Anyone who has read or heard anything about Australia has
heard stories about the outback towns.
We have now visited a number of these in the various states of
Australia but Birdsville was always one that held particular interest. Perhaps this is because it is often referred
to in relation to Big Red (the large sand dune nearby) or the annual races held
in September during which the population swells from the 2011 census population
of 283 to between 6,000 and 10,000, or the iconic Birdsville Pub
and just maybe the bakery.
Many outback trips include a visit to Birdsville as it is at
the beginning or end of a Simpson Desert trip, can be accessed from the south
via the Birdsville Track (514 kms from Maree in South Australia through the
Strzelecki Desert) or the north from Mt Isa (675 kms). As the road heads north it is possible to
take the Plenty Highway through to Central Australia and more outback
adventures.
The caravan park in Birdsville is a very popular stopping off
place – for us it provided great facilities after the days in the desert and I
think if we asked the boys their favourite thing about Birdsville it may be the
toilet, perhaps – shock, shock – a shower, able to have eggs on toast for
breakfast (Tim’s favourite and sorely missed while we were bush camping). We arrived in the dark and quickly unpacked
and set up the tents before enjoying the luxury of dinner cooked with lights in
the open air camp kitchen with a sink to wash up!
The caravan park is a busy place and it was interesting to
meet the season camp managers who come from Christchurch in NZ and they are
assisted by another couple from Palmerston North in NZ. Both couples come to Australia for the winter
months – finding jobs to help fund their time.
The managers were well organised and flexible with two older 4wd
vehicles - one stored in Queensland and the other in Western Australia. We find we meet many kiwi couples during our
travels.
Unfortunately our travel period is only fourteen nights from
Melbourne to Townsville and we do not have the luxury of two night stays. It would have been great to have just relaxed
and explore Birdsville but we had to pack up the tent and keep moving although
we did it a bit more leisurely. By 11 am
we had walked and visited the information centre, viewed the pub and the old
hospital, refuelled at the roadhouse, discussed the small planes lined up at
the airport (unfortunately the Flying Doctor Service plane was not on the
tarmac), walked part way round the race track with a clear purpose in mind – to
visit the well-known Birdsville Bakery. The first bakery in days and the boys could
smell it from miles away! The bakeries
best known item is their curried camel pies which both Peter and Connor
enjoyed, while Jake and Tim had mince pies.
It was a popular place with groups of travellers enjoying the luxury of
fresh store bought items.
We hit the road again before midday this time heading for
Bouderie and Boulia – two more small outback towns.
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