We had notice from the proprietors that there would be a power outage at the caravan park at 8.30am so we decided that we would be packed up and on the road before that happened. It was another hot day today. Temperatures have been between 36-37 degrees Celsius with quite a bit of humidity at Karumba. We have been very grateful for the air-conditioning.
It was just under 400km to our destination today. We haven't been to Burketown before so we were looking forward to it. We followed the Burketown Normanton Road for around 220kms before turning north on the Nardoo Burketown Road. The Gulf Country between Normanton and Burketown was not what we expected at all. It was open downs with a good body of Mitchell grass and some Flinders Grass. This is perfect fattening fodder for the brahman cattle that we saw in large quantities. The property owners would be very pleased with the season as they have a good body of feed to carry them through the year.
The caravan park we are staying at in Burketown is quite nice with lots of shady trees and cement slabs. It is $38/night for a powered site that is reasonable I guess. The proprietors are very friendly and we quizzed them extensively about the road across to Borroloola as this is the preferred road we are hoping to traverse after we leave Lawn Hills. We hear both good and bad reports. We will keep asking before we make a decision.
Once we had parked the van and did a spot of washing we decided to do the tourist tour around Burketown. The first stop was the derelict Boiling Down Works that was sadly burnt to the ground. It was here in the late 1800's that beef was boiled, canned and sent overseas to Batavia of all places. It was interesting reading.
Sadly there is nothing left except rusting machinery.
Our next stop was the new jetty at Burketown. There has been a lot of money spent on this and well done I say.
Our last tourist stop for today was at the Artesian Bore just a few kilometres from the Burketown township. It is quite impressive and the large number of kangaroos feeding on the grass surrounding the bore made for a lovely photo.
Tomorrow is Adels Grove - Lawn Hills National Park. We are not sure about this road either but steady as she goes is our motto.
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