Today we did the Hard Times Underground Mine tour, before we left Mt Isa.

The tour departed from the Info Centre and our guide was an old miner, who had been working hee in the Mt Isa mines for 48 years, before he retired. He explained that the mine we were going to see is not an actual mine, but a replica mine built by volunteer miners over many years. He explained some of the early mining techniques and tools used through the years.

We then had to "suit up" so that we could go underground. Bright orange overalls, a helmet and steel capped gum boots. Oh what a great look that is! We then spent the next 40 minutes outside looking at some of the old mining trucks and machinery, before it was time to head down the elevator, into the mine.

At the bottom, around 20 meters below the surface, we climbed aboard an electric train of sorts, to travel deeper into the mine. We spent the next hour or so underground, learning about the different machinery and progression of mining techniques over the years. Towards the end of the tour, we were taken to the underground crib room, basically the meal and break area for the miners. Here we were able to get a cup of tea or coffee, and we given a pastie to eat, whilst learning the origin of the Cornish pastie.

After the tour, we headed off to our campsite for the night, about 70km away. We were planning to stay at Corella Dam, but when we got there, the access gates were locked, so we headed back about 10km to a rest area we had passed earlier. It was quite busy and by the end of the night, there must have been around 30 caravans and campers there. We also had some neighboring cows mooing all night, right next to our camper.