Tuesday 21.9. Birdsville to Bedourie 193 km   The Eyre Developmental Road goes straight to the north, and although it is called a road, the conditions are much the same as on the Birdsville Track. It is a stony, bumby road, and very lonely, we meet about 3 or 4 cars all day. There are a few short patches of bitumen, the longest shortly before Bedourie. The scenery changes from rocky planes to bushland, and occasionally sand dunes.

We stop for lunch at the Cuttaburra crossing, where the road crosses Eyre Creek. There are patches of water in the creekbed, and a mob of cattle is lingering. It is always surprising how the scenery changes when there is water around. Even if it is a dry creek bed it is lined with small trees and scrub. We are in the middle of the Channel country, a huge system of usually dry creeks, channels and rivers that goes to the giant water catchment of Lake Eyre in South Australia. After heavy summer rains in north west Queensland these water systems fill with water. If the water reaches Lake Eyre, the usual dry Lake fills. It only happens a couple of times a century that Lake Eyre is completely full of water.

Cuttaburra Crossing, Lake Eyre, Queenland

When we approach Bedourie the sand hills increase. Bedourie with a population of approx. 120 is the second town in the huge Diamantina Shire, an area well-known as good cattle country.It is hard to believe that a town twice the size of Denmark has only two little towns, Birdsville & Bedourie.

The Simpson Desert Oasis, Bedourie

in front of our cabin, Bedourie

Bedourie is situated above one of the best artesian bore supplies in Qld. The town has a swimming complex with pool & spa fed by the artesian water. We spend the night in a cabin at the Simpson Desert Oasis Motel & Caravan Park. It is very hot, but we walk a little around, and drive to see the sandhills outside the town. In the evening we watch the geckoes on the porch.

sandhills near Bedourie

Wednesday 22.9. Bedouri to Boulia 194 km   Today it is the Diamantina Developmental Road we travel on, again straight to the north. The bitumen sections become more, I guess some day the entire road will be sealed. The sealed partes are single lane, which means one has to leave the road partly when a car approaches. If it is a road train, you better go off the road as far as possible to avoid your car geting damaged by stones. The scenery is much the same as yesterday, it is worth to leave the car every now and then to feel the immensity of the space, it is quite awesome.

Boulia, population 300, was established on the “Bullo Bullo” waterhole of the Burke river, it is the capital of the Channel Country. The town’s fame largely rests with its association to the Min Min light, a strange spectral light that can appear, hover, disappear and reappear with an eerie will of its own. Visit Boulia to see if you can solve the mystery of the Min Min light, but be warned -  according to the legend, anyone who chases the light and catches it will never return to tell the tale.

Thursday 23.9. Boulia to Mt. Isa 329 km   Again we continue on the Diamantina Developmental Road which has the touristy name Min Min Way. The road is all the way to Mt. Isa sealed. The scenery is slightly changing as we are leaving the Channel country. Low hills with rocky tops appear, and the yellow grass between the hills is dotted with small red anthills.

Mount Isa, population 22.000, is a modern city in the heart of north west Queensland. The city in the Selwyn Ranges is a mining town, the surrounding hills have rich deposits of ore, copper, lead and zinc. The Leichhardt river divides the town, on the eastern side is the town centre, and the mining areas on the west. The Leichhardt river was damned to provide water for the town. There are many attractions for visitors in and around Mt. Isa.

Mt. Isa is also well-known as “rodeo capital”. The annual rodeo in August attracts thousands of visitors from Australia, and the world. It is said to be the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere. Stan Coster wrote a song about the Isa rodeo which was sung by Slim Dusty.

Copyright Rita 2007

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