LAWN HILL

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Off we drove to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) a National Park in the very north west of Queensland. The road was rough with lots of corrugations and wash outs from the recent rain. We were going to take the shortest route which was a 4 x 4 track but 35km into it we came across the O’shanassy River which was not too high but flowing very fast and when Peter walked across to test the depth it was extremely slippery. Another factor which helped us decide against going across was that the backpackers who were tagging along with us would have surely followed and they were in a two wheel drive!? We did point out that it was a 4 x 4 track but they either didn’t understand English or didn’t care. So we turned around and headed for a different road (still dirt) which 80km into it the road was closed ! But we couldn’t face turning around again so we went around the signs and hoped for the best. We were very lucky that the black soil was dry enough for us to drive on and we made it through. The trip into Lawn Hill is very pretty, like an oasis springing up out of the desert. We camped at Adel’s Grove Campground. Not really worth it for $32 a night, the National Park Gorge Campground would have been better.

We hired a canoe for the day and paddled up the Gorge. It is beautiful! The water temperature was perfect for swimming. We found a great spot at the end of the Gorge where 4 creeks flow into one spot and create small waterfalls. We could have stayed there all day in the crystal clear water.

Back at camp we experienced our first tropical storm (very small one) and were almost washed away. When the rain stopped we had to move everything to slightly higher ground. Not happy campers! Also after it rains and you are down in a rainforest river bed the toads come out by the hundreds! I was particularly freaking out by this stage!!

Any way things were in our favour the next day when we got to take the closed road home again and the corrugated bits had been graded YAY! Fast trip back only 5 hours instead of 7.5 hours.

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Photos

O'Shanassay River
Not too deep but a bit fast flowing for us.

Cute Catch
Peter was trying to catch us some redclaw but ended up with a turtle instead. He gave up after catching 4 turtles.

Our camp after a small storm
Peter took the opportunity to wash some red dirt off the car.

Comments

[Heather and Mel]

Happy Campers!
Hey Guys Where's the A-Van, sounds like you having an exciting time, keep it up! Heather and Mel