Thanks. Oh wow how interesting. Gee it must have been a tough old existence for them but by all accounts they had a busy little community happening out there. I worked at Adels Grove and did the Riversleigh Fossil Field tours so drove by regularly. Part of the tour involved explaining to guests on the bus about the history and goings on in the area including your Great Grandparents involvement. Thank you so much for letting me know. Take care and all the best to you, Bernie
Mathison Rest Area A place set aside in Oz as a place to encourage drivers to stop and take a break is usually just a toilet stop or to stretch your legs with the slogan, "Stop Revive Survive". This pic shows it can also be a "final resting place". Pity about the rubbish strewn instead of in a garbage bin. Great Pic, Bernie!
Thanks Dave. I have experienced them all from the good, the bad and the ugly. At the end of a long day behind the wheel they are welcome - regardless, Take care.
Lakes and Waterfalls look Incredibly Beautiful Hi. Could this park be explored in December. Is that time of year usually rainy season ? I will be in the area south of there ( Uluru/ kings canyon) in December and would like to travel north to Darwin. This parkooks like a great stop over. I have alredy discussed with www.blueytravel.com.au and they will book my tour for Dec-Jan.....
Darwin in December Hi and thanks for your enquiry, sorry for the delay in responding but I am currently in South East Asia on holidays. Numerous blogs to follow when I get back home.
The Wet Season is usually up and running in December - January and starts to ease off by March - April. Usually by the end of April it is pretty much done but as is the case everywhere with the weather nothing is cut and dry, things can and do change. My time at this beautiful park last December and January it rained a lot until the 30th of December, we had no more rain from then until mid January when I left.
The caravan park has the Upper Finnis River running through it in the lower section which usually floods a couple of times each Wet. It very rarely comes up as high as the cabin accommodation however and camping is also safe. When the river does flood this also means that the road to the Litchfield National Park is usually closed as well. It can subside quickly often within (providing it stops raining) 24 -36 hours. Most of the swim holes and other attractions are closed at this time of year also due to the rains so you don't get to enjoy anywhere near as much as if you would in the Dry season. But the falls are even more spectacular and it is a beautiful part of the world.
I hope this has helped in some way I have tried to be as honest as I can and not give you any false expectations. If you have any other questions by all means submit them to me and I'll do my best to help. Good luck and enjoy whatever you choose to do.
Bernie
The bottom line is it is definitely not the best time to visit the Northern parts of Australia and that means from the East to the West coast. At that time of year if it is not raining you can expect temperatures certainly in the high 30s to low 40s and the humidity will be high.
Birds Great to see a bird blog Bernie. I'll post it in the birds thread in the Photography Forum. One day I plan to blog my pics of the birds in my backyard, bordering Berowra Valley National Park. Without birds visiting and their songs, our days would be dull indeed.
The old red winged parrot Yeah you are right Dave but I did not have my bird book with me at the time. I could not remember all of the birds so I just ran with it, the Purple Crowned was particularly special. Thanks for putting it into the birds thread - life would be considerably duller indeed without these beautiful creatures.
AHH...to escape development I hitched from Sydney to Hervey Bay in 1970 then down to Noosa looking for surf. Pitched our tent on Sunshine Beach that only had a caravan park where we used to crawl under the fence to get water then hitch to Noosa for a milkshake. In those days Hervey Bay was a quiet holiday area and Noosa only had a milkbar and a caravan park and a single wave from headland to headland. Now the whole of the Sunshine Coast is kerbed and guttered and Noosa a bustling metropolis. Great you found a quiet spot not far from these iconic places.
AHH...to escape development I hitched from Sydney to Hervey Bay in 1970 then down to Noosa looking for surf. Pitched our tent on Sunshine Beach that only had a caravan park where we used to crawl under the fence to get water then hitch to Noosa for a milkshake. In those days Hervey Bay was a quiet holiday area and Noosa only had a milkbar and a caravan park and a single wave from headland to headland. Now the whole of the Sunshine Coast is kerbed and guttered and Noosa a bustling metropolis. Great you found a quiet spot not far from these iconic places.
Missed it. Nah it is impossible to miss this one, this was way further down the track than Charters, I was a lucky chappy indeed and I know it. The road safety signs are great they certainly make you think - should be more of it I reckon. Thanks for the comments Dave much appreciated. I am playing catch up again with my blogs but will be up to date shortly as we are once again about to hit the road.
Metrication 40 years wow hasn't that just flown by? I found it easier with the change to follow the neddies, I don't know about you but it still seems easier though to quote a measurement in feet or inches unless it is a rather small thing say like a couple of millimetres. Um what was your question again?
winton It's been a few years since we were out that way, but going outback later this year. The musical wall wasn't there then so keen to check it out. Did you visit Opalton? Gotta go off-road to get there, but typical outback mining locality with few if any women living there. We bought a permit and went 'noodling' on a claim which turned out to belong to the ranger we met at Lark Quarry. Larry says g'day. Happy travels!
Hi Deb We did not go to Opalton. The musical wall was very cool you must see it, I don't no if you can picture me going hammer and tongs at this place while Liz sat back and watched. She does not appreciate the finer things in life. Heading back to the NT on Monday.
I commenced my journey in March 2012 planning to work and travel around Australia - the greatest country in the World. I hope you enjoy my stories and because of my love of photography I will have plenty of photos for your viewing pleasure.
This is something I hope to do for a long time. Your ideas or opinions are most welcome and if perhaps you are considering visiting some of the places I have been I would be happy to help with any tips etc. All you need do is ask. Safe travels and enjoy the journey - both yours and mine.
Of course I would be particularly delighted if you were to start... full info
Jeffrey Frederick Wing (Brunette)
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Family
They are my Great Grand Parents. My family resides in Tenant Creek, Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Cammoweal.