This route forms a principal east west route through north west Queensland.
It continues into the Northern Territory and in a westerly direction to the Three Ways junction on
the Stuart Highway just north of Tennant Creek. The Mt. Isa to Cammonweal section has had a bad
reputation (narrow with rough edges) for many years. It is currently being ugraded to sealed dual lane
with completion expected in 2008.
This Queensland section covers Cloncurry to the Queensland/Northern Territory border.
0 km (325.1 km) CLONCURRY .. Scaeffe St .. turn north for shopping centre, Post Office etc. Turn south for WAL's
MOTOR HOME STOP OVER. Cross narrow bridge, continue ahead (south) a couple of blocks to Philip Street, turn
right .. continue 0.8 km to Wals. Large level gravel area. Self register, $5 pn (now $8 in Sept. 06) for 2 people.
* Class 2. 20° 42.951'S. 140° 29.770'E. Hema map 12, A 5.
Toilets, covered table, little shade, WATER, good BBQ facility + wood, some road and rail noise,
OK big rigs, no time limit, good TV, good CDMA.
To the east the highway continues to Townsville as the Flinders Highway.
The Landsbrough Highway to the south east merges with the Flinders back about 18 km east of Cloncurry.
[1.7 km]
1.7 km (323.4 km) Cloncurry River.
[0.4 km]
2.1 km (323.0 km) Junction .. north side .. Burke Development Road (Matilda Highway) north to Normanton, Kurumba.
[0.2]
2.3 km (328.8 km) Junction .. south side .. to Chinaman Creek Dam.
-------------------------------
0 km turn off to Dam.
[2.2 km] following main track.
2.2 km Junction .. veer left for dam wall, veer right for best parking spot.
[0.4 km]
2.6 km Medium size reasonably level gravel parking area adjoining water side. "NO CAMPING" signs.
Class 5. 20° 42.89' S. 140° 28.64' E. Hema map 11, K 5.
Toilets, covered tables, little shade, WATER ? potable, wood BBQ,s, rubbish bins, quiet, OK big rigs.
-------------------------------
CLONCURRY to NORTHERN TERRITORY BORDER .. continued.
[114.7 km] This section not yet travelled .. distance taken from a map.
117.0 km (208.1 km) Info Centre .. Mt. Isa .. south side.
[1.5 km]
118.5 km (206.6 km) Large "T" junction .. turn north for Camooweal, south to Dajarra.
[0.7 km]
119.2 km (205.9 km) Barclay Hotel .. east side. Maybe best to seek permission, though we patronised bottle department.
Large parking lot south of hotel .. centre section used as interchange for interstate coaches ..
between 6 to 7 am and pm .. noisy at these times. We parked in south east corner.
* Class 3 to 4. 20° 43.08'S. 139² 29.19'E. Hema map 10, K 3.
No shade, 60m max from 60 kph highway, OK big rigs, OK TV, OK CDMA.
[2.8 km]
122.0 km (203.1 km) Turn off .. to large truck stop/roadhouse .. east side. "No camping" signs in parking lot.
Fuel price seemed best in town.
[1.3 km]
123.3 km (201.8 km) Turn off .. east side .. Lake Mandouran .. just down hill on right is Rotary Club of Mt. Isa West.
Class 5. 20° 41.02'S. 139° 29.735'E. at north gate. Hema map 10, K 3.
Facilities inside park, some shade, 60m from highway, 20m from side road, just OK big rigs at gate.
[2.7 km]
126.0 km (199.1 km) Truck parking bay .. unsigned .. west side. Actually old highway section between existing highway
and airport boundry fence .. to the north of airport entrance.
Class 3 to 4. 20° 39.59'S. 139° 29.56'E. Hema map 10, K 3.
No shade, rubbish bins, 20m from highway, OK big rigs, OK TV, OK CDMA.
NOTE .. that old highway continues for a number of kms to the north .. offering other potential parking.
[31.6 km]
157.6 km (167.5 km) Truck parking bay .. signed .. north east side. Large level dirt area.
Class 2. 20° 35.21'S. 139° 23.14'E. Hema map 10, k 3.
No shade, 80m max from100 kph highway, OK big rigs.
[14.7 km]
172.3 km (152.8 km) Rest area .. south side .. old road section with parking at edges.
* Class 2. 20° 22.35'S. 139° 15.88'E. Hema map 10, K 3.
Covered tables, little shade, fireplaces, rubbish bins, 30m max from 100 kph highway though there are
tracks further into bush, OK big rigs, no TV, OK CDMA.
[11.1 km]
183.4 km (141.7 km) Junction .. Old May Downs Road .. south side.
[27.0 km]
210.4 km (114.7 km) Buckley River.
[8.9 km]
219.3 km (105.8 km) Rest area .. signed .. north side .. large level exposed dirt area with extra spots at rear.
Class 2. 20° 11.40'S. 138° 53.87'E. Hema map 10, J 2.
Covered table, no shade, wood BBQ, rubbish bins, 100m max from existing road, 40m from new road (being
built), OK big rigs, signed 48 hours.
[17.2 km]
236.5 km (88.6 km) Inca Creek.
[0.6 km]
237.1 km (88.0 km) Possible parking spot noticed .. north side .. between highway and creek.
Shade, rubbish bin .. not investigated.
[3.0 km]
240.1 km (85.0 km) Junction .. north side .. to Bourketown.
Rest area .. signed .. noticed (from junction) just along Bourketown road .. west side.
Medium size level dirt area. Shade, rubbish bin .. needs investigation.
[31.4 km]
271.5 km (53.6 km) Level parking area noticed .. south side .. plus windmill.
[27.4 km]
298.9 km (26.2 km) Nowraine Creek.
[11.2 km]
310.1 km (15.0 km) Junction .. north side .. Bourketown Road.
[1.6 km]
311.7 km (13.4 km) Rest area .. south side .. on edge of Camooweal town. Medium size gravel/dirt area.
Class 5 (no camping signs). 19° 55.32'S. 138° 07.31'E. Hema map 10, J 1.
Covered tables, little shade, WATER, rubbish bins, 50m from 60 kph road in area at rear, OK big rigs,
good TV, good CDMA, butcher shop opposite.
[0.1 km]
311.8 km (13.3 km) Post Office/general store .. south side.
[0.4 km]
312.2 km (12.9 km) Heavy vehicle parking bay with servo adjacent to east.
Class 4. 19° 55.23'S. 138° 07.01'E. Hema map 10, J 1.
Area well used by large road trains, no shade, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
Cross first bridge.
[0.8 km]
313.0 km (12.1 km) Junction .. south side .. signed "stock route". This runs parallel to west bank of Georgina River
which normally consists of a number of water holes. Travel in 0.8 km to second track to left .. taking this
track it is 0.3 km to a long track adjacent to the river bank. There are a series of camp spots between this
track and the river bank. Abundant bird life in water holes .. nice sunrises and sunsets.
* Class 1. 19° 55.63'S. 138° 06.93'E. Hema map 10, J 1.
Some shade, rubbish bins, quiet, OK big rigs, apparently no time limit, good TV, good CDMA.
[12.1 km]
325.1 km (0 km) Border .. Queensland/Northern Territory.
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