Day 3: Wed 28 Jun 23 - Goondiwindi to Taroom

Wed 28 Jun 23 - Goondiwindi to Taroom (Towed 355km) 

Weather: A very pleasant 8 Deg this morning at Goondiwindi, climbing to a very Qld summer-like 31 Deg at Taroom. 

It was a beautiful morning after a rare good night sleep. Getting back into the swing of unpacking and packing again, we got away at 0745. Thankfully we did get away early as it was slow going along a quiet (traffic wise), but very rough and bumpy Leichardt Highway. As rough as it was, it was stress free driving without much traffic and the warm sunshine beaming through the windscreen. We drove about 145km before stopping at 0940 at The Gums for our morning coffee. We were back on the road again shortly after, arriving at our next stop Miles at 1110, only briefly though to buy some bread for lunch. We continued to Wandoan and parked at a rest area outside the swimming pool where we had lunch. It's a very small town that looks nothing like when I last saw it more than 20 years ago.  Its a very neat and tidy town with some new buildings including a large and very modern motel that looks a little out of place. There is a large timber mill in town, but the town's economy has been largely based on wheat, sorgum and cattle, but i suspect the growing mining and gas industries are the main reason for this town's change of fortune. As we were leaving Wandoan, we had a quick look at the Waterloo Plains Campground by a small lake between the town and the highway, and it looks like a good place for an overnight stay or two. We were keen to cover more distance today though, so onwards we continued.

We eventually pulled in to Taroom at 1400, having driven 355km today, and I thought about continuing another 97km to Theodore, but I was feeling a bit weary so we decided to setup at a free camp located near town on the Dawson River for the night. After setting up, and a cup of tea outside enjoying the warm weather, we went for a short walk around town. Taroom is a quiet town servicing the surrounding rural properties, and its claim to fame is that when the Prussian explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, passed through the district he marked LL 44 on a tree which remains a standout feature in the middle of the main street. Back to the van, I decided to go exploring too, and found a lovely river walk which I followed for a few kms before returning to the van for a refreshing ale (maybe two!). It was a beautiful warm evening outside, but a few insects started to appear so we ventured indoors for another awesome meal. I don't  normally keep track of what we eat, but the past three dinners have been very nice - tonight Chicken schnitzel (me) and crumbed Lamb Cutlets (Noel) with pepper sauce and Italian salad was very tasty. Tomorrow we have 320km remaining to get to Gladstone. 

Morning coffee stop by the roadside at The Gums

Grain Silos at The Gums

Wondoan - A tribute honouring a popular local - Nancy Joy Davies


Taroom - Free Camp on the Dawson River

Leichardt Monument in Taroom

The Leichardt Tree in the Main Street of Taroom

The Leichardt Tree in the Main Street of Taroom

Dawson River Swimming Hole Taroom

Dawson River Swimming Hole Taroom

Gnarly old tree with a large tree fern at top along the Dawson River walk 

Dawson River...or Stream

Dawson River waterhole


Taroom Riverwalk

Taroom - Noel relaxing outdoors


A massive Kenworth truck transporting a train engine parked nearby. 

A massive Kenworth truck transporting a train engine parked nearby






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