Lake Maraboon & Twin Hill Billabong

---

When it is full LakeMaraboon, 16kms out of Emerald, is 3 times the size of SydneyHarbour. The name translates as “where the black duck fly” – there were no black ducks today, presumably because water levels are so low; the lake is apparently only holding 17% its capacity at present. We did the loop drive to the lake and Fairburn Dam first thing this morning. The view of the dam wall and spillway from the lookout offered an amazing view over the immediate land and across the water to hills far off in the distance.



Our plan was to stay in Emerald one more night – it is a lovely town and obviously thriving with many new residential areas as well as both commercial and industrial estates either newly completed or in the throes of completion.



When checking Wikicamps and our trusty old fashioned atlas we felt that our next planned destination – ChartersTowers– was too far for a days journey, especially as we didn’t know the lay of the land along the Gregory Highway. We were far too ambitious it would seem, so once back fromLakeMaraboon we set about packing up and heading off.



Tonight we are camped by a billabong near Twin Hills and tomorrow will be a more realistic and easier drive. There are a few clouds in the sky but the temperature is a very pleasant 27oC.

---