Innamincka

Day 24, 25 & 26

The day started typically with a change of tyre.  As our bush mechanic tyre patches refused to stem the constant flow of atmosphere from within said tyre, Mike opted to change it with one that could.

Mike’s Tyre Change

Continuing North East up the Strzelecki we found ourselves traversing the Moomba gas fields.

Strzelecki Track

Moomba Gas Processing Plant

Finally reaching Innamincka.  Called into the Innamincka trading post to enquire about camping.  They filled us in about the camp sites along Cooper Creek and with Jan’s Wiki Camp info settled for a spot in “Town Common” along the banks of the Cooper and a mere 800m walk to the pub.

Town Common Camp Ground

After a hard day on the road, we lit a fire and commenced washing the dust from our throats. 

Col, Mike and Jan Around Our Cooper Creek Camp Fire

After dinner we relaxed around the camp fire eventually watching the sun set on another day.

The Camp At Sunset

To today was to be a lesson in Australian history.  We have planned a trip the see the location of the Burke and Wills final “dig tree”.  To do this we would have to change state (I’m not talking about waking up).  We crossed the border back into Queensland.

South Australia / Queensland Border

Just west of “Nappa Merrie” in South West Queensland, on the banks of Cooper Creek, stands the Dig Tree.  Depot 65 from which Burke, Wills, King and Gray journeyed to the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1861.  17 weeks later they returned to depot 65 only to find that the depot party had left earlier that day.  Burke and Wills dies some weeks later near Innamincka.

The Team at the Dig Tree

Heading back to South Australia we crossed the Burke and Wills Bridge across Cooper Creek and back over the border.

Burke and Wills Bridge with Road Train

View from Burke and Wills Bridge

Queensland / South Australia Border

Before returning to Innamincka, we stopped at the Robert Burke grave site again, on Cooper Creek.

Robert Burke Memorial

Cooper Creek at the Site of Burke’s Grave

Burke didn’t die from thirst but Jan thinks he must have been fly blown.

Jan’s Possie of Flys

Now.  Today being a Sunday and our last evening in Innamincka, It was off to the pub for their Sunday evening carvery. 

The Innamincka Hotel

The Innamincka Hotel Dining Room

This IS a beautiful part of Australia.