It has taken me a while to get around to this but here is the brief story of our wonderful trip.
We left Canberra and joined a number of other caravans in Rutherglen, for two nights. We had a couple from Sydney and three vans and a bus from Parkes, NSW
Ken and Fred enjoying a well-earned rest. The caravan park owner lights the fire for you and provided the wood.
After two nights and a day sampling the highlights of Rutherglen (wine and bakery) we stocked up at the ALDiI store and headed west to Lake Tyrell where we stayed another two nights touring around the surrounding towns.
Our next stop was Mildura then on to Broken Hill where we stayed in the Racecourse Campground. Reasonable facilities, close to Broken Hill. We stocked up and fueled up for our trip North.
From Broken Hill we headed for a two-night stop at Mount Gipps. A station north of Broken Hill that provides camping facilities. It was here that we could light our first fires so the camp kitchens came out and roasts and damper were in abundance.
The first evening we drove up a goat track to the top of Mount Gips for an impromptu picnic you could see for miles, I am sure that from here I could see the wind generators that were located near Silverton.
Back on the road again in convoy. We were still on tar as it had been recently tarred from Broken Hill to Tibooburra. Of course at morning tea we had to stop for a cuppa.
Our next stop was at the Packsaddle roadhouse where we camped out the back. It's a pub in the middle of nowhere that sells fuel, cold beers and has an excellent restaurant.
The next morning we lined up for a group photo before pushing on to Tibooburra
And we finally arrived in Tibooburra, our last center of civilisation before heading into the wilds. Or so we thought. There is nothing in Tibooburra. The population of Tibooburra at the 2021 census was 21 persons.
We camped in the Aboriginal Camp Ground. A designated camp spot that provided toilets and showers for $20. This is where Ken and I, and Anne and Judy, and Col and Sue contemplated our next great adventure. Off the tar and onto Cameron Corner,
The next day we headed south or a few kilometers and then turned right at the Cameron Corner road.
In some places the roads were quite good.
We arrived at Fort Grey a few hours later and made camp. Free camp is 100k from Tibooburrta and only a few k from Cameron Corner.
Next morning on to Cameron's corner and into South Australia before turning right into Queensland where the pub/store is. We all stood around the corner post. (Sorry Col and Sue I don't have a picture of you at the post)
We fueled up and then settled in for a few quite cold ones and booked ourselves into the pub for tea.
That afternoon a freak storm blew in and dumped rain overnight. The road back to Cameron's corner was closed.
There were 5 caravans (out of 7) who made the trip and the others did a day trip. After they left and headed back to Tibooburra a storm blew through and the rained bucketed down. Thus closing the road from Cameron Corner to Tibooburra. We decide to stay an extra night hopping things would improve but no such luck and with more rain heading our way the decision was to head west along Riecks Road to the Strzelecki track, then up to Innamincka (270k )
The night before we left we had an impromptu BBQ in style. Vintage caravanners know how to do it properly.
So we headed off to Merty Merty . Remembering that two nights before it had rained and more was on the way. As an aside. It was not until a week after we had got home that the Cameron's corner road was opened.
Some of the travel was challenging.
Only 205 k to Innaminka.
We finally made it to the Strzelecki track were we hit tar on our way north until we got to the Moomba gas fields, where it was back on dirt again.
We were not the only ones travelling this road.
Finally back into civilization where we found the Innaminka Pub and stayed beside a creek near the pub. It was a designated camp ground but only had toilets. The pub meal was excellent. 5 stars.
From Innaminka it was fairly uneventfull, just many kilometers on tar roads heading back to meet up with the others of our tour group.
We left Innaminka and drove to Cunnamulla (560k) for the night. From there to Bourke (257k) then to Hermidale (204k) where we met up with the balance of our party who made it back to Tibooburra, only to be rained in but they eventually made it back to Broken Hill and then east through Cobar to meet up with us.
Hermidale is a small town on the road between Cobar and Nyngan that has a pub that provides free camping (and toilets and shower) Excellent chef and the owner made us all quite welcome.
From Hermidale we all headed south towards home. The Parkes contingent leaving us at Parks. Others bailed along the way and Ken, Judy, Anne and myself arrived safely home after a long trip, which included an extra 1000k of unplanned travel.
Was it worth it. Certainly. Our caravans survived the 750k of corrugated dirt roads. We did, however discover that our van was not as dustproof as we thought. It is now.
A total of 4145k at 13.5 litres per 100k
So, whatâs at Cameronâs Corner? Nothing except a Survey Marker, and a store (pub) that serves average meals and expensive petrol. Itâs not the destination, but the journey.
The lesson leant. Check you dust proofing.
This picture is of our van floor after 200k of dirt and dust. The floor is usually a cream colour.
The end.
Michael
