The Birdsville Track

Heading south from Birdsville down the Birdsville Track to Marree in South Australia. "The Track" is about 520 klms long and the trip is usually broken into 2 days, staying overnight at the Mungerannie Hotel about 300 klms south of Birdsville. Even though the track is maintained fairly well and now some parts have been sealed, it is still an awesome experience to travel it and to see the vastness of the Australian outback.

West of Birdsville after the rain

Rain can convert the desert from a desolate dry land to a green grass and tree covered wonderland almost overnight.  A couple of weeks before we got to Birdsville they had good rain bringing new life to the desert.
The rains that fall through the summer wet season in north Queensland flow down the channel country into the Cooper Creek and on into Lake Eyre. When in flood, Lake Eyre is a virtual inland sea. On our first road trip out to this region while there had been good rain it was not as much as was needed to flood Lake Eyre.

Desert sunset outback Queensland

Deon's Lookout is situated about half way between Windorah and Birdsville, shortly before turning onto the Birdsville Development Road.  The lookout gives a high vantage point to view the surrounding desert region and really shows the empty vastness of the Queensland outback.  We camped here for the night on our own. As far as you could see in any direction there was not another person to be seen giving a surreal sense of aloneness! The sunset from this point was just amazing, the desert became this vivid red/orange and was just incredible to watch. Desert sunsets are spectacular.

Birdsville, outback Queensland

The Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville Queensland. This hotel is an Outback Queensland icon. Stories have been told and songs written about this establishment.  The "Birdsville Races" are held in this remote outback town once a year and have become a "must do" on many people's bucket list. The town is also the staging point for anyone "doing" the Birdsville Track from north to south and is always host to many 4WD adventurers.  This place truly is legendary. Here we are parked outside the "Birdsville Pub" on our first trip out there before heading down "the track".

Sunset over the Western Downs, Queensland

Sunset on the Western Downs region of Queensland Australia.  This image was made just south of Dalby over rows of harvested crop stubble.  The sky out here always looks incredible over such a flat, vast area and produces amazing sunsets.  We lived about an hour west of here for about 15 years and we still love this region and always enjoy our road trips through here.

Woodgate Beach, Queensland Australia

Sunrise on the beautiful Woodgate Beach, Queensland Australia.  We love this place and spend time there whenever we get the chance. This is a peaceful place.  We camp on our small piece of land there to enjoy this sort of scenery.  Woodgate Beach is protected from the open ocean by Fraser Island.
This wonderful township and amazing beach is on the east coast of Queensland, Australia about four hours drive north of Brisbane.