24th October - Bedford Weir (Camp 327) - Calliope River Rest Area (Camp 106)

Stopped at the Blackwater International Coal Centre which incorporates some Japanese Gardens at Blackwater.  Very pretty gardens and the Centre is packed full of information and interactive displays that managed to keep us entertained for over an hour. Today our trek takes us past Bluff, Dingo & Duaringa on our way to Calliope River Rest Area. Heaps of coal trains with up to 100 carriages laden with coal, there must be an unimaginable amount of weight in each one and we have seen at least 10.  Lunch at Duaringa in a lovely little camp spot under huge Ficus trees, sprinklers going and would make a terrific "overnighter".  Still 160kms to Rockhampton and everywhere we look towards the horizon there is smoke.  Apparently there are 60 fires across QLD that are out of control according to the latest news.  We are perfectly safe as we are constantly checking where they are in relation to where we are going.  Roadworks, Roadworks, Roadworks, cannot believe the roadworks on the Bruce highway.  We only manage to go 5 kms and we are stopped to sit waiting for up to 10 minutes....This road is a disgusting death trap..... Have pulled into the free camp at Calliope River Rest Area right beside the river (see pictures) facing the river and have seen our first "ACHTUNG" Sign warning us of crocodiles.  No swimming for me here.