Back to Burke and Wills Roadhouse and out to Gregory Downs.

Kids having fun using an inflatable mattress to float down stream!


Back to Burke and Wills Roadhouse and out to Gregory Downs.
Having decided we could not get our rig into Boodjamulla National Park (Lawn Hill) we decided we would go out as far as Gregory Downs as the Gregory river runs there most of the time and we may even get a campsite on the banks of the river! We left Karumba at approximately 8.45am and arrived at Burke and Wills Roadhouse almost right on 12.00noon after calling into the Normanton Bakery and Butchers for supplies.

After lunch at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, I had a bream sandwich with some nice hot chips and Dallas had a Chicko Roll with some chips, something w have not done too often.
We drove onto Gregory Downs getting some fire wood on the way as we had driven some 300k south of Karumba and it might be getting colder. On arrival we noted the historic Pub and a small General Store that bragged it sold the best coffee in the Gulf! A claim that proved to be pretty well spot on when we had morning tea there next morning. That night after setting up at a free camp near town we did cook some of the Normanton Beef Ribs in the camp oven with mixed outcomes. We also met another Jurgens van owner and discussed some of the issues we had both encountered. He and his mate were on a great themed van holiday, they were going to as many historic old pubs and had come here to see the Gregory Pub. What a great idea, they reveled in showing us all the pubs they had been to.

Next morning, we woke early, 7.30am (we are in Nth Qld) and did a bird watch walk down to Gregory river. Quite a speccy walk with some sightings but discovering what the Gregory River looks like. After breakfast we walked into town and visited the General store which lived up to its claim and called into the Gregory Pub. What a little beauty. We then headed down to the banks of the Gregory river to see hundreds of vans camped there and packed in like sardines. You would have to be there at dawn to make sure you got a spot and not in a hurry to leave as once you get in some one comes in behind you! The were two kids having a great time with grandma and grandpa riding a blow up mattress down the river! It was great to see.

It is time to move on to Julia Creek in the morning.

Had to have a fire the temp was below 20

Birds in the trees around Gregory River.

It is hard to see but there is a fish at least 700 mm long in this hole!

Caravans and campers packed in along the Gregory River

Two coupes we met were on a themed holiday.
They were tracking down old Bush Pubs and had so far ticked off about 60.

The Gregory Downs Pub

The Gregory River Canoe Marathon. A serious event!

Licensee

Inside the Gregory Downs Pub

Inside the Gregory Downs Pub a stuffed Freshie

Some history

Very true

Due to road reports we did not get to Lawn Hill.

More vans packed in along the Gregory

Kids enjoying a float down the Gregory
Encountering a road train on a flood creek bridge
Encountering Road Trains on the skinny roads
The best Coffee in the Gulf

The Savannah Way, part of which we traveled but not
as much as originally planned








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