Andrew and I set off early about 6.15 to do the rim walk of the canyon. It was a 6 k walk with a very seep start and a estimated time of 3 to 4 hours. I have to say it was one of the best walks of my life and I’m so thankful that we came here on this trip, it was simply amazing. In the afternoon Susan and Sue joined us to do the Kings Creek walk which was on much more level ground thru the Canyon. The following are some of the many photos I took.
Looking back down the stairway to the start of the rim walk.Early in the walk looking back down the valley.The Garden of Eden at the bottom of the Canyon.Above the Garden of Eden looking down the Canyon.Kings CreekSusan on the Kings Creek walk.Looking up from Kings Creek into the Canyon.Susan, Sue and Andrew at the base of the Rim walk. The photo does not show it but it was extremely step climb at the start.
Middle Ranges of Watarrka NP, from the Kings Canyon Campground
Today we travelled from Uluru thru to Watarrka National Park. (Kings Canyon). Unfortunately the the park stated we would have signal but that was not the case, so no contact with the outside world for a few days. Tomorrow we’re off to do some of the walks and we’re looking forward to them.
Today we travelled the 48 k’s out to Kata-Tjuta. It’s hard to believe that within 50 k’s you have Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, or for us oldies, Ayers Rock and The Olgas. When I came here in 1975, its was a dirt road all the way and basically we could climb or go anyway over Kata-Tjuta, picking up rocks and rolling boulders over, basically doing what we wanted (never left rubbish or kept/stole rocks etc), just did what 16 year old boys did at that time. Completely different story now of course. We did a couple of walks, more difficult than the walk around Uluru yesterday as it was very rocky today against a flat and smooth path at the rock.
Kata-Tjuta from the western side.Valley of the WindsThe walk out from viewing the Valley of the WindsThe walk into Karpa Gorge.Looking back out from Karpa GorgeA view of Uluru from the viewing platform at Kata-Tjuta, about 35 k’s from Uluru.
We’ll today was all about the Rock, we all went out to the cultural centre and then Andrew and I did the base walk around Uluru, whilst the girls went back to our campsite after their own exploration of Uluru. Andrew and I did the walk, 11.5 k’s in pretty comfortable conditions, a beautiful sunny day and around 16 degrees. There are so many facets to the Rock and unfortunately you can’t (or requested not to) take photos of certain areas as they are deemed sacred sites by the local indigenous communities. So the following photos are what I could take. It was a great walk and another task to tick off the “Bucket List”. Hope you enjoy the photos.
A water hole at the base of the rock.Amazing contours of the Rock.Andrew and I at Uluṟu’s mini version of “Wave Rock”The lung of Uluru.The Kangaroo tail!The senior men’s cave.The amazing tell tale signs of water cascading down the sides of the rock over thousands of years.This was just a fantastic shot near a waterhole that displayed the brilliant colours of the rock and the vegetation.Another ceremonial cave.A really strong view of the water stain on the rock. The amount of water that comes of the rock during rain periods must be huge and also great to see.Finally back to the start of our walk. When I did the climb back in 1975, this was known as Chicken Rock, because many people “chickened out” of doing the climb at this spot. As a 16 year old it looked fine but I can tell you now, if we were allowed to climb the rock, I would have second thoughts, as its bloody step. You can still see the trail of climbers on the top half of the photo. Also it had a small pole and chain fence to help you climb up but still it was difficult but as a youngster it was a challenge and the thoughts of falling or injury never entered your mind. The innocence of the young!
Today we left Kulgera and travelled to Yulara, via Erldunda and Curtin Springs. Fortunately we had the wind behind us on this trip so our fuel economy was very good, it has to be when you are looking at diesel in Curtin Springs at $3.40 per litre. Also a quick stop to view Mt Connor, which is often mistaken for Uluru. It’s 47 years sincere I first visited “Ayer’s Rock” and it has changed dramatically, as back in 1975 there was a campground and that was it. It’s a full on resort complex now!
Our vehicles and vans in front of Mt Connor.Opposite the Mt Connor lookout was a walk up to another lookout and behold, a big salt lake!Curtin Springs. We stopped and had lunch here but no fill up when its $3.40 per litre.Andrew and I sitting on top of the Cruiser in preparation for the sunset viewing of the “Rock”!
After setting up the van at the campground it was off the see the sunset, with what seemed like everyone staying at Yulara. Andrew and I found the perfect pozzie for the viewing. Whilst we have enjoyed beautiful sunny days, once the sun goes down its bloody cold, hence the jackets we wore. We can’t climb the rock anymore but we’re planning to walk the 10.5 K’s around the rock tomorrow and then off to the Kata-Tjuta (Olgas) on Sunday, then off to Kings Canyon on Monday.
After leaving Coober Pedy, we travelled to Marla to top up our fuel before heading north to the border. Unfortunately Marla had no fuel so we were forced to Kulgera which is about 20 K’s north of the SA/NT border,
Kulgera Roadhouse.
Kulgera had fuel and a stop for us, although the fuel at $3.05 per litre was not welcomed. Unfortunately in the middle of Australia we don’t have much choice, so $3.05 it was.
The sunset from our site was very good but not worth the extra fuel cost!It was a full moon tonight. The park was very full as it was school holidays in SA. We even had people underneath our slide out tonight. Off to “Ayer’s Rock” tomorrow!
We’ve spent the last 2 days here in Coober Pedy after our overnight stay in Woomera. Coober Pedy is named after the local indigenous naming “Kupa Piti” meaning Whiteman’s Burrows. We’ve spent time underground (me constantly hitting my head) in a Church, Mine and a home. We’ve free camped just outside of town and its been safe and secure (so far, we leave tomorrow morning). We travelled out to the Breakaways about 30 k’s out of CP and it was spectacular, one of the great natural wonders of Australia in my opinion. All in all we’ve had a great time in Cooper Pedy.
Our free camp on the “commons” just outside CP.St Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church, the oldest underground church in CP, (had to have a solid roof for me to go into a church).An underground mine that was first started back in 1918, after the boys returned from WWI. (I had a hard hat thankfully, as I walked around looking at my feet as I hit my head).
A kitchen from a underground home that was occupied from the early 1960’s to the 1990’s.
Stuart’s Desert Pea!A panorama of the “Breakaways” so named as the hills had broken away from the Stuart Ranges in the area.A section of the spectacular “Breakaways” truly a great natural wonder of Australia. A small section of the Breakaways. The Cruiser looks like a moon buggy in this landscape.A section of the Dog Fence (or Dingo Fence) that stretches 5,300 K’s from the south to north of Australia. It’s there to protect the eastern and southern states from Dingo attacks on sheep and cattle.
Started the day early, up at 0700 to -3, with the Cruiser and Van covered in ice. It was close to -6 overnight but the sun was shining so we were confident of having a good day although very cold early. Unfortunately the satellite dish refused to come down, I tried during a little to help it budge but it wouldn’t cooperate. Therefore it was up a ladder to the frozen roof and after a bit of gentle force, I got it done. Now we’ve off to Woomera.
Port Augusta’s Bay.
First stop was Port Augusta for brunch as none of us had breakkie before we left, by then the sun was well and truly up and out of the breeze quite warm. We had about 170 K’s to go to Woomera and we needed to get here early enough to visit the museum before it closed. Basically a straight road all the way with mostly barren scrub land, although there were a few attractive hills and dry lakes on the drive.
Typical roadside scenery during the trip.
We managed to spend some time in the Woomera heritage centre as the museum was closed for renovations. Woomera is not quite the town it was, although there is still testing done on the range, its not the same “rocket range” it was back in the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. FRom Woomer we travelled the short distance back to Spud’s Roadhouse at Pima, for our free camp (with everyone else) overnight.
The venerable Canberra Bomber, I did a lot of my RAAF Technical training on the Canberra.IKARA Anti Submarine missile was tested at Woomera.Black Knight rocket from the 50’s & 60’s fired from the range at Woomera.Our camp spot for the night here at Spud’s Roadhouse. All lined up for the quick exit in the morning!
Today we left Broken Hill and travelled across the border into South Australia for our overnight stay here in Peterborough. Originally named Petersburg but changed to Peterborough many years ago, funny the road to the town from the highway is called Petersburg Rd. We have only one night here as we leave in the morning to go Woomera.
The intrepid travellers outside the Olary Hotel in Olary. Olary is 115 k’s from Broken Hill in the middle of nowhere, the town population is 5 but 2 are recluses who haven’t been seen since last October. You can’t even get a decent card game going with those numbers!
Although we were 180 K’s inside the NSW/SA border we had to go thru a quarantine station. They were checking for illegal fruit and veggies, despite us googling on line for what was acceptable to bring across, we had to give up our cucumbers and snow peas (no real loss in my opinion). Funny the same foodstuff can cross borders in trucks but put it in a car/van and no! you can’t bring it in. At least the inspectors family will eat fresh tonight!
The Nullarbor is longer but we had 200 K’s of this type of scenery today. Not as much road kill about but there is still plenty of feed in the paddocks so no real need to come to the roadside to eat. Although 2 wild goats didn’t make it across the road, whoever hit them are not curry eaters!
Andrew, Sue & Susan outside the iconic Silverton Hotel.
We travelled out to Silverton from our base in Broken Hill for a look around what is called the Original Outback. Although its only 22 k’s from BH, you traverse 39 dips in the road, not good for those who get car sick when travelling. Silverton has been the base for many big movies and TV productions over the years, probably Mad Max 2 is the most notable. Razorback and A Town Like Alice were also filmed in Silverton. Dozens of other TV productions and commercials have utilised the hotel and the surrounding area as well.
Susan found some new friends in Silverton. The Donkeys have the freedom of the town.
We had a very pleasant lunch and drink in the hotel, well you have to go the the pub, don’t you? The whole area around Broken Hill is very art driven with Bush painters like Pro Hart, Jack Absalom. John Dyon had his gallery in Silverton with Justin Cowz and Howard William Steer, they all have their own unique way of showcasing the Australian Outback and country life.
Mad Max 2 museum!One of the Mad Max 2 cars outside the pub!A bit of local Outback Art!Mindioomballa Creek, pretty dry at present but not long along there was a 2 metre raging torrent of water thru here.
We did the lap around all the old buildings in town and there are 20+ people that live in the town at present. It was very cold but you could also tell in summer it would be oppressive, our ancestors and all the explorers certainly had it tough in summer when they journeyed inland. I’m glad we visited Silverton, its always been one of the outback towns I wanted to visit.
Be Brave on Tour 