Mount Isa Photography by Jemloco Images: McKinlay Pub ( you know Walkabout Creek)

During April 2013, everyone got into the car and we went for a 'drive'. A drive for us is generally a whole day affair! Our closest town, Cloncurry is roughly 1.5 Hours (120km) drive away - and this is where we went to start with.

After an hour or so of walking around Cloncurry, we drove on another hour and a bit - to get to McKinlay. Home of "Walkabout Creek Pub" - for those of you who have been around a while - this is Mick Dundee's pub from the movie "Crocodile Dundee"

On our way back home we stopped in at Chinaman Creek Dam (just outside of Cloncurry). There is a great spot for a lookout over Cloncurry, as well as the ability to drive behind the dam wall and make your way to the stone wall.

Cloncurry was officially surveyed in 1876 and named Cloncurry after the river that runs on the edge of town. The river was so named by Burke of "Burke and Wills" after his cousin Lady Elizabeth Cloncurry of County Galway, whilst on their ill fated 1861 expedition to the Gulf. Just over the river (on the west side) is a memorial to Burke and Wills, it is worth stopping and having a look - if only to remember some great history.

Cloncurry Shire Council building

Cloncurry was involved with the beginnings of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service, more commonly known as QANTAS. In 1919 and 1934 Cloncurry was a stopping place for contestants of the Great Air Races. During WW2 Cloncurry was home to a major USA Air Base

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was established in Cloncurry in 1928. The RFDS is an intergral part of the Medical care for all Australian's living in Rural and Remote area's. Through the use of 61 aircraft at 21 bases the RFDS will treat on average 270,000 patients a year - that's one patient every 2 minutes.

Council wall made of local stone

The local pubs

McKinlay

The town of McKinlay is situated in the local government area of McKinlay, It covers an area of 40,880.3 square kilometres (15,784.0 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1891. The shire economy is based around beef production and the mining of silver, lead and zinc. (wikipedia)

McKinlay is also home to the "Walkabout Creek Hotel" and "Never Never Safari Tours" as run by Mick Dundee aka Crocodile Dundee.

McKinlay Street - looking towards the monument of Explorer John McKinlay.

McKinlay Library - which was also the Office for Never Never Tours, during the Crocodile Dundee Movie

McKinlay Racecourse

On the road to McKinlay

Chinaman Creek Dam

Located 3km west of Cloncurry (on the way to Mount Isa) is the turn off for Chinaman Creek Dam. It is a great place for fishing, boating and just generally cooling off.

View, looking west, from the lookout at Chinaman Creek Dam

View, looking east, from the lookout at Chinaman Creek Dam - Cloncurry and the bridge over the Cloncurry River can be seen

Chinaman Creek Dam wall and the road you can follow to have a look around the edge of the water.

Some great graffiti on the dam wall

Travelling along the track from behind the dam wall - you will come across a stone wall which you can also drive along - I am guessing this is another wall of sorts to help contain the dam as best as possible