Today we are going to see Lake Moondarra, the Mount Isa Underground Hospital, and heading up to the Mount Isa Lookout on Day 9 of our Outback Queensland Road Trip.
It was a catch up day for us today while on our travels.
This means for us a few loads of washing at the caravan park over the day, as well as some sightseeing around Mount Isa as well.
Also, we need groceries, so our first stop was Woolworths.
It was refreshing getting back into a bigger supermarket, price wise and also range wise after being on the road for a while.
We stocked up for the next part of our travelling and headed back to the Jayco for morning tea, and also to do another few loads of washing!
Mount Isa Underground Hospital and Museum
Then it was time to head to the Mount Isa Underground Hospital just after midday to get there before it closes.
If you are planning to visit this Mount Isa historical site make sure you head in there during the opening hours.
If you aren’t there between 10am to 2pm you won’t be able to do the tour!
The last tour leaves at 1pm and if you aren’t ready, you won’t be allowed in.
The ladies turned away quite a few car loads when we finished looking through as it was quitting time for them.
The Mount Isa Underground Hospital has a long story behind it from when it was built right until recently when it was rediscovered.
Mount Isa Underground Hospital was built during March and April in 1942 next door to the Mount Isa Base Hospital.
It was constructed by off duty miners from Mount Isa Mines and covers an area of around 20m square.
There are three parallel tunnels cut into the shale rock that are joined at the rear by another tunnel to form a reversed E configuration that you walk through.
The restoration of the Mount Isa Underground Hospital took place between 1997 and 2001 and it was based on photographs from 1942.
The restoration took place after the tunnels were rediscovered.
You will have to visit the hospital and take the tour of the hospital to find out how this happened.
I can’t tell you all of the secrets!
When you walk through the tunnel you get to see what it would’ve been like for the staff and patients if the war had of carried on coming down through Australia.
The threats of war were very real after the bombing of Darwin and Western Australia and the central corridor of Australia was very open for attack.
And so the Mount Isa Underground Hospital was constructed as a reaction to the perceived threat of air raids in the area.
I have found a great resource on a Queensland Government website if you want to learn more details.
You can find out more about the history here, Beth Anderson Museum and Mount Isa Underground Hospital.
When you arrive at the museum there is plenty of parking in front of the in-between it and the Tent House.
Inside the main museum building you get to see a part of Queensland yesteryear with all the equipment and photos of the hospital through the ages.
You get offered a drink and biscuits too, which the kids were very happy with.
After the visit to the Underground Hospital it was time for a quick lunch before heading off to Lake Moondarra.
The good thing about Mount Isa is you can head back to your caravan park pretty easily if you need something.
If you are holidaying in a city, it’s not that easy sometimes!
Lake Moondarra, is it a real lake?
Lake Moondarra is an artificial lake and is just a short drive out of Mount Isa.
I have been here before and when I did a stint for a band playing at the Mount Isa Irish Club.
So my memories of it from that time was driving out through a baron desert then coming across a green oasis out in the middle of nowhere.
And this is what it is like!
Lake Moondarra gets its water from the Leichhardt River and the lake provides water to the city as well as the mines in the area.
Leichardt Dam was the original name for Lake Moondarra.
The Leichhardt Dam was built in 1956 and was completed in 1958.
In 1961 there was a competition to name the dam local Danny Driscoll won and “Lake Moondarra” was named so.
Lake Moondarra in the local indigenous language means “Plenty of Rain”.
The whole Lake Moondarra area is pretty good to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
There are picnic areas, walking paths, plenty of lookouts to walk too, and you can walk across the dam as well as you can see in the video below.
After stopping at the bottom section of the lake we headed up to the lookout.
The Lake Moondarra lookout is just a short drive from the main picnic area of the lake.
The lookout is pretty spectacular and take in both sides of the dam / lake area and there is plenty of opportunity to take some good photos and videos too as you can see.
The view from up there is amazing looking over the lake and also over the land on the other side of the dam.
You get to walk the full length of the dam too, which is pretty special.
This last video below is the view you get from the dam wall of the countryside and the lake.
After the running on the dam and taking in the views we got back in the car.
So we headed over the top of the hill for a look at the fenced park and kids playground.
I didn’t take many photos when we headed over into this park area as it was getting dark.
But you can just see the toilet block at the park nestled amongst the trees in the dam video above.
The area is quite large, so good enough to have a picnic in and also there is toilets on this other side too.
There are plenty of peacocks and peahens in this park too.
It is pretty unique to see them in such abundance.
I haven’t seen this many since I was home in the Bay of Plenty last in my home town.
They had plaques to read all around this park too, letting you know about the wildlife around this area.
I didn’t realise there were so many different species of hawk!
All this time I thought we were only looking at one type of species of hawk for our whole trip.
Learn more about Lake Moondarra
If you want to learn more about the history of the lake and also the surrounding area it is all on display at the Mount Isa Information Centre.
You can see when the lake had tonnes of sand poured onto the shore to make a beach and plenty more photos to see how the Mount Isa township and businesses have evolved over the years.
Mount Isa Lookout at Sunset
It was getting late, so it was time to make tracks to the Mount Isa Lookout to take in the Mount Isa sunset.
It’s easy to find the lookout as you can see while travelling into the city centre.
You still have to navigate a few streets though.
There are plenty of car parks, and plenty of people to take in the views too.
There are stairs and also a flat path for you to walk up to the lookout.
When you reach the top you look out over the sprawling city on one side, and the dominating force in the skyline of the mine stacks on the other side.
It makes you think about the people who live in Mount Isa.
They have to look at the mine and stack everyday they are here, this makes me wonder why they didn’t build the town away from it all?
We stayed until the sun went down and the kids had exerted enough energy doing the circuit up and down.
After all of the excitement of the day it was time to settle into the night routine for us and to try and get the kids to sleep.
It was dinner time, showers, and sleep time, for tomorrow we are driving out to the Northern Territory.
It will be the first visit to the Northern Territory for all of us, and of course, the first visit to a little town just east of the border too.
Liked reading this?
Head to Day 10 here, Outback Queensland Road Trip Day 10.
Or you can head back to the start of our trip here, Outback Queensland Road Trip.
What did we do or see today?
Visited the Underground Hospital Museum
Underground Hospital Museum
Joan St
Mornington Qld 4825
P 07 4749 0281
Travelled to Lake Moondarra
Lake Moondarra
Moondarra Drive
Mount Isa Qld 4825
Watched the Sunset from the Mount Isa Lookout
Mount Isa Lookout
Lookout Road
The Gap Qld 4825
Where did we stay in Mount Isa?
Mount Isa Caravan Park
112 Marian St
Pioneer Qld 4825
P 07 4743 3252
Give them a call or book through their website here, Mount Isa Caravan Park
Just watch out if you are on your mobile phone looking at or booking on the Caravan Park website.
The photo sizes are big on the website, when you click on facilities to look it can suck you monthly data limit dry.
Here is the link to Google Maps for you for the Park, “Caravan Park“.
Total travelled = 20.4 km
Here is a map link for you with the details of the drive from Mount Isa to Lake Moondarra, “Drive Time from Mount Isa to the Lake“.
Tally of roadkills spotted for Outback Queensland Road Trip = 172
Liked reading this?
Head to Day 10 here, Outback Queensland Road Trip Day 10.
Or you can head back to the start of our trip here, Outback Queensland Road Trip.
