I know. It’s a lot to take in, in one hit. Try driving it!
First up - Devils Marbles.
We Free-camped out the front of the Hotel. You have to get a spot early or you miss out here. It’s very popular because the pub food is great, they have a lovely beer garden (outdoor dining) a pool and the drinks are cold. We’d heard that it was popular so we arrived before lunch. Got a top spot and chilled out all afternoon. We tested the beer and hot chips early on and then ordered the curry for dinner. A curry in the NT? You bet it gets below freezing at night this time of year so the curry warmed us up.
The next morning we drove to the actual Devils Marbles before heading to The Barkly Homestead. The Marbles were pretty stunning. We walked up to the lookout and the view was breathtaking. Although it was early it was hot by the time we descended and returned to Whimsy. A cold drink and then we clipped on the seat belts, started the motor and headed off for the next stage of the trip.
We headed to The Barkly Homestead via Tennant Creek. We needed to top up the fridge with food and water. Not a lot of good drinking water on this stage of the trip so we had to ensure we had plenty of cask water on hand.
The Barkly Homestead was a bit of a disappointment. I’d read so much about it and the reviews were mixed but generally positive. Can’t say as I’d recommend staying there. We only stayed a night though we had planned to stay longer. Enough said.
We have tried not to travel more than 300 or so klm’s in a day, so we managed to get ourselves to Camooweal in time to park up and chill out before heading to dinner at the pub. So dinner at the pub was interesting. Jayne ordered a pizza and mine was another curry. So this is what happened. I ordered the food and then I went in to pick it up when the buzzer rang, The pub door was a swing door. I pushed the door open with my foot (with pizza on a slippery plate in hand) The door swung back quicker than expected, hit me fair in the face, the pizza slid off the plate (bar two pieces I managed to save) I screamed - Jayne jumped, but the pizza lay on the Pub verandah floor looking like a pile of doggy doo doo. Jayne wasn’t that hungry as luck would have it …..
The next day it was on to Cloncurry. Its a ho hum kind of town and the CP was ordinary - it was just a stop we hade to make. We did recall from our last trip that the Cloncurry Bakery was terrific…it had closed down.
So onwards to Julia Creel Free Camp. Now this is a gem of a place. Its just a few hundred metres east of the town. Its on the actual Julia Creek which by chance had a lot of water in it. This is another very popular spot for caravanners and motor Homers. You must be self-sufficient with toilet and shower and you must keep you grey water contained. BUT its so beautiful, The bird life was abundant and so entertaining. I loved it here and I would have stayed another day. The boss was keen to move on and had booked ahead so on we went.
Hughenden was the next stop on the way to Bowen. Its small. The site we were put on was garbage, the locals had dogs that barked all night, basically had a very ordinary stay. One shining light was that there was a Chinese Restaurant that was open on a Sunday - all day - that was a bonus and the food was lovely.
Charters Towers is somewhere we had stopped before. Beautiful historic buildings in this little town and the caravan park was lovely and shad. Just another one nighter to ensure we got back to the east coast safely.
The driving from the Barkly to here was quite dangerous. The roads are in dreadful condition with very little reprieve where the roads were in good condition. Plus, for 3 days straight we had crosswinds of at least 60 klms. Not an easy drive.
We arrived in Bowen very tired after driving for days. As it turns out Bowen is beautiful by the beach. We found a lovely cafe and the views on Horseshow Bay in Bowen are just glorious. I’d recommend a stopover here, Just don’t swim in the ocean…. Crocs, stingers and sharks. Looks pretty though!
We are now in Airlie Beach (Thursday 8th June) and have extended to Sunday.
We have really been doing nothing much but chilling and walking, eating and drinking, Nice really. It’s a lovely spot but soooooo busy at this Caravan Park. We shouted ourselves a very upmarket seafood lunch today and it was truly beautiful. It does take a bit to impress me re food these days but this wass 10/10. Seared Scallops (amazing) Fresh caught ocean Barramundi (bloody beautiful) Seafood Chowder that was out of this world and to finish chocolate fudge with raspberry and ice cream. Yep. it was 4 hors ago and I’m still full. This was all washed down with a light bright Proseco and a lovely Pinot Gris. it was an experience that I will remember. It was that good. FishD’vine is the restaurast if you are ever in Airlie.
We are off to Yeppoon on Sunday!!
Love to all.