Karumba to Lawn Hill Gorge to Mt Isa

We left Karumba first thing and arrived at Lawn Hill Gorge mid afternoon.  This was a fantastic spot to visit especially with kids.  We stayed at Adel’s Grove in a shaded grove along side a creek; went for a swim in the creek after we set up camp. There is a deep swimming hole and an area of small rapids that you can ride the supplied tubes down. And yes it is freshwater crocodile country but apparently quote “they are only small, eat fish and we’ve never had a problem” so everyone was swimming.  The water was shaded and clear.

The next day we canoed up the gorge.  Michael & Jules in one canoe, Graham, Jacob and I in another.  Jacob and I sat at the front with Graham rowing at the back on the way up the gorge to the Indarri Falls which is a 3km return trip.  Jacob wasn’t impressed at this point and cried most of the way.   We had a swim at the falls while Michael and Jules dragged their canoe around to the top gorge and kept exploring (an extra 3km return).  On the trip back Graham sat up front with Jacob and I rowed.  No crying from Jacob this time and I felt so much more stable in this position, it was beautiful and relaxing – a highlight of our trip and it wasn’t evened a planned part of our itinerary!

We went for another swim in the creek back at Adel’s Grove that afternoon and had dinner at the restaurant on the deck.

The next day we made the drive to Mt Isa stopping for a look at The Australian Fossil Mammal Site Riversleigh.  Riversleigh is one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world and the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia.  In 1994, Riversleigh was inscribed on the World Heritage List.  The surrounding limestone outcrops contain fossil remains of prehistoric Australian animals from the last 25 million years.  They include marsupials, lions, carnivorous kangaroos, huge flightless birds, pythons, platypuses, turtles, crocodiles and bats.

Once in Mt Isa, we set up camp, had a look around, picked up some groceries, a new dvd for Jacob and had a lovely dinner a the local chinese restaurant.