Cumberland Mine Site

Hungry cows in the Gulf!

As we traveled east across the Savanah Way towards the east coast of FNQ (far north Queensland) we decided to spend a couple of  nights at the old Cumberland mine site/town which is about 256km west of Georgetown.

The old chimney

In its heyday a thriving town with school, pubs, police office and a bank there is little left to see other than the original chimney stack and the billabong created by the dam that was built for the town and mine.

After carefully planning to arrive around 10:00AM we were able to secure the last level waterfront site on the billabong – talk about bloody busy at these premium free sites. 

Once in a blue moon - we are here

I sit here writing these words to a background of the constant honking of magpie geese and water-birds too numerous to describe.

I installed a new vent over the stove - serious exhaust!

The site these days is rightly promoted as a bird-watchers paradise – and rightly so. The Etheridge Shire Council deserves a mention as there are lots of signs erected providing information on the bird life and almost as many bins as trees (well almost).

Late in the day there are up to 20 vans camped around the area but by 8:30AM most are gone and so the daily cycle of vans in vans out continues.

Looking at camp from dam wall

We spent many hours watching the birds, taking short walks and having a quiet sundowner with a great couple of fellow grey nomads we had met at Gregory Downs and again at Normanton.

That's us on the right

What a life – scenery, birds, beer, friends and the footy on TV.