Mount Isa

Tuesday 24^th May

We left CLONCURRY at about 9.30, heading for MT ISA 123 km away.  As soon as we left CLONCURRY we entered a range of rocky hills.  After travelling for days through dead flat land, this made a nice change, like driving on New Zealand type roads.  Winding up and down.  According to our maps it was the Selwyn Range, and we travelled through it for the whole 123 km to MT ISA. 

It was all real wilderness country with nothing but hills, rocky outcrops, and scrubby trees.  The most common trees were covered with yellow flowers, which gave the whole countryside a yellow covering.

This area is all mining country with uranium, tin, copper and zinc all being mined, and of course the reason MT ISA exists.

About 60km out of CLONCURRY we stopped at a Cairn on the side of the road which marked the spot where the explorers Burke and Wills had camped in 1861, during their ill fated exploration trip from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

It was quite something to stand at this spot and realise they would have been looking at the country side and seeing it the same as we were.  Made you realise just what a challenge they would have had plodding through here, with their camels and horses, with no roads or tracks, not knowing where they would find their next water, and living off the land.

There was quite a bit of traffic on this road, especially Road Trains, which outnumbered cars by about 3 to 1.  Some of them were monsters with four trailers in tow.  Luckily it was a good two lane highway with plenty of room, and meeting them posed no great problems.  We even managed to pass one going the same way as us, on one of the hills with a passing lane.

Our first indication that we were getting close to MT ISA were two huge chimneys sticking up above the hills on the skyline. 

As we came into town we could see they were part of the huge mining complex which dominates the town.

Know All Nancy took us straight to our camp ground and we were soon set up.  At long last we again had some phone coverage and were able to contact the manufacturers of our caravan water heater, and make arrangements to get it fixed.  A switch would be flown out from Brisbane and a local repair firm was contacted to do the repairs.  We have booked in for three nights here, and hopefully will be able to get the heater fixed in that time.

As is usual in the larger towns, we headed for the Information Centre to find out what there was to see and do.  We wanted to do a mine tour and made enquiries with a lady at the desk.  She booked us on a 3 hour underground tour for tomorrow, Wednesday.  As part of the booking, we had to sign Indemnity Forms, clearing the Mining Company of any responsibility for accidents etc.  Part of the form required our name and address.  When the lady at the counter saw Christel write down Inglewood New Zealand, she says, “I‘ve been there.  You’ve got the Fun Ho Factory with the toy fire engine on the roof. I was there on holiday in March. We stayed in New Plymouth, and drove around the mountain.  We had a look in the Fun Ho Factory, and went up to Dawson Falls.  It was great.”  Small world isn’t it.  We chatted to her about her trip for quite a while.  It was almost like talking to someone from home again.

After that, we had a drive around the city and did some grocery shopping and other bits and pieces.  Then it was back to camp.

Wednesday 25^th May

After a leisurely morning doing school work and chores, it was off for our mine tour.  Cameron wasn’t over keen about going underground, but said he would give it a try.  First of all we were given an introduction about mining at MT ISA.  We learnt that it was the world’s single largest producer of copper, silver, lead, and zinc.  That makes it quite a significant part of Australia’s natural resources, and of course, earns the country lots of revenue from its exports.

After this, we were all kitted out with overalls, equipment belts, gumboots and hardhats, before being taken to the mine head where we were also given headlamps that attached to our helmets, and huge heavy battery cases that we attached to our belts.

Then we went to the lift cage that took us down into the mine.  Once at the bottom of the shaft we boarded an electric train that took us along a tunnel closer to the working area of the mine.  I should point out that it was not a working mine, but a replica set up specifically for the tourist trade.  We were told it was identical in every aspect except it wasn’t worked.

For the next two hours we walked around tunnels, learning all about the lives of miners and the tools they worked with.  They had even taken the trouble to put the machinery, normally found in a working mine, in place to help create the realism.  It was an excellent tour and we all learned heaps.  Cameron had no problems at all, and as the only child on the tour got to throw the switch that simulated a blast at the mine face.  For this we all had to don ear muffs as well.  Cameron also got to ride in the driver’s cab for the return train journey back to the access shaft.

After the tour, we had another look around town before going back to camp.  Cameron went off to play with some kids, two girls, and soon came back with two turtles the girls had caught in a yabbie net, in the creek beside the camp.  Needless to say that was the last we saw of him for the evening.  The girls have been staying here for two weeks, as part of a three and a half year trip around Aussie.  They also had a photo that had been taken in the same creek, of a small fresh water crocodile, so as soon as it got dark, Cameron grabbed a torch, and they all went off croc hunting.  No luck though.

Thursday 26^th May.

We made enquiries this morning with the firm that have been booked to fix our heater.  They advised they had received the switch but still hadn’t received a work order to do the work.  They were chasing it up but were getting the run around.  They rang us at lunch time to say it was all go, and we were booked in to have the work done tomorrow, Friday.  So it was another lazy day around camp. 

Cameron and the two girls spent the first couple of hours doing their respective school work, and then the girls arrived out our caravan with their two turtles and a yabbie, and invited Cameron to join them on a turtle picnic,

which they promptly set up under our awning, complete with a doll.  Oh Dear!!!!

The rest of the day was spent blogging washing and lots of other little chores.  We hardly saw Cameron all day which was good for him.

Friday 27^th May

Nine o’clock this morning found us, complete with caravan, at the refrigerator repair place that was going to fix our heater.  We expected to drop the van off and leave it with them for the day, but the guy said he would have a look at it straight away and see what was involved.  Half an hour later we drove away with the switch replaced and everything back in working order.  Brilliant service.

After dropping the van back at the campground, we went sightseeing around town, including going up to a lookout with good views of the town and the mine,

had McDonalds and Subway for lunch, and then went out to nearby Lake Moondarra for a look.

Then it was back to the caravan for a beer and tea.  As soon as we got back to the caravan, Cameron took off to play with the girls.  He must have been having a good time because he didn’t even come home for tea. 

Now that we have hot water again, we will continue on towards ALICE SPRINGS.  Tomorrow we will try and get as far as the BARKLY HOMESTEAD ROADHOUSE, which is about 470 km.  From there it will be just under 200 km to the Stuart Highway, where we will turn south towards ALICE SPRINGS.