Camp site help needed. Longreach/Winton area.

[joel0407]

Hey guys,

This is for a mate, not myself.

He is on his way from Orange NSW to meet us at Mataranka NT. He stayed about 10km short of Byrock (near Bourke NSW) last night and sounds like he had a good stop.

Today he has made it to Charleville QLD. He didn't do much research before he left but I gave him a few lists of things to do from Charleville to Winton and a little around Mt Isa. I could spend easily 2 weeks in the Winton/Longreach area but he only has 9 more days until he meets up with us.

I received a text message from him about 8pm our time so 8:30pm there, that he had been kicked of camp site by a man. My mate is in his late 30's with his wife and 2 kids, I doubt very much he has been kicked off for misbehaving but highly likely that he has camped where he shouldn't have. I doubt he would be happy and I suspect the kids would have been asleep by then.

He hasn't had much experience in road side camping which I am guessing is what he was doing.

His message said he was leaving Charleville due to being kicked off. I hope he checked out the Cosmos centre and Vortex Cannons during the day.

Anyway he is heading north and I'm looking for places to suggest to him to stay. He likes free camping but there's not much of that these days. He is in a 100 series cruiser with a roof top tent. (He does have a D1 so don't write him off).

He is out of mobile range now so It'll be suggestions for the next few days. I have already given him plenty of suggestion of National Parks around that area but I don't know how good they are.

Happy Days.

[Gumnut]

That's a bit of an ordinary story....

I have stayed in a few "creative" places, and never been kicked off. Generally the exact opposite!

Like the time I accidentally set up in the dark about 50 metres from a dairy. Any idea how much noise dogs, cows, quads and farmers can make at 0400???? But they did try to let me sleep in, in peace once they finished!!

One place, a bit north of winton/Longreach, but short of the Isa is the old Mary Kathleen uranium mine. The roads and foundations of the buildings are there, and it was a neat free camping area. I forget if there were facilities, so it could be civilised bush camping. The site is only about 1km off the highway with easy all weather access.

I also recall a few other roadside areas with facilities along the way, and signposted for Max 48 hours stay. Not many people in the Qld ones, but by the time I got to Katherine, I was counting into the 40's at some sites....

Good luck for your mate, and hopefully he comes across some more friendly and helpful people in his travels.

Gumnut

[joel0407]

Thanks Gumnut, I'll let him know about Mary Kathleen uranium mine.

Happy Days

[Bushie]

That's a bit of an ordinary story....

One place, a bit north of winton/Longreach, but short of the Isa is the old Mary Kathleen uranium mine. The roads and foundations of the buildings are there, and it was a neat free camping area. I forget if there were facilities, so it could be civilised bush camping. The site is only about 1km off the highway with easy all weather access.


Gumnut

Added advantage - if you stay there a couple of nights, you don't need lights for the second night.
:D:D:D:D:D

If he's just looking for an overnighter theres '12 mile hotel site' south of Ilfracombe on the Ilfracombe-Isisford road, this would then let him have a look at the outdoor museum at Ilfracombe, then head to Longreach for the Qantas founders museum and Stockmans Hall of fame


Martyn

[Bundalene]

If your mate wants to do a slightly different route from Blackall to Ilfracombe there is a free campsite on the Barcoo River just out of Isisford. We haven't stayed there, but have passed it a couple of times. Can't recall if there are any toilets etc there, but it is not far from the township where there are facilities. Going this way you pass Isis Downs which has a massive old shearing shed...not sure if it is open to the public any more...if it is, it's well worth a visit.

Also just out of Longreach..on the right hand side going north....there is a camp spot next to the Thomson River which is quite popular. Could be a bit busy this time of year though.

East of Mt Isa, Corella Dam used to allow camping a few years ago.

You are right, there is lots to see in that area and the sunsets are pretty good too!

Also, just west of
Camooweal there is a track heading down to the Georgina River ...left hand side as you're heading towards the NT...we see lots of camper vans etc camped there. Again, it could be a bit crowded.

Happy travelling.

[Bigbjorn]

Near Winton there is lots of good level camping on the Western River or Mistake Creek. Usually fish available in Mistake Creek. Go down the Jundah Rd. at the roundabout and look out to your left, or go out the Boulia Rd. almost to the Diamantina channels and turn south. There is good camping at the Conn waterhole there. Say hello to my cousin, Kerrie, if she comes looking for a rum at night. We scattered her ashes there in 2007.

[Bundalene]

Also forgot to mention Oma Waterhole which is also on the Barcoo River. It is about 15 kms out of Isisford. Mates camped there a few years ago and said it was lovely. There are toilets and showers there. It is where the annual Yellow Belly fishing comp is held (in July from memory), so will be very busy at that time. I think it only costs a couple of dollars per night for camping.

Check it out on Google.

[Bearman]

Also worth a a look at Winton is the "age of Dinosaurs display" on the top of a mesa just before you get to Winton, the Waltzing Matilda centre in the middle of town which I reckon is just as good as the Stockmans Hall of Fame and Lark Quarry (dinosaur stampede footprints) about 60k south of Winton on the Jundah road plus the heritage truck museum on the Mckinlay road just on the outskirts of town. If he is coming from Jundah way there is a good camping spot at Rocky crossing. Very quiet spot near a waterhole, plenty of firewood and virtually zero traffic on that road. Last time i went from Winton to Windorah i only came across 2 cars in 2 days. Unfortunately these days there are not many spots where you can get off the road and have a good camp spot near a creek as most of them have been fenced off. Normal etiquette of leaving no rubbish and dousing your campfire with water applies. Hope the rest of his trip goes a bit better.

[joel0407]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm passing it all on.

The original message wasn't as bad as it sounded. I don't know why he didn't send it until 8:30pm at night but it read "Just left chirleville, because a man kicked us out of a campsite." direct quote with Charleville misspelt.

I talked to him today and apparently it happened earlier in the day. He was told of a camp site near town for $5 per night. He dropped in and was told he couldn't camp because he didn't have an en suite. He told the guy he was only 5 minutes from town and he could just go there for a toilet but the guy would'nt let him stay so he left Charleville and went 50km north and found a great camp site where he caught a few yabbies for breaky and had a great time.

He is near Ifracomb now and apparently on another good site. He was heading into Longreach by 9am but I told him he better check out the Ifracomb Museum before he leaves.

Happy Days.