Thursday set off for Bedford Weir Camps6 #328 but not before I went to Coles in the Centro Shopping Centre. The trip to Bedford Weir is only 100kms so I got there mid morning and called into the caretakers office, found out about any different rules and checked in. Plenty of camping spaces at that time of the day both up on the hill and next to the river, I sorted out one that allowed me to park facing north without trees blocking the sunlight to the solar panels. This is an excellent location with lots of grassy sites, swimming opportunities, a kiosk, hot showers, flushing toilets and a wide weir with a boat ramp to ease access. There were many travellers camping when I arrived and it was getting full by the end of the day, this surprises me because it isnt on the way to anywhere and is 56kms return to Blackwater. It is well known mostly through the Camps books I suppose, word of mouth must play a part in it's popularty because it is not a place that you would easily come across. I have put up my annex and plan to stay here for a few days but there is no internet for my Optus connection. I have been looking ahead on my plan and found that the next stop was a rest area stop more suitable to arrive at towards the end of the days drive but it is only a short distance away 74kms so I will look out for internet connection and miss that stop. Bridgewater Creek Rest Area Camps6 #323 Instead drive a further 22kms on to Duaringa Rest Area which is actually situated at the east end of town. Was going to leave on Saturday hoping to watch a knockout NRL finals game between the Cowboys and the Broncos at Duaringa until Bob in the caravan next to me told me that he has satellite TV and has channel 9 and will be watching the game. Looks like I will be leaving Sunday.
Am posting from Blackwater and was disappointed with the Bronco's performance, they are out of the competition for this year. I have enjoyed my stay at Bedford Weir meeting lots of similar minded travellers and spending time with them. John
Depending on which direction you're headed John, Goovigen is also a good camp. I don't have my Camps book on hand so can't help you with the number, but it's on the Biloela-Duaringa Rd. It's nice and quiet, hot showers and toilets, power for $5. No nice river or lake to look at but I thought it was a good spot when I stopped there 2 years ago.
Bill, unless I can find a camper who is into fishing and knows how to set a line and where to fish I have given it away. Have lost enthusiasm for fishing without a result. I swam in the weir but did not fish.
Beth thanks for the info but this time I will be doubling back down the Fitzroy Development road and going to Baralaba to visit the Neville Hewitt Weir. Have heard about Goovigen and will consider it next year.
Well - here we go again - you are there and I am at Taroom - at the bottom of the Fitroy Dev Rd. Heading to Theodore, then to Emerald and Longreach. Im sure we will get to meet one day. And it is Sunday - I will check your posts before I leave in the morning just incase we are going to pass each other somewhere......
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Well - here we go again - you are there and I am at Taroom - at the bottom of the Fitroy Dev Rd. Heading to Theodore, then to Emerald and Longreach. Im sure we will get to meet one day. And it is Sunday - I will check your posts before I leave in the morning just incase we are going to pass each other somewhere......
Hi spida, at least this time we haven't passed, I have sent you a PM with my phone number and with a bit of organizing we should be able to meet up.
Great write-up, John. Did you glean anything about accessing Bedford Weir from the north? There are roads on my maps from Middlemount and my GPS even reckons I can come down from the Fitzroy Devt Rd (but my GPS has reckoned things like that before...). I'm contemplating trying to do that next week, but wondering if the roads are genuinely through-roads or have deep water crossings or somesuch.
Great write-up, John. Did you glean anything about accessing Bedford Weir from the north? There are roads on my maps from Middlemount and my GPS even reckons I can come down from the Fitzroy Devt Rd (but my GPS has reckoned things like that before...). I'm contemplating trying to do that next week, but wondering if the roads are genuinely through-roads or have deep water crossings or somesuch.
Hi moblet, I too have a map which indicates that you can come down from Middlemount but it also indicates that it is unmade.
Depending on your vehicle you can take a chance if it is 4WD but would go via Emerald in my ancient Hi Ace.
Thanks John, I have a pretend 4WD (Subaru Outback), a preference for gravel roads, and more adventurousness than brains, so I'll give it a go and see what happens
Got there last weekend and can report that there's a sealed road for at least 40km north, and probably more. I came across from the east on a dirt road from Middlemount, but the Suttor Development Road running south to the weir was sealed, and sealed wide too. I'm guessing that it's sealed all the way to the Dysart-Capella Rd, but don't quote me on that.
Great spot, unfortunately I was there on a Saturday night and some ferals camped just outside the place (so they could break rules such as no fires or loud music), driving in and out when they wanted to use the facilities. The joys of camping near towns!