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can.
We arrived in Longreach
and set up camp in the Muddy Duck Caravan Park. This Park is only been open just over a year and sits on the banks of the Thomson River. We took the opportunity to do some well needed washing and to take in the local sites.
We started with the Information Centre and decided that we would do the river cruise and outback dinner show tomorrow night and today the QANTAS Museum and the Stockman's Hall of Fame tomorrow before we do the dinner.
QANTAS Museum - This is the second time I have been here and it was very different from my first time. It has been very modernised and had some great displays which we thoroughly enjoyed. We were disappointed however; that you can no longer walk through the Boeing 747 unless you do the dedicated plane tour and wing walk which costs just short of a $100 per head... Whilst I enjoyed it the last time I did it, I am positive it is not worth that much money.
After finishing at the Museum we decided to drive out to the Wellshot Hotel for Lunch. Located in the town of Ilfracombe this is a quirky little pub known for it bar stools and somewhere that you could spend hours just looking at all the hats and memorabilia that is on the walls and ceiling.
We spent just over three hours walking around and listening to the audio as it described what you were looking at in detail and provided stories to add to the realism.
It was however not our day as not only is Friday the only day they don't do the Stockman show but we also received a call informing us that the dinner show has been cancelled.
We were little disappointed but life goes on.
The next day we headed off and we are now making our way back East but before we do we thought we thought we would spend a couple of night on another Cattle Station this time with a artesian bath.
The Station was called Dunblane and we stayed on their site called McBride's bore. This was a very private spot and we had it all to ourselves. Well except for the Cows, Sheep, Emu's and even a Donkey but as the area had an electric fence around it they kept their distance. We had an amazing evening sitting in the tub watching the sun set whilst filling our bellies with a platter of meats and cheeses and of course a couple of glasses of wine.
The next morning we awoke to a beautiful day and we had organised to do a self guided tour of the property. You are given instructions and asked to do a number of activities including checking water troughs and ensuring there are no holes or roo's caught in the dog fences. This also gave us the opportunity to collect firewood for our campfire roast dinner. It was delicious.
After another great nights sleep we headed off. No set destination just driving east toward Mackay. This was a big day of driving and we had to make room a number of times for mining equipment coming the opposite direction.
Anyway just on dusk we made it to a little rest area just outside Moranbah. We must have hit the site just on shift change as it was like peak hour with vehicle after vehicle coming down the Peak Downs Highway from Mackay. The site was a little noisy through the night but overall pretty good.
The following morning we packed up and headed into Mackay for some much needed supplies and then to our next destination which is where we are now. Smalley's Beach is located in the Cape Hillsborough National Park and has been the perfect spot for a little fishing and sunbaking. We'll when it isn't raining that is.
We will be leaving here tomorrow and making our way to Townsville where we will be for a week or so.
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the trip with us so far.
