After a couple of lovely relaxing days in Longreach and booking my flight home from Rockhampton for Saturday 6th June, we headed for Emerald, passing through several very quaint, clean, tidy and friendly small towns including Ilfracombe, Brixton, Barcaldine, Jericho and Alpha. I even bought a fabulous Cow Hide stockman's hat along the way for a lot less than I had seen it in Longreach! We stopped for lunch in Barcaldine - another very friendly and clean town.
Lots of pretty farmland countryside along the way too.
The fabulous Queensland Bottle Tree (Brachychiton Rupestris)We arrived mid afternoon in Emerald with the plan to find somewhere to stay, but after Annie made a call to her son, Matt in Dysart, we were convinced to continue on up to stay with them instead! So, after doing a bit of food and wine shopping to bring with us, we headed to Dysart! here we spent several very relaxing and enjoyable days with Matt and Sy and the lovable Botaz!
On our last evening in Dysart, Matt and Sy took us out to dinner - a very enjoyable evening! Thank you very much, Matt and Sy. :)
Matt and Sy
Not bad after travelling around 6000+kms across Australia!!Next day Annie and I prepared to leave for Rockhampton - after a yummy lunch with Matt and Sy and Botaz! Arrived just before dark at the Southside Holiday Village where we had already booked a little cabin. Lovely accommodation and park with great amenities and services. Next day, Annie took me for a bit of a drive around Rockhampton. Unfortunately it was very foggy so we didn't get to the lookout. Instead, Annie took me to the FABULOUS Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo. This was just the most incredible place with trees that were more than 100 years old! I could easily have spent many hours there, but I had a plane to catch so I enjoyed what I had time for.
An amazing Banyan Fig planted in 1895!!When I arrived at the airport in Rockhampton, I was told at the check-in desk that my flight was delayed by 1 1/2 hours!!!! So I spent time shopping, reading and getting a bite to eat whilst I waited! The flight left right on time and arrived in Sydney a good half hour ahead of time, so all good! I was met by Andrew and a very excited Bekky.
This roadtrip with Annie has been a fantastic experience - one I hope to do again with my darling Andrew in a few years, when he can give up working for a little while! I know he will love it as much as I did! :)
Thanks for following our adventure - Annie and I hope you have enjoyed it! If you would like to see lots more photos, I have a Picasa album and the first 5 albums are dedicated to our trip! Be warned - there are nearly 400 photos in the main Across Oz Roadtrip album! Enjoy!
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/gardenlady55
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/gardenlady55/AcrossOzRoadtrip2009#
