Queensland Outback Tour - Cunnamulla to Charleville

Cunnamulla to Charleville, 200km along the Mitchell Highway

Wyandra General Store

A steady morning drive after an 8:30 start which was mostly in a straight line just a few degrees to the east of north.

At the half way mark, we reached the tiny village of Wyandra, population 30 and a well equipped school with a resident teacher for its six students. The Mitchell Highway breezes past the village, with its main street - if that's not too big an exaggeration - running parallel. On the opposite side of the highway, a large pull off area had seven or eight big caravans all making their own morning tea. As we often do, we chose to pull into the village instead and we were so glad we did.

The General Store/Post Office/Caravan Park/Museum/seller of kids toys lies amid a collection of amusing signs, sculptured animals and the world's most dangerous putt-putt course. We had a big pot of black tea, made in a coffee plunger and Sue added a home made scone. Under the shade of a willow tree and accompanied by a plentiful supply of flies, we just soaked up the atmosphere and had a chat with the lady running the place. The signs, she said, were put up by the previous owner who left. The new owner since December, bought the pub about fifty metres away, eighteen months earlier. Not many turn in off the highway, with most stopping across the highway and then driving over to use the toilets. When she can, she declines unless they want to buy something ... something reasonable.

Cosmos Observatory

The toilet is a hoot. Its not actually marked by any signage but its "just behind the red door luv". Inside, the first door is marked "private", the second "private" and the third, by dint of no signage, is your target. The floor is red pebbles but the rest of the cubby hole is tidy and clean. A sign implores you to make sure you close the door to prevent the frogs getting in. You try but the frame is warped and it won't shut, so you wedge your foot against it and keep watch for the frogs.

Across the road, a new path runs the length of the street from the General Store to the hotel. Along it are big shade trees, children's play equipment and even some exercise equipment but the highlight is a very tasteful memorial to those who served in war.

This was a really lovely diversion and just goes to show how important it is to move outside your supposed safety zone. How else can you experience the Australia you came to see?

After another 100kms, we reached Charleville and settled into our park.

Click here for today's photos

After lunch, we drove out to the airport and Cosmos Observatory. We walked through a great display about the stars and space travel and then watched three or four short films about different ideas held by cultures of the stars, including an aboriginal perspective narrated by Deborah Mailman. We had a cuppa and booked some tours and shows before returning to our digs.

The day finished with a few drinks and a chat with fellow travelers.