Mon, 19th June, 2023 Kurinelli Goldfields on Kurundi Station to Old Police Station Waterhole, Davenport Range National Park, NT

12.6 degrees, thin cloud. Ray and Carol left all to go detecting so we will catch up with them later in the year.

We loaded the camper back on then said farewell to Anthony and Jen.

Headed back out - the bull dust around the yards is getting quite thick.

Steve got a photo of the ‘gate girl’.

Turned eastward on to the Binns Track. A new road to mark off in my map book. Not bad but there were a few bull dust sections.

Pulled up at Cloughs Bluff for a cuppa.

Heard a helicopter and realised they were herding cattle nearby. We watched him whizz around the tree tops chasing the cattle out then we saw a couple of motorbikes chasing the cattle onto the road. Looks like they are using the road to muster the cattle back to the station which is where we are heading.

We walked up the track onto the bluff where there was a picnic table etc but the track has eroded so I am glad we didn’t drive up. Nice view from up here.

The chopper has moved further along the track so we went back down then started driving. Cattle were meandering along the road and the motorbikes and 4 wheeler were keeping them there. We crawled along behind them so we didn’t startle the cattle back into the bush.

They found Mr Bull who was in no rush to get to the station so we crawled along behind the workers and Mr Bull doing 4 to 6 km per hour. The helicopter came back and sent a few more animals onto the road. Some disappeared into the bush on the other side so the motorbikes zoomed in to try and bring them out - bit thick scrub for the bikes though. We pulled up for a bit till they got sorted then followed along when they moved on.

Next stop the chaps and girl on the 4 wheeler came back to say hi so we chatted for a bit till the chopper returned again and flushed out a few more animals. Some went into the scrub but only a few came back out. As we drove past we could see one hiding behind a tree - tricky thing.

Mr Bull meandered off into the bush occasionally but the chaps got him back to plodding along the road side. Reminds us of the old droving days - slow and steady, though we are in a comfortable vehicle with air conditioning and no dust.

The other cattle are ahead meandering along the road like Browns Cows - well they are! Obviously once they got them away from the water point they are happy to just wander along to the next water point which is at the station. A 4WD came towards us through the cattle and we watched them go off into the bush but then reappear again a bit further along.

The chaps came back and said we could overtake if we wanted as the cattle will return to the road but we were happy to just follow along for a while as the station isn’t too far off. An ambulance came up behind us and he overtook and worked his way through the cattle. We did notice that a few cows didn’t come back though.

Two more vehicles caught up with us so when they went around us so we followed as we were near the station now and the cattle were heading off to the yards away from the road.

The wattles look so bright against all the red dust.

Reached the turn off and continued on to Epenarra Station for fuel. The chopper landed beside us as we drove in.

I went into the big shed which is the ‘store’ and a backpacker came out to open the diesel pump ($2.43/L). He said this station is owned by Barkly Station & Roadhouse (Bass Cattle Co) which is north of this one - a family affair apparently. Steve was chatting with the pilot while I was in the store - only a young chap and he apologised for holding us up. He refuelled and flew off again while we were still filling up.

Back out and back onto the Binns Track. Passed the turn off into Wutunugurra Community which is nestled in the trees. A dead car was just along the road!

Across a causeway at Frew River - nice big waterhole. Stopped for lunch.

Passed the turn off to Canteen Creek - not sure if this is a station or a community.

The track becomes narrower - 19km to turn off to Old Police Station Waterhole.

Sandy track, grass and low trees as we run parallel to the Frew River. Through some rocky hills then rough rocky section. Soft sand section then rough hard base section.

Turned off - 9km to the waterhole. Into the Davenport Range National Park. Up the hills and down again.

Stopped to read the information boards. Lots of mud nests on the shelter roof.

Lots of info about the mining in the area on the other side. Maybe the black heavy rock we found at Kurinelli was tungsten not a meteorite like the others thought. Will have to get Jon’s geologist friend to have a look at it.

Lots of roomy camps along the edge of the waterhole. There was one couple then a group further along so we parked in between them and set up. Good to see no dust got in while we were ploughing through the bull dust holes.

Walked down to the group - some were in having a swim. I said you must be southerners - they were, from Adelaide. They had come up the Binns Track and are heading for Darwin. One chap had a big rig so we said they have cleared a lot of trees in one section that was overgrown and that the first bit along from here was very eroded and rough. Oh well we will give it a go.

We walked along the other way to find the track around to the old homestead and police station. The path was just a narrow track in the grass. We lost it on the rocks.

According to the map we need to be over there.

Steve found the track again so I just followed the man with the hat! We lost it again when we had to work out how to get around the end of the waterhole. 

Eventually we made it around and found another waterhole below a low hill.

Around the hill and through the grass we found the ruins - the ranger had whipper-snipped just around the ruins!

And there is an info board here.

We followed where he had cut but that stopped near the water edge. Obviously the water gets up high when the wet hits. Made our way around and back again.

Stopped and chatted with the single vehicle couple - from Huon Valley, Tassie. He said there is good Red Claw here.

Back to camp. Steve got the pump ready and some water from the waterhole so we can save our tank water. Got the fire going and heated up the shower water while we had our drinks. I will give my hair a wash tomorrow now we have plenty of water to use.

Inside for dinner, warm shower. Game of cards then a movie before bed. What a good life.