But first we are taking a diversion south to check out Mungindi - yes back down on the NSW/QLD border. There are two things I have on the agenda here - the "One Ton Post" and the Hot Artesian Pool.
Mungindi is a pretty little border town on the Barwon River (this flows on south west through Walgett - in fact we are on almost on the eastern edge of Walgett shire here).
Mungindi is a bit unique in that it actually straddles the border - with part of town being in NSW and part in QLD - and they have two police stations about 1 km apart - NSW police on southern side of the river and QLD police on northern side. Crazy isn't it!!!!
It is apparently the only town in Australia to be so uniquely placed - that is straddling the border. But it has a NSW postcode.
We grab a coffee and head out the 6km to find the "One Ton Post" - which is believed to be the largest wooden survey peg in Australia.
We find it out in the bush a a little picnic ground on the banks of the Barwon.
I am standing here - astride NSW and QLD!!!!
This is a really interesting historic point of interest that I have never heard about - before reading a regional tourist notice board at Nindigully Pub yesterday.
The post is set at the end of the straight part (700km) of the NSW / QLD border - set on the 29th parallel - that's the part from Cameron's Corner (intersection of NSW/QLD/SA borders) to this point on the Barwon River (near Mungindi).
It has Cameron's name and NSW carved on one side ---
And 'QL' carved in QLD side.
We also checked out the site of the 'B tree' at 'Gregory's Pin' (details of Gregory's Pin can be found in the photo of the information sign above)
The steel pin is barely sticking out of the ground and has now been marked with this pink sash - I think partly so people don't trip on it!!
There is also an replica of an old 'Fencers Hut' set here near the 'One Ton Post'
From here we head back into town to find the Hot Artesian pool - the other place on my agenda here in Mungindi today.
The pool is located within the swimming pool complex right in town and hence requires it to be staffed. So it costs us $5.00 each to enjoy this pool today - but it is well worth it as we do not have to share it with anyone else for a while - and then only with one other lovely couple until we leave.
The bore pumps out water from the artesian basin at 56 degrees - so they have to cool it a bit for the pool - and they try to keep it at about 40 degrees. It is absolutely luxuriant enjoying this pool today - no doubt our last for this trip.
We also get a hot shower - so we take in the toiletry bag and even get the hair washed today!!
Being lunch time by now - we head to a nice shady picnic spot under the bridge - on the Barwon River - and enjoy a relaxed (we are super relaxed by now!!!) lunch before setting off on a backroad from Mungindi to Goondiwindi - back into QLD again.
From Goondowindi it is only another 50km to our destination for today - Yelarbon.
This little town has the best cheap/free camp at the local recreation grounds that we have come across.
It is $10 / night unpowered site on the oval - plenty of room and go anywhere you like. A communal fire pit well stocked with free firewood (with kindling even cut for you), fantastic, very clean amenities (including hot showers) set in what is the old railway station building.
They even have a laundry and clothesline set up - $2.00 per load (that's really cheap) in amidst a lovely garden and picnic table under a shelter.
It's all maintained by local community progress association and they even have a herb garden for you to pick herbs for your cooking.
The donation they ask for to keep the facilities maintained is an honesty box -- so I hope all campers are doing the right thing. You can also get good clean drinking water here to fill your tanks - for which they ask a donation be made.
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