The road is so hot in a tiny north-western Queensland town that the council thinks you could cook your Australia Day barbecue on it.
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Boulia, about 300km south of Mount Isa, was sweltering in 45 degree heat on Thursday.
Boulia Shire Council works director Harin Karra decided to measure the temperature of the road after he began to smell melting bitumen on Tuesday.
“I quickly checked the temperature on the road right in front of me. The temperature gauge registered 68 degrees," he said.
“I reckon you could not only cook eggs out there, but sausages and steak as well!
"You can literally pick the bitumen up off the road with a pencil, it is melting."
Mr Karra said cold water taps do not exist in Boulia during summer.
"You turn the tap on and only hot water comes out. I think I should try putting a teabag in some tap water and leave it outside for a while, I will have a nice hot cup of tea, mate," he said.
"We stay cool by using as many airconditioners as we can, which sends our power bills through the roof."
The bitumen has been sizzling across north-west Queensland this summer.
About 490km north-west of Boulia is the outback town of Camooweal, nestled on the Queensland and Northern Territory border.
Paul Finlay, who runs the Camooweal Drovers Camp museum, said he never drives far at this time of year because the bitumen gets so hot it could blow car tyres.
"It is pretty bloody hot up here at the moment, but if you are born here you are used to it," he said.
"You just have to get up early and get things done in the morning. You only go outside in the middle of the day if you want to die."
Camooweal has endured 39 consecutive days of the maximum temperature reaching 40 degrees or higher, as has Cloncurry, which is about 311km east.
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell said you always get a warm welcome when you visit the town.
"The town pool has been getting a good workout and airconditioners are cranked all the way up but nothing much out of the ordinary," Mr Campbell said.
"You appreciate a cold beer and a bit of shade more at this time of year."
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kimba Wong said increased cloud cover throughout the west on Monday would bring temperatures back to monthly averages, which are 36.7 degrees in Cloncurry, 37.3 in Camooweal and a whopping 38.5 in Boulia.
While Brisbane has seen a slight bump in the mercury this week to the low 30s, it is much better off than the state's north-west.
Ms Wong said Brisbane would enjoy warm nights for the rest of the week, sitting at about 23 degrees after the sun goes down.
Australia Day on Saturday will be hot and dry with a slim chance of rain.
"There is a small chance of showers on Saturday, but it will just a spot here or there if anything passes through, nothing significant," Ms Wong said.
- with Melissa North.
