Day 6 Rolleston to Lake Maraboon

136.5km of rolling plains today as we travelled to Lake Maraboon via Springsure. Atop the Staircase Range on the Dawson Highway we were able to look back to Rolleston over what they call the "Bluegrass Plains".  These are naturally treeless planes covered in luxurious grasses.  Farming and grazing is gradually destroying the natural grasses. However one is able to see what the original countryside was like by simply looking at the road verges, where the natural grasses, hip high, remain relatively untouched.  Springsure is a lovely country town with a mountain range as a backdrop.  There were a couple of outstanding outcrops in the range with one called Virgin Rock.   We passed the Minerva Coal Mine but too far off the highway to see much. Lake Maraboon is about 20 km from Emerald. More on Lake Maraboon in tomorrow's blog.

120414 Atop Staircase Range with blue grass plains in the far distance

120414 A stick insect in disguise - only visible if you stop the car

120414 Virgin Rock 3km outside Springsure

120414 Another rock outcrop adjacent to Virgin Rock