Lake Eyre filling quickly!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oz
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It actually says "Birdsville" on one of the banners/towels on the ceiling.
Forkie telling a porkie
Many years ago (mid 70's) in the middle of the lake I was given traffic as a P3 heading south towards ED at the same altitude. P3 most upset when I 'sighted' them at about 10 miles. Dirty engines were a dead giveaway. This was pre transponders and he couldn't see me.
tipsy
Forkie telling a porkie
Many years ago (mid 70's) in the middle of the lake I was given traffic as a P3 heading south towards ED at the same altitude. P3 most upset when I 'sighted' them at about 10 miles. Dirty engines were a dead giveaway. This was pre transponders and he couldn't see me.
tipsy
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Somewhere between AU & NZ
Age: 35
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
indeed it does tipsy! the dead give-away for me was the roseberth and betoota signs on the rafters. William creek pub looks a little more like the big bad wolf could huff and puff and blow it right down 
Thread Starter
Forkie telling a porkie
I've never been to William Ck, but plan to correct that. Was gonna land there in 2007 but Jabba was too busy dodging misiles!
So far it is looking like: Out via the Betoota and Birdsville "waterholes" and back the Nocatunga "waterhole"!
I think the Dig Tree is gonna have to fit in there somewhere too!
Dr
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: AMONGST BRIGALOW SUCKERS
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
You won't get much water'in done at Betoota, O forked one. Betoota hasn't been trading since Simon (dec) stopped trading many years ago (the precise year escapes me).
If you wan't to look at the lake (if any water gets to it...which I very much doubt) I would suggest overnight, water and look about at Birdsville, then follow the Diamantina down to William creek, Then have a gander at the lake and follow the Cooper back up to Windorah. You can organize some fuel (and maybe overnight) at Innamincka if you need to. I've done that trip several times and allways enjoy it.
If you wan't to look at the lake (if any water gets to it...which I very much doubt) I would suggest overnight, water and look about at Birdsville, then follow the Diamantina down to William creek, Then have a gander at the lake and follow the Cooper back up to Windorah. You can organize some fuel (and maybe overnight) at Innamincka if you need to. I've done that trip several times and allways enjoy it.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sunny side up
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're near Innamincka...
There's some nice spots along Cooper Creek and the Coongie Lakes are meant to be good too, though I haven't actually been to them. (dunno about A/C access to Coongie)
The Dig tree is well worth a look but it doesn't say DIG anymore, the tree regenerated and the inscription is no longer visible. You (being a smart person) may already know this, but I didn't, and spent the better part of a fly-blown hour looking for it on every Coolibah tree in the vicinity.
The portrait tree carving is still easy to see and it's a lovely waterhole.
Apropos of puddles, Innamincka was completely cut off by flood water the year before last, stranding a few dozen tourists for several days. I was travelling through after the water had receded, and was told that the mood among the mostly city-dwelling stranded had become testy (to say the least) and the pub had frantically organized games competitions and movie nights to avoid any 'Lord of the Flies' moments.
There's some nice spots along Cooper Creek and the Coongie Lakes are meant to be good too, though I haven't actually been to them. (dunno about A/C access to Coongie)
The Dig tree is well worth a look but it doesn't say DIG anymore, the tree regenerated and the inscription is no longer visible. You (being a smart person) may already know this, but I didn't, and spent the better part of a fly-blown hour looking for it on every Coolibah tree in the vicinity.
The portrait tree carving is still easy to see and it's a lovely waterhole.
Apropos of puddles, Innamincka was completely cut off by flood water the year before last, stranding a few dozen tourists for several days. I was travelling through after the water had receded, and was told that the mood among the mostly city-dwelling stranded had become testy (to say the least) and the pub had frantically organized games competitions and movie nights to avoid any 'Lord of the Flies' moments.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sunny side up
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Visiting's fine, but the 'getting out of' is a vital part of the plan and the enjoyment... big difference between staying two days and twenty years 
I'm interested in arid / semi-arid landscapes, flora and fauna. Sad but true.
The far west is also wonderfully peaceful compared to the city and generally seems to have a lower d
khead ratio.
I'm interested in arid / semi-arid landscapes, flora and fauna. Sad but true.
The far west is also wonderfully peaceful compared to the city and generally seems to have a lower d
khead ratio.
Thread Starter
You won't get much water'in done at Betoota
Thanks for all the good advice. The flightplan now looks like:
Longreach - Birdsville - William Creek - Innaminka - Nappamerie Dig Tree - Nockatunga - Windorah - Longreach
Dr
Bottums Up
Don't be too sure that Betoota's a no go.
Mrs C's sister and hubby owned the Arrabury Pastoral Company in the 50's & 60's and lived at Mt Leonard (Betoota). One niece in particular was wanting to buy the pub off Simon and turn it into a Road House (watering hole) but some one beat her to it. Whether it's been made operational, I can't say.
Mrs C's sister and hubby owned the Arrabury Pastoral Company in the 50's & 60's and lived at Mt Leonard (Betoota). One niece in particular was wanting to buy the pub off Simon and turn it into a Road House (watering hole) but some one beat her to it. Whether it's been made operational, I can't say.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sunny side up
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds good.
You may want to book accomodation in Birdsville and Innamincka, as there isn't a lot and it fills up quickly (even though it's low season).
The word around my campfire was that the Diamantina Shire Council didn't want to revive Betoota due to the prohibitive cost of providing infrastructure. The road between BDV and Betoota is also ugly and they didn't want to encourage more traffic by providing fuel. All second hand, but from a source that worked for the Council. I understand they rebuffed several offers.
You may want to book accomodation in Birdsville and Innamincka, as there isn't a lot and it fills up quickly (even though it's low season).
The word around my campfire was that the Diamantina Shire Council didn't want to revive Betoota due to the prohibitive cost of providing infrastructure. The road between BDV and Betoota is also ugly and they didn't want to encourage more traffic by providing fuel. All second hand, but from a source that worked for the Council. I understand they rebuffed several offers.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,976
Received 102 Likes
on
59 Posts
Theres is always other little "B gems" you can visit
Boulia and Bedourie spring to mind
Boulia and Bedourie spring to mind
And I know of one fellow Ppruner who was stuck at Bedourie for a few days. Has a few interesting stories to tell.
Sad to hear ol' Simon passed on. Sigmund Bowenko..supposedly the only man who knew how many twenty dollar bills fit into a 44. Shame, you could drive past at two in the morning and pull up and Simon would sell you a XXXX.
I see they changed the bar at the BDV pub. Bit gawdy looking, must be for the tourists.
PS. The second guy from the right in DnC's piccie is pretty famous in those parts too.
PPS ah crud, my memory must be going....Simon Remienko...but he stillknew how many 20's fitted into a 44.
I see they changed the bar at the BDV pub. Bit gawdy looking, must be for the tourists.
PS. The second guy from the right in DnC's piccie is pretty famous in those parts too.
PPS ah crud, my memory must be going....Simon Remienko...but he stillknew how many 20's fitted into a 44.
Bringing this one back to the top......
So looks like Lake Eyre may get a bit of a filling,
morno
IDS20370
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
SOUTH AUSTRALIA REGIONAL OFFICE
FLOOD ADVICE FOR INLAND RIVERS
Issued at 3:10 pm on Friday, 30 January 2009
1. FLOOD ADVICE :
DIAMANTINA RIVER SYSTEM
Floodwaters that have been travelling down the Diamantina River during recent
weeks reached the Queensland/South Australia border at Birdsville late last
week. Upstream at Roseberth Station, river levels are steady above Major flood
level. At Birdsville the Diamantina River peaked on Saturday 24/01 at about 6.5
metres and is back up to Moderate flood level [6.14] and rising to an expected
peak around 6.8 metres over the next few days.
Floodwaters have reached Goyder's Lagoon in South Australia and are expected to
progress towards Lake Eyre in the coming weeks.
GEORGINA/EYRE CREEK SYSTEM
There has been Major flooding along much of the Georgina River in Queensland
during recent weeks. The river levels are falling slowly with Moderate to
Majjor flooding along Eyre Creek between Bedourie and Glengyle. Moderate
flooding continues to ease slowly at Bedourie. Major flooding continues to ease
in Eyre Creek downstream of Glengyle, where at 6am the river level was 4.7
metres. River levels are expected to ease very slowly during next week
Floodwaters on Eyre Creek are expected to reach the South Australian border in
about one to two weeks time.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
SOUTH AUSTRALIA REGIONAL OFFICE
FLOOD ADVICE FOR INLAND RIVERS
Issued at 3:10 pm on Friday, 30 January 2009
1. FLOOD ADVICE :
DIAMANTINA RIVER SYSTEM
Floodwaters that have been travelling down the Diamantina River during recent
weeks reached the Queensland/South Australia border at Birdsville late last
week. Upstream at Roseberth Station, river levels are steady above Major flood
level. At Birdsville the Diamantina River peaked on Saturday 24/01 at about 6.5
metres and is back up to Moderate flood level [6.14] and rising to an expected
peak around 6.8 metres over the next few days.
Floodwaters have reached Goyder's Lagoon in South Australia and are expected to
progress towards Lake Eyre in the coming weeks.
GEORGINA/EYRE CREEK SYSTEM
There has been Major flooding along much of the Georgina River in Queensland
during recent weeks. The river levels are falling slowly with Moderate to
Majjor flooding along Eyre Creek between Bedourie and Glengyle. Moderate
flooding continues to ease slowly at Bedourie. Major flooding continues to ease
in Eyre Creek downstream of Glengyle, where at 6am the river level was 4.7
metres. River levels are expected to ease very slowly during next week
Floodwaters on Eyre Creek are expected to reach the South Australian border in
about one to two weeks time.
morno
Silly Old Git
First time I saw Eyre in flood was with the late great Bruce Bret.....n showing me the ropes(beer drinking companion) on the mail run.Anyone remember him ?
What a great trip and interesting characters at the BDV pub them days
What a great trip and interesting characters at the BDV pub them days
Listen to Macca on Australia All Over tomorrow morning for the latest update.
We have just been flying over the area to the north of Birdsville. It looks as if Ayre Ck will close the Simpson Desert track to the west of Big Red and then join the Warburton and flow into Lake Ayre.
Incredible amount of water around- at least 6 sidarbs.
We have just been flying over the area to the north of Birdsville. It looks as if Ayre Ck will close the Simpson Desert track to the west of Big Red and then join the Warburton and flow into Lake Ayre.
Incredible amount of water around- at least 6 sidarbs.
Last edited by Dick Smith; 31st Jan 2009 at 00:17.