Road Trip through the Red Centre
Just north of Adelaide.
We hit the start of the Outback after just a few hours on the road.
As the hours pass so do the many salt lakes.
Watch the road Lis!!!!
Our first night on the road was at Opal Capital, COOBER PEDY.
We stayed in a underground hostel. The rooms were 8m under ground and at a constant 25 degrees, while above ground it was around 42+.
One of the few attractions was the Old Timers Mine... worth a look if in town.
Opal vein - worth approx $20,000 -$40,000
Demo of tunnel digger.
Serbian Orthodox church, all under ground.
A round of golf anyone!!
Not surprisingly, the golf course's claim to fame is being the golf course with the least grass in the world!
The Dog Fence
The dog fence runs from Queensland to South Australia and was put up to separate the dingos in the north from the sheep in the south.
Checking out the Breakaways, 20 minutes out of Coober Pedy
The colours and shapes of the rocky flat-topped mesas and surrounding 'Moon Plain' were an awesome sight out in the middle of rocky nothingness.
Can you spot the roo on the horizon?
On the road again heading north of Coober Pedy
Crossing the border into the N.T.!
This was Lis's first road train that she passed while driving... lucky we had several kms of straight road!!! They can be up to 4 trailers long... 50m or so.
The next night we camped at the Uluru campground, and watched the sunset over Uluru.
Even when cloudy, the rock does change to lots of cool colours!
The next day we did a walk around the base of Uluru and also over in the Olgas. Well worth doing but maybe not in 41 degree weather.
Aboriginal rock art at the base of Uluru.
According to local dreamtime stories, this rock formation called "The Brain" was formed during the dreamtime by a Mala warrior who died defending his people from a giant dog. You can see the footprints of the dog chasing the man on the rocks.
The park does a great job with cultural walks that Rangers do for free around Uluru. It would definitely be worth going back to see the rest of them.
Perfect spot to rest, nice water hole
Uluru seen from the Olgas
When it gets over 37 degrees the Rangers close the trails after 11. The "extreme temperature" at this time was well over 40 degrees!
Kings Canyon
The next couple photos were taken for Dad so we could show you the great examples of sand dune crossbedding in rocks.
All sorts of great geology to see when you do the drive through the centre!
Beehive domes of the 'Lost City'
'Garden of Eden' elevated waterhole
Rock pool along the bottom track of Canyon
Relaxing swim after a hot day hiking. Caught up again with Sam and Hollie ( a couple that we kept running into along the trip from Coober Pedy).
At a road side rest area on our way to Alice Springs we saw a flock of Major Mitchell cockatoos.
Stanley chasm, Alice Springs.
Simspon's Gap
A dry Alice Springs at the Old Telegraph Station.
Another warm day for a walk.
Picture by Emily who we caught up with in Alice.
Township of Alice Springs from the top of Trig Hill.
We left Adelaide Friday, January 5th with the temperature heading towards 40 degrees Celsius - this was going to be our coolest day for a week!!
Just north of Adelaide.
We hit the start of the Outback after just a few hours on the road.
As the hours pass so do the many salt lakes.
Watch the road Lis!!!!
Our first night on the road was at Opal Capital, COOBER PEDY.
A strange landscape and town full of dust, sand, broken down machines and mining mounds. (If your eyes are good enough check out the Danger sign beside the town welcome sign!)
We stayed in a underground hostel. The rooms were 8m under ground and at a constant 25 degrees, while above ground it was around 42+.
One of the few attractions was the Old Timers Mine... worth a look if in town.
Opal vein - worth approx $20,000 -$40,000
Demo of tunnel digger.
Serbian Orthodox church, all under ground.
A round of golf anyone!!
Not surprisingly, the golf course's claim to fame is being the golf course with the least grass in the world!Opal mines on the outskirts of town
The dog fence runs from Queensland to South Australia and was put up to separate the dingos in the north from the sheep in the south.
Checking out the Breakaways, 20 minutes out of Coober Pedy
The colours and shapes of the rocky flat-topped mesas and surrounding 'Moon Plain' were an awesome sight out in the middle of rocky nothingness.
Can you spot the roo on the horizon?
On the road again heading north of Coober Pedy
Crossing the border into the N.T.!
This was Lis's first road train that she passed while driving... lucky we had several kms of straight road!!! They can be up to 4 trailers long... 50m or so.
The next night we camped at the Uluru campground, and watched the sunset over Uluru.
Even when cloudy, the rock does change to lots of cool colours!
The next day we did a walk around the base of Uluru and also over in the Olgas. Well worth doing but maybe not in 41 degree weather.
Aboriginal rock art at the base of Uluru.
According to local dreamtime stories, this rock formation called "The Brain" was formed during the dreamtime by a Mala warrior who died defending his people from a giant dog. You can see the footprints of the dog chasing the man on the rocks.
The park does a great job with cultural walks that Rangers do for free around Uluru. It would definitely be worth going back to see the rest of them.
Perfect spot to rest, nice water hole
Uluru seen from the Olgas
When it gets over 37 degrees the Rangers close the trails after 11. The "extreme temperature" at this time was well over 40 degrees!Kings Canyon
The next couple photos were taken for Dad so we could show you the great examples of sand dune crossbedding in rocks.
All sorts of great geology to see when you do the drive through the centre!
Beehive domes of the 'Lost City'
'Garden of Eden' elevated waterhole
Rock pool along the bottom track of Canyon
Relaxing swim after a hot day hiking. Caught up again with Sam and Hollie ( a couple that we kept running into along the trip from Coober Pedy).
At a road side rest area on our way to Alice Springs we saw a flock of Major Mitchell cockatoos.
Stanley chasm, Alice Springs.
Simspon's Gap
A dry Alice Springs at the Old Telegraph Station.
Another warm day for a walk.Picture by Emily who we caught up with in Alice.
Township of Alice Springs from the top of Trig Hill.
Moving North
As you move further and further north from Alice the roadside starts getting greener, the air starts getting thicker (as does my hair!), and the termite mounds getting bigger. It's quite interesting to watch.
Devils Marbles
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/devilsmarbles.html
This is a really neat boulder playground near Tennant Creek. We didn't have much time here so we'll have to go back when it's not quite as hot out.
Split boulder
Mataranka Hotsprings
Unfortunately the Hot Springs get flooded in the wet season so they were not at their best. Plus there are more likely to be crocodiles at this time - although we shouldn't worry they say cuz they are only freshies...
For non-Australians, now you can see what those markers on the side of the road are for.
And finally, Darwin!!
The Wharf
Casuarina Foreshore bike path after the rain
East Point Reserve
As you move further and further north from Alice the roadside starts getting greener, the air starts getting thicker (as does my hair!), and the termite mounds getting bigger. It's quite interesting to watch.
Devils Marbles
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/devilsmarbles.html
This is a really neat boulder playground near Tennant Creek. We didn't have much time here so we'll have to go back when it's not quite as hot out.
Split boulder
Mataranka Hotsprings
Unfortunately the Hot Springs get flooded in the wet season so they were not at their best. Plus there are more likely to be crocodiles at this time - although we shouldn't worry they say cuz they are only freshies...
For non-Australians, now you can see what those markers on the side of the road are for.
And finally, Darwin!!
The Wharf
Casuarina Foreshore bike path after the rain
East Point Reserve
