On our second day at Carisbrooke Station we decided to join in with some of the Grey Nomads on their station tour. Station owner Charles guided us to Python Canyon where we had a short but fairly steep walk down to see some Aboriginal paintings. It was nice to visit something so interesting in a fairly non-commercial setting.
Off for a hike to Python Gorge to see some Aboriginal Paintings
Looking out over Python Gorge
Python Gorge
All the kids walked down & back up by themselves and so did the Grandparents!
All the kids walked down & back up by themselves and so did the Grandparents!
Aboriginal Paintings – Carisbrooke Station
Cooper & Tobes
From there we went on to the station’s private opal mine. Of course with Grammy & Grunda with us we were keen to do some fossicking and Charles was happy just to leave us there to spend the day looking for that magic opal that was going to see us all retired by the end of the weekend! We didn’t find anything really amazing but at least we all found a few bits and pieces with some colour in them so it was quite exciting! It was however very hot! I can’t imagine what it would be like out here in summer!!!
Grunda & Riley hunting for opals
The Campbell Boys claim – don’t mess with them!
Grunda & Jack didn’t even stop for lunch!
Grammy & Tobes with their treasures
Lunch time at the Opal mine
We had a good stay at Carisbrooke Station and owners Penny and Charles were very friendly and accommodating – however it is a long way out of Winton (also quite corrugated) and being in drought there was no water in the dam so nowhere for the kids to swim and cool off at the end of the day. Not quite Easter at Emu Park but still a great family weekend together with some lovely memories!
Grunda telling the two youngest grandies a story
The Fealy/Campbell kids in the shearing shed
True Blue Aussie Boys – the 6 grandsons
Rod cooking dinner – Dad there for moral support (ie. to drink beer!)
Camp kitchen – Carisbrooke Station
Communal Campfire Area – Carisbrooke Station
Matt and I and the kids feel so grateful that my mum and dad and Beth & Rod drove all the way from Townsville (7 hours) just to spend the weekend with us and wish us Bon-Voyage for our trip – it was a really lovely way to kick off our adventure and nice to see everybody before we are away from them for the next 7 or so months! We feel so lucky to have the best family in the world – thank you Mum, Dad, Beth, Rod, Riley, Dylan, Cooper and Corey xoxoxoxox
Camp Carisbrooke 2013
PS. Sorry about the photo sizes in this post – we are playing around trying a few different things trying to figure out the best way to use as little internet as possible to try and get the blog posts uploaded quickly as we are flying through our internet quota’s! If we can get some decent free WiFi (the internet at the library yesterday was just too slow!) then I will try to re-upload the photos – bummed because these photos are some of the nicest from the trip so far but I just don’t have time to re-upload them now!
Carisbrooke is so dry!! We couldn’t get there the first day because the road was too wet!! I remember the grass being almost knee high near the homestead. Dam was full too. What a difference a drop of water makes! We were supervising about 15 – 20 kids including some ring-ins from Winton. My main concern was keeping teenage boys and girls apart!! Bet your job was easier with all the reles to help. Enjoy the next stage of your trip!!
hehehe – your time there sounds interesting Ngaree!!
we’ll go back in 15 years and we’ll have our own shearing gang seeing all those boys+ one girl filling up up a seven stand Woolshed was quite a sight .Yes it was dry barren and bare but quintessential Western
bugger pushed the wrong button, was about to say quintessential Western QLD and i think it dosen’t hurt to see it like this, gives us an understanding how hard it is to live–make a living out there—certainly a stark contrast driving through Rainforest and the rolling green hills of the Tablelands this afternoon the green almost hurts the eyes.
So Jess what animals have you seen on your travels so far? Red Kangaroos…Emu’s…Camels….?
We’ve seen Red Kangaroos, Grey Kangaroos, Emus, Wedge Tailed Eagles, Hawks, feral cats, a turtle, a pig, lots of cattle, a dingo and I think that is it up to this point! No camels yet – the kids are hanging out for it!
Reblogged this on 'Are We There Yet?' and commented:
Hi Everyone! I’m just reblogging this Carisbrooke Station post from our trip last June as the photos I uploaded originally while we were on the road were way too small. We had such a great time there with all the family! I wonder if it is still this dry now? Anybody been out to Carisbrooke Station recently??
Nice memories….was such a good weekend. I am ready for another family trip, can’t wait for the cuzzies to catch up. The boys miss their cousins and grandies, north and south east!!