The last town before Northern Territory!

We really enjoyed our 2 night stay in Mt Isa! The underground mine tour we took on Saturday was one of the best touristy things we've done to date! The guide was a retired miner so was a wealth of information, coupled with a dry sense of humour & really lovely with children! The fact that the mine was especially built for tourists didn't deter our enthusiasm as it was very authentic (& cost $12 million to build). We now have an understanding of how hard mining used to be compared with today's machinery & incredible operations. Mining is a filthy industry but is needed - it's a 'tricky issue'!
The 'Isa's' saving grace is Lake Moondarra - a beautiful (especially at sunset) waterway, just outside Mt Isa. We've had dinner both nights at the lake & should have disobeyed the rules about no camping (others did!). We still can't get over the fact that the Xstrata mine dominates the whole of the town, which sits at the bottom of the hill on which the mine is situated. We didn't ask too many questions about the lead levels in children's blood!
We are now camped at the Camooweal Billabong for the night before we head over the border into the Northern Territory. It is so exciting to be travelling in such 'strange surrounds'!
Not sure if I said.... We're headed to Darwin!