Camooweal Qld

Left the ‘Curry and kept heading west, first stop the Isa (116km) where we topped up on some food things, and then kept going right across to Camooweal (180km). Being creatures of habit we went straight to the BP Roadhouse park where we stayed once before. Someone was in early and took our spot! Oh well, plenty more to choose from.

Made ourselves some lunch before walking up the road to the Post Office and then to the Camooweal Pub. You all hope its the last time i mention this, but good old Williamson features Camooweal Pub in one of his songs, something to the effect that all the old cockies and drovers are sitting around having a beer and swapping yarns, one of which is about ‘the drover who’d come from the Kimberly run, Fitzroy’  etcetc. Well we both imagined a really old style country pub and just thought we drop in and drink up the atmosphere. Well how wrong could we be? It’s just one corner of the original pub and its sterile i reckon you could eat off the floor. The only ones there were the French backpacking barmaid and two of her mates. In reality, its no longer a pub as such and is now the Office for the van park in behind, and just happens to have liquor licence. Looks like the locals have shot through. 

We had a cold drink anyway and then set of out the other side of town to find the legendary Camooweal Bilabong free camp. It’s just over the bridge heading west, then turn off down next to the river. The river at this time of year is dry, but t has left behind a sizeable billabong. The track leads along the rivers edge and you just keep going until you find a break in the nose-to-tail rigs. Then pull in, open up and you have an instant waterside holiday house. No facilities of any kind except garbage bins, but even Judy reckons she could stand a night there. Must keep it in mind. Almost as many birds as Kakadu, but no crocs, they all hope!

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

 Camooweal Billabong

1/2 of the 50 odd campers at Camooweal Billabong

The other 1/2