adventure – Kerry and Peter's Blog

‘Aroota’ Muster camp #2

July 2025

The ‘donkey’ – an outside hot water shower – its awesome. We live on bore water for everything other than drinking water which is tank water, there are a lot of minerals etc in the bore water but its still nice to have a hot shower & be able to wash the clothes, the idea being once you have had a shower you put more wood on for the next person, works well.

One of the ringers has a pup, a cutie, there are a few other kelpie/cattle dog belonging to the manager, they usual go out to muster but puppy stays with us tied up til happy hour.

There were 4 musters to the yards at Aroota where they were drafted, all weaners taken up toward to the homestead, cows with young calves released to where they come from, fat old cows not breeding anymore were culled & replaced with young heifers, all steers to homestead then onto to QLD & replaced a few of the bulls – its a big process & well handled.

the donkey warming up the water for a shower

after dark, she glowing as there are more people to shower

the fire nearly goes 24 hrs a day but only moderate coals at lunch time

first ones in for happy hour

we have a long happy hour

the pup knows the warmest spots

dinner finished, bedtime for me.

one of the trucks used to move the cattle

early morning starts

one of the 3 choppers used

so many of these critters around

they love hanging out on the overflow from the bore

The finches also love hanging around in the acacia bushes at the overflow of the bore.

early morning, all the ringers gone mustering already

she does like sitting in the boxes in the early morning

another muster just about fininshed – muster #3

quad bikes quite handy

they use about 6 motor bikes

Keeping the cattle quiet makes life much easier for everyone.

‘Aroota’ – #1 Tobermoray desert muster camp

June 25th 2025 – July 2025

Aroota is the name of the desert muster camp & the bottom section of Tobermoray station. The set-up is quite amazing considering where it is, 100klms south of the homestead. The muster area for Aroota camp is approximately 150klm long x 40klm wide & they muster 4 different areas. The kitchen set-up is great, gas cook tops & oven & an electric oven as well if needed, I have just been using the gas.

We went out to one of the musters only the last section of it – so many cattle, it was very interesting, this was the first time they have used horses as well as motorbikes, quads, helicopters & utes, I think they were quite happy with the outcome. They move the cattle slowly but there still was lotz of dust, had a few naughty moo’s but they were soon rounded up. The age of the ringers ranged from 4yrs to 50yrs – the bosses kids, one on the grey pony (6yo)& the other on a bike(5yo).

Peter & I went for a drive the other day just for a few hours, the country is pretty amazing, very grassy in some areas, no grass in other areas, rocks & miles & miles of country. Majority of the cattle are in really good condition, it was good to see & the countryside beautiful.

our camp

looking down at the camp

Tank high up on a hill, this holds bore water for ablutions & kitchen.

looking across to the closest set of yards to the camp

The sun is about to rise.

kitchen – my home away from home….

other end of the kitchen area, most people sit outside unless it’s too cold

Met a distant cousin from the Boshammer/Briggeman side of the family.

ute with fuel

helicopter #1 today

lotz of dust

ringers of all ages & sizes

ute & poddy calf collector

helicopter #2 on the job today

the horses worked well with the cattle

walking the cattle along the fence line to the yards & a couple of escapee’s

just miles & miles & miles

WOW, she was moving very quickly – shame it’s not connected

the race is on………

ducks always find the water holes

cattle enjoying the water point

what a cutie!

she no go no more

overflow from the bore – quite a pretty scene

cows & birds near the water point

Camooweal, QLD /Georgina River – Urandangie, QLD / Tobermoray Station, NT. /Tobermoray muster camp, NT.

22-23 July, 2025

After having breakfast we packed up camp & drove back across the QLD/NT border along the Barkly Hwy, took a left turn down Austral Downs Rd & once again drove on roads not travelled on by us before.

Drove past Lake Nash Station & back into QLD, then eventually found our way to Urandangie, a sad looking town but there are a few locals living there, we kept going for 5klms & camped up at the Rock Hole on the Georgina River – not a bad spot to camp up on. We put in the red claw pots to try our luck. Neck day we checked out pots – WOW! 2 monsters & 1 average, we left the pots in as we staying another night Had a nice fire to relax by. We had neighbors arrive but they were fine, we collected our pots the next morning & another great catch, 6 beauties this time. We packed up camp & were on our way.

Saw a few wedgetail eagles feasting on road kill but was only able to get a pic of one, not a bad size. Got to Tobermoray Station, homestead/camping area, we hung around for an hour then followed the crew to the muster camp which will be our new home for a while, 100klms away from the homestead.

sundown fast approaching

Fire ready for breakfast

Bye Camooweal Billabong.

Austral Downs Rd

They make good use of some of their used car parts…

town centre

our camp at Rock Hole

the mighty Georgina River – quite a few rocks at this spot

Had some visitors in the morning but I think Peter’s snoring scared them as they bolted in a hurry.

Not a bad catch

Relaxing by the fire.

Next morning catch, 6 beauties 2day.

Stopped on our way to Tobermoray Station to get a pic of a wedgie.

Wedgie – quite a decent size

The sign says it all.

Our camp at Tobermoray muster camp

Cape Crawford, NT / Ranken Rd, NT / Camooweal Billabong, QLD

June 19 – 21, 2025

Cape Crawford is approximately 100klms SW of Borroloola, home of the famous Heartbreak Hotel at the junction of the Tablelands & Carpentaria Highway. Despite the first part of its name, Cape Crawford is approx 120klms from the ocean & was named because it is situated at the northern extremity or ‘cape’ of the Abner Ranges which were first discovered by drover Lindsay Crawford in 1880. The Abner Ranges are home to the ‘Lost City’, which covers around 8 square klms & is dotted with towering sandstone formations – very popular with birdwatchers & hikers. Its a quirky joint & very interesting, we had dinner at the hotel & it was amazing.

Next morning, we headed off down the Tablelands Hwy, quite a scenic road to travel, we came across some cattle at a waterhole enjoying the refreshments. Before reaching the Barkly Hwy we turned left onto Ranken Rd(another road we had not travelled), we camped up at a gravel pit for the night. Quite good spot some cute willy-wagtails & finches, but there were lotz of flies.

Next stop Camooweal Billabong – WOW! what a beautiful spot & very popular, we managed to find a nice little camp with neighbours not too close. Lotz of birdlife (quite a variety) & lillies.

Our camp in the park.

Some cuties have a drink next to the Tablelands Hwy.

Some rather ‘big’ girls.

Tablelands Hwy

Roadside beauty.

Ranken Rd gravel pit camp site

our view

nice fire to cook dinner on

breakfast in the morning

the colours were quite specky

lotz of willy’s

and finches.

Camooweal Billabong – our camp spot

our view

love the lillies

& love the pelicans

lotz of ‘happy campers’

set of yards been idle for a while

nothing happening on this ramp

lotz of ducks

a cute water fowl with a white face.

dragon fly

Slatey Camp #2 – Skinners Flat Reservoir. Victoria

February 2025

Slatey Camp has 3 separate secluded camping areas with fireplaces & at Slaty Creek Camp #1 there is accessible toilets, these campsites are located in the Creswick Regional Park 120klm NW of Melbourne between Ballarat & Daylesford. These camps are popular for the bush walkers, bird watchers and gold prospectors although there are a lot of deep mine shafts throughout the park. We parked up at camp#2 – no one there til late afternoon when 2 vehicles arrive, was a great spot. We spent 3 hours trekking through the bush (mainly off track) which was really good & got the heart rate going but we did have to watch out for the old mine shafts, some looked to be very deep.

The following night we camped up at a caravan park in Ballarat & had dinner with Lisa – a very enjoyable time.

Next day we arrived at Skinners Flat Reservoir located on the Calder Hwy approximately 6klm NW of Wedderburn, it features an island in its centre, surrounded by bushland & is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, camping & bushwalking. We found a great spot to camp up at the bottom end of the reservoir, the water didn’t look that inviting so we skipped on the swim idea but it was a great spot. I would definitely come back here especially if there was more water, it was nice & quiet.