The channel country is a part of the Lake Eyre catchment where ephemeral rivers like the Diamantina shaped the landscape. The rivers are usually dry, with some permanent waterholes. However, when in flood (which is often not a result of local rain but in far north Queensland), the rivers can be tens of kilometres wide. Flora and fauna are adapted to the boom and bust cycle of very dry or very wet and some are unique to this environment.
Diamantina National Park contains the typical ecosystems of the channel country:
Gibber plains, i.e. smooth oxidised iron-rich rocks formed over millions of years. Note: Gibber is from an aboriginal word for rock.
Claypans
Sand dunes
Mitchell grass downs, a native grass, which is why a cattle industry is possible in this arid landscape.
And finally, permanent waterholes and wetlands.
The Diamantina gate is where the flood water is squeezed through the narrow Hunters Gorge between two mountain ranges. It must be quite spectacular with water rushing through!!
Hunters Gorge with a permanent waterhole with hundreds of pelicans.
Kirsten on the edge of the Hamilton range overlooking the Diamantina channels.
It's hard to believe that cows can survive out here!
Our camp at Whistling Duck Creek. We used our large tent (thanks Anne & Fred!!) which has a large vestibule with fly/mosquito screen. Very handy when camping next to stagnant water!
The quality of our food has seriously deteriorated since Cameron and Sue are not cooking for us anymore! Two-minute noodles with corn and a bit of cheese.
Another bearded dragon along the way. There were so many, that we didn't even stop anymore.
My first sighting of brolgas in the wild!
I thought this was an inland taipan, which is the most venomous land snake in the world! Needless to say, I didn't get out of the car! A reliable source has now identified it as an Ingram's Brown Snake (Pseudonaja ingrami), which has very limited distribution and we were very lucky to see!!
The landscape just north of the Diamantina National Park was amazing! It was as hot as it looks: 37 degrees and we're still 4 months from the hottest time of the year!!
Dinosaur Country
Lark Quarry Conservation Park, just south of Winton, is where thousands of dinosaur footprints were discovered in the 1960s. It is a definite must if you're in the area, not just for the footprints, but also for the surrounding landscape. Just stunning!
The footprints are now protected in a modern building.
The area in the photograph below shows footprints of two different species of dinosaurs.
Some impressions from our bushwalk in the Park. Doesn't it look like an aboriginal painting?
Ring-tailed Dragon
Matilda Country
Winton is where Banjo Paterson wrote the famous "Waltzing Matilda" poem, which was later turned into a bush ballad.
The main street in Winton.....
... and a statue of Australia's most famous poet.
Sunset in Bladensburg National Park, just south of Winton.
We have never seen that many kangaroos in one day!
View from Scrammy lookout in Bladensburg National Park.
Porcupine Gorge National Park. A beautiful, 120m deep gorge carved by Porcupine Creek.
We've been driving north since leaving Birdsville and it is interesting how flora and fauna slowly change. Our first Queensland Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris).....
.... and the first large termite hill.
Kirsten trying to get Skype reception while camping in Porcupine Gorge.....
.... and making coffee in the morning.
Volcano Country
The Lava Tubes in Undara Volcanic National Park apparently form part of the longest lava flow from a single volcanic crater on Earth. Some sections of the tubes have collapsed, but others provide interesting habitat for bats, snakes, moths, etc. The volcanic rock is overgrown with remnant rainforest plants, which can be clearly seen from satellites. The Google Earth image below clearly shows the round craters and the meandering lava tubes; they are darker than the surrounding woodlands.
A gorgeous moth hiding inside the tube during the day.
View of two of the volcanoes from Undara resort.
Tropical Queensland
All of a sudden we are in tropical rainforest and it's raining! It's a bit of a shock after the dry heat of the desert. Lake Eacham in the Atherton Tablelands below.
Nice snake. We came across one today as well, although a rather tamer carpet snake. He was travelling along our trail at about .1km and we couldn't encourage him to go faster or move aside. Rather than risking a nip if we overtook we decided on a detour.
ReplyDeleteDo you think you might get lucky and seethe min min lights? I hope so, that would be very interesting.