Goldenbackpacker.com

MOUNT ISA- STAY FOR LESS "A$"

MOUNT ISA (QLD) is a Mining Town, full stop. So why is it on GB site? Well its all to do with location - if you call & stay at Alice Springs, or even Darwin, & then want to get to the North Queensland coast then it’s a hell of a long way. So you need to pause somewhere & that’s Mount ISA (pronounced IZZA) The mathematics are - Alice Springs to Townsville, 1990 kms or 26hrs by Greyhound - AS to Isa is 15 hrs & Isa to Townsville 11hrs - so a logical stopover point. So what's in Isa, not much - smelters & chimneys for the vast reserves of local lead & copper ore – oh! & a lot of miners.

ACCOMODATION

ONLY 1 – TRAVELLERS HAVEN BACKPACKERS on corner of Spence & Pamela Streets (in a quiet street but near to the central shopping area) tele (07) 4743 0313 - $? In singles or bunks. Pool &
air conditioned, clean & friendly – it says in the local guide. GB didn’t stay overnight, just over a long day, a courtesy bus will pick you up if you want to stay a night.

FOOD is readily available from the many shops around the centre but the Coles Supermarket is the largest & best for provisions. If you want a fast snack Mc Donalds is just around corner from the hostel

TRAVELLING AROUND town is on foot for the central area & you are probably wise to stay around the centre, as the local Aborigines tend to wander in the suburbs & rivers banks.

“FREE” SIGHTS TO SEE

1. City Lookout - most convenient hill for views of the town with a signpost with World City km’s
2. Riversleigh Fossil & Info Centre – interesting place to see how the area was 30 mill. years ago
3. River Leichhardt & Isa Bridge – main town river is just a trickle most of the year
4. Royal Flying Doctor Base – has a full scale twin engine plane on stilts near by - impressive
5. Buchanan Park Racecourse – is a large expanse behind the town, good for a canter around
6. Railway Station – is mainly container trains for exporting the processed copper & lead
7. Silly Solley’s & Mad Harry’s – 2 crazy discount stores in town, open 7 days a week
8. Irish Club – where you can get a friendly drink & play the fruit machines for fun
9. Road Trains – these 3 trailer giants of the road can be seen trundling through the town
10. Isa’s Only Seat – GB could only find one public bench to rest on, near the Irish Club

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. Frank Aston U/G Mining Museum – is the Disney exhibit of Isa but closed on GB’s visit
2. Tent House – an original corrugated roof miners house has been preserved to show how it was!

* Elizabeth Mac Donald - MIM (Mount Isa Mines Corporation)