March 16-18
Next stop from Warra was the camp ground at Archer’s Crossing Southside, only around 9km from Chinchilla in a straight line but about 23km to get there, turning off a few km before town, heading South, then West, then North with his last 4km on good gravel road.
Campground turned out to be a spacious area with lots of shade trees, BBQ and Picnic Shelter; but not the promised toilets? Apparently they washed downstream in the 2012 flood! Another correction for the book. one caravan, one camper trailer, and one tent on arrival and not much more for our two days. It turns out that the council doesn’t enforce any limit of stay here so we could have stayed longer. First night we had a thunderstorm which apparently dumped over 40mm in town. Good water levels in the river here and a boat ramp on site.
There are a couple of walking tracks here which take you to the next horseshoe bend in the river and an example of a scarred tree and an explanation plaque.
On our way back this Goanna decided to get out of our way but was spotted later crossing the campground, obviously still in search of food!
On leaving we decided to check out the camping area at Chinchilla weir which we passed on the way into town to get fuel and supplies. On returning we found the camp area is restricted and fairly full so we decided to look for Archer’s Crossing Northside which is described as a small area with BBQ and tables. Turns out it no longer exists as the council have taken the space to put in a water pumping station for road works tankers. In looking for this we passed the pump area and went to the road end where there was a turning circle, halfway around we started to slip and sink into the mud from the recent rain. The only solution was to straighten up (about four times back and forth in low range 4WD!) and then reverse back to the pump area entrance, about 800m uphill – very tedious but at least we avoided getting bogged!
Chinchilla Weir:
After that little excursion we decide the Showgrounds at $25 for the night was a good option. Lots of space, a tree to ourselves and good clean amenities,
