McCarthy's Go Round

Day 13 Lara Wetlands to Longreach- 135km Leaving Lara was tough!  After meeting a couple of families travelling with 3 kids in tow we exchanged details & promised to keep in contact.  Our day today involved exploring the town's along the Landsborough HWY, in particular Ilfracombe with its Machinery Mile, and bottle & gun collections. We then rolled into Longreach-the 'Heart of Outback Qld', where you can't help but feel a tinge of Aussie pride. The unmistakable red & white livery of a Qantas Jumbo Jet dominates the skyline from km's away. We took a dip at the local pool before setting up camp in Camden Station- a cattle station owned by Dan- what a character!  So home tonight is bush camping at its best, with bonfire, star gazing & playing charades with our new friends from Melbourne.  The machinery mile at Ilfracombe 

Lara Wetlands is a 15,000 acre station stay & has been a highlight so far. The station is 28km south of Barcaldine.  The wetland sits on a natural claypan fed from an artesian bore. The water flows out at 40 degrees into a thermal pool and continually feeds the wetland.  Sunrise and Sunset’s are just amazing with the reflections over the water. It truly is a kids paradise!  

Blackwater to Lara Wetlands via Emerald 413.5km Capricorn Hwy We had a great day in gem country with sapphire fossicking in Rubyvale & a tour of the largest walk- in mine in Australia. The mine is 16m deep & despite being in Rubyvale only sapphires have been found. We learnt that sapphires come in a range of colours & found several small varieties when sifting through the wash. The boys were very impressed at learning they were the first humans to touch these precious gems in 50 million years & they had been discovered in an ancient river system. From Rubyvale it was back on the road headed for Barcaldine, and Lara Wetlands, where we made it in the gate with 3 mins to spare.

Cania Gorge to Blackwater 332km After a bushwalk through Cania Gorge to Giants Chair lookout we proceeded along Capricorn Hwy to Blackwater- Coal capital of QLD.  The drive was scenic despite very dry grass, wildflowers and trees here & there.  The ministerial directive remains in place to ban any new enrolments into Distance Education, so we are trying to encourage a bit of maths as we drive & the rest of the education is coming through experiential learning! Namely, kids are collecting hundreds of rocks. Tonight we camped at a free camp at Bedford weir, just outside town. There are 6 open cut coal mines in town. We are starting to see plenty of road trains.

Day 8: Palmwoods to Cania Gorge National Park 409km Another driving day, mostly through small outback towns. We spent the night within the National Park, ready for a few walks the next morning.

Further fun on the sunshine coast with strawberry picking & playing in the mud. Whilst Noah was in his element with all the mud it was not so good for removing our caravan from The Dirt Road Home, requiring a winch out from James!  

Days 4-5 Tallebudgera to Palmwoods 196km After Tallebudgera we continued north to spend some time with Al, James, Alana & Eden in Palmwoods. We explored the beautiful hinterland, as well as Buderim & chocolate tasting in quaint little Montville. Luca snuck in a few hours at the skate park in Alexandria Headland, so everyone is happy.  So lovely to be pausing with long time friends and seeing their Dirt Road Home take shape. Tim couldn't resist strapping on the tool belt to help this afternoon, meanwhile Huw is in gymnastics heaven, and who wouldnt be with a swing inside your house!  

Today we stayed put to soak up the sunshine and settle into our new way of being together. We enjoyed riding around the creek, swimming, crab hunting  🦀 and generally 'being in the moment'. The kids declared a 'pupil free day' seeing as it would be in NSW, so school work will come, eventually...                

After making the hasty decision to take a run for the QLD border, an uber stressful week ensued- packing, finalising work & organising life for the next 6mths.  Today we left Sydney, our precious family & beautiful Village and our Adventure began! And what a send off it was!! 💙 Day 1: Sydney- Port Macquarie   We discovered today that our kids are unseasoned travellers, needing way too many toilet stops & asking "how many more minutes" far too many times. This evening we embraced a beautiful sunset at Breakwall Caravan Park, Port Macquarie & noted the multitude of stars already visible out of the city. There's always one.... Our beautiful Village First sunset of many...

With confirmation of QLD border opening July 10, our decision to proceed with our travel adventure was sealed. Excited, nervous, disbelieving this dream may become reality, our raging 'to do' lists await!