“Dont be silly”, I hear you say – thats an oxymoron. There is nothing bitesize about the QLD outback. It is vast and open. Roads stretch as far as the eye can see and beyond.

Here is the map of QLD- the coastline is a mere 6,973 kms and its size is 1,727,000sq kms, approx 7 times the size of the UK.

We set out to capture this corner of the Lucky Continent. The roads are the main connectors to massive farms and industries, death traps for unsuspecting wildlife, a feast for black and whistling kites, and the home of the Road Train a terror to everyone trying to negotiate their overtake. No worries though, they fiercely tailgate drivers and are vastly faster than us tourists.

Up to Roma, the home of the Bottle Tree, this live one from the 19th century with a crown of 20m. The avenue of Heroes is a planted with bottle trees honouring those who fought in the First World War.

The Big Rig a nod to the town finding the purest oil. They were looking for water and got oil so pure they pumped it out of the ground and straight into cars. It caused a real Roma Oil Rush. A bust did follow but the town is doing well.

The highlight of this part of the trip however was Ben’s Chicken Races in Tambo. This is Ben – a young man who was keen to bring some life into the pub and thought up this crazy idea to race his ladies – the chickens all have names, crazy colours and personalities. Chickens, a remote control car, and some “special” chicken treats combine forces to create the world’s first CHICKEN RACES! https://www.facebook.com/benschickenracing/

They are auctioned off to the crowds who gather to watch the races every day at the “Schnitzel Stadium” and the funds raised go to the winner and to a charity called Little Windmills for sick children. Its crazy and funny and a raises a lot of money for a good cause as well as the pub and the lucky chicken winner.

Off to Blackall to visit the Woolscour the only remaining example of wool cleaning machinery in operation. A nod to those inventors – totally mind-blowing. The water from the Artesian Basin underground comes out at 52C. There with Robyn Jaques and Paul Perrett partners in outback adventures as well as our inspiration for this trip.