Magical Moments - A Favourite Sandhill Where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer Can Be Found.

Magical Moments - A Favourite Sandhill Where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer Can Be Found.

I have a place I love to go to alone or to share with others. It was many years ago that I discovered this sandhill, and I am fortunate to visit this favourite spot at least once each year. This sandhill is located west of Windorah (Queensland) and my favourite time to visit is just prior to sunset if you wish to have an authentic outback experience. Sit back, and I shall take you to this sandhill where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer likes to congregate.

“Red sandhills emerge majestically from the stark countryside of south-west Queensland. Imagine climbing a sandhill prior to sunset and sitting and watching Mother Nature put on her dusk light show. To wiggle your toes in the smooth clean outback sand; to listen to the absolute silence that is only punctuated by a random bird call as they wing their way back to the desert shrub they call home; to sniff the clean, dry air; to take in the 360 degree vista of the sunset in front of you and the falling darkness behind you is one of life’s most magical moments – and one that makes Outback Queensland a special place to Bearded Dragons and Western Rivers Carers”.

Bearded Dragons are commonly found in Western Queensland, and many old timers say that when you see a bearded dragon walking along with their heads and tails raised, this could be an indicator of rain. I liken this upward curved stance and body position to a smile – and as we all know, rain brings smiles to the faces of all who live and work on the land. In the last few days, there have been some wonderful falls of rain in isolated patches. May those proud bearded dragons keep smiling and walking with a curved up tail and head!!

To do before you die – Climb a Western Queensland sand hill…………..barefoot!!

To do before you die – Climb a Western Queensland sand hill…………barefoot!!

Did you know sand dunes cover 40% of the Australian continent?

The Western Rivers region surrounding the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper’s Creek is a vast landscape that has a sporadic distribution of sand dunes throughout the entire area. So how is it that these dunes are here?

In 2009, the dunes we can see are actually isolated areas of sand which emerge from the floodplains – which are a clay rich black soil / mud dominated environment ranging from 2 – 9 metres deep. This means that the floodplain area has buried sand channels at its base which can be up to 50 metres deep under the ground, and the only visible bits are the tops of the dunes, which we can see and label sand hills. The tops of these dunes often act as a barrier that confines the overbank river and creek flows to certain area – which means that the flood water is contained to certain areas closer to waterholes.

You know that list we all have mentally compiled of 100 things to do before you die? Does your personal list include climbing a Western Queensland sand hill?