Australia So Much to See

The road between Boulia and Winton takes us past sites of former Cobb and Co coach stop Hotels and across the many channels of the Diamentina River

As we headed east from Boulia, we were in mitchell grass plains at approximately 150 metres above sea level, with the only tress or scrub being along the creeklines.  We were also in the Channel Country, where the streams and rivers have multiple channels which interlink and can form a river many kilometres wide in times of flood.  Much of western Queensland receives flooding and life giving water from the north through these channels and floodplains, producing lush grass for cattle grazing; the major industry through the Channel Country.  Most of the Channel Country drains towards Lake Eyre, althoughthe water may not always reach this destination.   What is the Channel Country?  The Coopers Creek catchment heads toward the Murray Darling system. 

A windmill, water taps and a picnic shelter makes a pleasant rest area and marks the site of the former Hamilton Hotel; old signs from which can be seen at the Stonehouse Museum in Boulia.  Signage at the site gives facts about the Great Artesian Basin.

A little north of the road the site of the Min Min Hotel can be viewed.  Here an extract from a book discussing the mystery of the Min Min lights is displayed – see the Min Min Light story.  

Ancient red mesas changed the landscape as we approached the Lilleyvale Hills and Cawnpore Lookout, where a short drive or walk to a hilltop gives sweeping views across mesas of the type that are seen only here and in South America.  The mesas are the remnants of a plateau formed from an inland sea 90 – 100 million years ago.  We first saw these mesas when we were around sixty kilometres from them, where they appeared to be floating above the horizon from the effects of mirages.  As we approached, the effect of the mirages stretched these floating hills even higher.  

Next feature of interest is the Middleton Hotel.  Once a coach stop it is currently still operating as a hotel.  Little else of the small town remains.  Free camping is permitted across the road from the hotel.  We stopped a little further towards Winton with a view to a red breakaway of the Carters Range. 

After crossing the many channels of the now dry Diamentina River, grassy plains and sandstone mesas dominated the scenery until we reached Winton. 

Overtaking opportunity 5 km ahead