we are in Tennant Creek. too tired last night to update but i'll do it today.
Hope everyone had a great easter!!!! Our love to you all.
10th Sept
16 years ago
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Camooweal Billabong free camp review
Camooweal Billabong.
Stayed one night. Would happily stay longer so long as the weather was ok.
Great free camp along the Georgina River just on the west side of town. The turn off is just on your left as soon as you cross the bridge. Then you head up the dirt road for 500m or more. We turned a little too soon and followed tracks through to a site that was totally fine but we found the easier road on the way out.
There is heaps of space around and plenty of shade. The river bank is mud flats though so if there has been a lot of rain i think it would get rather slippery and muddy in close. But the billabong is quite beautiful with lots of birdlife.
No amenities at all so you need to be self-sufficient. There are several fire pits and garbage bins. Not sure if you are technically supposed to have a fire??? But you can run a generator cos there is no one there to annoy.
Stayed one night. Would happily stay longer so long as the weather was ok.
Great free camp along the Georgina River just on the west side of town. The turn off is just on your left as soon as you cross the bridge. Then you head up the dirt road for 500m or more. We turned a little too soon and followed tracks through to a site that was totally fine but we found the easier road on the way out.
There is heaps of space around and plenty of shade. The river bank is mud flats though so if there has been a lot of rain i think it would get rather slippery and muddy in close. But the billabong is quite beautiful with lots of birdlife.
No amenities at all so you need to be self-sufficient. There are several fire pits and garbage bins. Not sure if you are technically supposed to have a fire??? But you can run a generator cos there is no one there to annoy.
Day 44- Camooweal to Tennant Creek
Massive, MASSIVE day today.
But first, HAPPY EASTER! I was up early (Darcy always wakes around sunrise but i feed him back to sleep if i don't want him up! LOL!) to get some sunrise photos. It was not much of a sunrise but it was a lovely walk in the cool(ish) air.
Tim called out when Jordy woke up and discovered that the easter bunny had been and left BUNNY EGGS!!! :) We had hidden a few around the van for him to find and also given some to Mum and Dad to hide cos he has breakfast with them every morning. He was all excited finding them and it was a hell of an effort getting him to eat his weetbix. But he did! Then he could have an egg. But he held the different colours in a bowl and wanted to smell them. "Let's see what this blue one smells like." sniff sniff "Chocolate!!!"... "Let's see what this red one smells like." sniff sniff "Chocolate!!!" ... again and again. 
We then hid a few more around in the trees etc for him to find. He was rather funny looking for them. He'd stand and turn in circles and squat and get annoyed at not finding any. Darcy thought the eggs were funny and was pretty keen to try one but he was only allowed to look. 
The excitment of the egg hunt over and everything packed up and the kids in the cars and off we go... NOT. Flat battery. Tim was not impressed. Took them another hour to get the batteries out of the van to add in series to boost the truck batteries (cos being 24V we could not use the battery charger/starter thingy) and then put the batteries all back in the van. So we had hot tired cranky kids before we even got on the road.
Not far to go though we were thinking. Just 12km down the road and the essential stop at the border for a photo. We are now in the Northern Territory. YAY!! I've never been before. 
Totally bizarre but the minute we crossed the border we were hit with a massive storm of locusts that banged and bounced off the windscreen for 15min. The road quality dropped a notch and the speed limit increased to 130km (which made no difference to us cos we poke along around 90km/hr regardless.)
There are road side free camps all along the road to the Threeways and we had planned to camp overnight at Wunara Bore which is near enough to half way. We arrived there a little after 1pm and it was HOT HOT HOT and there were crazy flies and although there was as much shade as you could hope for out here (which is not much) and there was a picnic table it was just too hot and dusty to want to stop. We figured even though it is not much cooler in the truck (we don't use the air con) at least we'd be covering some miles.
So a drink, a snack, a wander and a chat, and back in the truck. We put the DVD player on in the hopes that it would entertain the kids who had already slept for as long as we could hope for. We were not sure how much further we would get and when we drove past Barkly Homestead (where there is a basic van park) we agreed that if it turned pear-shaped and the kids cracked it then we'd just pull over and camp anywhere and fill the esky with water and give them a splash.
I spent the next leg of the trip constantly passing food and water over to the kids and singing songs and trying to keep them amused. We were starting to think that maybe, just maybe, we could achieve a miracle and make it all the way across the no-mans-land of the Barkly Highway and get to Tennant Creek.
Darcy got the shits about 20km out from 41mile Bore (which was over 350km since we left this morning!) so we decided to have a look at the free camp at the bore and if it was ok we'd stay the night, and if not i'd give him a feed, have a toilet break for us all, another wander, and use the jerry cans to top up our petrol.
41mile Bore was an ok camp, a bit more shade, but the flies would send you insane. If you were there later in the evening closer to the cool of night it would be fine but by this stage Tennant Creek was seeming enticingly close and i hoped that after a feed Darcy might sleep again. So before we all melted in the heat we climbed back into the truck and off we went.
We just counted down the miles until the Threeways and then we felt homefree. We pulled into the van park in town sometime around 5pm. An incredible 475km!! Which might be doable for some but with two little kids in this heat i think it is pretty great. They travelled like champions.
We are next to a lovely older couple in the park and our sites face each other so we sat and talked to them for ages about all sorts of things and where they have been and where they are headed and their families etc. Turns out they are related to the Turners at Warialda! Small world.
Coconut chicken and vegies on the weber and a lazy afternoon (what was left of it). Jordy was hyper all evening. Not sure if we can blame the three easter eggs he ate or the fact that he was confined to a carseat all day! But he ran around until far too late.
He would not eat his dinner though and afterwards he asked for another bunny egg. Tim said "No. No bunny eggs and no icecream. That's what happens when you don't eat your dinner." and you would not believe his reply! He muttered, "For *ucks sake!" Not sure who to blame for that.
But first, HAPPY EASTER! I was up early (Darcy always wakes around sunrise but i feed him back to sleep if i don't want him up! LOL!) to get some sunrise photos. It was not much of a sunrise but it was a lovely walk in the cool(ish) air.
Tim called out when Jordy woke up and discovered that the easter bunny had been and left BUNNY EGGS!!! :) We had hidden a few around the van for him to find and also given some to Mum and Dad to hide cos he has breakfast with them every morning. He was all excited finding them and it was a hell of an effort getting him to eat his weetbix. But he did! Then he could have an egg. But he held the different colours in a bowl and wanted to smell them. "Let's see what this blue one smells like." sniff sniff "Chocolate!!!"... "Let's see what this red one smells like." sniff sniff "Chocolate!!!" ... again and again. 
We then hid a few more around in the trees etc for him to find. He was rather funny looking for them. He'd stand and turn in circles and squat and get annoyed at not finding any. Darcy thought the eggs were funny and was pretty keen to try one but he was only allowed to look. 
The excitment of the egg hunt over and everything packed up and the kids in the cars and off we go... NOT. Flat battery. Tim was not impressed. Took them another hour to get the batteries out of the van to add in series to boost the truck batteries (cos being 24V we could not use the battery charger/starter thingy) and then put the batteries all back in the van. So we had hot tired cranky kids before we even got on the road.
Not far to go though we were thinking. Just 12km down the road and the essential stop at the border for a photo. We are now in the Northern Territory. YAY!! I've never been before. 
Totally bizarre but the minute we crossed the border we were hit with a massive storm of locusts that banged and bounced off the windscreen for 15min. The road quality dropped a notch and the speed limit increased to 130km (which made no difference to us cos we poke along around 90km/hr regardless.)There are road side free camps all along the road to the Threeways and we had planned to camp overnight at Wunara Bore which is near enough to half way. We arrived there a little after 1pm and it was HOT HOT HOT and there were crazy flies and although there was as much shade as you could hope for out here (which is not much) and there was a picnic table it was just too hot and dusty to want to stop. We figured even though it is not much cooler in the truck (we don't use the air con) at least we'd be covering some miles.
So a drink, a snack, a wander and a chat, and back in the truck. We put the DVD player on in the hopes that it would entertain the kids who had already slept for as long as we could hope for. We were not sure how much further we would get and when we drove past Barkly Homestead (where there is a basic van park) we agreed that if it turned pear-shaped and the kids cracked it then we'd just pull over and camp anywhere and fill the esky with water and give them a splash.I spent the next leg of the trip constantly passing food and water over to the kids and singing songs and trying to keep them amused. We were starting to think that maybe, just maybe, we could achieve a miracle and make it all the way across the no-mans-land of the Barkly Highway and get to Tennant Creek.
Darcy got the shits about 20km out from 41mile Bore (which was over 350km since we left this morning!) so we decided to have a look at the free camp at the bore and if it was ok we'd stay the night, and if not i'd give him a feed, have a toilet break for us all, another wander, and use the jerry cans to top up our petrol.
41mile Bore was an ok camp, a bit more shade, but the flies would send you insane. If you were there later in the evening closer to the cool of night it would be fine but by this stage Tennant Creek was seeming enticingly close and i hoped that after a feed Darcy might sleep again. So before we all melted in the heat we climbed back into the truck and off we went.We just counted down the miles until the Threeways and then we felt homefree. We pulled into the van park in town sometime around 5pm. An incredible 475km!! Which might be doable for some but with two little kids in this heat i think it is pretty great. They travelled like champions.
We are next to a lovely older couple in the park and our sites face each other so we sat and talked to them for ages about all sorts of things and where they have been and where they are headed and their families etc. Turns out they are related to the Turners at Warialda! Small world.
Coconut chicken and vegies on the weber and a lazy afternoon (what was left of it). Jordy was hyper all evening. Not sure if we can blame the three easter eggs he ate or the fact that he was confined to a carseat all day! But he ran around until far too late.
He would not eat his dinner though and afterwards he asked for another bunny egg. Tim said "No. No bunny eggs and no icecream. That's what happens when you don't eat your dinner." and you would not believe his reply! He muttered, "For *ucks sake!" Not sure who to blame for that.
Riverside Caravan Park review
Riverside and Copper City Caravan Park, Mount Isa.
Stayed four nights. $26 a night. There are quite a few van parks to choose from in the Isa, none of them all that special but i think this was the pick of them. I'd probably stay there again.
Overall- 3 stars.
Location- 6/10. I think there is one van park that is closer to town than this but it does not have an internet hotspot, all the other parks are further from the centre of town. Nothing else exciting about the lcoation but nothing wrong with it either.
Sites- 7/10. Lots of drive through sites and most with a bit of shade. We were lucky and got to camp on a large grassy area instead of the regular van spots with slabs so i think that made it nicer for us.
Bathrooms- 3/10. The actual facilities were the usual stuff and would rate as average... but the fact that the cleaner was in there on Wednesday and even though we stayed until Saturday we never saw her come back through. There was bits of torn up paper on the floor and spilt stuff on the vanity counter that was just never cleaned and i have to admit i prefer a bathroom to be at least spot cleaned each day???
Laundry- 5/10. Regular laundry facilities, $3 a load. Bit of a hike down one side of the park.
Shop- 5/10. Sold milk and drinks etc and had a tourist info section.
Pool- 6/10. Decent size pool with a shady corner and a few tables etc,
BBQ area- 6/10. Camp kitchen at the end of the grassy park area that we camped on. Had a full kitchen with a big stove and sink etc etc and picnic table.
Playground- 5/10. Simple slide and climbing frame but enough to have the boys grinning.
Other- nope
Stayed four nights. $26 a night. There are quite a few van parks to choose from in the Isa, none of them all that special but i think this was the pick of them. I'd probably stay there again.
Overall- 3 stars.
Location- 6/10. I think there is one van park that is closer to town than this but it does not have an internet hotspot, all the other parks are further from the centre of town. Nothing else exciting about the lcoation but nothing wrong with it either.
Sites- 7/10. Lots of drive through sites and most with a bit of shade. We were lucky and got to camp on a large grassy area instead of the regular van spots with slabs so i think that made it nicer for us.
Bathrooms- 3/10. The actual facilities were the usual stuff and would rate as average... but the fact that the cleaner was in there on Wednesday and even though we stayed until Saturday we never saw her come back through. There was bits of torn up paper on the floor and spilt stuff on the vanity counter that was just never cleaned and i have to admit i prefer a bathroom to be at least spot cleaned each day???
Laundry- 5/10. Regular laundry facilities, $3 a load. Bit of a hike down one side of the park.
Shop- 5/10. Sold milk and drinks etc and had a tourist info section.
Pool- 6/10. Decent size pool with a shady corner and a few tables etc,
BBQ area- 6/10. Camp kitchen at the end of the grassy park area that we camped on. Had a full kitchen with a big stove and sink etc etc and picnic table.
Playground- 5/10. Simple slide and climbing frame but enough to have the boys grinning.
Other- nope
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Day 43- Mount Isa to Camooweal
The kids played on the slide while we packed up camp.
We grabbed a carton of beer and some bundy, while mum and dad got some meat and vegies on the way out of town. Just a short uneventful 190km trip this morning. The town of Camooweal itself is just a pub, 2 servos, a police station and a centrelink office and not much else. We called into the pub for a quick beer while we waited for Mum and Dad to join us and then we headed just over the river for our free camp.
We were not really sure what the camp would be like but the caravan park in town was nothing exciting so we figured we'd check the river out. Super glad we did. Big billabong with heaps of birdlife and there was a lovely breeze blowing so the temp was not too bad (in comparison!). We discovered after we had already set up camp that just an extra couple of hundred metres further along the track the camp flats went right down to a deeper section of river without the mud flats that we had... but there were a few less trees there so whatever- our camp was nice enough. 
The billabong was covered with birds and there were brolgas marching through the trees when we first arrived but our vehicles caused a mass exodus and we hoped they would come back once we settled in. Only 30min to set up and within 45min of driving off the main road we were sitting with sandwiches and a beer. There were lots of storm clouds brewing and we were not sure if it would turn into anything or not. We debated putting the bed flys on but decided not to. But the cloud covered cooled things off nicely and made the lack of air conditioning not such a big deal. 
The boys enjoyed exploring the camp area finding sticks and feathers and poking at the waters edge (where they were told to come back from just in case of freshies). Jordy got his binnoculars out to check out the birdlife with Dad and i. Darcy tried to copy :) 
Then Dad dug a pit for the fire with a bit of help from the boys. Darcy wanted to get IN the firepit but he is such a copy-cat that he learns pretty quickly how to gather sticks etc.
I went for a walk around to see if i could catch some good bird photos. Not a huge amount of luck! But nice to wander and see what i can spot and try to follow them with the camera. I would have loved to have gotten a photo of the brolgas but never managed to be free with my camera when they were out. 
Super yummy steak and salad wraps for dinner and then we sat around outside and just enjoyed the quite and the fire. A light rain started to fall as soon as dusk came. It got heavier as night fell and a bit of a wind blew up. We were not all that sure about what the track in would be like if it got too heavy and the guys were both considering options for a quick escape off the mud flats if a storm really set in.
We grabbed a carton of beer and some bundy, while mum and dad got some meat and vegies on the way out of town. Just a short uneventful 190km trip this morning. The town of Camooweal itself is just a pub, 2 servos, a police station and a centrelink office and not much else. We called into the pub for a quick beer while we waited for Mum and Dad to join us and then we headed just over the river for our free camp.
We were not really sure what the camp would be like but the caravan park in town was nothing exciting so we figured we'd check the river out. Super glad we did. Big billabong with heaps of birdlife and there was a lovely breeze blowing so the temp was not too bad (in comparison!). We discovered after we had already set up camp that just an extra couple of hundred metres further along the track the camp flats went right down to a deeper section of river without the mud flats that we had... but there were a few less trees there so whatever- our camp was nice enough. 
The billabong was covered with birds and there were brolgas marching through the trees when we first arrived but our vehicles caused a mass exodus and we hoped they would come back once we settled in. Only 30min to set up and within 45min of driving off the main road we were sitting with sandwiches and a beer. There were lots of storm clouds brewing and we were not sure if it would turn into anything or not. We debated putting the bed flys on but decided not to. But the cloud covered cooled things off nicely and made the lack of air conditioning not such a big deal. 
The boys enjoyed exploring the camp area finding sticks and feathers and poking at the waters edge (where they were told to come back from just in case of freshies). Jordy got his binnoculars out to check out the birdlife with Dad and i. Darcy tried to copy :) 
Then Dad dug a pit for the fire with a bit of help from the boys. Darcy wanted to get IN the firepit but he is such a copy-cat that he learns pretty quickly how to gather sticks etc.
I went for a walk around to see if i could catch some good bird photos. Not a huge amount of luck! But nice to wander and see what i can spot and try to follow them with the camera. I would have loved to have gotten a photo of the brolgas but never managed to be free with my camera when they were out. 
Super yummy steak and salad wraps for dinner and then we sat around outside and just enjoyed the quite and the fire. A light rain started to fall as soon as dusk came. It got heavier as night fell and a bit of a wind blew up. We were not all that sure about what the track in would be like if it got too heavy and the guys were both considering options for a quick escape off the mud flats if a storm really set in.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Day 42- Mount Isa
Bloody great noisy garbage truck woke us all early this morning. Which was a good thing cos i wanted to get some sunrise photos from the lookout. So up and out the door super quick. It was still early false dawn but even then i think i missed the best photos by a half hour. The mine lights were all on and the black ore hills were just sparkling but there was too much ambient light to get a good shot. Tempted to try again tomorrow but i'll see how sunset goes instead. The full moon looked amazing. 
And we are 1860km from Sydney and 1307km to go to Darwin. Pity we can't fly as the crow does! 
Got back from the lookout and had a slow breakfast and did the blog etc. Tim made some more icecream orange & mint sorbet. I had a webchat with Nardia and then we headed the 20km out to Moondarra Dam for a picnic and a look around. Not as big a dam as i had imagined but nice. Lots of ski boats and fisherfolk out there being a long weekend but there are a lot of BBQ and picnic areas and we found a table by the swimming section of the dam.
The boys had fallen asleep while we drove around and looked at the area. We almost went 4WDing as we headed up a dry rocky river bed to see what was up there! Got a bit stuck so had to turn back. Signs everywhere for crocodiles and the mozzies that have hit town with some disease (can't remember the name! but we are being careful anyway). So we left them to nap while we sat and had a drink and some cheese and biscuits. But the noise of kids playing soon woke them and they were into the food.
Jordy was keen to play and he is so funny. Not at all shy and he just wanders up and says "you wanna play with me?" First kids he asked were two older boys about 11ish and they just ignored him. Not at all bothered he headed to the next lot of kids to try again.
Darcy stole Tim's hat and walked around pointing at the galahs and dragonflies and smiling like a crazy man. There was a kite's nest right down low in the tree near the picnic table and he flew all around the hills but i was too slow to get a good in-focus photo of him.
Back to camp... started to sort things out for our departure tomorrow. Did some washing. The kids played in the personal playground! I took the boys for a little walk around the park. Jordy played the San Fransisco game on the computer with grandma and then had a swim.Corned silverside with white sauce!!!! and potato and vegies for dinner. Darcy ate twice as much as i thought he would (minus the white sauce). They played throw and fetch for far too long and faught going to sleep until far too late!
We are off to Camooweal and we cross the border tomorrow into the Territory. We are stopping at a free camp and so will not have reception until the following day (actually, the following day might even be optimistic cos that will be around Barkly and i'm not sure what their internet reception will be like.)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Day 41- Mount Isa
I am going to bore you again today with nothing interesting. Slow and lazy morning. Tim did an oil and filter change on the truck. I cleaned out some of the cupboards in the van that seem to be accumulating junk. Jordy cut paper with scissors and made snowflakes, and played with a balloon (short lived with the prickles in the grass!).
Darcy walked around collecting sticks (one of his favourite things to do) and played in the dirt (another favourite), and ate lots of food (his absolutely most favourite thing!).
Later on in the morning Jordy and i went into the tourist info centre to have a look at The Isa Experience which is pretty much a museum and gallery. Mum and Dad went to the Underground Hospital (built by volunteers during WWII after Darwin was bombed in case Isa came under threat), and Tim and Darcy stayed adn did some work at the van.
Jordy and i had a great time at the museum. I kept trying to read and look at something and Jordy would yell "Look! Come here and look, Mum!" and drag me on to the next thing he had discovered. He especially liked the old telephone exchange desk with all the buttons. 
Mum and Dad said the hospital was interesting and good to see but there was not all that much to look at. They were finished and back to pick me up and we were only half way through the museum. They lucked out and were able to duck in and join me without having to pay so that was good.
We got back to the van and Darcy was giving Tim a hand being a big help working hard to install a fan at the back of the fridge. Darcy could not get the wiring quite right though and even after a couple of goes it was still not working. The fan motor died so we'll have to get another one next town we get to.We talked about going out to Moondarra dam this afternoon before it gets too busy with holiday people tomorrow but we wanted to get one of Darcy's vaccinations done and appointments were limited so i did that instead.
And i wanted to go up to the lookout at dusk this afternoon (apparently the best time to see it) but dusk sucks as a time to do anything except bath and feed the kids so that did not happen either. I'll try for sunrise in the morning or give dusk another go tomorrow.
After dinner (homemade pizzas which were a big hit all round) Jordy took the torch and wandered off in the dark around the park area. Tim watched for a bit and then went over and asked what he was up to. "Lookin for frogs" apparently. We suspect that Dad must have shown him the cane toads cos when Tim pointed one out the first thing he did was stomp on it. Then he stomped again and again! Poor (disgusting) thing was only half dead so Tim showed him how to squish it properly. Now i would have thought that squishing a frog would upset him cos he loves animals and is forever telling me that the ants or spiders etc are his friends... but, no. He happily yelled "look, his bum's all red!". And then the two were off spot-lighting looking for more to stomp on. They got more than a dozen. I'll admit i don't really like the cane toads. I saw one for the first time ever at Innisfail and they give me the creaps. I like a nice pretty green frog any day.
It is now 9:30 and Jordy is still outside spotting toads with his Grandma! He had a nap today (i hate that!) and he is powering through.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Day 40- Mount Isa
As predicted we did nothing interesting today at all! LOL!
Except we finally got Jordy's mop-head hair cut! "Yay" says everyone! I will admit that i love his curls but about a month ago his curls turned into a matted mess. And over the last week every single person that has met him has assumed that he is a girl. I do love his new hair cut but my god he looks different. It's incredible- It has totally changed his face.
Wandered around town. Bought some cheap shorts and singlets ($3.50! bargain!). Tim got an insulated cover for the Waeco (also a bargain at $75). Lots of friendly people here and we chatted to a couple of other families in vans near us who are also travelling and working. Got some good tips and found out a few places to visit. One family, John and Naomi and their three kids, are off to work at Daly Waters Pub so we will definately call in there on our way through.
Except we finally got Jordy's mop-head hair cut! "Yay" says everyone! I will admit that i love his curls but about a month ago his curls turned into a matted mess. And over the last week every single person that has met him has assumed that he is a girl. I do love his new hair cut but my god he looks different. It's incredible- It has totally changed his face.
Wandered around town. Bought some cheap shorts and singlets ($3.50! bargain!). Tim got an insulated cover for the Waeco (also a bargain at $75). Lots of friendly people here and we chatted to a couple of other families in vans near us who are also travelling and working. Got some good tips and found out a few places to visit. One family, John and Naomi and their three kids, are off to work at Daly Waters Pub so we will definately call in there on our way through.
Had a quick swim before i logged onto MSN for a LionsOnOz induction while Tim got stuff sorted to change the oil on the truck.
Baked chook in the microwave with potato and vegies. Then the boys and Tim played catch and fetch for ages (Darcy is hilarious and has a surprisingly good throwing arm). Some blogging and then bed.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Wal's Camp review
Wal's Camp, Cloncurry.
Stayed 1 night. $10 a night for the site for up to 2 people. Kids (not infants) are an extra $2 a night. I think that if you had to pay more than $10 a night it would be getting close to not being worth it during hot weather. A bit cooler and probably not so bad. And if there were a bunch of other travellers there to chat with around the (basic) camp kitchen then it might have more atmosphere.
For a cheap camp it is pretty good but if you want grassed areas and decent shade then head to a van park. There are a number of thin trees that do give some shade, and the camp kitchen area has a nice shaded roof area so there is certainly shade but i think the gravel of the camp just radiates heat and we were there on a stinking hot day.
There is a fire place and a couple of picnic tables. (note that the fridge in the picture does not work! It's just a cupboard). Big troughs you can use to wash up in if you cart the water. You can run your own generator for power or if you stay a full week you can pay extra for power.
The toilets and showers are pretty decent. They are in a converted shipping container but are nice and clean with ample space.
In all honesty i would probably choose a van park next time but i think the extra advantage of power and grass and a pool for the kids makes the difference for us.
Stayed 1 night. $10 a night for the site for up to 2 people. Kids (not infants) are an extra $2 a night. I think that if you had to pay more than $10 a night it would be getting close to not being worth it during hot weather. A bit cooler and probably not so bad. And if there were a bunch of other travellers there to chat with around the (basic) camp kitchen then it might have more atmosphere.
For a cheap camp it is pretty good but if you want grassed areas and decent shade then head to a van park. There are a number of thin trees that do give some shade, and the camp kitchen area has a nice shaded roof area so there is certainly shade but i think the gravel of the camp just radiates heat and we were there on a stinking hot day.
There is a fire place and a couple of picnic tables. (note that the fridge in the picture does not work! It's just a cupboard). Big troughs you can use to wash up in if you cart the water. You can run your own generator for power or if you stay a full week you can pay extra for power.
The toilets and showers are pretty decent. They are in a converted shipping container but are nice and clean with ample space.
In all honesty i would probably choose a van park next time but i think the extra advantage of power and grass and a pool for the kids makes the difference for us.
Day 39- Cloncurry to Mount Isa
Nothing much exciting happened today. Up and out of town nice and early. It was only a short trip (120km) and we were keen to get to Isa. And the trip was a good one. Trees!! And then the flat grasslands turned into little rocky mountains as we came closer to Isa.
The town (city?) looks quite nice. Outback, so a different 'nice' to the nice i grew up with! And you have to bear in mind that the mine is RIGHT in town! I probably would have assumed that the mine would be on the outskirts or even 10km out of town or something, but no. You can be standing in the main street and see the piles of ore and the mine and the chimney smoke stacks just right in front of you.
Apparently Mount Isa is the worlds largest city in geographic size even though it only has a population of just over 23,000 people. And so far the people have been friendly.
First stop was the tourist info centre for a map and then we chose the Copper City Riverside Tourist Park. There is a Big4 in town but we preferred this one. And i am glad we chose it cos instead of a regular slab site when i mentioned we had two little kids and asked if they had a playground the lady thought for a minute and then said how about we put you both in the park. Seriously, we are IN the park. There is a large grassed area next to the camp kitchen and pool and play equipment and that's where we are. It's not all that busy so no one is walking through the area and the van park is two parks in one so there is another pool on the other side so our pool is not busy and we are surrounded by grass and Jordy literally walks out the van and has his own little playground 3 metres away. And we have lots of shade.
The town (city?) looks quite nice. Outback, so a different 'nice' to the nice i grew up with! And you have to bear in mind that the mine is RIGHT in town! I probably would have assumed that the mine would be on the outskirts or even 10km out of town or something, but no. You can be standing in the main street and see the piles of ore and the mine and the chimney smoke stacks just right in front of you.
Apparently Mount Isa is the worlds largest city in geographic size even though it only has a population of just over 23,000 people. And so far the people have been friendly.
First stop was the tourist info centre for a map and then we chose the Copper City Riverside Tourist Park. There is a Big4 in town but we preferred this one. And i am glad we chose it cos instead of a regular slab site when i mentioned we had two little kids and asked if they had a playground the lady thought for a minute and then said how about we put you both in the park. Seriously, we are IN the park. There is a large grassed area next to the camp kitchen and pool and play equipment and that's where we are. It's not all that busy so no one is walking through the area and the van park is two parks in one so there is another pool on the other side so our pool is not busy and we are surrounded by grass and Jordy literally walks out the van and has his own little playground 3 metres away. And we have lots of shade.
We had decided to make today (and our stay in Mount Isa in general) a bit of a tidy up, catch up, stock up, sort things out kinda day. So three loads of washing, a mopped floor, folded laundry, a few blog updates, and $300 worth of grocery shopping later (holy crap!) and we are on the way to getting organised.
Steak and vegies for dinner. The kids were in bed nice and early and Tim and i had a chance to sit and talk for a change. The wind came up a bit late in the evening and there is apparently the chance for some rain but so far it's just hot.
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