3rd June 2026: got off to a reasonably early start and looked at the many buildings tastefully restored to their 1880’s appearance when Charters Towers was a wealthy gold rich town. We drove out of town on the Gregory Developmental Road and then the Kennedy developmental road, both roads in good order with light traffic of trucks and caravans in both directions. As we travel north the vegetation is changing to semi- tropical with vines clinging to trees like furniture coverings in a dryish eucalyptus forest, with many trees showing epiphytic growth after fires.

We saw our first wedge-tailed Eagle for the trip - a single one- and then a new bird for me- the pheasant coucal by the side of the road. We saw a second one a distance further on . We reached Mt Garnet and saw the race track made famous by the Picnic Races. About 20km further on we came to Innot Hot Springs where we were booked into the caravan park. We set up on our unpowered site and then went to bathe in the pools of various temperatures fed by natural artesian bore water very hot at source. 

I cooked us Shaksuka with green vegetables on the side preceding a gin and tonic.

Tomorrow we head to Cooktown.






Comments

  1. NicJune 8, 2026 at 4:41 PM

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    1. Jill PierceJune 8, 2026 at 6:34 PM

      we saw a pheasant coucal at Bitter Springs (Craig). Closest bird in appearance and behaviour would be Bassian Thrush - smaller!

      Delete
  2. NicJune 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM

    FUN FACT: Innot Hot Springs (pronounced ‘inner springs’ by Suzanne until corrected) were hot, bloody hot. The hottest pool we dipped in, briefly, would have been around 60 degrees C, perhaps more. The water temperature can, apparently, reach a scalding 75 degrees C. The springs are heated by circulation of groundwater through fractured rocks close to hot magma chambers deep underground. The heated and therefore expanded pressurised mineral-rich water is forced to the surface through faults in the earth’s crust.

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    1. Jill PierceJune 8, 2026 at 6:38 PM

      far out. We are connoisseurs of such Hadean delights. Will visit (Craig)

      Delete

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