Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat (WK 2)

We cannot believe our luck, the NT borders have reopened to QLD, so new plans to get back on track. Leaving Winton on 03/04/2021 we headed further west on the Donohue Highway for a night in Boulia (03/04/20121) followed by our first night in NT at Tombermorey Station on 04/04/2021. We arrived at Gemtree for some downtime, a whole 3 nights 😊, on 05/04/2021.

The road from Winton although still tar was only single track with the prospect of 50m road trains coming towards you. Soon after Boulia it was time to deflate tyres as the road turned to well graded gravel. The road was great all the way to the NT border where it turned into the Plenty Highway with plenty of lumps and bumps. This was our first outback gravel highway with cows, cattle grids and floodways to catch you out.

At the other end of the Plenty Highway the tar road was very welcome about 100 km from our destination (Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat) and their freezing swimming pool on 05/04/2021.

On 06/04/2021 we went fossicking for garnets. Great fun and a great competition with the Farrows. I am not gloating, but the Tedders won; we found two 3mm garnets and the Farrows found one 3mm garnet. We all enjoyed the experience, but I am not sure any of us are cut out to be professional fossickers 😊. We followed the hard work with a swim and a yummy cream tea. In the evening we had homemade beef pies delivered to our campsite. It is a hard life.

Today (07/04/2021) we went on a 3.5km nature trail laid out by the retreat. Hot work which had to be followed by a final swim. Later tonight we are going to the camp oven kitchen meal. We have been very spoilt during our stay here.   Tomorrow (08/04/2021) we head towards to MacDonnell Ranges for 3 nights of walking and swimming in the numerous gorges.