Visit to Boulia

When we left Winton Linda and I decided to go to Mount Isa the long way round by going via Boulia (pronounced “bull-ya”).



"Town"  of Middleton in the distance
and
one of those "Overtaking Opportunity" signs

All in all its 600 km diversion and worth doing if you have the time and it’s not been raining.  It’s all single lane bitumen with very limited overtaking opportunities and if a road train is encountered its best to find spot to stop to get completely off the road – for all other traffic it’s a matter of putting two wheels off the road and sharing 50/50. Overtaking opportunities are advised by signs some kilometres ahead and as you come towards Isa there is one saying “Next Overtaking Opportunity 75 Km ahead” – talk about plenty of notice!

The first thing you notice is the lack of traffic – where we would be passing a van or truck every few minutes on the main highway we sometimes went hours without seeing another vehicle – bliss!

The diversion through Boulia is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. You travel through wide open grasslands, small ranges with outstanding mesa like peaks, and open bushland as you get toward Isa.

We stayed at Middleton (about ½ way between Winton and Boulia) for the first night at the Hilton Hotel (free camp spot).

Hilton Hotel and Middleton Pub

  Middleton used to be an important stop over for Cob and Co coaches and has had a licensed pub since 1895. Nothing in the town now except the pub, a derelict town hall and the Hilton Hotel.

In the bar at Middleton Pub

We had a cheap meal at the Pub in the company of a few other travellers and owners Val and Mick.

Cawnpore Lookout over the Lillydale Ranges

52 kilometres after Middleton we walked up to the Cawnpore Lookout (stop is near the road) and took in the magnificent vista of the Lileyvale Hills – it was like being in the set of a western movie with mesa’s and plateaus surrounding us.





View westward from Cornpaw Lookout
Road train puts our car anb van in perspective

When we got to Boulia we stayed a a free camp on Yabbie Creek just 7 km’s outside of town on the Donahue Highway turn-off.

Our free camp at Yabby Creek Boulia

Great spot and for the first time in many months we were the only campers for a couple of nights!  Only down side was the lack of yabbies in Yabby Creek and the 1000’s of burrs that attached themselves to our pig-dog Killer (aka Tammy Poo)



No not the Min Min Lights
just our campfire at Yabby Creek

Boulia is and the local area is famous for the Min Min Lights and although we didn’t see any mysterious unexplained  lights we did visit the Min Min Encounter Centre in town – this is a great exhibit and we left with the hairs on the back of our neck standing up!



After leaving Boulia and heading for the Isa we stayed for one night at a free camp near the Mick Wright Bridge. 









We camped on the old bridge road that runs parallel to the new road and once again we were the only campers.

Next morning we headed off to the Isa via Djarra and arrived in the big smoke around midday.

Nice scenery, some good free camps, and lack of traffic made this a worthwhile diversion.