Date: 23rd May 2021
Travelled: 185 kms from Winton to Longreach
Visited: Longreach, Outback Queensland.
Stayed: Ilfracombe Road-side Camping, free, bin.ย S23.51536, E144.65388ย
Budget: 43 days @ $144 per day.
We re-fuel the Jayco as we depart Winton continuing along the Matilda Way. Itโs a shorter drive than we have had over the past few days. The countryside is flat and featureless. There is a strong crosswind today which equate to wrestling with the Jayco occasionally as we get pushed around.
The Matilda Way from Winton to Longreach. 
The Thompson River near Longreach. 
Map of Longreach
We arrive in Longreach and continue to the information centre, finding a nice shade tree to park just across the road. We get a map of Longreach, we are told about a free concert at the Stockmanโs Hall of Fame tonight.
After having lunch in the shade, we do our usual exploration of central Longreach. Itโs Sunday afternoon and everything is closed other than the pubs and a bakery come cafe and itโs closing as we pass. Should mention, did you know all streets in Longreach are named after birds ?
Eagle Street 
Art Deco Fire Station. 
Billy on the boil…
A couple of Willyโs Whippets above and a Dodge pickup below.
With our walk complete we find a bottle shop and a supermarket to do some restocking before driving out to the Qantas Founders Museum.
After paying the concession entry of $25pp we do the self guided tour which we found (almost) well worth the money. The full guided tour that include a look inside the 707, 747 and Super Constellation is more than double the cost, so we gave that a miss.
Due to Qantasโ excellent safety record many of the early aircraft on display were original fleet aircraft. We spend some time watching a film outlining Qantas creation, the movie made back in the 60โs is something of a time capsule detailing flying in outback Australia in the 20โs, 30โs and 40โs.
The museum done we drive across the road into the Stockmanโs Hall of Fame car-park. We get some dinner made (for later), have a shower and put our best camper-car clothes on, join the throng for Opera Queenslandโs โAre You Lonesomeโ show. The flyer calls it a celebration of Country Music and Opera.
What a wonderful night of first class entertainment it was. There are some very talented people about, and the 3 main players performance was certainly a highlight.
The show done, we drive on to Ilfracombe and a free stop for the night. We donโt normally drive at night, but the nearest caravan park back in Longreach is 50 acres of dust and grey nomads. We didnโt see the point of paying $40 to park for the night when a 15 minute drive gets us 50 acres of dust and 7-8 other travellers for company for free.
Before closing this blog I should comment on the huge numbers of camper, caravans and motorhomes we are passing or camping with since weโve left Cloncurry. It seems everyone who can buy, borrow or steal a camper is heading for the NT or WA.
Michael+Pam
