Gulf Savannah Visitor Guide

Australia’s Adventure Drive - www.savannahway.com.au 13 Eastern and Southern Gateways The Kennedy / Hann Highway More travellers are heading north or south via the Flinders Shire as the Kennedy Developmental Road (also known as the Hann Highway) improves. Around 31.3 kilometres remains as unsealed gravel between the Lynd and Hughenden. This provides a great alternative route and will allow you to explore some real hidden gems, including Australia’s Dinosaur Trail featuring the world-class fossils of Winton, Richmond and Hughenden. The Flinders Shire has a population of under 2000 and changing bio-regions to observe on your journey that support cattle and sheep grazing. Look for arid upland areas and grassy plains. Hughenden’s Visitor Information Centre is the Flinders Discovery Centre, housing an amazing exhibition of dinosaur fossils from around the world and the local area. “Hughie”, a seven metre Muttaburrasaurus skeletal replica, was cast from the bones of a 110 million year old dinosaur found in the Flinders Shire. You can also see the Porcupine Gorge Light and Sound Show, Shearing the Stragglers display and other fossil and gem collections. Be sure to pick up a local map to take in the town’s points of interest including unique metal sculptures depicting dinosaurs designed and made by local artists. Take the Eco Walk on Flinders to see local plants and artwork. Mount Walker, 10km south of Hughenden, has wonderful outback sunsets. Flinders Discovery Centre, Hughenden Open 7 days 9am-5pm 37 Gray Street, Hughenden Phone: (07) 4741 2970 Email: info@flinders.qld.gov.au www.visithughenden.com.au Porcupine Gorge was carved by Porcupine Creek out of a basalt lava-flow. Sunset shows off the soft colours of the walls towering 150 metres over the water. Lookouts, bushwalks to a swimming hole and a National Park campsite make this a great spot for a couple of nights. Blackbraes National Park is a great introduction to the volcanic landscapes further north. Undulating ranges here surround basalt outcrops, basalt plains and seasonal swamps. Picturesque ironbark woodlands support grey kangaroos, abundant birdlife and many other native animals. Camping including van sites and nice local walks. The nearby Moonstone Hill Resource Reserve is one of several small scoria vents surrounded by flat lying basalt lavas. ‘Moonstone’ feldspar occurs here as crystals filling gas cavities in the lava and is characterized by a silvery-white to blue sheen called ‘adularescence’. The Lynd Junction is the intersection of the Kennedy Development Road and the Gregory Development Road. The nearest township is the nickel mining township of Greenvale en route to Charters Towers and Townsville. Oasis Roadhouse and Caravan Park Phone: (07) 4062 5291 Email: Oasis_roadhouse@active8.net.au Fuel, meals, accommodation, Guinness Book of Records’ smallest bar in the world. The main route is sealed as you turn west to Undara and Mount Surprise. Further south an unsealed road heads west from Lyndhurst Station through Oak Park to Gilberton, and continues to Agate Creek and Cobbold Gorge. Another unsealed westward short cut runs from the Lynd Junction to Einasleigh, also accessing Georgetown and the Etheridge Shire. The Matilda Way The Matilda Way stretches from the NSW border all the way up to the Gulf of Carpentaria. That’s 1812 kilometres of sealed highway, great for the caravans and two wheel drive vehicles. If you are driving from Cairns to the Northern Territory you can head south on the Matilda Way from Karumba to join the Overlanders Way from Cloncurry to Three Ways on the Stuart Highway. Some of the must-see highlights on the Matilda Way include the Charleville Cosmos Centre with four telescopes and a multi-media Indigenous Theatre in the spectacular big sky destination; Qantas Founders’ Museum tracing the history of our national Airline in Longreach, along with the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame; and Winton Australian Age of Dinosaurs facility where you can work on dinosaur bones and learn about our ancient megafauna and Cloncurry where the well- known Flying Doctor Service was born. From Winton you can take Australia’s longest shortcut to Western Australia along the Outback Way. Another great adventure!