Sun, 25th June, 2023 ‘Hotel Hilton’ camp at Middleton Hotel, west of Winton to Bush camp by Darr River, north-west of Longreach, Qld (exploring Winton)

12 degrees, clear sky. Margaret’s birthday today. Will call later as we are 2 hours in front of them in WA.

Cool breeze blowing as we get in the truck to continue heading eastward on the Kennedy Development Road. Heading towards some hills. Spotted the hut that was used in the movie, Goldstone.

Through the hills - a single pillar stands out.

Continued through more small hills on a single lane bitumen road again.

More hills, rolling up and down the rises. More trees with the grass now and the road is quite rough - may as well be on the dirt!

Onto a nice smooth section of bitumen - two lane through some more hills and a cutting then back onto the single land again.

Woodstock homestead looks lovely, right by the road and Caddel Creek which has plenty of water in it.

Continued through the hills covered in spinifex. Then through some bigger hills.

Back to open grass plains and black soil as we near the Diamantina River. Across a heap of narrow causeways over the channels of the river, some had water, others didn’t.

Pulled up on the other side of the river to read the Outback Way info board.

We have phone reception and Ray and Carol rang. They are at McKinley at the Walkabout Hotel (which is up for sale apparently) (famous from the Crocodile Dundee movies) and heading down towards Winton but we will probably have left by the time they arrive.

Continued on through the grass plains again.

Puffy clouds coming across. The zooming budgies are back. Two emus are wandering along the fence line - haven’t seen an emu for a long while.

End of the Outback Way as we meet the Landsborough Highway. Turned right, 5km to Winton. Cute entrance to the van park outside of town.

We had driven the Matilda Way and explored most of the dinosaur towns in 2003 with our boys. We had played music on the Musical Fence and visited the Waltzing Matilda Museum then. Since then it had burnt down but now it is rebuilt and open for business. Will have to create a blog of those photos - it was a great trip.

Down the main street and past the rebuilt Waltzing Matilda Museum.

Around to the roadhouse to top up the diesel tank ($1.959/L), getting cheaper. Back to the main street and parked. Rang Margaret. They were just heading out for brunch with the family so wished her a lovely day.

Checked out the Tattersall Hotel - interesting artefacts hanging off the building.

Dinosaur mural down a lane and another one about the longest road train record in 1995.

Across the street is the huge North Gregory Hotel.

Past the Australian Hotel (est 1897) then info about shearing and a few interesting bits and pieces.

Bits of opal is embedded in the walls of the Waltzing Matilda Museum where we found the last of the Outback Way (Aust Longest Shortcut) info boards. Steve posed with Banjo. On the ground the words of Waltzing Matilda are etched into the concrete.

Wandered into the Sunset Opal Factory and the owner had kittens that she was giving to customers to hold - I got a cute little grey one but I resisted the temptation to take it with us! Lots of fabulous opal about too.

Outside was some info on road trains.

Across the road is the old merchant shop that we wandered through with the boys and looked at dinosaur things etc.

Crossed the road to the park to an old statue of Banjo Paterson and info about the Winton Festival.

Another history board as we walk back along this side of the street. The bank looked much nicer in the old days.

Crossed into the middle to memorial plaques for the victims of a crashed plane. Dinosaur info and I thought Steve’s feet were big.

Around the tree is the Waltzing Matilda poem with parts of the story sticking out of the pillars. Well done though the words are a bit different to what we grew up singing.

Back to the Corfield & Fitzmaurice Merchant shop. Lots of displays in the front windows but too hard to photograph. It isn’t open at the moment.

Next door is the North Gregory Hotel and there are heaps of info boards lining the front. Its had a few rebuilds. Home to the first performance of Waltzing Matilda in 1895.

Lots of metal sheep on the middle island opposite the Australian Hotel.

On the other side of the Nth Gregory is the Royal Theatre. It is still being used and there is a museum. 

Info about a chap who was the town crier.

In the jewellers we spotted a fish fossil.

In the middle island was a memorial to a local chap beside a small lagoon.

We decided on a counter lunch today after wandering past the Tattersall Hotel and seeing what others were eating. We weren’t disappointed though we should have just shared a burger and chips as it was a huge meal. The chips were 15 out 10 - the best we have ever had that weren’t made by Stephen!

Lots of RVs driving through both ways. As we walked back to the truck Steve saw a Millard van and commented that it could be Ray and Carol. It had pulled up in front of us and then we saw Carol get out. They did well and of course we have been wandering for a while and lingered over lunch. Chatted for a bit then suggested they have lunch at the hotel but only share the burger. They were planning to just stop at the first rest area so we said farewell again.

We headed off but stopped first to check out the Crack Up Sisters place. We will definitely come back to see this show.

Drove around their lot and saw the back entertainment area.

There is also a big truck museum here too we will need to check out next visit. Along the Landsborough Highway which is part of the Matilda Way as more RVs headed into town.

Back onto dual land road now to Longreach.

Open grassland with a few trees and hills here and there on our right. Driving beside the Central Train Line but not sure if it is still used. I googled it and Qld Rail has the Spirit of Outback train from Brisbane to Longreach and it says there is a rail coach to Winton.

Four more emus wandering along the fence line. Passed a big rest area as 5 cyclists turned into it heading west - bit of a hot day for it (32 degrees) and the wind isn’t blowing now.

The open grass plains continue and so does the parade of RVs heading west. Its amazing but great to see so many people enjoying our wonderful country. A lot more trucks on the road too.

Nothing much to see along this stretch tourist-wise. We stopped for a cuppa at the next rest area then continued on. Puffy white clouds are coming over.

Across the Darr River which has a nice waterhole with camp spots along it.

Must be ok by the council too as there are rubbish bins provided. We turned in and found a nice spot and set up. Reached 37 degrees in the camper so I opened it all up. It dropped quickly to 32.

Steve went wandering for some firewood and spotted Ray and Carol turning in. They didn’t like the rest areas so kept coming as they have camped here previously. The parked near us so we got out the chairs and drinks and chatted the afternoon away in the shade of the trees watching fish flip, ducks dive and the hawks soar overhead.

A little black cat came out of the grass - some delightful person must have dumped it and now it is feral. Had a light dinner after the big lunch. 7pm it was still 26 degrees in the camper.