Merluna

Well we left Innot & travelled to Mt Carbine where we left the van to travel to Meluna station, once owned by the Watson family. The road from Lakelands to Merluna is a great improvement on our last time on the Cape. 30% bitumen and the gravel is good apart from a couple of sections of “Bone Shakers”. Archer River being one & the other being a detour around roadworks just past Lakelands. There is still a lot of road works going on. Maybe in a few years it will be possible to take an ordinary Van all the way to Weipa.


We were warmly welcomed at Merluna by Michelle & Cam, the owners, but this welcome is extended to all who stay here. Typical outback people. Only problem, it was State of Origin Game & being surrounded by Queenslanders we made a strategic retreat to our room. We were able to pick up some history of the station but were not able to visit the neighbouring station where Browny’s Great Uncle was murdered by natives.

This is typical of the road up,

This is a wild camp just out of Coen.

This is a Bacon & Egg Burger at Hahn River Roadhouse.
Pictures are not in order but are views of Camps, Merluna & Road

Innot Hot Springs

The fossils are now in one of our 2 favourite van parks, Innot Hot Springs, already we have had a great session in the pool & spa 39% C in the pool ,37 % C in the Spa. We are here for a week prior to heading up the Cape road to Merluna Station, inland from Weipa for those following on the map.
We left Normanton on the 13th after a pleasant week there, the big pool was a lot colder than we remembered, or is old age playing tricks. The trip up to Karumba was a disappointment as The fish restaurant didn’t open for lunch so we had a feed of Barra in a small café. Shorty bought a Kilo of prawns fresh of the trawler & was looking forward to a nice feed for dinner, BUT NO he felt off colour, & gave the prawns to the people in the van next to us. Next morning bright as a button & regretting giving the prawns away especially when Don told him how nice they were.
We stayed overnight at Mt Surprise & were pleasantly surprised at how good the van park was. We would recommend it to all, dinner at their restaurant was great, Browny had Barra & chips while Shorty had a seafood basket. Both were great,as good as any fancy place.
The camp pools are living up to expectations, Another session in the pool with the pool being a bit hotter, great, but too hot for Browny , just dangled her feet but then she spent an hour in the spa where all the problems of the world were solved. Pictures are of Innot Hot Springs camp & pools & Mt Surprise camp Plus Normanton Station , also a sign in the supermarket at Normanton

Lawn Hill

Well hopefully we can improve on the last E-mail, after we left Mt Isa we drove to Cloncurry home of Mary K Mine one of the first uranium mines in Australia. From here we headed up the Matilda H’way to Burke & Wills roadhouse. There the van was to stay for 4 nights while we went to Gregory Downs hotel. This was to be our base to get history of Gregory Downs Station (for Americans read ranch & English read farm, not sure how big but huge) & Pub, both started by Browny’s great uncles.
The staff at the hotel were great. Jo the licencee was helpful & tried to arrange a visit to the homestead but it was too late as we were locked into a time frame. Next Time !!!!!!! In Jo’s words “bloody better be”. Gary the manager, the Irish girls who were bar staff, cleaners & waitresses all in one were terrific.
Now for the highlight, a trip into Lawn Hill & Adel’s Grove. Lawn Hill was fantastic, towering cliff, a nice waterway & waterfalls, all combine to make it a magical world. Then into Adel’s Grove which was originally a botanical tribute by Albert De Lestang’s to his wife Adel. He planted trees from all over the world & catalogued over 1,000 as well as cataloguing other fauna & flora. It was destroyed by fire {deliberately lit in 1950 but never proven!!} Its trees, creek, pools & cascades make it a tranquil & peaceful place!!


Words fail to describe these places & even pictures only go so far. We were told before we went in how great it was but even with warning we were still impressed. Sami appreciated getting off the black, the road was dirt & used by road trains carrying both ore from the mine & cattle from the stations. Depending on a city or country perspective the road was good bad or indifferent. We found it good.
One thing we have found on this trip is the work ethic of the back packers who work in the roadhouses. They are friendly, efficient & nothing is too much trouble.
We left Gregory Downs & returned to Burke & Wills to pick up the van ready for our run to Normanton. This will be our base for a week. Yesterday we went to the rodeo to see the local cowgirls & boys. To see them ride was an eye opener, they look to be as one with the horse. Must be because they are born in the saddle.