30/9/25 Uluru & Kata Juta ( Ayers Rock & The Olgas )

 

      Okay , here it is Ayers Rock or Uluru as it's' known now . This is looking from the sunrise viewing area .

    One of our days here I rode my bike around the base and took some different shots of the rock , capturing some of the contours . There was lots of grass ( now very dead ) around this visit , so not as many wildflowers as last time . Everything did look like it wanted to be there though , trees healthy & green .

     The benches in the shelters are a work of art , creating great seats that were reasonably comfortable as well .

     This is from the every popular sunset viewing side of the rock .

 Here's a few shots of the colour change at sunset .

The carpark at the viewing area is about 700m long and it was pretty full this time .

    Next day we headed out to The Olga's ( Kata Juta as it's known now) . This is the view fro the sand dune lookout . It's about 48klm drive from Yulara to get out here , and you require a park pass to get access to it & the rock - a 3 day pass is $38 each for a 3 day pass .

This is on the way up to the Valley of the winds walk .

This is Walpa Gorge , we didn't walk this one as it was to hot , and after a 7.4klm walk around the valley of the winds we decided not to bother with it , we'd done this one last time we were here .

    This Perentie was enjoying the shade and didn't budge as I walked past .

The morning we were leaving Yulara , we went for a helicopter ride to the rock & back , Thanks to the red balloon voucher we got for a christmas present a few years ago - Thanks kids .

     Doesn't look like it's 383m tall does it .

 

    After the flight we headed out toward the Stuart Hwy again , stopping at another free camp along the way . More to come . Cheers

26/9/25 To Yulara

 

    Leaving Alice Springs , we head south ( not a lot of choice really , it's either north or south ) . Stopping at Stuarts Well Roadhouse to top up with fuel , before continuing on . We were informed that there was an accident near the turnoff at Erldunda and the highway was closed while investigations were being carried out - it was a fatality unfortunately. We carried on , there were 2 rest areas we could stop at . We chose the first one and pulled in , finding a spot to set up for the rest of the day & night . There were a couple of cars, and one guy sitting under the shelter - I went over to see if he knew anything about the crash , but he'd broken down last night , someone towed him into the rest area and said they'd get a tow truck to come and get him in the morning . There was no phone service here , so he was stranded . We offered the use of Starlink to make a call for roadside assistance , and within 1.5 hrs he was picked up by a tilt tray truck and on his way to Alice Springs . He was a 32year old German tourist , and was most grateful for us assisting him - he'd been there for about 14 hours before we got there .

   The road reopened later in the afternoon and there was a flurry of trucks & cars etc , all in a rush to make up lost ground . It quietened down after dark , but we were only about 30m from the highway and beside a bridge , so road noise was bit louder as a result . 

   We slept okay and got ourselves sorted , heading down to Erldunda , turning there to get to another free camp spot . It was about 120klm in , and in red sand country . There were some wildflowers out , so I battled the flies and the sun to check things out . Here's some of them .

Next morning a guy pulled into the rest area , it looked a bit strange , he had a motorbike with him , but not on a trailer , it was partly inside the back of his car , with the rear door fully open - would have been great for exhaust fumes in the car !!!

    AFter that we packed and headed up the road a bit until we got to a lookout - a red sand dune overlooking a salt lake .

    And on the other side was Mt Conner , comically known as "Fooleroo " , as it's the first mountain you see on the way to see Uluru

     A first for us was seeing our first feral camel wandering along the side of the road , we were still 60 or 70 kms from Yulara , so it wasn't an escapee from the camel farm . It's taken 10 and a half years to finally spot one in the wild .

 With that we kept trucking into Yulara and paid for a very expensive camp site in the caravan park , it's been 9 years since we were here , so I guess we forgot about the extortionate prices for everything . yes I know we're in the middle of Australia , but prices were way higher than anywhere else , they're taking advantage of the captive audience they have . 

  That's it for today , more epic stuff coming .

20/9/25 Around Alice

    

     Here we are in Alice Springs for 8 days , time to shop for some food - with the hordes of other people who have come to town on pension day . All these people , and some with dubious health , brought some bug with them , and I came down with it . So it was cold & flu tablets for several days with a rotten head cold - that Lyn came down with later in the week . 

   Recovered enough to go to one of our favourite places - Alice Springs Desert Park . There are different areas showing the areas of the desert . There are also huge bird ovaries that you can walk into with the birds , some you can watch the birds & animals through screens . This little Numbat was pretty active while we were there , pulling this log apart looking for a meal .

     This Perentie was flat out doing absolutely nothing - must have just finished his breakfast .

     This red tailed black cockatoo was busy sorting out his feathers .

     This one took a shine to Lyn's hair , must have looked good for the nest ????

     This is a Princess Parrot , nice colours and obviously needed some extra shut eye .

    This decorated lizard was one of the locals - no cages required , it lives here .

     Some flowers were out , this is the desert section , hence the orange sand .

     We wandered around to the birds of prey show , and were going to sit down and wait for the gates to open , when we came across the star of the show - or one of the stars , with one of the handlers . They sit together to get used to each other and bond together . His previous handler is leaving , so this young guy is taking over and developing a bond with the Wedgetailed Eagle . The young guy is currently the commentator / presenter for the show . We sat down in another shelter as we were requested to do , so as not to worry the bird .

    The birds of prey show was run and done in no time - about 20mins - and it hasn't changed since we were here last , still a great show .

    Another day we headed out for a drive into the West Macdonnell Ranges , firstly to Honeymoon Gap , where a creek has cut it's way through the range .

     Then it was across to Simpsons Gap for a walk down to the main pool where it has also cut its way through the range .

    We had a drive out to the East MacDonnell Ranges another day , checking out Emily Gap , Jesse Gap and Corroboree Rock . The caravan park we stayed at was very popular with families and bus groups , making for a busy time - it was school holidays - bad timing on our part !! 

   Onward to our next stop - Uluru .

5/9/25 Into the Territory

   

 

    Leaving Kununurra , we head east into Northern Territory - yes we have left WA , surprising I know !!

We had a couple of nights at free camps on our way to Katherine , the roads through & around Timber Creek were a bit on the horrible side , the results of extra traffic and flooding . Getting into Katherine , we stopped near the river for some lunch , before shopping and fueling up . Instead of stopping in Katherine we headed north , stopping just near the entrance to Edith Falls for the night . We set up and drove the 19klms down to the falls to go for a cooling swim - temperatures were in the mid thirties , and the water was very refreshing .

     It was so nice that we decided to stay for another 3 nights , so booked into the campground so we'd be a walk away from this little piece of paradise . The days were spent cooling down with a swim , followed by lunch , then another swim . On the morning we were due out , we packed up and parked in the carpark and went for another swim before lunch , had lunch and another swim before we left . Reluctantly we left Edith Falls and headed back toward Katherine , stopping at an old quarry for the night .

  We headed to Katherins again for some food & fuel , before continuing south to Mataranka . We stopped at Territory Manor CP - they have a swimming pool - even though there is Bitter Springs just down the road . There's a common theme happening at the moment , we heat up , we cool down - the weather is certainly flexing its muscles - the heat continues in the mid thirties again this week . We did venture out occasionally , next photo shows the thermal pool at Mataranka Homestead - Elsey NP. The water comes out of the ground about 30m away from the pool . It's a really nice area with palm trees all around , walkways to take you down to the pool , formed walls and ledges to sit on in the pool . It runs at around 34 degrees , so not a refreshing dip 

   

      Bittter Springs is the one we prefer , as it's just the natural spring fed creek that flows , and you just float down with the current . The water is the same temperature as Mataranka , there are steps to enter and exit the pool and at the end of the float down . We went early one day and there were very few people there , making for a very pleasant float down the springs . It was really nice just floating along looking up at the palms towering overhead , and pandanus bordering the spring - it was also nice not to have lots of noisy people haha .

     After 6 days at Mataranka , it was time to continue south ( the weather was also better for heading that way ) . We found a free camp beside on old windmill and some stockyards , and we had it to ourselves , apart from a few cattle . After setting up , having lunch and doing some reading , we heard a helicopter flying in - next minute it was landing 40m away from us . Then there were more cattle , some motorbikes and a couple of utes - they were mustering the cattle into the yards . Hmmm , I knew what that meant , cows & calves mooing and generally making noise for hours to come , probably all night as well - time to pack again and find another spot for the night .

     About 50 kms down the road was another restaurant area beside an old windmill and broken bore tank , the downside , it was between the highway and the railway . There was one train that came through and gave us a good blast on the horns - fortunately it wasn't late , the highway was also quiet .

     Another day , another drive down the highway . Through to Tennant Creek for some fuel and water , then on to our next nights stop . It's another gravel pit / waterhole in the wet season , but we had it to ourselves again . There was a nice tree beside us for some shade , as the temps are still in the mid thirties. 

     Wildflowers are starting to emerge , we see a lot of Cockroach Bush around the place , and it looks stunning when you see acres of orange/red . The colour comes from the seed pods , not flowers .

     And these are the flowers - boy do they set a lot of seed pods !!

     Next day we drove about 30klms to Devils Marbles , stopping for a wander around some of the marbles . As you can see , the marbles are rather large chunks of granite , some of which are splitting and all are gradually weathering away .

     Back on the road again and we drive toward these flat topped hills not long before we arrive at Barrow Creek .

   The Old Telegraph Station is one of only four left still standing , it has had some refurbishing though .

    The walls are about 450mm thick , made of stone and cement , the floors are also stone and cement . There's a coach house and a blacksmiths shed up the back . We chatted to the ranger who was there to do a little cleaning and general repairs , he covers a huge area . 

   Continuing down the highway , we check a couple of rest areas out , lunch at one and a quick stop at another , and we decided to continue on to Aileron and stay at the caravan park for the night . Tomorrow we head into Alice Springs , with all the bad publicity it's had in recent times , we're a little bit concerned , but not bothered too much . We'll find out soon enough .

12/9/25 Back driving around

 

    Here we are again , driving up to Broome for a look around . We managed to get a spot for 3 days , extend for another 3 , then another 2 , before it was time to get moving again . There's been some changes in Broome , a brand new jetty beside the old one , it is nearly finished . The old jetty is in front in this photo .

    It wouldn't be a visit to Broome without a sunset at the southern end of Cable Beach .

      The red pindan cliffs around the bay always get our attention as well , such a contrast in colours .

     Looking toward Cable Beach from Gantheaume Point at low tide .

    Paspaley Pearls Showroom , love the moulded glass in the doors and above , would have cost a fortune.

     We happened to be in Broome for the start of the Shinju Matsuri Pearling Festival . There was a street parade with floats and a dragon .

     There were floats from the local schools , fire brigade and rescue squads and others . They were armed with water pistols and sprayed everyone - I shielded the camera and copped a blast in the back .

      With the festival kicking off , we decided it was time to head off and get ready for our departure in the morning . We spent most of our time swimming and catching up with several people we have met here and other campsites . 

     Next morning we packed up and put our swimmers on , time for a dip before we leave to cool down , and we don't know when we'll be getting another pool for a dip . 

     The highway heading up to Derby was busy with lots of caravans heading to Broome . We stopped along the way at a rest area and had some lunch , before deciding to continue on to another rest area east of Derby toward Fitzroy Crossing . Its claim to fame is a large Boab tree . We didn't get this one to ourselves unfortunately , sharing it with 5 other vans and a rooftop tenter .

     Another warm night , and we got organised and headed off to Fitzroy Crossing for some fuel . We didn't worry about checking out town , and kept going to another favourite spot Ngumpan Cliff Rest Area. Trouble is the word has got out , we had to share it with about 50 other vans etc - may as well been in a caravan park ! 

     The area on the western side of the rest area has been burnt in the last 6 months , and wildflowers were starting to come out , as well as spinifex . This shows how high above the valley we were .

     Here are some of them , fortunately for us we had the last spot beside the fence , and nobody came and setup on the other side , so we were lucky enough to have space around us .

     Next day we headed toward Halls Creek , finding a campsite along the Tanami Track about 6klms from the highway . We thought we were going to have it to ourselves , but another van turned up , there was plenty of room though . 

    Sunset was good again , and we had a peaceful night .

    Next day we got sorted and headed into Halls Creek to get some fuel . With all the dramas that have been reported lately , we were a little apprehensive , but it was early in the day and we had no problems at all . Up the road another 110 kms or so , we pulled up at another rest area at Dunham River for the night .

   Heading toward Kununurra we found there had been bushfires in lots of places - not just your average burn offs - these went to the top of the mountain ridges and beyond . There was a large section of roadworks as well - well overdue !! 

   We drove into town and parked at the visitor info , going across to a nice green park with lots os large trees . There were some large crimson flowers on the ground below one - they were the size of my hand . They were from the Sausage Tree - the fruit of the tree appear like sausages - I wouldn't want to be hit by one falling from the tree , as they are quite weighty .

    One of our days out was to the Butterfly Cave . We'd visited it before , but thought we'd have another look , and we also wanted to check out the Old River Irrigation Area . There were thousands of butterflies again , most were just resting , hanging from the rock ceiling .

     This is the cave , fresh water is flowing out of the cave in a small stream , creating a cool oasis in amongst the heat of the adjacent scrub .

     Another day we headed out to Ivanhoe Crossing , here it is in the background - behind the 2 photo bombers . 

     This is the view from the western side of the crossing - I spotted a barramundi here that was about 1m long !!

    Out in the irrigation area , the newest crop is cotton . Seems the sandalwood plantations are slowly being removed and cotton is taking over .Most of the are in this photo has or had cotton growing . If you can enlarge the photo , you can see all the round cotton modules ( round bales ) in lines - there are hundreds waiting to be transported to the cotton gin .

     This is the very new cotton gin that processes the cotton modules into bales . It wasn't here 3 years ago when we were here , the modules were being trucked to Queensland for processing , so that will save with a lot of transport costs .

    We've spent the rest of our time keeping cool in the pool and getting the van back into shape . Time to head off again tomorrow . Here's a map link:- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=194QfKbxsb1feVNkH6tk9BAwwuD_zomg&usp=sharing