After an awesome stay in Hughenden, we were off to Winton! The road was bouncy but we didn’t mind it was only 160 kms to Winton. As we left the hills and mountains behind, we were greeted by treeless plains of Mitchell Grass.
One of the must do’s on our bucket list in Winton was visiting the Australian Age of the Dinosaurs exhibit and the dinosaur stampede. We purchased a VIP ticket so we could visit both dinosaur exhibit areas. Our first tour was a short drive east of Winton to the Australian Age of the Dinosaurs facility built on the spectacular edge of a jump- up (flat top hill) east of Winton which includes a visitors’ centre, preparation laboratory and a specimen depository.
When you arrive you are greeted by a life size sculpture of carnivorous Theropod dinosaur called Banjo. The facility runs a professional description of the ancient environment, fossils and videos show computer simulations of the animals. We learnt a how it happened, how they transported the dinosaur tracks to the facility and how to identify the different dinosaur footprints.
Our visit to the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways was also a great er experience. It is 113 km south of Winton. The drive to Lark Quarry offers an interesting change to the landscape. As you cast your eyes towards the horizon you can see the low lying plateaus or jump-ups in the distance. As you drive up the hill you can see the eroded weathering profile of the hills dotted with Spinifex Grass. It is a interesting drive.
It wasn’t until we started our tour that we realised the significance of the dinosaur footprint trackway. Footprints impressed into a rock slab (once mud) are thought to be from a herd of small theropod dinosaurs and plant eating ornithopods, stampeding away from a large carnivorous therapod dinosaur. The footprints were discovered by the owner of the property when he was prospecting for Opal at the base of the weathering profile of the hill.
We saw amazing tracks at the first exhibit, however, this exhibit was from a larger herd of two-legged dinosaurs that gathered on the banks for a drink, but didn’t know a 4-tonne, sharp-clawed Theropod was stalking them.
The drive to Lark Quarry wasn’t boring; the road was dirt and bitumen. Anyone who has driven in the outback knows to watch out for cattle and kangaroos. We saw several gathered on the side of the road searching for food. Shortly after we rounded a bend and a Wedge tailed Eagle appeared, it was feeding on a kangaroo carcass. It was a huge bird with distinct colouring and bright yellow talons.
We also saw an Emu on the side of the road it appeared to be chasing our car then stopped. I jumped out for a quick photo, the emu took a couple of steps towards me and stopped, we looked at each other, he or she shook his neck then ran off into the bush. What an amazing encounter.
We stopped to visit the cairn that marks the site of the Winton strike camp during 1891-1894 ‘Shearers Strike’. The outback Queensland workers from this area where instrumental in the foundation of the Australian this cairn is dedicated to the memory of these men by the Winton branch of the Australian Labour Party.
If you’re looking for some fun activities in Winton, don’t miss the chance to snap some sunset photos under the iconic Winton sign! One of the signs is perched on a little hill where you can park your car right underneath. Plus, there’s a welcome sign at the edge of town that’s also worth a picture. To get the best shot, try to arrive a bit before sunset and wait for the sun to dip low enough so you can catch it shining beautifully in the “O” of the sign. It’s a lovely way to capture a perfect moment!
If you’d like to see a wall full of junk mostly recycled bits and pieces of everything you could imagine, head down to Arno’s wall, it’s behind the Gregory Hotel.
