Diamantina National Park
Directions are for the turn-off to the parkAbout 26km east of Boulia, near the road to Maasland Station, is the junction with Springvale Road that provides access to Diamantina National Park. 200km to the south via Springvale StationThe Park is notable for fishing, canoeing, bird-watching and camping. Roads are unsealed and often impassable when wet. Check with the Shire, Police or locals before taking this route.
Hamilton Hotel ruins and surrounds
On the north side just west of the Hamilton RiverRemnants of the Hamilton Hotel are featured at an attractive rest area provided by the Shire. The 7th Cobb and Co Pillar is located here. You will also enjoy the George and Gladys Hasted picnic shelter, a large mill and tank, plentiful water and an open camping area. This is a welcome rest point. Fill your water tanks, enjoy a cuppa, be aware of the breeze, smell the Mitchell grass downs and take a short walk. This is an extraordinary landscape. Take time to appreciate it.The Hamilton River is typical of the Channel County. The highway crosses four kilometres of river channels, meandering across the broad sandy plane. Water persists in channels and deeper holes during and after the wet season. The river is a habitat for an extraordinary diversity of migratory water birds and resident reptiles and mammals. There are excellent bush camping opportunities on both sides during dry conditions, but be very wary following any rain. This is billabong heaven. “Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong”… Perhaps it was near here.The site of the famous, or is it ‘infamous’, Min Min Hotel is located about 40km east of the Hamilton River and just west of the Lucknow Cobb and Co plaque. The site of the hotel is 500m to the north where a sign, a grave, a bottle dump and a few foundation stumps can be found. The hotel was built in the 1880s and burned to the ground in 1920. This was where the first reported sighting of the Min Min lights occurred (said to have originated in the graveyard) and hosted many legends, characters and misadventures at the hotel. Caution, the access track can be soft long after rain and usually impassable during the wet. There are some good picnic or camping sites along the Pollygammon Creek just north of the hotel site, which are accessible during dry conditions.
Cawnpore Lookout
The most distinctive and stunning landscape between Winton and Boulia is certainly the Lilyvale Hills. This is an extraordinary rise of uplifted, rocky, multi-coloured terrain with buttes, ranges and hills just west of the Old Cork Road junction.The Cawnpore Lookout, with shelter and picnic table, provides a magnificent point to appreciate the majesty and beauty of this ancient landscape. Don’t even think of passing by without stopping. Road access to the summit is a bit tricky, so use caution as parking is very limited and there may be pedestrians. This is a top photo spot, perfect for a short est and a cuppa.
Middleton Hotel
The Middleton Hotel is all that is left of the once thriving town of Middleton, a coach staging post on the run between Boulia and Winton. The 4th Cobb and Co Pillar is located here. The restored hotel is a welcome oasis with fascinating historical artefacts, photos, sketches, memorial plaques and a fully functional Cobb and Co coach. Visitor facilities include camp sites, donga style accommodation, meals, fuel and cold beer. Oh, and one of the loneliest phone boxes in the world. Enjoy the hotels history and the mighty good yarns, while you enjoy a drink or snack.About 6km east of Middleton Hotel, keep an eye out for Ringers Leap, a distinctive gap in the range. Ask someone at the Pub to tell you the story. There is a small lay-by parking area at a gate near a small quarry on south side. This is a brilliantly dramatic landscape and it’s worth a poke around.
Diamantina Causeway
A myriad of creeks and the mighty Diamantina River & Wockingham Creek are an icon of the channel country. The water from here flows through to Lake Eyre 800km south.The junction with Cork Mail Road is clearly marked about 18km east of the Wockingham Creek and 32km west of Highway A2. This is an alternative route to Lark Quarry-135km and Winton- 225km.Lark Quarry Conservation Park is home to the only fossilised record of a dinosaur stampede in the world. Attractions include a visitor centre, nature trails and a dramatic jump-up landscape with elegant gorges, mesas and escarpments. This feature should not be missed. It can also be accessed from Winton.A visitor lay-by with toilet, shelter with table, water and stable parking area is provided by the Shire of Winton, just 2km east of the Old Cork Road junction.It is a welcome oasis.
Winton
The Outback Way junction with the Landsborough Highway A2 is just 5k north of Winton. It is well signed and can’t be missed. If heading west – you have a great adventure in store and if heading east – congratulations you have made it across the continent via the Centre. Winton will be a very welcome rest stop.Winton is the heart and soul of Matilda Country, and Australia Age of Dinosaurs. It is the centre of an extraordinarily diverse area of historical events, historic theatres, explorers, artesian water, vast plains, gorges, opals, dinosaur fossils and Arno’s Wall. The town, originally known as Pelican Waterhole, offers a range of accommodation, services and supplies, but is best known as the town where Waltzing Matilda was written by Banjo Patterson. Check out the Waltzing Matilda Centre.The 1st Cobb and Co Pillar is located in Winton. There are 9 plaques between Winton and Boulia.
