Lawn Hill

Understatement of the year…. “Dusty and bumpy ride”! We were greeted by several signs that read this is an EXTREEME DUST RISK AREA. The road was ok up to the Zink mine was not too bad, but the rest of the road in, was in bad shape. We had stopped early on and let the tire pressure down to 30psi and worked a treat, taking the edge off the corrugations. We arrived at Adels Grove and set up the camper and had a relaxing afternoon. The next morning we packed our lunch and headed towards Riversleigh Fossil Area site “D” again along a very dusty and corrugated road some 50km away. We arrived and headed straight for the information area and explained to the kids what we would be looking at and to keep an eye out for the signs showing that a fossil was nearby, Larina took the lead and quickly ran towards the first sign. It was amazing to see fossilised bones of turtles and crocodiles (not quite sure how they work out the bones were from a turtle and croc) but very interesting. We followed the trail up to a scenic lookout continued around to the final discovery here of a giant birds leg bone. Nick and Larina lined up for a photo and we headed for the road home.

Nick finds the "big Bird" fossil

 

Along the way we noticed several bits of car tyre and yep we found a grey nomad with a shredded rear tyre. We offered to help change the wheel as his car and van were right in the middle of the road.  Half an hour later all was fixed and we were on the way again, about 5km down the track we spotted another car on the road yep with a busted tyre they were all good changing theirs so we continued on very carefully  looking out for very sharp rocks!! Lawn Hill has claimed many tyres, they even sell second hand ones at the resort. Tyre pressure is the key always lower on dirt roads (that’s right Duncan hey J). Day 3 and we headed to Lawn Hill NP and were very keen to hit the water in the canoes – Mandy had Nick while I paddled with Sam and Larina (who was looking after the lunch and backpack). This was a truly incredible experience our first trip together and what a spot. We paddled up to where there were several small waterfalls and explored around before drifting back down through the gorge. We ate morning tea as we drifted and we explored along the edges going under the Pandanus Palm branches and having fun racing each other.  We were all blown away by the beauty of this place (special thanks to Dunc and Nat & the Browns for steering us in this direction).

 

 

Our final day was spent back at Lawn Hill for a walk back to the water falls then a ridge walk at the top of the gorge, again another fantastic view and a very rewarding walk. A few interesting bits, $45 bucks a night no power, Fuel was $2.05L, Washing $4 a load, a loaf of frozen white bread $5.80 and $13 got you a handful of chips and some fish. If your car did break down it was $80 per hour (there always seemed to be a car or a caravan in the shed).