Bucket List: Queensland’s Natural Sciences Loop
Michelle Gilmore
Just back from our winter travels for CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE, our plan was to spend most of our time in NSW. Covid has shelved that for a while, instead we drove further west and took on Queensland’s Natural Sciences Loop!
I like my hot baths – what a delight to stop into Charlotte Plains Station (906) 46km east of Cunnamulla, and have a soak in their soothing artesian waters. We’ll be back to this one and tag along on the station tour, highly recommended!
It was in Cunnamulla the next day, we learnt more about the importance of the Eromanga Basin in the Artesian Time Tunnel at the Visitor Information Centre. Not only a perfect spot for picnics, but also to say hello to the Cunnamulla Fella.
Next stop: Eulo. Home of megafauna, gourmet honey, leather and the Eulo Queen Hotel. We camped on the Paroo River. The history at the Police Cells was intriguing – one officer turned up for work in nothing but his boots and hat! I’ll go back to visit the Eulo Store again, the air raid shelter and mud bath!
Lake Bindegolly looked like a wonderful camp, but we’d booked into Thargomindah Explorers and a pub lunch! Did you know this small outback town had the first hydro electricity in Australia? And the third in the world?
Thargomindah know how to ‘do’ tourism – with self-led tours via a swipe card (even a ghost at the hospital), a scenic walk along the Bullo River and a friendly Visitor Centre with a tick sheet with local things to do and people to meet – like Dogga Dare and Surly Shirley.
By this stage, the SA border was closed, so we saved The Dig Tree for another trip. It didn’t stop us enjoying some of the BEST burgers we’ve ever had, at the remote outpost, Noccundra Hotel. The publican told me he bakes them himself each morning – and I peeked inside the dining room to finally find a doorway even I could bump my head on!
The Channel Country is worth experiencing – I didn’t expect it to be so hilly and beautiful. We would have happily camped on the peaceful Wilson River.
We ploughed on through more creek crossings into Eromanga. Another day, another pub – well two pubs, and the brilliant freedom camp at Eromanga Hall.
I’ve dragged the family to plenty of museums over the years. But if you come all the way to Eromanga – you have to meet Cooper (or at least Cooper’s thighbone) – Australia’s largest dinosaur. Hands down, the best museum experience we’ve had.
Our last stop on the Natural Sciences Loop was Quilpie and a climb up Baldy Top with outback red dirt views!
Still on my bucket list are Cooladdi, Charleville and Yowah with more stations, National Parks and opals. Next time!
All these sites are in our CAMPS 11 book and CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App, with lots more photos of this route, and more travel inspiration for Queensland and Australia on our blog: Campsaustraliawide.com
