Cloncurry to Barkly Homestead


 

We have nearly 600km to do today. A little cafe beside our hotel opened at 6 so we went early. A very friendly lady and the food was really good. So we hit the road at 7 which is I think the earliest that could be considered safe. I have seen enough dead kangaroos to know I don’t want to hit one. The sun was very bright and low in the sky but at our backs so visibility was good for me. 

The road to Mt Isa was more hilly and windy than I expected and the scenery was beautiful. The bright sun on the red hills was amazing.

We didn’t stop in Mt Isa but boy, the mine and the plant completely dominate the skyline and the town is literally in it’s shadow. 


We carried on to our gas stop and break in Camooweal, it is just a road house but a welcome stop after 312km without one. It was worth it to put those miles behind us in the relative cool of the day. 

Just before Camooweal we obviously disturbed a large flock of white birds who all flew out of a tree at the same time. I wondered how many we would hit but miraculously they all avoided us. It was like flying in amongst them for a short time. 

Soon after our stop we crossed by the border into the Northern Territory. The landscape changed dramatically as did the temperature and the roads straightened out to stretch on and on. 


The open road speed limit is 130 here but for the first 100km or so the road was so bumpy I didn’t bother. After a while it got better so we went for it. The temperature was now 36 and at one stage hit 37 so regular water stops were a must. 


We pulled into our destination just after 1pm so pretty happy with that. Unfortunately we couldn’t check in till and 2 and then realised we lost 1/2 an hour because of the time difference. 

There is a really nice restaurant for us to kick back while we wait. 

The gas consumption at 130 is ridiculous so we won’t be doing that too much but it was worth it to keep a breeze blowing through us and to get it done. 

Barkly Homestead is a Roadhouse but a pretty flash one. It claims to be one of the remotest in Australia and is run by one family. It boasts an impressive dining room, motel units, cabins, swimming pool, camping facilities and petrol. 

Nothing here is cheap but considering the location and the high standard of amenities and service it is a bargain. 

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