Further Into Opal Country

We waved goodbye to Colin, Georgina and Linda at the Yowah Artesian Waters Caravan Park after a great 3 days in the cool of Tuesday morning to drive to Quilpie about 200 kms away.  This is the nearest town of any size.  About 120kms down the track we arrive at Toompine and stop for morning coffee at the pub.  Toompine is a pub with no town, population 2.

Near Toompine we pass some interesting rocky outcrops.

An hour further down the road we reach Quilpie which is in the Channel Country.  We'll be in the Channel Country for the next few weeks as we head northward.  We stop off at the information centre and have a look at the Art Gallery there. There is an exhibit of metal animals and a display of quilts and fabric art.

Quilpie has a number of artworks in the street with sculptures on the wide median strip and a mural depicting the "Ancient River" on the Library.  Quilpie has quite good facilities and we were able to stock up our cupboards, get scripts filled and get some cash.  

The Catholic Church of St Finbarr has an opal altar which was created by Des Burton who is known as the father of the boulder opal industry as he was a key figure in putting Queensland boulder opal on the world map.

We are camping at Lake Houdraman , another very picturesque location a few kms east of Quilpie on the way to Charleville.