Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I am finally finding some time to tell you about my trip through outback Australia and my arrival in Perth a few days ago!
Day 1. So it all started on the 4th April in Adelaide at roughly 7.47am. We headed into the Clare Valley for some wine tasting, this was the 3rd time in about a week so I wasn't too bothered to be honest especially at 11am! After lunch we headed into the Flinders Ranges for our first night sleeping in Swags....best way to sleep outside in my opinion. Not only do you not have the hassle of putting up a tent but you can star gaze and watch beautiful sunrises from your bed!
Day 2. A walk in the morning round Wilpena Pound followed by various stops on the way to Angorichina, an old hospital for TB suffers, where we were to spend the evening in bunkhouse accomodation. I had my 2nd opportunity to eat Kangaroo this evening which I must say is lovely! That evening we had a camp fire, played games and got to know each other.
Day 3. We got up bright and early to cycle through Parachina Gorge. Through here you can see the changing contrast from mountain range to desert until you end up in the outback landscape that we were to see for the next 6 days!
TBC...must eat!
17/04/07
In continuation...
We then headed to William Creek for our 2nd night sleeping in Swags. William Creek has the population of 11 people and about 7 billion flies due to its situation in the largest Cattle Station in Australia...thank goodness for those sexy fly nets! It also has the quirkiest pub I have ever been to where the walls are convered by business cards, driving licences, underwear and other memorabilia donated by tourists passing through.
Day 4. That morning we got up at fly o'clock for a 100km flight over the Painted Desert. This is sacred Aboriginal site and the only way of seeing it is by air. Its location is a well kept secret. This wasn't included in the tour but I couldn't resist the opportunity of seeing something that not many people get the chance to see. Nor could I resist a flight in such a small plane, I was hoping for a few Aerobatics but no such luck. It was definately worth the extra $'s though but unfortunately quite hard to take photos in a plane.
Coober Pedy was our next stop. This is probably the weirdest town I have ever been to. It was one of the first places where opals were discovered in Australia and most of the residents live in underground houses. Mad Max 3 and Pitch Black were filmed here and the makers of Pitch Black left part of one of the spaceships behind, hense the photo of me with my spaceship! When we arrived we had a tour of the town, including the church, an underground home and some of the mines. We were then all tempted with buying some of the lovely jewelery on offer...yes I was tempted and bought myself a ring and a necklace! A much better investment than a tatoo as a souvenir methinks.
Day 5. 800km drive to Uluru (Ayres Rock). Not the most interesting drive in the world. Basically 800kms of straight road and desert. It's a wonder that Brook (our guide) didn't fall asleep. I sat at the front with him for about an hour and found myself being sent to sleep by the monotonousness of the road ahead. We did arrive on to have a swim at our camp site and then watch sunrise at Uluru for the first time. It was brilliant to finally see what we had all come on the trip for. Dinner that evening was possibly the best curry I have ever eaten followed by poker using knives, forks and spoons as chips. It's all the rage in Bruges you know!
TBC.....!
- comments