Hughenden

Cow trying to sneak some of the grass from the camping area at Corfield

Example of Muttabuttasaurus skeleton in Hughenden

Old 20 foot windmill in Hughenden

Muttabuttasaurus

Sunset in Corfield

Driving back the way we had come almost to Undarra NP yesterday afternoon (going West, that is) felt quite wrong, but we made it a good way down the Kennedy Development Road and happened upon a little gravel pull in where we could bush camp. It was right next to the road so a bit noisy (and some of the trucks gave us a friendly beep as they went past), but surrounded by quite a pretty forest. We hadn’t lit a fire in a while so that was nice, and it meant that we could cook on it with the wok (also not used for a while). We woke up to a cool misty morning and it really hit home that we’re not in the tropics any more!

This morning we kept on going South, passed through the Oasis Roadhouse and hit the dirt part of the road, which wasn’t really that bad – possibly our last dirt road for the trip! Unless we make it to Fraser Island that is. We made it to Hughenden for lunch by the completely dry Flinders River (not named after Matthew Flinders apparently, but some other Flinders, the Info Centre lady couldn’t tell us who though!). It’s a small town of 1600 people, we’re definitely back in the Outback (hot, dry and empty again) and it’s quite a nice place, great facilities but not a whole lot open on a Sunday afternoon with big, wide, empty open streets. We visited their Flinders Discovery Centre which is about the many fossils that have been found in the area, lots of ammonites, lots of fish, squid, petrified wood, and some ichthyosaur (?) bone fossils amongst others, apparently it’s a big fossil area. There was also a copy of a muttabuttasaurus skeleton, parts of which were found very nearby and which might have been the first dinosaur fossil discovered in Australia (I think). Hughenden, Winton and Richmond are all part of a dinosaur tourism ‘triangle’ in this area, but we won’t get to Richmond unfortunately.

We didn’t leave Hughenden until 4pm and were hoping to find another bush camp on the way to Winton, but things weren’t looking good as we drove on and on through big, wide empty plains, not even a tree to park beside. It was great then to drive into Corfield, population 3, just before the sun went down and find a free camping space set aside (and advertised). There’s a toilet, nice gravel cleared space, picnic tables, tap water for washing up (even a sink!), a bbq with wood provided, and a little playground for the kids. Another couple from Bawley Point were already camped here and let us know that there’s even a shower we can use at the pub over the road! It (the pub) was supposed to be opening at 5pm but hasn’t – apparently they’ve had the gall to go and get married (so maybe that means the population will now be four). The showers are out the back though and still available. What a great town/village!