The Wandering Tops: Essential Travel

Essential travel, outback Qld.

While hooking up van we had to re-locate 8 little green frogs who had made their home in the plastic levelling ramps whilst staying at Leon and Sandy's property. Hopefully we do not have any more 'hitchhikers' on board. We decided to make our way to our house in Palmerston, NT and set up home there while the Coronavirus Pandemic was with us. This meant travelling through Qld to the NT as essential travellers. We had submitted our Application for Exemption to Quarantine to NT Health and hoped that it would have been reviewed by the time we reached the Qld/NT border crossing.

Packed and on our way.

We decided to take the shortest route so headed to Boonah then turned onto New England Highway to Toowoomba where we grabbed McDonalds for lunch - had to eat in car as no 'dining in' available.There are quite a few trucks on the road, no other caravans and were relieved that we had no abuse about being on the road with a caravan. Had heard other reports that people had received quite nasty responses from outback towns and some truck drivers. Booked into Miles Cross Roads Caravan Park which was a nice spot - the amenities are great, dongas with lounge area plus ensuite.

First night on the road at Miles on a concrete slab.

Left at 8am next day and travelled to Roma where we re-fuelled. Experienced heaps of cattle trucks travelling in the opposite direction, some full and some empty. Stopped at a little truck stop at Morven and devoured a good old country hamburger fulled to the brim and making it very hard to open your mouth wide enough to eat!! Booked into Tambo Caravan Park which was OK for a night stay. We woke early for Anzac Day and walked out onto the road for the dawn service. Unfortunately we could not find the Radio Station for a service but people across the road played a recorded last post. A very different Anzac Day for Australia however many people joined into 'light up the dawn', gathering at the end of their driveway with a light and observing the 1 minute silence. Sorry that veterans could not join in services and marches but so good to see many Australians participate despite COVID-19 interfering with our lives at the moment.

ANZAC dawn at Tambo - Light up the Dawn

ANZAC memorial placed out on the footpath at Tambo opposite where we stood

From Tambo we drove to Blackall which was all closed, then onto Barcaldine where we found a Bakery open for coffee, it was the only shop open and the town was really quiet. Continued onto Ilfracome where we stayed the night in the Caravan Park. Only 2 other vans here which had been there for a month or so. Being Saturday night we treated ourselves to a Pub meal. Ordered take away from the Wellshot Hotel as no dining in allowed. About 6 am the next day we were visited by an Ambulance seeing if we needed help, I directed them to the other 2 vans where one was occupied by an older man. Don't know what happened but they attended one of the vans for a while and then left.

Barcaldine main street, only one other vehicle.

Ilfracome caravan park, plenty of spots to choose from.

Ilfracome, Wellshot Hotel.

Sunset at Ilfracome, lonely trucker.

On the street in Ilfracome these containers had been decorated for Anzac Day and had a candle inside.

Leaving Ilfracome caravan park.

Another very quiet day on the road and passed through a very different looking Longreach from what we have experienced previously, only a hand full of local cars and people - definitely no tourists! Pulled up about 2km from Winton when the Caravan had a wobble - not sure if we ran over something or the new road repair was uneven. Checked out the brakes and wheels but all OK (seems as though when we're near Winton our vehicle tends to breakdown!!) Drove by the Blue Heeler Pub at Kynuna then onto Cloncurry Oasis Caravan Park where we stayed the night. On arriving we had to stop at the entrance and not get out the vehicle but call the caretaker, who then came out and booked us in while we stayed in the car. They directed us to drive thru site where we had to be self contained as amenities shut. There were a few other vans in the park which looked very settled.

Driving into the clouds, no rain though!

Every parking bay and free camp was empty.

Entering several country towns these signs warned about COVID-19

Another empty roadside stop.

Even the Crows are feeling the effects of Coronavirus with no travellers there is no rubbish!

A deserted house at Mckinlay

The toilet block was closed at Cloncurry Caravan Park.

Another early start onto Mt Isa for re-fueling a quick shop at Woolies and take away coffee from the Coffee Club before continuing on the Barkly Highway. From Mt Isa we only encountered 8 Slashers working on the side of the road. Continued onto Camooweal where we intended to have some lunch at the Camooweal Billabong, however road was closed to stop campers from what is usually a very popular camping area. Booked into Camooweal Roadhouse for a night and put air con on as Caravan temperature was 38 degrees. After unhooking the van we drove out to the Qld/NT Border to check what happens when we cross over and was advised by NT Police that if our Exemption to Quarantine is not granted, we have to quarantine in Tennant Creek for 14 days. When we arrived at the border check point we were greeted by what looked like a man from outer space but was only the police officer wearing a fly net to cope with the zillions of flies! After being briefed on the procedure to cross into NT we went back to Camooweal where we decided to stay for two nights, giving us a rest day from driving and also to follow up our application for exception to quarantine.

I managed to get through to NT Health after about an half hour on hold and spoke to a representative that could only tell me that if I had emailed the application then they would have received it!! Not a lot of joy from that call!! I emailed an enquiry in anticipation that they would get back with a little more information. We relaxed for the rest of the day having a enjoyable lamb shank dinner in preparation for the border crossing early next morning not knowing without the exemption we would be sent to Tennant Creek to quarantine.