Friday 22 July 2011
Thursday 21 July 2011
Ayers Rock to Alice Springs
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| The Rock |
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| Great spot for lunch |
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| Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) |
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| Kings Canyon |
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| Creek walk at Kings Canyon |
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| View from Gosse Bluff |
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| Cruiser and Goldie were put to the test! |
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| Dirtiest car in Australia! |
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| Walk through Standley Chasm |
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| Tom the Python |
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| You lookin' at me?! |
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| Go karts at the caravan park |
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| Charlie with his new friend, Annie |
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| Family shot at Kings Canyon |
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| Standley Chasm |
Wednesday 20 July 2011
Yulara to Alice
Hello again.
Sorry we have been off line for a little while. A combination of issues including a broken laptop, lack of mobile range and sheer laziness have all contributed! We have been traveling well although a breakdown at Erldunda (200km south of Alice Springs) meant a quick detour for the land cruiser and I via a tow truck. Sounds like a disaster but I had a nice little night away in a comfy hotel, plenty of hot water and a fluffy towel or two which took the edge off the inconvenience. My new friend, Russ, from "Outback Recoveries" got us back on the road and out to Yulara in no time which was great.
We all loved Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Such an amazing natural phenomenon and the boys were extremely impressed with such a sizable attraction. We enjoyed some short but beautiful walks around the area, it is truly a special place. The caravan park there is enormous and the boys loved it as there were plenty of other kids ands lots of places for them to ride their scooters. Very cold evenings and a bit of rain early on but it has been a highlight in our trip so far.
From there we traveled to Kings Canyon which is a very beautiful part of the world with lots of walks and gorges. It was nice there although very cold and wet. Ffrom there we traveled 230km to Glen Helen via the Mereenie Loop. This is a rather rough dirt road which is usually dry and easily navigated. Of course we tackled it after quite a large amount of rain (I thought deserts were usually dry?!) so it was particularly challenging for me and my very
limited 4WD experience. Apart from a few fingernails marks on the steering wheel and the muddiest car in Australia we survived relatively unscathed. We passed a motorbike, a Camry and a Wicked Camper Van, not sure if they made it through! Glen Helen is in the West MacDonnell ranges, stunning scenery. We visited the Standley Chasm which was a great walk for the boys along a creek bed. Lots of stones, puddles to jump in and things to look at, they loved it.
We are now in Alice Springs. Weather is beautiful and although cool at night the days are clear and sunny. We are staying in the "Big 4" park, boys are so pleased with it that they would actually prefer stay there all day rather than going out! Huge jumping pillow, go carts and a new little friend named Annie with lots of cool toys and forgiving parents - what more could you want?! Jase managed to drag them to a a train and truck museum which they really enjoyed and we also went to a reptile park which was great as you were allowed to hold various creatures including a huge olive python named Tom.
Next major stop is Katherine via the Devils Marbles. Very much looking forward to the warmer weather and tropics, armed with plenty of mozzie repellant and sunscreen! We hope to be in Darwin in early August after visiting Kakadu which we are all looking forward to.
Hope this finds you well, will post some happy snaps soon,
Love, Chippy x
Sorry we have been off line for a little while. A combination of issues including a broken laptop, lack of mobile range and sheer laziness have all contributed! We have been traveling well although a breakdown at Erldunda (200km south of Alice Springs) meant a quick detour for the land cruiser and I via a tow truck. Sounds like a disaster but I had a nice little night away in a comfy hotel, plenty of hot water and a fluffy towel or two which took the edge off the inconvenience. My new friend, Russ, from "Outback Recoveries" got us back on the road and out to Yulara in no time which was great.
We all loved Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Such an amazing natural phenomenon and the boys were extremely impressed with such a sizable attraction. We enjoyed some short but beautiful walks around the area, it is truly a special place. The caravan park there is enormous and the boys loved it as there were plenty of other kids ands lots of places for them to ride their scooters. Very cold evenings and a bit of rain early on but it has been a highlight in our trip so far.
From there we traveled to Kings Canyon which is a very beautiful part of the world with lots of walks and gorges. It was nice there although very cold and wet. Ffrom there we traveled 230km to Glen Helen via the Mereenie Loop. This is a rather rough dirt road which is usually dry and easily navigated. Of course we tackled it after quite a large amount of rain (I thought deserts were usually dry?!) so it was particularly challenging for me and my very
limited 4WD experience. Apart from a few fingernails marks on the steering wheel and the muddiest car in Australia we survived relatively unscathed. We passed a motorbike, a Camry and a Wicked Camper Van, not sure if they made it through! Glen Helen is in the West MacDonnell ranges, stunning scenery. We visited the Standley Chasm which was a great walk for the boys along a creek bed. Lots of stones, puddles to jump in and things to look at, they loved it.
We are now in Alice Springs. Weather is beautiful and although cool at night the days are clear and sunny. We are staying in the "Big 4" park, boys are so pleased with it that they would actually prefer stay there all day rather than going out! Huge jumping pillow, go carts and a new little friend named Annie with lots of cool toys and forgiving parents - what more could you want?! Jase managed to drag them to a a train and truck museum which they really enjoyed and we also went to a reptile park which was great as you were allowed to hold various creatures including a huge olive python named Tom.
Next major stop is Katherine via the Devils Marbles. Very much looking forward to the warmer weather and tropics, armed with plenty of mozzie repellant and sunscreen! We hope to be in Darwin in early August after visiting Kakadu which we are all looking forward to.
Hope this finds you well, will post some happy snaps soon,
Love, Chippy x
Sunday 3 July 2011
Broken Hill to Coober Pedy
What a week!
Dirt roads, red dust, kilometer after kilometer, crazy camel owners, flat tyre, pubs and even a spaceship! We are having quite an adventure and have seen so much. Every town I come across I think "there is nothing here" and then the next town has even less! The remote conditions and harsh climate is astounding and fascinating.
We left Broken Hill and hit the dirt for the next week. Our first stop was Tibooburra which was very well serviced for a town of 150 people - two pubs! From here we took on the rough dirt road to Cameron corner which is a road stop that covers QLD, SA and NSW, apparently there is even a golf course that covers all three states and two time zones. Very isolated and the road varied from undulating dunes, corrugated red dirt, sandy creek crossings, "bull dust" and quite smooth. I was quite relieved to reach the Strezleki track which is a major dirt highway that runs from Innaminka and Lyndhurst. The road was in much better condition and even had some tar stretches to service the traffic that moves fuel and equipment to the gas fields. The track was originally created by a cattle rustler that stole a mob and moved them from QLD to Adelaide. He was caught but not sent to gaol as the jury were so impressed with his achievement!
We spent a couple of nights in Marree so we could take a flight over Lake Eyre. Not a lot there but it did provide us with some entertainment via a local named Dino who showed us his camels which he single handedly caught, trained and then proceeded to ride across Australia on. A rather passionate fellow who also trains sheep dogs for the local stations and dabbles in some photo journalism for several large newspapers, rather versatile fellow! Marree was once a thriving stop off on the original Ghan railway line, the old trains are all still there and ran until 1980. The flight over Lake Eyre was excellent, it is truly enormous and the only way to see it. The boys enjoyed the flight as did Jase and I although although I was a little nervous when I spotted our pilot who looked about 14! However, we survived and enjoyed his tour of the area.
We are now in Coober Pedy. Charlie and Gil are fascinated with the underground dwellings and were even more impressed with the spaceship which appears to have crashed landed in the main street. It was used in "Pitch Black" (possibly went straight to DVD?) and was just left there at the completion of filming! It is a very strange place but actually quite a melting pot with over 44 nationalities residing here. Opal mining and tourism seem to be the main draw cards and due to the availability of explosives it is best not the insult the locals!
From here we head north to Yulara and Alice, very much looking forward to Uluru. Will report again soon and get some photos up too. I hope this finds you all very well,
Chippy.
Dirt roads, red dust, kilometer after kilometer, crazy camel owners, flat tyre, pubs and even a spaceship! We are having quite an adventure and have seen so much. Every town I come across I think "there is nothing here" and then the next town has even less! The remote conditions and harsh climate is astounding and fascinating.
We left Broken Hill and hit the dirt for the next week. Our first stop was Tibooburra which was very well serviced for a town of 150 people - two pubs! From here we took on the rough dirt road to Cameron corner which is a road stop that covers QLD, SA and NSW, apparently there is even a golf course that covers all three states and two time zones. Very isolated and the road varied from undulating dunes, corrugated red dirt, sandy creek crossings, "bull dust" and quite smooth. I was quite relieved to reach the Strezleki track which is a major dirt highway that runs from Innaminka and Lyndhurst. The road was in much better condition and even had some tar stretches to service the traffic that moves fuel and equipment to the gas fields. The track was originally created by a cattle rustler that stole a mob and moved them from QLD to Adelaide. He was caught but not sent to gaol as the jury were so impressed with his achievement!
We spent a couple of nights in Marree so we could take a flight over Lake Eyre. Not a lot there but it did provide us with some entertainment via a local named Dino who showed us his camels which he single handedly caught, trained and then proceeded to ride across Australia on. A rather passionate fellow who also trains sheep dogs for the local stations and dabbles in some photo journalism for several large newspapers, rather versatile fellow! Marree was once a thriving stop off on the original Ghan railway line, the old trains are all still there and ran until 1980. The flight over Lake Eyre was excellent, it is truly enormous and the only way to see it. The boys enjoyed the flight as did Jase and I although although I was a little nervous when I spotted our pilot who looked about 14! However, we survived and enjoyed his tour of the area.
We are now in Coober Pedy. Charlie and Gil are fascinated with the underground dwellings and were even more impressed with the spaceship which appears to have crashed landed in the main street. It was used in "Pitch Black" (possibly went straight to DVD?) and was just left there at the completion of filming! It is a very strange place but actually quite a melting pot with over 44 nationalities residing here. Opal mining and tourism seem to be the main draw cards and due to the availability of explosives it is best not the insult the locals!
From here we head north to Yulara and Alice, very much looking forward to Uluru. Will report again soon and get some photos up too. I hope this finds you all very well,
Chippy.
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