The plan for the day was to drive out to Cameron’s Corner where the 3 states NSW, South Australia and Queensland intersect. After getting advice on road conditions, we decided to take the longer Jump Up Loop and Middle Roads out and then come back along the Cameron’s Corner Road so we explored two different areas of Sturt NP.

Once out of Tibooburra we stopped and dropped the tyre pressures as the day would be spent driving on unsealed roads of varying conditions.

Following the Jump Up Loop Road we drove through a lot of arid areas, and periodically along the road were “tanks” built up with mud that had water in them (much like dams) – the tanks were a great spot to support local wildlife and vegetation – a variety of birdlife congregated around the tanks.

The road was very dusty in parts and the Pearl was getting inundated….

In the distance the Grey Mountain Range could be seen as we drove west, and the Jump-ups (flat topped mesas) came into view…

Once at the top, we stopped at the Jump Up Lookout to take in the expansive vista over the plains….and like everywhere we go – you don’t see another car on the road but when you stop there are people there… Trev got talking to a couple from Newcastle who just happened to stop there…. They were on their way to Tibooburra having come through Cameron’s Corner…

We passed the historic Olive Downs Homestead… all along the way was evidence of earlier pastoral activity.

There were a lot of dry creek crossings and the road varied from sandy to white limestone to red dirt in varying intervals….

Nearing Fort Grey Campground we passed Pinaroo Lake which had milky water in it….

We turned on to Cameron Corner Road and then shortly after turned onto the Dunes Scenic Drive for the last leg to the corner…

As we got closer to the corner the red dunes became more evident and the road was undulating with multiple crests which required caution on approach….

All in all the road was amazingly good all the way out to the corner.

We crossed into the wildlife sanctuary reverse that had been established to reintroduce native species that had become extinct in the area – bilbys, burrowing bettongs, western quolls, stick nest rats and golden bandicoots – going over the grid an alarm and barking dogs sounded as a deterrent to wild doig and foxes….

At the border there was a gate in the dog fence (longest fence in the world) which we opened and drove through into South Australia – turned right and drove immediately into QLD were Cameron’s Corner Store and Fuel stop was located.

First port of call was the traditional Aussie dunny….Klaus as always leading the way….

The Corner Store had an eclectic collection of caps from all over the place… much in the vein of Daly Waters Pub but not nearly as diverse… mainly just caps.

Although we had packed lunch we opted to buy local to support the store and so sat in the dining area eating yet another healthy pie/chips etc etc….

After lunch we went over to the marker where the 3 states join and took some pics….Cameron’s Corner was named after John  Cameron, a surveyor for NSW Lands Department who surveyed the state borders in the 1880’s. In September 1880 he placed a wooden boundary post in this area marking the state borders and engraved latitude 29 on it plus his name – the original post is still on display in the National Parks Museum at Tibooburra.

We left Cameron’s Corner and returned via the Dune Scenic Drive to Cameron’s Corner Road and drove that way back to Tibooburra. The landscape along the way was more arid than the way we drove out…

at one point we stopped to put up the drone as we were out of the National Park…unfortunately Trev’s phone had a flat battery so no ability to fly…..Klaus felt this was a Branchworthy moment… but Branch was MIA….

Along the road we hit a huge dry sand bed and the dust was phenomenal….the Pearl was swallowed up in the dust!!

After a long day of driving we arrived home at camp and cooked and ate in the vans as the flies were pretty bad…. The night was hot and made for a restless sleep for some….