I'm sure they weren't as cold then as they are now. 

From our Wilson River camp, we soon rejoined the Adventure Way heading west towards the "Dig Tree on Nappa Merrie Station, just this side of the South Australian border.
On our way we passed by the Jackson oil fields and Ballera gas fields. The oil produced at Jackson is transported to Brisbane by pipeline and the gas from Ballera and Moomba in South Australia supplies up to 80% of the Australian population.

The  Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61 met a tragic end here when their support team left the "Dig Tree' site just hours before Burke, Wills and King returned. King was the only one to survive after being helped by local aborigines and was then rescued several months later.
Our site along Cooper Creek just several hundred metres from the 'Dig Tree'

Apart from the 14 km access road into the 'Dig Tree' our entire journey so far has only been on bitumen, but that will change later today when we head towards Innamincka.

Our first visit here was in 1994, and since then we have returned many times over the preceding years. 
In terms of infrastructure there is the pub and trading post, showers for those who don't travel with their own, along with toilets and of course fuel. 

Camping on Cooper Creek beside the huge red gums that line both sides is very special. The bird life in the mornings and early evenings can be quite deafening, especially with the thousands of corellas who roost in the trees.

There are many camping sites strung out along the creek. 
These include Cullyamurra Waterhole, Policeman's Waterhole, Minkie Waterhole and Ski Beach to name a few. 
Camping fees are $12.00 a night for these sites because they reside within the Innamincka Regional Reserve.

After arriving we drove the short distance to camp on the town common for the princely sum of just $5.00 a night. The only facility here are drop toilets. The town common is not in the Innamincka Reserve hence the lower camping fees.

Rain fell over this area in early July and its amazing how the countryside responds in such a dry and dusty environment.

The evenings and earl mornings have been extremely cold with temperatures measuring below zero. Thanks again to our diesel heater that helps make camping so pleasurable.