Winton

Day 6, 7 & 8

We travelled the 230k from Richmond heading further south to Winton, the Dinosaur capital of Australia.  Camp was setup in the Tattersalls Hotel van park and I set off to find a UHF CB to replace our old GME to was purchased over 10 years ago for around Australia but had been giving us grief since leaving Cairns.   We had planned to dine at the hotel but the pub was out of full strength tap beer so we ended up going across the road to the North Gregory hotel to dine and be entertained by Vic Pascoe.



The North Gregory Hotel

Col, Mike Jan and Sal dining at the North Gregory Hotel

The following morning, we split up with Mike and Jan heading off to Opalton, pick in hand to hunt down those elusive boulder opals. Sally and I headed towards Lark Quarry to see the famous Dinosaur Stampede.  I’d seen this on a television doco and wanted to see it for real.  Being the only one there I got a personalised 1 hour tour.

Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede

After we strolled back to the car tacking in the Lark Quarry lookout and the spinifex walk.


Spinifex Walk

Lark Quarry Lookout 

We stopped it the top of the jump up on the way back to Winton to Stretch our legs and take in another view.


Lark Quarry Road Jump up View

On Tuesday we went our separate way and I dashed off to the Age Of Dinosaurs Museum to see the actual bones of Dinosaurs excavated around Winton. 

The Bones of Winton

Followed by a tour through the valley and new outdoor displays around the museum.

Our Tour Group

Our Tour Group

On the walk we encountered a nesting Corella in a hollow above the path.  Our guide Alex said she had a chick in the nest as well.

Nesting Corella

Along the walk are some bronze reconstructions representing how the dinosaurs could have appeared 10 billion years ago.

The view from the valley walk atop of the Jump Up

Once back in Winton, I was dropped off at the Truck and Machinery Museum for a quick walk through.



Winton Heritage Truck and Machinery Museum

 Then onto the Waltzing Matilda Museum to round off a busy day.



Waltzing Matilda Museum

After which it was off to the Tattersalls Hotel for Dinner and drinks.