Still Travelling Part 3 - Diamantina to Muttaburra

Jump-up

We departed Diamantina NP at 9.45 am, a little later than planned and travelled to the Middleton Hotel via Old Cork Homestead and waterhole. We traversed some very interesting and diverse countryside crossing over a myriad of water channels and passing through gibber plains and claypans. Along the way we passed some fascinating jump-ups, sandstone hills and waterholes.

Ranges enroute

We saw many different birds; Budgerigars, Brolgas, Wedgetail Eagles, Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Emus, Nankeen Kestrels, Black Kites and the Spinifex Pigeon - the latter delighted the OWO as he had not seen these in the wild before!

Spinifex Pigeon

Old Cork Homestead

Stopping at Old Cork Waterhole for lunch we marvelled at how green the area was compared to our last visit in 2014. From here we travelled west, one thing we could not do during our previous visit due to lack of fuel. On reaching the Kennedy Development road we decided to take a 5 km detour to Cawnpore Lookout. Oh my! What a beautiful vista from there.

 

Looking Nth from Cawnpore

View from Cawnpore

'Ada' at Cawnpore

I'm sure that photos cannot do justice to the beauty of this spot. It was certainly worth the detour and we would recommend if you are in the area, don't miss this spot.
We arrived at the free-camp area at the Middleton Hotel and camped at the outback 'Hilton'. The beer was cold and the owner, 'Les', a fascinating character with many a local yarn to tell, kept us entertained. Meals were a little limited that night as the pub had been almost eaten out of house and home by the Endeavour Rally group (approx 500) 2 days before.

Middleton Hotel

Hilton Hotel free camp

Sunrise at 'The Hilton'

Thursday 24th May --- An early start as we had quite a distance to travel (approx 400 km) if we were to stay at Muttaburra overnight. It was an easy drive from Middleton to Winton where we stopped to replenish supplies, empty the porta-loo, top-up Ada's water tanks and refuel Peter Prado. Fuel was $1.59 here and 'Peter' swallowed over 150 lt!! Highly recommend the Bakery, but this is not the place to replenish other supplies with only a Spar and Friendly Grocer servicing the town. Leaving Winton around midday we travelled via the Landsborough Highway to Morella then turned onto the dirt road towards Muttaburra, arriving around 3 pm.  Middleton to Winton was amazing. We passed through areas of red jump-ups, dry schlerophyl forest, spinifex grasslands, gibber plains and tree- lined channels. East of Winton the scenery once again changed with large flat areas covered in hay-like golden grass.

We continued to marvel at how different the area looked compared to our last trip through here in 2014. Back then this area was in severe drought and there was no ground cover of any kind. Stockmen were droving cattle along stock routes beside the highway to find the smallest amount of feed and water points. This time the cattle we observed in paddocks were fat and in good condition with so much feed available after the rains in March and April.

Muttaburra Council park provided a great stopover. At $15, per night, we were provided with amazing hot showers, lovely clean flush toilets, water and power for 'Ada'. We were also treated to the most beautiful sunset on our trip so far, and an equally beautiful sunrise.

Sunset at Muttaburra

Shortly after arrival another Avan traveller pulled into the park.

Muttaburra Van Park

Chris and her Dad had travelled from South Gippsland in Victoria in four days! We had taken 10 days from Toowoomba!! As always the OWO made himself known to fellow travellers and spent some time chatting about photography to one couple, and the Avan to Chris and her Dad. They were more than happy to chat about 'Ada'  as this was their very first trip towing an Avan!