We got organised , and headed down to the info centre - it just happened to be market day as well . We parked and wandered in , then a couple caught our eye , it just happened to be some of our friends - Arthur & Alison Hollins , previously from Moss Vale , but now in Crookwell , they are escaping winter as well . They had just come into town from west of here to empty tanks and fill up with water, before continuing back south . We told them where we were , and they would stay there as well , so we could catch up later in the day .
We all went into the centre and got a map of town , and other stuff , before heading off in separate directions for the day .
There is a lookout on the western side of town that gives you 360 degree views of Cloncurry and surrounding area . There are a lot of flat topped hills around in the distance , with low rocky outcrops closer to town .
Next it was on to Chinamans Creek Dam - only a few kilometres away . It was down about 2m from full height , but still a great sight in the dry area we were now in .
From here we drove down to the spillway and across it and went for a drive around the rocky hill in the photo . There was a track all the way round , with a couple of sections requiring 4wd , which we breezed through , Of course !!!
There was wattle trees around the place that had tiny flower spikes and very narrow , pointy leaves .
The rocky hill we were driving around was interesting , with so much dark rock littering the lower hills around it .
We came back to the spillway and watched the whistling kites for a while . They seemed to be just circling around , not doing too much of anything , then they started to feed on little fish in the murky waters .
They swooped from great height and hit the water with their talons , picking up small fish about 30mm long , before flying back upwards , then eating it as they flew around - as can be seen in the last photo above !! It was an amazing display that we watch for about 30 mins .
It was getting warm in the sun , so we headed back to the ute for a drink and to go back and get some lunch . Before that though , we headed toward the tip - yes the rubbish tip - we noticed yesterday on the way in to town a ridge of dark rock with a section of white rock on the southern end - it looked strange .
After lunch we headed out again to the airport , where the Qantas Hangar is still in use - Cloncurry was the destination for the first flight from Longreach . We would have had a look , except it was barricaded off for extensions & other building work . Back in to town and the Heritage Walk - we drove it as it was getting warm . There are some nice buildings here , now it is predominantly a trucking town , with lots of depots , and many more trucks & trailers . We went down to the Chinese Cemetery for a look , but there wasn't much there either .
We filled up with fuel at $1.355 at an unmanned station , then went east of town for a look , then back to the park so I could wash the dust off the ute - and there was plenty of it !!!
Before long it was time for a beer or 3 and catch up with Arthur & Alison , that stretched on well after the sun went down - we finally had some tea at 9pm .
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