Beyond Birdsville - beyond the black stump

So you ask me "What is beyond Birdsville?" Good question. I led you there either along the Birdsville Track, or from the Matilda highway on your travel Queensland experience.

Wherever you came from, I promise you more Outback Australia adventure, whatever direction you go. This is definitely "black stump" country. From Birdsville there are a few options, but first I'd like to answer your next question "what does black stump mean"?

Okay, the black stump is an imaginary point after which the country is considered very isolated, remote, empty. There are many towns in Australia that claim to have the original black stump. But believe me, the black stump is rather in people's mind than a signpost of any kind.

The black stump, another myth of Outback Australia

Travel Queensland beyond Birdsville

The eastern option from Birdsville is along the Birdsville Developmental Road to Windorah, the heart of the channel country. It is a lonely 460 km drive with no facilities along the way. Low jump-ups, shimmering mirages and stony plains as far as you can see. Hey, that's Outback. Betoota was once a tiny town on this route, however, the last hotel and fuel spot closed down in 1997.

If you are into very challenging adventure, you can go west and cross the famous Simpson desert into Outback South Australia. The QAA Line leads to Poeppel corner where you can choose to step further into the Simpson, or go south and join the Birdsville track. This is only for very experienced and well-equipped 4x4 adventurers.

The third choice is to head north along the Eyre Developmental Road to Bedourie. Although this is called a road, I thought conditions were even worse than on the Birdsville track. At least it was even lonelier.

A few kilometres out of Birdsville is a very rare stand of ancient trees. These Waddi Trees only occur in a few places in the world, here in western Queensland, around Alice Springs and in South Africa.

Next, the ruins of the abandoned Carcory homestead are worth a stop. It is a protected heritage site, and a good example of the type of homesteads built by the early settlers.

Cuttaburra crossing further north is a permanent waterhole and wetland area on Eyre Creek. It is a welcome change in the scenery. If Eyre Creek is in flood you need to take the Lake Machattie detour, a very remote track.

The fascination of Outback Australia is the ever-changing scenery. One moment you traverse a barren spot that makes you think it is the end of the world...

... while the next moment you cross a lovely creek, with bushes and trees, and it is a different world. This lovely creek is King Creek in Outback Queensland.

About 195 km beyond Birdsville is Bedourie, another small bush town with true Outback character. The town's name means dust storm, and there are quite a few sand dunes around that can produce dust.

Bedourie's artesian water supply is of good quality, it even feeds the pool and spa of the swimming complex. After a hot day on the dusty tracks this is just heaven, don't you agree?

The sand dunes surrounding Bedourie are very photogenic, especially in the late afternoon. Climb on top of a dune and enjoy an unique sunset. The silence is only broken by the howling wind and the sound of the birds.