Kn2 Day6 if We Can Meet Again
The Overlander'south Way doesn't simply stretch overland from Townsville to Mount Isa. It's a veritable timeline of Australian history from the dinosaur era right through to our pioneering by. Bully for a 1100km stretch of road.
So 'routed' (boom-tish) to Commonwealth of australia's past, this overland route trip even follows the spirit of the rugged cattle drovers who pounded this now sealed-pavement from the Northern Territory to the coast in the 1800s. In fact, that's how this route got its name.
Not only will the Overlander's Way evangelize you lot from the embankment to the bush, it offers plenty 'simply-in-the-outback' moments with sunsets, gorges, and Australian dinosaur remains.
What are you waiting for? Here's how to discover the Overlander's Manner in six days:
Mean solar day one: TOWNSVILLE TO CHARTERS TOWERS (137KM / 1HR 30M)
Showtime your overland journeying in Townsville, the North Queensland metropolis that puts the sun in the Sunshine State.
To the east of the CBD, you'll discover Magnetic Island , to its north and s in that location'south national parks and its westward, well, that'south where the real take a chance begins.
Your first social club of agenda is to swap the bright lights for some country sites and caput 130km due south-west to Charters Towers. This town might have been made rich by gold in the 19th century when it was the biggest city in Queensland (later Brisbane), but today it'south more than rich in history.
If there is one thing you must tick off in these x things to do in Charters Towers, information technology'southward Leahton Park, dwelling to the largest purebred herd of Texas longhorn cattle in Australia, including Guinness World Record-holder J.R., whose impressive horns stretch 3m from tip to tip.
Stay: Camping or caravanning? Pull up for the nighttime at Bivouac Junction to run across what all the inland line-fishing fuss is about. For those seeking creature comforts, how does sleeping in a quondam asylum sound? Interested? Check into Kernow for the night.
DAY 2: CHARTERS TOWERS TO HUGHENDEN (248KM / 2HR 30M)
Porcupine Gorge National Park
After a dose of gold-rush fever, continue west overland through the Burra Range to Pentland, domicile to a celebrated constabulary lock-up and Pentland Post Role Cafe, whose burgers are something to write home near.
If y'all brought your 4WD, take a detour to White Mountains National Park to become the wheels dirty through Sawpit Gorge and Poison Valley. Here, you lot'll be off-roading across sandstone heath and big deposits of lateritic rock, and if yous're travelling during May to September, wildflowers.
Don't dilly dally likewise long, your goal is to achieve your first gustation of dinosaur country – Hughenden.
They don't telephone call this area dinosaur country for nix. The proof is in its skeleton pudding, with over 3000 fossils discovered in the area alone, including the Muttaburrasaurus and the Queensland Pterosaur.
At the Flinders Discovery Eye, y'all can visit "Hughie", a 7m skeletal Muttaburrasaurus and the well-nigh complete dinosaur skeleton found in Australia at the time (1969). The centre as well has a sound and low-cal testify that recreates the formation of the region 500 1000000 years ago, when the surface area was a giant inland ocean.
Yous don't need to watch a re-creation though, fourth dimension permitting, you can see the ancient formations in the flesh, an hr north of town at Porcupine Gorge. Need more convincing Outback Queensland is Gorge-ous? Afterward this, nosotros recollect not!
Stay: For shady air-conditioned digs, set up your sights on The Royal Hotel in Hughenden. There are units big enough for families also every bit cocky-contained options if you want to DIY dinner. Campers and caravanners are well catered for at the Hughenden Terry Allen Caravan Park, with a large campsite kitchen.
24-hour interval 3: HUGHENDEN TO RICHMOND (116KM / 1HR 15M)
Double the dinosaur action, with a 116km overland drive from Hughenden to Richmond.
Make your first end Kronosaurus Korner home to Minmi, a well-nigh complete ankylosaur skeleton.
Armed with a map, you can unearth your own fossil at one of the designated fossicking sites. If you find one, be sure to bring it back to be identified past the team at the centre. In these parts, if you find i, yous'll end upward with a dinosaur named afterward you. How's that for a dinner political party story? "I came, I saw, I had a dinosaur named after me."
Stay: Residual your weary fossil-hunting legs at The Ammonite Inn. Its licensed onsite restaurant Rivers means you don't have to shuffle far from bed to the bar. Those with their ain amenities can pull up at Lakeview Caravan Park, which overlooks Lake Fred Tritton, Jack Brown Lions Parks and the Bush Tucker Gardens.
24-hour interval 4: RICHMOND TO CLONCURRY (286KM / 3HR)
Tick off another Outback Queensland must-see with a visit to Julia Creek en route w.
You won't just find the usual Aussie animal line-up here. The broad-open grasslands in these parts are home to rare and endangered Julia Creek dunnart, a small mouse-like marsupial.
Pop into the Julia Creek Company Centre to meet the cute resident dunnart, Digby. Visit in Apr and yous'll catch the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival, a 3-day result with one of the country's toughest sprint triathlons.
Back on the route, information technology's just ninety minutes overland to Cloncurry, or The "Back-scratch", as information technology's known to the locals. Named by explorer Robert O'Hara Shush (of Shush and Wills fame), there'south no shortage of early Australian history here.
At the Cloncurry Unearthed Museum, see the doomed explorer's water bottle and other expedition artefacts, plus Indigenous spears and boomerangs.
Stay: Check into Gidgee Inn for all the creature comforts. Their onsite restaurant has a comprehensive modern-Australian carte and specials board that shows off the all-time produce in town. For campers and caravans, The Discovery Park on the edge of town has every assiduities under the sun, including a breakfast buffet serving steak, if you lot are so inclined.
Solar day 5 CLONCURRY TO MOUNT ISA (122KM / 1HR 30M)
From Cloncurry, the Overlander's Way takes a hilly twist as it meanders through the Selwyn Ranges with its rich deposits of copper, gilt, lead and zinc.
Information technology'southward a short, by outback standards, 122km into Mount Isa, a town that proves large is best.
Not only is the Mount Isa Mine the world's largest unmarried producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc, information technology'due south domicile to the southern hemisphere's richest rodeo and at over 43,000km2 in size, Mount Isa takes the prize for the second-largest city in Commonwealth of australia.
The best mode to get to know the mining-upper-case letter of Queensland is a visit to the Mount Isa Company Data Center, which also looks after the Difficult Times Mine Hole-and-corner Tour, Isa Experience and Outback Park, Mountain Isa Regional Art Gallery, Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Mountain Isa Fish Hatchery Project and the Outback Buffet. Talk about a i-finish-shop.
For sunset, come across the smokestacks twinkling confronting the sunset at the City Scout, promising 360-degree views of the town.
Stay: The beauty of being in a city, is big-metropolis names and you'll find the likes of Ibis in Mount Isa. For those looking to sleep in (Mountain Isa) style, The Red World Hotel is where outback hospitality meets art deco. Its convenience to the main street is unsurpassed. Caravanners tin bandy cabins for powered sites at the Sunset Tourist Park.
Solar day 6: MOUNT ISA TO CAMOOWEAL (190KM / 2HR)
The Overlander'south Mode takes a historic turn from Mount Isa to Camooweal, as you explore the route likewise known equally "Tojo'southward Highway".
Built during World War 2 with American funds, it was designed as a link between the southern states and the Allied front end line in the Northern Territory. The history makes sense – Camooweal is as shut as you'll get in Queensland to the NT border.
The commune is best divers past rare sinkholes and caves, creating caverns linked by vertical shafts up to 75m deep. Geological formations which date dorsum 500 meg years agone.
The all-time place to see them is the Camooweal Caves National Park, which is a short 70m or 220m walk depending which route yous accept.
Stay: Check into the ultimate multitasker, the Camooweal Post Role Hotel Cabin & Caravan Park, which offers all three services (hotel, motel and post office) from its Barkly Highway doorstep.
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Source: https://www.outbackqueensland.com.au/news/overland-travel-driving-the-overlanders-way-from-townsville-to-mt-isautm_sourceoutbackqueenslandoverlanderswayutm_mediumtext_linkutm_campaignblogref/