More Than Words

Queensland Road Trip, May 2022

Let’s go on a road trip! Come with us to Townsville and west on the Savannah Way to Karumba on an adventure in far north Queensland.

Many of the signs you see on a road trip are purely functional. Road signs give distances, and the names of rivers and creeks. Every town has a decorative sign to welcome visitors and billboards advertise local businesses. We also found some more unusual signs along the way.

Outside a shop in Townsville:

If cars, buses and caravans are allowed to park in this street in Georgetown, this sign must be meant for other vehicles.

Perhaps this road train…

or this oversized load…

or even this truck with a gigantic mining vehicle on board!

Some useful advice at the Tourist Information Centre in Georgetown, if you’re carrying cow poo in your travel kit.

Everyone knows saltwater crocodiles inhabit northern waters, but in case you need a reminder, there are warning signs everywhere in Karumba. On the beach,

by the boat ramp,

even at the Barramundi Discovery Centre!

What’s the weather like in Karumba?

Make sure you top up, fill up and use the bathroom before you head west, because it’s a long way to the next amenities.

At the caravan park in Charters Towers:

And my favourite sign of our road trip! Someone with a quirky sense of humour composed this set of rules at the Burke and Wills Camp 119 38 kilometres from Normanton.