Alice Springs to Townsville

Day 73
Wednesday 15 April 2009

We left Alice Springs on day 65 and travelled about 500 klms to Tennant Creek for the night stopping along the way at Aileron, Barrow Creek and Wycliffe Wells. Another 500 klms the following day brought us to Mount Isa. As soon as we crossed the border from Northern Territory into Queensland we noticed the roads deteriorated and travelling became less comfortable. If you look closely at the photo below you will see the uneven road surface that started as soon as you crossed the border.



Mount Isa is a hub of activity being the single largest producers of silver, lead, copper and zinc in the world. Signs of mining activity is evident even in the centre of town with huge chimney towers that dominate the landscape.



Day 68 -70

We travelled from Mt Isa to Townsville (another 500 odd klms) and stayed for the easter weekend. We found a caravan park as close to the city centre as possible and commuted back and forth to the centre of townsville several times. Unfortunately, we felt a bit out of place in the caravan park which was a bit upmarket, very busy, very noisy and (I must be getting old) with too many children.

Day 71

We drove north to a rainforest and mountainous area called Paloona. Fortunately, we left the trailer behind as the roads were extremely windy with little clearance. We enjoyed the forest and waterfalls and had lunch at a cafe in Paloona. On the way back to Townsville we had a few annoying incidents -I brushed the camper against a roadside sign on the way down the mountain and then a rock was thrown up and seriosly cracked the windscreen. The following day we left from Townsville for the trip south.