Category Archives: Outback Tour 2013

Day 13 – wandering around Alice Springs, stocking up supplies and washing. A short trip to Standley Chasm. Didn’t know this was a private “resort” so cost a bit of a shock. Short walk to rather nice spot for a few photo opportunities. Hmm.
Back to slightly disappointing caravan park. Paid a lot – I thought – for not much quality. Maybe accommodation is that scarce in Alice.

Day 14 – next stop the Devil’s Marbles. Stopped at rather grubby rest stop at Barrow Creek? but fantastic old telegraph station. Good information and nicely conserved.

Arrived at Devil’s Marbles about two, so big decision to settle in or press on. Cath wins and while we set up camp with about 40 other grey nomads in vans, tents, camper vans and various other options, looking around made this a good win. Amazing, weird place. Many photos and many more at sunset.

Incredibly windy night and thought we might loose it at one stage.

Day 15 – leave Devil’s Marbles and head off. Just past Tennent Creek stop for another restored telegraph station. Pretty cool. Then stopped somewhere for lunch, something Roadhouse. Not much there but did have a goat with to kids and some peacocks. Odd.

Arrived at Daley Waters Pub for the promised unique experience. Certainly that. Ordered the Barra and Steak though price is now $28. A lot of characters, heaps of vans, happy hour and a couple of beers. Hot showers and free show with dinner, though jokes and stories seemed to still be in the 60’s music not bad. Girls dressed up and I even put on a clean shirt for up market dinner – sort of.

Day 16 – cruised up towards Katherine. Detoured into Mataranka springs for a bit of a break. Tried Roper River first but there were croc warning signs so headed to resort. Kiara and Cath enjoyed brief dip in hot springs while we had lunch. On to Katherine to briefly stock up then out to the national park to find a camp site. The reception mentioned the bats could be a bit noisy.

Circled a bit to find a site without bats then settled in. So did the bats, and more bats. Got to be a worry. A very noisy night as they cam and went.

Day 17 – more bats. Noise, crashing branches, smashing landscape. Briefly considered fleeing, but they eventually settled down, apart from the occasional crash of branches. Checked out the walks and canoe trip.

Kiara and I drove down to the Cutta Cutta caves for a tour while Cath and Siobhan recouped around camp – and washed. Caves fascinating – warm, limestone. Came back to lounge by pool and make stockman’s pie on a barbie.

Day 18 – did a short walk to cliff top above head of gorge and prepare ourselves for Friday’s Canoe trip.

Cath seems to feel this is really a lightening visit and maybe it is but still we go on.

Day 6 – having barrelled up the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy and settled into a motel room we now indulge in continental breakfast in the hotel before moving into the camp ground. Not too bad a set up. After settling down we visited the information centre to find out what to do around the place. Then down to the supermarket to stock up.
After lunch we headed off down towards the dog fence and the Break Aways. After a short trip we realised we were low on fuel so back to Coober Pedy, topped up the tank and back out on the dirt track to the dog fence. SOunds impressive though just looks like a lot of long straight fencing. Headed north along the fence to the Break Aways which are impressive hills of multicoloured sandstone. After many stops and lots of photos we head back towards Coober Pedy were we stop at Tom’s working opal mine and a fascinating under ground tour.

Day 7 – finally out flight over Lake Eyre. A nine am flight takes us out over Coober Pedy, across the Painted Hills, alon the dog fence (second biggest man made structure but still just a long straight fence) and brunch at William Creek. Then up again and over North Lake Eyre. A very impressive sight, with water in it. Then back for for a late lunch.
A quite afternoon to plan the next few days and for Cath and Kiara to visit the Kangeroo Nursery & Art Gallery.

Day 8 – headed north to Curtin Springs. Bit of a drive to a very basic but cheap camping ground outside of Uluru. Then a rapid drive into Uluru to join the mob for sunset at the rock. Ooooooh. Cath also discovers original truffeler trees.
Fantastic moon rise over camp.

Day 9 – back to Uluru to check in at the Cultural Centre to find out a bit about the indigenous story. Then a walk into something gorge at the base of the rock. Too late for a walk around the base. Then onto the Olgas to for a walk in the Valley of the Winds. Unfortunately Kiara a bit ill so its just me and Siobhan. Still pretty cool. Rock is so much different to that at Uluru.
Back for diner and sleep interrupted by a demented emu.

Day 10 – on to Kings Creek Station for our next stop. Rather luxurious so settle in with the camels then a quick trip to Kings Canyon to see what to do. Tried the promised wi-fi but ……
Kiara decided to try her hand at scones in the camp oven. Very nice, and snacks for the next day.

Day 11 – big walk around Kings Canyon. On recommendation did the top walk. A bit difficult but well worth it. Dramatic, spectacular, steep climbs, surprising creek and chilly billabong. Scary cliffs. Stark landscape and gnarly trees. After a slightly trying 3 & 1/2 hour walk back to chill at the camp site.

Day 12 – next long drive on to Alice Springs. Time to chill, restock and catch up on Silent Witness. Now to plan for the next leg up to Katherine Gorge.

Well we have survived our first few days on our Outback Tour and are now hunkered down at Coober Pedy enjoying the luxury of a night in a motel.
Our first day out started with the usual last minute rush and chaos as we finished packing and loaded the trailer. We managed to get away only an hour late which is good for us. Then it was on the road and first night under canvas at Hattah Lakes. A lovely spot to rest after the drive even if we managed to drive past the first camp ground and spend 45 minutes looking for the next.
Up early the next day for the long drive to Wilpena Pound. A good get away but with a stop for fuel then supplies at Renmark – no fruit or veges can go across the border – it was still nearly 5 by the time we got there. Oh and it was raining. Setting up in the rain was interesting and challenging when you can hardly see to find flat ground. So we treated ourselves to dinner at the local resort. Yum.
Next day and more rain so we pottered around and add the annex and plotted things to do. Many trips to the local shop and info centre, mainly for something to do, and a short drive filled in the day. Spicy sausages and mash for dinner.
Thursday we got up to a cold but fine day so a short walk to Hills Homestead in the Pound was conducted. Get views from a wild and windy look out at the end. Then back to washing, planning and dinner. This time we tried an open fired and dahl stew in the camp oven followed by fresh bread also in the camp oven. Great success so it was worth bring the camp oven if only for bread.
Our big problem was the rain had closed the roads north so the next leg of our trip was endangered including the Lake Eyre flight. A dry day and windy night might help.
Come Friday the track north to William Creek was still looking doubtful so after a slow start and some indecision we finally took the cautious approach and decided to head south to Port Augusta and then north to Coober Pedy on the main road. Not the most adventurous choice but safer and another very long drive so here we sit in a hotel room waiting for pizza and maybe even TV! Did stop at Quorn on way down which looks nice for a future visit.
Will drop in photos and maybe fill out later.

Here we go again. Built up some LSL, the first for Cath, and ready for another big trip. This time it is around Australia. So we are tarting up the camp trailer, girding our loins and getting reading to head of for an 8 weeks road trip. Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre, Uluru, Katherine, the Kimberleys, Ningaloo Reef then back across the Nullabor. Will we all be sane and talking to each other when we get back?