Back in Sydney

Well we are back in the big smoke (Sydney) have been for a couple of weeks been very busy unpacking and back at work for now. Our next trip will be in a couple of years now to WA so we have to do some serious saving till then.


All good things come to and end unfortunately

2/9/2010 Carnarvon Gorge day 29

1/9/2010 Carnarvon Gorge day 28

Well today was going to be different to what we have done on this trip as usual we were up early as we wanted to get to the national park visitors centre by 7:15am to start our walk as it was going to take awhile to get to the end.

After as short talk to the ranger we were on our way. It did not feel to bad to start with as we have not done a lot of walking on this trip only through water crossing which could had croc's in them lucky we did not see any.

We arrived at Cathedral cave which had some aboriginal art in it. Finaly we arrived at the end of the track at 10:30 the walk was very scenic and crossed over the creek 19 times we were lucky and did not fall in once.

Cathedral cave

Big Bend

We did venture back after a short break and something to eat as we had just walked 10ks in and now it was time to do the same back and the side tracks wich would make it 25ks altogher.

The first side track was Boowinda Gorge this was very rocky and had to watch our step we walked into a narrow part which was very pretty and we decied not to go to far in.

Boowinda Gorge

Second stop Art Gallery I decided not to go into this one as I had rolled my foot and was starting to hurt so I sat on the seat's and waited for everyone else.

Third stop was Ward's Canyon we all went into this one as we decieded this is were we would eat our lunch as it was now nearly 2:00pm

Next was Amphitheatre which I really want to see but it was 650m in and out up ladders so I went on.

Amphitheatre

Last of alll was the Moss Garden I went into this on it was 650m in so I slowly made my way in and it was lovely sat there for a rest and took it all in before heading out again.

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Moss Garden

On the way out I ran into the others but I kept going as I was going to be a bit slower and I was starting to get very tired and still had a long way back to the car.

Once back at the car which would have been about 3:30pm my shoes were the first things off then I had to wait for Paul and the others to get back as we had a 15min drive back to camp.

Lucky we had decieded to have a spit roast tonight as non of us could move very far as we were all sore.


The spit roast was great and only $20.00 so it was well worth it. We could not make it even to 8:30pm tonight to go to bed.

31/8/2010 Charters Towers – Carnarvon Gorge day 27

Leaving Charters Towers

Well you never guess we left early again as we had a very long drive today. Our stops today would be short as we wanted to get to Carnarvon early in the afternoon.

So our first stop was Belyando crossing enough time to go to the loo and a drink then back on the road again.

Emerald main street

Emerald we stopped for fuel and a short break.

Coming into Springsure

Springsure for lunch about 1/2hr.

Bottle tree

There was not far then and we were making good time. On the way into Carnarvon Ian had a bit of trouble with his car. We stopped for a short time to see if there was anything major, did not seem to much so we continued on.

Now we are there managed to get Chris on the radio as they had already arrived and were all set up.

We booked in and found our camp site set up and sat around for awhile as we had had a long drive and we felt a bit tired.

After te a Ian, Rhonda, Chris and Mary went to a talk the park put on and they said it was very good. Paul & I sat at camp and talked to Junta for awile untile it was time to go to bed. Another big day comes to and end.

30/8/2010 Monday Undara – Charters towers day 26

Well today we start heading back home. We packed up early as we had a tour booked for 8:00am before we got on the road.
Paul & I were ready before 7:00am so we went and had a cuppa in the bufet area before meeting up with the others.
There was another Budd on the tour apart from us and they were from England.
Everyone back on the bus to take us to the larva tubes which were very interesting very hard to take photos as they were very dark inside.

Undara Larva Tube

We got back at 10:0am we said goodby to little Ian, Jill and Danial as they were heading back to Cairns for a couple of days before Jill & Danial caught a plane back to Sydney and I hand to work his way back.. Now that we have done that it was 10:30am and we are now on the way to Charters Towers about 4-5hrs.

The weather was starting to close in by now and there were lots of road works on the way so it was a bit slow going.

We arrive at Greenvale at 12:30 had lunch fish & chips and left by 1:00.

Now we are in Charters Towers found the caravan park did a bit of shopping then back to the park for afternoon drinks.

29/8/2010 Sunday Chillagoe -Undara day 25

Well today is Paul's birthday, we still have to move on so up early again and got away at 7:45 we did not have a long run although we want to call into Mt Surprise to have a look.

The drive we took was another dirt road straight down from Chillagoe and what a great drive that was the road was very good lots of animals along the way, more cattle.

Emus running along the road

Now we have arrive in Mt Surprise into the cafe for some refreshments and a look around before we pumped up the tyres as we will be on tar roads from now. Called into the gem shop to have a look and see if there was anything to spend our money on, yes there was but the boys are with us so we reframed.

Main street of Mt Surprise

Now onto Undara Larva tubes for the night, when we arrived there it was still very hot and booked in found our spot set up the camper as the others had to go in a different spot as they were tents.

We did go and visit them had a look around the park found the pool and the dinning area.

The girls hit the little shop to have a look without the boys this time and then went and had a free cuppa of tea while the boys were back at the tent having a quite ale.

The Giggenbachs are back with us so they set up while we went on a sunset and animal tour which left at 5:30pm. We all piled in to the bus for the trip out to the sunset viewing area.

Saw some Wallaroor's which were very chute.

The sunset was going down as we sipped on champagne and nibbles and it was very spectacular with all the cloud around.

Now it was on to see a larva tube with little bats flying around and try and get some photos of them not that easy.
We had tea in the bistro which was very nice that was for Paul's birthday. Well the shackle was given to little Ian tonight for leaving his tickets for the tour behind.

Sunset from Undara

28/8/2010 Saturday Chillagoe day 24

Well today we were going to do something different than driving. We had booked 3 cave tours which will take all day.

It was another hot day in Chillagoe so we thought it would be good to spend it in the caves.

The first cave was Donna cave it took 1hr which was very interesting but not very cool like we thought.

Head in the cave

Small bat

The second was Trezkinn cave I did not think it was as good as the first one and still not very cool this one took 1hr as well. So that was the morning filled up.

We took a drive out to balancing rock and the Giggenbach's decided to leave us for the night and go to Mareeba and look at something in there.

Balancing rock

We headed back to camp for lunch before we headed out to the Royal Arch cave. This was a very interesting cave and took 11/2hrs it had a lot to look at in this one and spots were very cool.

Queen victoria

Shape of a fish

After that we went for a swim in the pool at the park and it was very refreshing.

Had a very simple dinner as it was still very hot.