Kata Tjuta Revisited

16th September 2023

Distance: 146 Km

Fuel: 51 Litres

Valley of the Winds (second attempt)

Up early as usual, showered as usual because today I was going to re-attempt the Valley of the Winds walk, or rather make it to the Karu Lookout. A couple of days ago I turned back before achieving this because I was too tired from the Walpa Gorge walk (or that was my theory).

Both of these walks are over very rough, rocky terrain so pretty tiring. Anyway to cut a long story short – I made it to the Karu Lookout, I even ventured a few dozen metres further on just to take a few photos but to be honest the track just got rougher and was impassable for me. I was happy to get as far as I did, it was an enjoyable walk.

Afterwards drove to Uluru for one last look as we are leaving tomorrow as it is very unlikely I will ever visit again. Had a look at the walk that the kids did earlier.

Spent a little time at the point where the climb used to commence, the track is still visible but the chain has gone.

Called in at the Shell servo to buy fuel – diesel was $3.03 a litre! Filled up and paid $150 for the privilege.

Made a quick trip to the Post Office to post my postcards before returning to the camp grounds.

The rest of the day followed the pattern of yesterday. A trip to the swimming pool then the short drive to the pub for a few drinks, a meal and a game of Exploding Kittens before bed.

More Yulara

15th September 2023

Distance: 4 Km

A Rest Day

Not much happened today. Mid morning I walked to the “Town Square” to visit the IGA to stock up on food and bread in particular. It was a 15 minute walk from the campground but on my return I was reminded that I was supposed to get postcards so I drove back!

Visited the camp swimming pool in the afternoon which was very refreshing in the heat.

Later that afternoon we all went to the outback pub for a couple of drinks and a game of Exploding Kittens which was a lot of fun.

At 7pm Andrew, Katie, Dale and I boarded a bus for the Field of Lights an art installation in a large paddock nearby. It was colourful, not very bright and expensive – to be honest it was an underwhelming experience.

First Full Day at Yulara

14th September 2023

Distance: 179 Km

Did all the washing this morning. Got out the long line to hang it on and it was only while hanging washing on this line that I realised that the adjacent boundary fence was sturdier and longer – Doh! Even worse the home made attachments failed in the wind while we were away and some garments trailed in the red soil. The fence was definitely better. It didn’t matter that much – a quick rinse and they were dry again in about 40 minutes.

Katie, Andrew and Dale were up early to go on a camel ride but we had a more leisurely morning before setting out for The Olgas (Kata Tjuta). On our previous visit we had neglected to bring water so were unable to explore them.

Kata Tjuta – The Olgas

Our first stop was the viewing platform looking at Kata Tjuta over the dunes. It is a good introduction to them, from this platform you can also see Ayers Rock in the distance’

Walpa Gorge

This time our first visit was to Walpa Gorge, the ground was rough and strewn with boulders but I made it nearly the whole way. It was a very enjoyable walk and the breeze kept the flies away.

Drove on to the Valley of the Winds, it was a long trek to the Kara Lookout from the carpark, made more difficult in places where they had constructed a rock pavement. Frankly it was too difficult for me so I turned round and came back. I think I was pretty tired from the Walpa Gorge walk so will try again another day.

Valley of the Winds (First Attempt)

Returned to the main road and to the rock itself (Uluru), we drove round the Rock visiting the Mutitjulu Waterhole and Kantju Gorge. In my opinion now that the climb is no longer allowed the place has lost a focal point (and I say this as someone who never wanted to climb the rock anyway).

Uluru – Ayers Rock

That evening we drove to the sunset viewing area to watch Uluru at sunset, it was an underwhelming experience when I first saw it and I can’t say it had aged any better. Sure it did seem to change colour but not that much.

Sunset

Finally home to bed in the dark and very tired after today’s adventures.

Kulgera to Yulara

13th September 2023

Distance: 326 Km

Fuel: 10 Litres

Arriving at Uluru today!

The kids turned up at about 9am after spending the night camping at the border. We were ready and drove into the fuel stop to meet them. Kulgera is reckoned to be the most central pub in the country – it claims to be the First and Last in the NT.

For some reason the pub has a rotary clothes line full of old shoes and boots.

Steady drove north along the Stuart Highway until the roadhouse at the turn off for the Lasseter Highway to Uluru where we stopped for an ice cream while Dale refuelled before continuing west toward the rock.

Refuelled at the roadhouse about 80 km before the Yulara resort (only 10 litres at $3 a litre) but out here they have you over a barrel, fuel stops are few and far between.

Arrived at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground early afternoon and after a short period queueing finally were allocated our powered sites. Quickly set up next to Katie and Geoff.

The others decided to go to the viewing area to watch Uluru change colour at sunset but we will go another night, we are here for four nights so plenty of time.

Our plans to travel home through Queensland are in jeopardy because of the bushfires around Tennant Creek and along the Barkly Highway and we may have to return home the way we came.

Coober Pedy to Kulgera Roadhouse

12th September 2023

Distance: 423Km

Fuel: 51 Litre

Leaving SA

Up early and showered in order to be at the IGA when it opened to get bread and milk to last for a few days.

We all set off at about 10am with the first stop the Cadney Homestead for fuel and coffee. Fuel economy is very poor because of head winds (as it has been for most of the trip to date).

Stopped again at Marla for fuel and a toilet break. Fuel will only get more expensive as we travel north.

After about 410 km crossed the border into the Northern Territory where we stopped briefly at the sign.

The kids stayed at the border to free camp but we drove on to the Kulgera Roadhouse where there was a campsite with facilities. The cost of diesel there was $2.90 a litre

Around Coober Pedy

11th September 2023

Distance: 61 Km

Fuel: 48 Litres

Opal City

We had booked 2 nights in Coober Pedy so today was the first “rest” day of the trip. The boys had booked us a 10 am tour of Tom’s Opal Mine just outside town so that was our first event.

It was quite a different mine to the one we experienced in White Cliffs last year. The Coober Pedy mines are in sandstone so the tunnels can be larger with less danger of collapse. The guide had 40 years of opal mining experience to draw on and told the tale in a very entertaining way.

Afterwards we visited the Big Winch on a hill in the middle of town followed by a trip to the Catacomb Church.

This was followed by a quick visit to the IGA store in the middle of town to replenish the food supplies before visiting some opal stores.

A drive to visit the Dog Fence (also called the Dingo Fence) was next – this is part of the 5600 km fence that stretches from eastern Queensland to the Nullarbor plain in an attempt to keep pests out of the fertile south eastern Australia.

I first tried to visit the fence some years ago but was forced to abandon it due to a very boggy road. Now most the of the road to the fence is bitumen, so for me the trip was a bit of an anti climax.

That evening we all visited the “Outback Burger and Grill” for a meal before returning to our respective accommodations.

Tomorrow we should be in the Northern Territory.

Woomera to Coober Pedy

10th September 2023

Distance: 380 Km

This is Dry Country

Forgot that SA time is half an hour behind my watch so packed up early and arrived at Pimba before 9am. Katie and Geoff had arrived about 7pm last night so the entire family convoy was together. Andrew had a flat battery again so Geoff separated the older battery from the new one and we jump started his car.

Set off, Katie and Geoff to explore Woomera the rest off us travelling north toward Cooper Pedy with a planned stop again at Glendambo for fuel – Dale’s car only travels about 260 km on a tank of fuel so he needs to top up at every opportunity.

We travelled through various types of desert vegetation and past many salt lakes glistening in the sun.

Made one further stop at Bon Bon Rest Area where we boiled a kettle for coffee, Milo and had a toilet break. I am very pleased with my Coleman Petrol Stove, once you have got the right technique for lighting it it is so much better than a butane stove especially in cold weather. I definitely need to buy a longer nozzle lighter for it, lighting it with an ordinary cigarette lighter is quite terrifying.

Continued on to the destination of Coober Pedy – made a compulsory stop at the town’s road sign near the turn off.

Then it was on to find the caravan park while Dale and Andrew bought fuel and looked around town. They decided to stay at the Big 4 Caravan Park because it has a swimming pool!

Katie and Geoff arrived a little while later an took over a site next to ours, they were small sites but very handy for the facilities.

That evening we all met up for a few drinks in the Opal Inn bar where we spent a pleasant couple of hours before returning to the camp site for dinner.

Burra to Woomera

9th September 2023

Distance: 404 Km

Fuel: 43 Litres

In the Woomera Prohibited Zone

Had a slight problem leaving this morning, Andrew’s car wouldn’t start, the battery was only showing 10 volts, jumper leads solved the problem but hopefully it won’t be an ongoing problem.

Drove steadily to Port Augusta in convoy, Andrew went through a car wash to remove the mud caking his vehicle, a leftover from four wheel driving. Then a quick visit to Coles for supplies followed by a coffee bought from a nearby tourist information bureau before setting off for the rest of the journey to Woomera.

Checked into the Woomera Caravan Park before having a look at the town with its history as a rocket range.

It is still in the centre of the Woomera Prohibited Area where vehicles are not allowed to leave the highway.

Dale and Andrew are staying at a free camp site at Pimba about 6 km away at the turn off to Woomera township from the Stuart Highway. Not a bad facility with showers on a time payment basis and toilets – no power or water. Roadhouse and fuel stop for the town – I filled up for tomorrow’s drive.

It looks like Katie and Geoff will be joining them later this evening after an epic trip from Canberra in only two days.

Wentworth to Burra

8th September 2023

Distance: 373 Km

Fuel: 49 Litres

NSW, Victoria and South Australia in One Day

It was still windy early this morning which made it feel much colder than it was. We had decided to leave a bit earlier than usual so we could meet Andrew at a rest area on the way, we first crossed the Murray River into Victoria.

Andrew sent a Google location of a rest area – to cut along story short Google’s idea of the location and Tom Tom’s differed greatly and it was only after a phone call that we finally met up. We were in contact over the UHF radio much earlier surprisingly while still 15 km apart however reception at this distance is a bit sketchy.

We travelled in convoy until the South Australian quarantine post at Yamba where, as a caravan we were delayed by a search for fruit and veg. Andrew decided to carry on to the kennels where he was dropping off Ollie, his dog, for a fortnight. While we were delayed anyway it seemed a good time to fill up with fuel and have a toilet break. We met up with Andrew again at the turn off to Morgan and Burra immediately after he left his dog at the kennels.

There was not much traffic most of the way. (Dashcam – sorry about the reflections)

Eventually arrived at the Burra Caravan Park at about 1.30pm but South Australia is half an hour behind NSW so it would have been 2pm for us.

We had an unpowered site so Andrew got one for $10 next to ours – to be honest I think the owner thought Andrew was in our car. I drove into the town for fuel and some bread

A few hours later we were joined by Dale who had driven from Narrandera in one stint in his Jimney.

That evening Andrew cooked us Chicken Sausages which was very nice of him.

Hay to Wentworth

7th September 2023

Distance: 349 Km

Fuel: 36 Litres

On the Banks of the Murray River

I don’t know why I chose the caravan park at Wentworth, if anything it is a bit out of our way but I haven’t stayed there before and it cost no more than the others in the region, so there you go.

As usual set off at about 9.30 am. This is not an exciting ride, we are crossing the Hay Plain, it exactly that, plain and featureless, why the road even has bends in it I don’t know, it could have been driven straight across the plain. You can see trucks coming from miles away.

We only made one one stop on the way when it started to rain, I put my new rain protection plan into play (don’t ask).

At Mildura filled up with fuel because the skies looked black ahead, turned out to be a good move because shortly it poured with rain and didn’t stop until we have been at the caravan park for over an hour.

The Fort Courage Caravan Park is owned by the local fishing club and is right on the banks of the Murray River. Unfortunately the La Nina foods has taken a toll of their fishing infrastructure.

But it was still a lovely place to stay

Andrew contacted me during the afternoon to say he was on his way to Mildura too, we have made arrangements to meet at a rest area on the Sturt Highway in Victoria in the morning. He will stay at a free camp place similarly right on the banks of the Murray

After the rain disappeared it gave way to a sunny afternoon, unfortunately it was also still quite windy and therefore quite chilly but the caravan park and the river side is a nice place to wander about.