Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

During our travels around Australia my wife and I often look for alternative routes to the busier, often more populated main roads. The “road less travelled” may not always be the shortest or the prettiest route between destinations but if we have previously driven the main road route we like to explore other options.

In 2019 while driving through central outback Queensland we decided to take the less popular route from Winton to Mount Isa via Boulia, a total of 666km (414miles), rather than the more direct route 468km (390miles), via the main highway.

The road we chose was sealed but only one lane wide, however we never encountered any road trains or other heavy vehicles and only a handful of other vehicles which made the journey much less stressful and more enjoyable than the alternative main road route.

Typical outback Queensland panorama.

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The region that we drove through is part of the 200,000 square kilometre area known as Channel Country due to the hundreds of intertwined rivulets formed by occasional floodwaters flowing inland from the eastern watershed.

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The water in my photos is the remnants of floodwaters that covered hundreds of square kilometres of outback Queensland and South Australia six months earlier. An estimated 300,000 - 400,000 head of cattle were drowned during those devistating floods.

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About halfway into our journey we came acros the aptly named Middleton Hotel. An outback pub with loads of character.

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For the budget conscious, cheaper accomodation was available at the "Hilton" directily opposite the Middleton Hotel.

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A Cobb & Co coach - a remnant of early transport in outback Australia.

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Another mode of transport from an earlier time.

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In a mostly bland landscape this rocky outcrop added a bit of interest to the journey.

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Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

A very interesting set! Did you see any wildlife?

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Thanks for the tour. Nice set.

philo Loc: philo, ca

really like the shots. Never been there, and my bucket list is about over.

mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

nice

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

That looks like my kind of hotel/pub. Great set

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great set!!

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

Nice set!

jack

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Interesting info and set!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice set of photos--enjoyed.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

Thanks for sharing this enjoyable and well shot series.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

Thanks for the feedback CPO. We saw lots of birds - mostly crows, magpies, cockatoos and smaller insect eating birds. I had expected to see cattle but many were lost during earlier floods and may have been in short supply for re-stocking.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

Thanks for the feedback mac.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

Thank you for your positive comments philo.