Tuesday 22 nd
After the obligatory visit to the Dig Tree and information shelter we were on the road at 10.30 in a pleasant
15 degrees. Heading west stopped at Burkes Memorial before proceeding to Innamincka. All had a
welcome shower, fuelled up, visited pub and A.I.M. building , which is now Park Rangers Headquarters.
After lunch onward to Coongie Lakes, road very rough, campsite busy.
Surprisingly, although plenty of water a lack of bird life. 181km
Wednesday 23 rd
10:15am 20 deg
Sunrise walk with Celine and Annie, again very few birds. Lots of tortoise shells lying in the grass, left the
camp to go to outstation to explore and have lunch.
Returned to Innamincka, for fuel and shower, drove 70km up Cordillo Road for a bush camp. 177Km
Thursday 24 th
9:30am 16 deg
After a very windy night, we were on the road heading to Cordillo Downs.
Arrived at Cordillo Downs to discover the entry to the shearing shed is prohibited due to safety concerns.
Roof on end (machinery room) has collapsed, site can still be accessed to walk around and read
information signs. My understanding is that being privately owned no government funding for restoration.
Lunched on road side before proceeding to Haddon Corner, for overnight camp. 244Km
Friday 25 th
9:45am 17deg.
Due to one of our group having back problems Celine’s driving skills were tested in my vehicle! Stopped at
Deons lookout (in memory of local helicopter pilot killed while mustering).
Road in good condition and we continued into Birdsville.
Our luck was with us with when we arrived at the RFD clinic, a Doctor was there…..prescribed our patient
pain killers and advised to keep off rough roads!!!!
Mandatory camel pie at Birdsville bakery, and a visit to the pub and very good information centre.
Interestingly the Diamantina river was flowing and the flats between the race track & Birdsville were very
green, from a dry flood, caused by heavy rain in Winton (500km to the north) a month earlier.
After fuelling up we proceeded to Cacoory ruins 50kms north for a beautiful bush camp at the springs on
the creek bank. The road was very good being a mixture of bitumen and gravel. 349Km
Saturday 26 th May
9:30am start 19 deg. Enjoying the beautiful road we continued on to Bedourie picking up key to the hot spa
from the information centre. A welcome relief for our weary bodies!
Keeping good company, met Liz and Ray Horton from Pajero club at the pool!!
Topped fuel (very expensive) stopped at the pub and had a large hamburger for the boys while the girls
picnicked on something sensible in the sunshine.
We backtracked to join the Windorah Road, Ian sighting feral pigs as we crossed Kings Creek. And the road
was a good gravel road. We decided to take the original access track via Monkira Station into the
Diamantina National Park. This track was very slow going but the breathtaking scenery made it worthwhile.
Due to the slow travelling we camped in the lee of a sand dune 50km north of Monkira.
Because of the late arrival Annie fed us Fish Curry from the freezer WOW! 290Km
Sunday 27 th