East of Charters Towers the Burdekin River flows and the best way to experience it is to drive the Heritage Trail via Ravenswood.
From Charters Towers travel east along the Overlanders Way/Flinders Highway for 50km to the historic township of Mingela. Turn right across the railway line and into the remnants of what was once a busy little town and on to Ravenswood via the Burdekin Falls Dam Road, an excellent, all weather, sealed road.
Ravenswood is a must-see historic mining town about 40km from Mingela. Stay overnight and explore. Viewing of the new open cut gold mine is a must from the temporary viewing platform. You can do this enroute to the Burdekin Falls Dam.
The Heritage Trail then takes you onto the Burdekin Falls Dam – 83km from Ravenswood. This is an excellent weekend or overnight stopover. No camping is permitted on the dam foreshore; however, camping facilities are excellent at the village. Fishing is permitted.
During the dry season, (which is most of the year) you can drive across the bottom of the dam wall. 3km after crossing the dam wall, the bitumen ends and you can wander down the Mt Hope Road to Mount Coolan before re-joining the Great Inland Way south of Belyando Crossing.
Make sure you call into the Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre for a detailed map of this drive before you leave.