Lynd Junction, Fletcher Creek, Belyando Crossing

By the time you read this posting we may well be home. Since leaving Ravenshoe and the 'Tablelands' behind we have been using camp sites like stepping stones, one nighters, then on the road again. We decided to be a little bit adventurous and take the inland route home by travelling down the Gregory Development Road. The DMR has improved this route dramatically over the past couple of years, where it once was single lane bitumen all the way it is now probably about 80% dual lane and in very good condition. We have not been able to update our posts to the blog because we have been in the 'electronic wilderness' out there. No mobile, no internet, no radio, not even any newspapers. Our first stop-over was Lynd Junction, commonly known as 'The Lynd'. The roadhouse is called The Oasis, this title is a stretch of the imagination. At $25 for a site that's not level, with no drainage, the amenities need major maintenance and are never cleaned, this place is a rip-off. We would suggest stopping at Greenvale 52km to the south. We stopped at Greenvale for a cuppa and to have a quick look around. While sitting under a tree and enjoying my cuppa a magpie 'dumped' right on my skull. I thought this might have been good luck with my Lotto tickets but to no avail.

Lunch stop on The Gregory Development Road at the entrance to Meadowbank Station. It was very noisy with the buzz of Cicadas.

Looking south down the Gregory Development Road from Meadowbank Station. It looked similar to this the whole way down to Charters Towers.

This looks like we are pulled up on the roadside but this is our camp site at Lynd Junction. Our neighbour here was John from Brisbane, he only stayed one night also.

They have this pony at Lynd Junction Road House and Judy fed him a carrot, he was going to follow her into the van for seconds.

He even wanted to check-out the rubbish bag.

The Oasis Roadhouse at Lynd Junction. Fuel here is $1.43 per litre, no premium.

The next night we set up at Fletcher Creek, a free bush camp where you can stay for up to a month. We were told that some people have camped here for 10 years, I don't think anyone would take much notice. The Police even came out from 'Charters' and checked out the long term tenants without any incidents. There are cold showers here but with the ambient temperatures, if you shower in the afternoon the water is quite warm from the tanks. The creek is a great swimming hole as well, fed from a fast flowing spring from about 90 km upstream.

This is Fletcher Creek, looking upstream. There are actually three separate camp areas here, travelling south two areas are on the left of the road, one either side of the creek. There is another area on right of the road on the southern bank, I believe this can be difficult to exit after rain.

It is quite peaceful and picturesque here.

The remains of an old bridge.

Telstra have erected a Commemorative Plaque to the installation of the first telegraph line in the area.

This Fletcher Creek bush camp area was first used as a private boys' school during WW11. The school had buildings in 'Charters' but these were taken over by the government during the war and converted into rehabilitation centre for troops returning from the Pacific Front.

We made the short drive down to 'Charters', about 50 km to refuel and continue on our way south. We discovered on refueling that we only had 4.5 litres left in the tank, that was a bit too close for comfort. The fuel gauge was showing empty for the last 15 km. Happily refueled, we continued onto Belyando Crossing to our next stop-over.

It is a very good little park behind the Belyando Crossing Roadhouse. We chose to stay on an unpowered site here for $15 per night. We had numerous visits to our van from the resident labradors. Jude was able to collect several almost ripe mangos off the trees here.

An old piece of equipment in the day traveller park.

The fuel stop and Roadhouse. Fuel here is $1.63, no premium. I thought Lynd Junction was expensive?

Many trucks stop here including this multi axled heavy hauler. The food must be good.

The Belyando river is only a mud hole compared to Fletcher Creek.

The old and the new river crossings.

From Belyando Crossing we travelled onto Emerald where we camped under the railway line beside the Nogoa River. We had a long chat here with Daryl and Judy from Gympie. We were going home but they were just starting out. Next stop was at Calliope River Rest Area, here we had a long chat with Alan and Lynn from Brisbane. They had visited many of the same areas as us, they too were travelling home. We will be able to meet up with them again in the new year as they will be holidaying in Hervey Bay. I am writing this last post of this trip at the Gin Gin Rest Area then we will be making the final 129 km drive to home.

Look out for future postings as we will be on the road again in December.

Ravenshoe

I apologise for the gap in posting to our travel blog but we have been in the 'electronic wilderness' of northern queensland. We have not had mobile or internet connection for 3 days. For me that is a complete catastrophe. More about all that in the next posting.


Ravenshoe, situated in the 'tablelands' area, is the queensland town with the highest elevation, almost 3000 feet or a smidgeon under 1000 metres. Even though not far from the coast of tropical queensland the climate here is quite different. There is little humidity during the day, the nights are cool and mornings produce a heavy dew. Really, a very mild climate.

This finger board sign points to various towns in Australia and their position on the post above ground level indicates the rainfall for each town in metres. The second from the top is Tully and the town of Topaz takes top position.

Festival Hall, Ravenshoe style.

A chainsaw sculpture to the pioneers of the area.

Bright Jacaranda trees in a quiet side street of Ravenshoe.

The "top" pub in Ravenshoe. Ravenshoe is the highest town in queensland, therefore this pub must be the highest pub in queensland.

The other pub is The Club.

The home of delicious curry pies.

This steam engine is still in working order as a rule, but not this week. I think the whistle is out of order, you can't operate a steam engine without a whistle.

I've got the controls worked out?

A lady waiting for the next train.

The carriage end of the train, there is also a second class, that is a cattle truck with seats.

Ravenshoe is also the wind capital of queensland. There are 20 wind generators here at a $1,000,000 each. Notice the clever camouflage on the masts!

This is known as 'windy hill' and that's where the placed the 20 generators. I could not get a shot with all 20 in the frame.

The Millstream Falls, the widest single drop waterfalls in Australia. I'd like to see the flow over here in the wet season.

A close-up of The Millstream Falls. Quite beautiful and great to listen too.

Adjacent to The Millstream Falls is this Memorial to The Servicemen of WW11. There is a walkway around what used to be a training base.

This pathway and the rocks lining each side is the original from when it was laid in 1944.

This was the fireplace from the Officers Mess.

This is the remains of that fireplace. It was intact right up until Cyclone Larry in 2006. That fallen tree on the extreme left of this photo was the culprit in the demolition.

One of the original training 'foxholes' at the camp.

Some of the original 'corduroy' pathway installed in 1944 to combat the muddy conditions during the 'wet season'.