This morning we drove home from Childers and arrived at Brisbane around midday. We have successfully travelled over 13,000kms in just under 40 days, crossing 4 states and a territory. It has been a fantastic trip and great to spend time with the family on the road.
So much so that we are planning our next trip already... 8-12 months around Australia in a bus.
Watch this space.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Day 38 - Rubyvale to Childers
We left Rubyvale this morning and had to cross a swollen creek running over the road just outside the caravan park. The rain is still constant, preventing any fossicking so we picked up a bag of rocks to fossick through on the way out of Sapphire. We planned to head back to Brisbane but driving after dark in the rain proved too dangerous so we pulled up at Childers for the night and booked into a motel. It is a shame we have had to bypass a few places we planned to stop at and cut the trip short a week but we plan to revisit them soon.
Day 37 - Longreach to Rubyvale
Today as it was still raining, we left Longreach via Barcaldine where we stopped briefly to look at all the historic vehicles lining the main street. We continued on to Rubyvale and checked into a unit at the Gemseeker Caravan Park as the rains weren't easing. After burgers for a late lunch at the cafe and a look around town we headed back to the unit. Unfortunately the weather has stopped us from fossicking for gemstones and as everything is getting soaked with more storms headed in our direction we will head home-wards tomorrow.
The Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Day 36 - Mount Isa to Longreach
This morning we packed up in between rain showers, fare welled Chris and Delores and after a quick drive through McDonald's breakfast we were on the road again. Once in Cloncurry I dropped into Queensland Transport for a road conditions update and was told Julia Creek was closed due to water over the road. This didn't affect our plans however Chris and Delores had just passed us on the way there so we gave them a quick call to let them know about the closure and met up with them a quarter hour later at the turnoff to Julia Creek where it was decided they would follow us to Winton instead. After catching up with them a couple more times on the road we said goodbye again at Winton where they planned to stay for the night and continued on to Longreach where we arrived around 17:00.
The whole day we were driving into ridiculous headwinds and our fuel economy suffered greatly as a result. There hasn't been too much heavy rain but the day has been overcast with a number of showers in the afternoon.
On account of the weather we decided on a cabin which was well appointed with a kitchen including all appliances, plus air con, TV and your own bathroom for only $80 a night.
The whole day we were driving into ridiculous headwinds and our fuel economy suffered greatly as a result. There hasn't been too much heavy rain but the day has been overcast with a number of showers in the afternoon.
On account of the weather we decided on a cabin which was well appointed with a kitchen including all appliances, plus air con, TV and your own bathroom for only $80 a night.
Day 35 - Wycliffe Well to Mount Isa
After a broken nights sleep, we left early in convoy and stopped at the Devils Marbles, just north of Wycliffe Well at Wauchope for breakfast, before heading out through Tennant Creek. Here we fare welled Keith and Robyn who continued up to Katherine whilst we turned right at Threeways for our drive past Barkly homestead and back into Queensland. We arrived late afternoon in Mount Isa and checked into the caravan park, setting up the camper in the rain for the first time on this trip. On unpacking we discovered that on an earlier toilet stop where I had opened the back of the trailer we had lost a bag of tent pegs, hammer and the handle to wind down the stabiliser legs for the trailer. Not to worry, all easily replaced.
After a hot shower I headed down to the well appointed camp kitchen to cook up some pasta which we ate back at Chris and Delores caravan. According to the news there is more wet weather on the way with a second cyclone forming up North so tomorrow we will put some more distance between it and ourselves and hopefully escape the wet.
After a hot shower I headed down to the well appointed camp kitchen to cook up some pasta which we ate back at Chris and Delores caravan. According to the news there is more wet weather on the way with a second cyclone forming up North so tomorrow we will put some more distance between it and ourselves and hopefully escape the wet.
Day 34 - Alice Springs to Wycliffe Well
Today we drove North from Alice Springs to Wycliffe Well, Australia's UFO capital. The UFO themed caravan park there is definitely quirky and is one of the strangest parks you could hope to visit. The park is quite run down but at some stage someone has spent big dollars trying to develop it into some kind of alien theme park. There are several disused building including a large restaurant and conference centre, aviary, a massive dam on the property and a train that runs on a track around the lot including two large bridges over the dam. The whole lot would have cost in the millions to construct and has sat disused for what would be my best guess at least 15 years.
We arrived late afternoon and met up once again with Chris, Delores, Keith and Robyn. There were only 2 other campers staying at the park and most of the facilities are extremely run down or flat out broken.
Out front of the roadhouse a constant stream of intoxicated aboriginals were driving up, always different people in the same 3 or 4 cars, one driving without a front tire - just on the rim, constantly fighting and yelling at each other.
This continued until after midnight, long after the roadhouse had shut, the front gate had been locked and the lights turned off. Not the most peaceful campground but an interesting look at the issues that exist with some of the indigenous people in the outback, the politics of which I won't discuss on this blog, and for which there are no easy answers.
We arrived late afternoon and met up once again with Chris, Delores, Keith and Robyn. There were only 2 other campers staying at the park and most of the facilities are extremely run down or flat out broken.
Out front of the roadhouse a constant stream of intoxicated aboriginals were driving up, always different people in the same 3 or 4 cars, one driving without a front tire - just on the rim, constantly fighting and yelling at each other.
This continued until after midnight, long after the roadhouse had shut, the front gate had been locked and the lights turned off. Not the most peaceful campground but an interesting look at the issues that exist with some of the indigenous people in the outback, the politics of which I won't discuss on this blog, and for which there are no easy answers.
Day 33 - Alice Springs
This morning we went for a drive through Alice Springs to check out the shopping centre and lodge an absentee vote for Kel. We then drove out to look at the Old Telegraph station which houses some interesting buildings and artifacts and is surrounded by a number of bush walks.
On the way back to the caravan park we picked up lunch and then spent the afternoon by the pool until it was time to catch up with Kaarina for dinner. She took us to a fantastic Italian restaurant just out of the city and afterwards we drove up Anzac Hill where we could see all Alice Springs lit up at night from the memorial. It was great to catch up with Kaarina and see where she is living while she is in the Territory.
On the way back to the caravan park we picked up lunch and then spent the afternoon by the pool until it was time to catch up with Kaarina for dinner. She took us to a fantastic Italian restaurant just out of the city and afterwards we drove up Anzac Hill where we could see all Alice Springs lit up at night from the memorial. It was great to catch up with Kaarina and see where she is living while she is in the Territory.
Day 32 - Kings Canyon to Alice Springs
After our buffet breakfast, we left Kings Canyon via Urldunda and into Alice Springs, driving through 37 degree heat. The Alice Springs Big 4 caravan park is fantastic and it was great being back on well maintained grass sites. We met up with Chris and Delores again as well as Keith and Robyn whom we also met at Yulara and decided to have a BBQ for dinner. Our friend Kaarina who is working in Alice Springs also joined us for a BBQ and a few beers. A great evening and great to be catch up with old and new friends alike.
Day 31 - Kings Canyon
After a decent nights sleep in the air conditioned spa suite, we headed down to Carmichael's restaurant at the resort for a buffet breakfast. We were fairly much the only people there, it really is the quiet season at the moment and a great time to travel.
After breakfast and a rest back at the room, we visited Chris and Delores, who we have been meeting up with since Uluru and invited them round to the unit for some drinks and lunch. After spending some time with them and going for a swim, Kel and I enjoyed another spa before making some salad sandwiches for dinner and watching some TV, all in wonderful air con.
After breakfast and a rest back at the room, we visited Chris and Delores, who we have been meeting up with since Uluru and invited them round to the unit for some drinks and lunch. After spending some time with them and going for a swim, Kel and I enjoyed another spa before making some salad sandwiches for dinner and watching some TV, all in wonderful air con.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Day 30 - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
This morning I headed out to Kings Canyon for the 6.5km scenic rim walk around the top of the canyon. The first section is extremely steep but the views at the top are well worth it. The loop takes you along the ridge across the canyon and back down the other side.
Back at camp, I packed up the trailer and went to the pool until 3pm when we checked into the Spa suite at the Kings Canyon resort. The views from the spa are pretty amazing too. Not a bad luxury in the middle of the desert.
Back at camp, I packed up the trailer and went to the pool until 3pm when we checked into the Spa suite at the Kings Canyon resort. The views from the spa are pretty amazing too. Not a bad luxury in the middle of the desert.
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| View from our spa. |
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