Day 9 - Last day at Alice

Today is our last full day in Alice and we did some more site seeing. This stuff was all around town though so we didn't have to drive very far. When I woke up the park was making free pancakes for everyone who wanted in the camp kitchen right next to our tent. The line was massive so I didn't get any but Dad made bacon and eggs instead which was Yummy! We then started getting ready and waiting for Dad to finish what he was doing to the car and the trailer and for Mums washing to finish.

Finally we could after about an hour of waiting, but our first stop was the reptile house! I got to go! Haha so when we walked in they were just starting a talk so we quickly joined in and watched. When it got to the end the girl handed someone Twix the blue tongue lizzard and Hailey the bearded dragon. Next she asked who wanted to hold Suzie Q the olive python. A man got in there before me but after a few minutes I said that I would like a go and the handed Suzie Q over to me. She was quite heavy but once she had curled around me she rested her head on my arm and didn't move for like 5 minutes. It's like she fell asleep on me or something because everyone else who held her she was curling around and moving a lot so maybe I'm a snake whisperer... Haha I sat back down and got to hold Twix and Hailey as well. After that we went to look at the frogs, turtles, the fresh water crocodile and a couple other snakes. But when we were about halway a guy came and said that if we want to watch his talk on the salt water croc come now. So we went and watched him and it was really good! Quite funny too but he kept saying 'Don't go near water in the top of N.T'. He had a moon boot on and he got it from the salty biting his ancle. That would have hurt. So finished looking around and left. 

We went to look at the Royal Flying Doctors Service but it wasn't open yet so went to Todd Mall to look for a sticker for Dad and then we went to ANZAC hill. It was a good view from up there and they had a plaque for all the wars Australia has fought in and Afghanistan had 2001-... Because it's still going. After that we got KFC for lunch. It was Amazing!!!! Considering I haven't had KFC in a while and won't have any of that type of food for 3 weeks it tasted good. So by the time we finished the Royal Flying Doctors Service had opened so we went there.

At the R.F.D.S when we walked through the door the guy at the counter said I'm just about to start the tour take a seat in the theatre and pay me later. So we went into the theatre and watched a movie on the history and what the R.F.D.S is all about. After the movie he showed us a big $20 note and asked what is was. Well it looked like a $20 note to me and it was correct but what he actually wanted was for someone to point out that on the $20 note it's the R.S.D.F founder and the board they look at for patients to tell where they are bleeding or hurting from. So next time I have a $20 I'm gonna look at it. After that we went out into the gift shop and Mum and I looked around while Dad paid. Mum brought me a cup that looks like a can but you can add your own drink to it and it was a straw on top so it can't spill. Now I have a while R.S.D.F can and a pink fluffy stubbie holder. When Dad came back we walked into the museum and it was all about how they did it when it first started in the olden days. It was really cool seeing all the old radios and the first aid kits from then and now. It's changed so much since then. In the gift shop there was a model of the planes and it had everything the planes do now in it. You could pay $2 to go in and have a look and Mum asked if i wanted but I had already been in one because it went to my primary school last year. Well the Melbourne one not the Alice Springs one but still it was the same model. 

After the Royal Flying Doctors Service we drove to School of The Air. We walked through the door and again the man had just started a tour/talk thing. We sat down and listened to the end of it and it was quite interesting. After that we went back out to the front and looked at the classroom which was a green screen and a desk with 2 computers and chairs in front of it. There was a video we could watch about how they teach from that small room and the teacher was sitting at the desk and she just skyped all the kids. It was really cool. We looked around a bit more and then left and headed back to camp.

When we got back I wrote on the postcards we are sending and then Tayla and I went for a walk up to the office to put them in the mail box. When we got back I sat down and wrote yesterday's events in my journal and then we walked up to john's for drinks Tayla, Kiara and I didn't stay long because we went to the jumping pillow. That was fun until one of the schools came and all the girls sat there watching while the boys did flips and stuff. So we left and when we were about to turn down the road to John's Mum and Dad turned up so we walked back and started dinner. We had homemade pizza for dinner and it was delicious! Just.. Ugh amazing! Really good. We sat around for a bit after that and then we hopped into bed and Mum and I read for a while. 

Tomorrow we are heading off to Chambers Pillar. We're going to join in on the group on the way up there because the My Swag trip officially starts.

Today's blog was done by Chloe

 

Day 8 - Alice Springs

Today we went site seeing. We drove over to the West Mcdonall Ranges to look at some of the gorges that are in the My Swag booklet Dad got before the trip. So we all woke up and Mum made lunches for us while Dad and I got ready for the day. Soon enough we left but first we had to find an information centre and that took us a while because the GPS took us to a tour info not an actual information centre. So we finally found it and then went and brought Dad a belt.

After we had finished our shopping we drove to Simpsons Gap. We took a walk down a rocky path with rocks and pebbles everywhere and finally came out at a really big gap in the rock walls. I guess that's where the gap came from.. Anyway we saw it when the sun was on the walls and it looked really pretty. It was above a dried up river so we walked back down to the car on the river bed. 

Our next stop was Standly Chasm. This one we had to pay to get into because it is privetly owned but in my opinion it was worth it. The path there was rocky and narrow but when we finally got there it loooked dark and gloomy. There was an all girls private school there too so it was really loud but we were waiting for 12:00pm so we could see the sun when it was right above the chasm. The school left just before 12 and it suddenly went like dead silent. So it came 12:00 and the sun wasn't above the chasm. Turns out we had to wait and watch it cross the chasm. We watched it until it was about half way and then we took a couple good photos and left. I admit that it was getting quite boring watching the sun. After we had made our way back we sat on a nice grassy area in the sun and ate lunch. Dad and I had cheese and bacon rolls (YUM!!) and Mum had a sandwich. So we ate up and then drove to our next stop.

After lunch we drove a few km up the road to Ellery Creek. It was a 5 minute walk and when we got down there it was beautiful! There was a massive lake which you could swim in but when we felt the water it was freezing! I don't know why anyone would want to swim in that, even if it is 40 degrees.  So we sat down next to the lake and it was nice and peaceful. We got up to leave and Dad went to push me in! So all the way up the path we were trying to push each other into the bushes. Sadly every time I pushed him he would hardly move. :(

We visited one last place after that and that was Serpentine Gorge. The walk was 1.1km and yet again rocky and pebbly. I almost fell over a few times, oops! Haha anyway so when we finally got there it was amazing. It was cold and a bit dark but the water and the cliffs looked GORGEous! (Get what I did there?? Haha) After a bit we went back and we were thinking of going up to the lookout but it was really steep and another 15 minutes or something. So we made our way back to camp.

Later on we went and sat with Linda, Kristin and Taylor at there tent to watch a guy play the digeredoo. He was really good too. When he was almost finished Taylor, Indi, Darcy, Kiara and I went to the jumping pillow. We had a lot of fun but then we remembered the My Swag meet and greet and went back. When we got there the Dads hadn't cooked dinner yet so us kids went on the playground and played playground tiggy. Soon enough though dinner was ready which I was happy for and in the end I ate 3 sausages and 3 kababs. Shouldn't have done that! I felt sick and tired after that so when everyone started leaving I said bye to the others and went to bed. I got in bed and read my book for about and hour and then we all went to sleep. 

Tomorrow we will be doing some more things but around the town more and hopefully we get to go to the reptile centre. :)

Today's blog was done by Chloe

Day 7 - off to a town called Alice

Well today has been the day we would like to start over with a few less problems, today was the day which was supposed to be an easy 5hr drive on bitumen but the universe had other ideas, and not overly bad ones just annoying ones.

We hooked up the trailer this morning and went to do our usual checks for lights, left indicator yep, right indicator nope, brake lights nope.....this was not looking good. Today has been the first morning of the trip so far that we have left on our own, Linda & Tayla headed off early as they were ready to go and Jacko, Tracy & family needed to get to Alice early to get a rear window replaced. After a lovely man from Wantirna South of all places came over to help us work out what the problem is Matt soon discovered the Oodnadatta was a little unkind and yesterday our trailer almost took flight as we crossed over a cattle grid and it looks like as it landed a wire was severed, never mind these things happen and we decided to continue our drive on to Alice Springs and repair it when we arrive. 

On our drive here today we saw a group of wild camels run over the freeway and trot their way off into the desert which was a sight to see.

Today was also the day we finally stopped to see the elusive Wedge Tailed Eagles. Matt spotted them in a tree so we slammed on the breaks, lucky nothing was behind us so I could run up the freeway to take a photo. Amazing, they took flight as Chloe & I watched. By the end of the drive we saw another 8 and we then took them for granted.

We have arrived in the Northern Teritory! It's amazing to think we have been on this little adventure for a week & have just passed into our 3rd state of Australia, we really do live in a bloody big country

We drove past the West McDonald Ranges and are hoping to go and explore some of these tomorrow they look amazing.

Once we arrived in Alice Springs, we are staying at the Big 4 beautiful camp ground , I was finally able to do some much needed washing while Matt fixed the trailer. Then we started to set up..........firstly I smacked my head on the inside tent pole, then as we set up our annex Matt "accidently" hit me right in the middle of the forehead with another tent pole...ouch, I then stood on Matts fingers so let's call it even haha.

Shopping in Alice Springs was quite the eye opener for me, the security guards on the bottle shops & the price of beer to name a couple but to hear the Aboriginal people speaking in their native tongue is quite fascinating.

We are now all set up and camped near our travelling companions but being in an actual camp ground seems a little cramped and we can't spread out or have fires at night like we have been, days have been a beautiful 22-24 degrees but nights have been freezing. Since arriving we have met a few other families who are coming on the next adventure with us.

Well I am off for a well earned drink and possibly an early night

Today's blog has been written by Di.

Day 6 - on our way to the end of the Track!

We made it! We have officially finished the Oodnadatta track, but before I get to that I will fill you in on what else happened today

Last night we sat around the fire with our new travelling companions, it was a chilly night, so cold that this morning I had to peel a frozen tea towel off the kitchen! With sunrise approaching Matt & I sat and watched the most beautiful sunrise with cup of tea in hand ( yes Mum you read correctly I am drinking tea), we were literally in the middle of no where the real Aussie outback & it was so quiet.

We started our little convoy with Linda in the lead off to Oodnadatta to see the iconic Pink Roadhouse and wow was it pink! Stopping for a quick morning tea & for Chloe to buy the perfect present a pink fluffy stubby holder, see below we were off into the never never.

The next 80 odd kilometres was a very very dusty drive. In fact at some points we had to almost stop to let the dust clear so we could continue. I had one last thing to tick off my list of must sees on the track & today I finally got to see it, as we were passing through a cattle station I saw the cattle runs full of cattle. Amazing sight.

Tonight we have finally been able to have showers & flushing toilets, it's wonderful. Cars & trailers are all full of red dust, which is just the way Matt wants it. We are now sitting behind the Marla Roadhouse enjoying some cold drinks with our camps all set up.

Tomorrow we head to Alice Springs for the next leg of the journey & to start meeting up with the other travellers from other states. One adventure finished another on starting 

Today's blog is written by Di

Day 5 - Coward Springs to Algebuckina

Today we where all awake by about 6:30am. Yup that early and it was really cold too! So we planned to leave at about 9:30am but ended up leaving leaving at 8:30am. It was good we left that hour earlier too because we got a bit lost at out first stop.

So our first stop was at Strangways. It used to be a small town on top of a hill but now it's ruins. We've seen afew ruins this holiday so far but there all pretty interesting. We walked to the top of the hill to see the town, well what used to be the town anyway. There were are couple of cattle yards, a police station and I guess a few others but they were all just a pile of rubble now. We did a walk around the town in a loop and saw some extinct springs, a very small cemetry and one of the only remaining telegraph poles. Mum said its weird that nearly 100 years ago they could get telegraph around the country but now in 2014 we can't get any reception. It kinda sucks.

We then kept driving until we got to William Creek and just had to stop and go into the pub. William Creek is the smallest town In Australia, next to the biggest lake in Australia and inside the largest cattle station in the world. The inside of the pub was pretty amazing the roof and walls were covered in old licenses, passports, business cards and there was even a couple boots! Dad and Linda got a beer while Taylor and I got rasberry lemonade and Mum got some water. So we drank out drinks and Dad decided to staple his Pajero Club membership card into the wall. We're hoping he gets a new one but too late now. As we were leaving we saw one of the girls who lived there get on a bike and was apparently riding to Anna Creek Station. That's a long way on a push bike.

After our nice little break we kept driving until we got to Algebuckina. We got a choice of near the railway bridge or near the water hole across the track. We went for the water hole because apparently it's nicer than the bridge side. We set up and the flies were just awful! They wouldn't leave us alone so I sat in the tent and did my own journal while Mum passed me bread, butter, peanut butter and a knife I made a sandwich. It was very yummy. :) Anyway after we had set up we drove over to the bridge and went up to look at it. At the end there was a path you could walk out on to look up the rest of the track. It looked so cool! 

We drove back to the camp and sat around for the rest of the day until another family that we are going on this trip with caught up to us. When it started getting dark the flies went away so we got some nibbles out and started the fire. We spent the rest of the night around the fire and doing nothing really.

Tomorrow we head off to Marla which is also the end of the Oodnadatta Track. So just one more day and we've done it. Then we can head off to Alice Springs to start the actual My Swag trip.

Today's blog was done by Chloe

Day 4 - A day of rest

I have found my new favourite place - Coward Springs. Except for the flies this place is a little bit of heaven in the middle of the outback. I have not been this relaxed for weeks! 

We started our day with a leisurely bacon & egg brekkie & then took off for a walk around the property, first thing we found was a little museum all about the property and what it was like back in its hay day when the old Ghan still ran through its grounds it had quite a little population back then. Then we found the "hot" springs. I would say it was more a tepid spring but still beautiful to sit in and relax, until our little family became the exhibit for the 50 or more 4x4 club members who dropped by for a look and we posed for their happy snaps, who knew we would one day be so sort after for photos haha

Not sure what is in that spa water but after we got out and sat around camp I was in a zen like state all chilled out until the flies hit! My god they were bad, but according to our hosts Greg & Prue they are pretty bad at the moment & if a local says that you know they are bad.

Coward Springs runs safari treks with camels, and no I was not keen to do that, they run three treks a year and we were very fortunate enough to see one leaving, amazing sight. All the camels carrying tents etc as they slowly worked their way out into the dessert.

Today we went for a little explore around the area, first stop was the Blanche Cup Mound which is a natural spring which was formed over millions of years at the top of a little mountain. Then onto the Bubbler which again has formed over millions of years and is now just a little bubble coming up though the spring in the ground. Sadly this area use to be inhabited by the Aboriginal people and then when settlers came they chopped down trees and the springs have not flowed properly since.

Then onto Beresford ruins, this was an old railway sighting and bore on the old Ghan line, this is part of the Anna Creek station which is Australia's largest cattle station. This station is bigger than  Belgium measuring over 24,0000 square kilometres!

Back to camp for a relaxing afternoon, except the flies! I discovered flies prefer bourbon to beer so I might have to choose a new drink if this proves correct again tomorrow ;)

The thing I love about getting out & seeing this wonderful country is meeting people along the way. We have met a couple from Texas and quite a few travellers from Queensland, Matt will chat to anyone and Chloe & I keep laughing at him as he greats people with a wave as we drive past, it's all part of the trip he tells us.

Tomorrow we are off to Algebuckina for a stopover, we will meet up again with the others who went a different way from Renmark, I think Matt is really looking forward to some male company haha

Today's blog has been written by Di

Day 3 - Start of the Oodnadatta Track

Today we traveled from Leigh Creek to Coward Springs. We got up and took a beautiful photo of the sunrise. Then we ate some brekkie which was just a simple bowl of cereal, and started to pack up. We left at about 8:30am and started our drive towards the Oodnadatta Track.

 Our first stop was at Lyndhurst. We stopped there to let some air out of the tyres and put a stone guard on the back windscreen. We did that because the dirt started there but it was just bitumen for the first few kelomintors. We soon pulled off at the Ochre Cliffs is where the Aboriginals went to get ochre for their paintings. There were many different colours all along the side of the cliffs. It was very cold but worth seeing.

Our second stop was at Farina. It's now a bunch of ruins and broken buildings. It used to be a town that wanted to grow wheat but didn't have the right type of land so they turned it into a cattle station. We looked at all the ruins and there was a post office, police station, houses and heaps of other buildings. We looked at the underground bakery but it was closed because they are restoring it so unfortunately we couldn't actually go in. We did go up and see a nice little camping area and up there on the way up to the historic cemetry. The cemetry was a little sad as they had a list of most of the people they had found. The list said there first and last name, year they died and how old they were. There were some who were 5 hours old and then some who were 58 years old. 

After that we kept going until we got to Marree. It's a small town and the official start of the Oodnadatta Track, but the main reason we stopped was because Linda suddenly told us that something was leaking from out trailer. It turns out it was the water tank and all of the water had either been lost on the road or gushing out then when we stopped. Dad had to get under the trailer to see what had happened and the Y clip to the water pipes had snapped off. He had to join the kitchen one back on with duck tape and we've just left the other one for now. We then had to drive around the corner to a park so we could put water back into the tank. We will be needing that. 

After we finished with that little crises we started down the road again but only for a minute because we had reached the start of the Oodnadatta Track. It's an all dirt road with country on both sides of it. We stopped again to look at the Longest Dog Fence. It's meant to keep the dingoes out of the paddocks. Dad and I went to look at the sign with Linda and Taylor and the sign read 'A very Bloody long fence'. We all had a laugh at that and took a couple photos before going on out way again.

Our next stop was a few Paddocks which had metal 3D sculpters in them. It was called the Plane Hendge. It was pretty cool because there was 2 planes with, what to me, looked like snakes, a sunflower, a triangle with a circle in it, some people and a water tank with a old car on the side that looked like a dog. 

We then stopped at Lake Eyre. I know another stop, but Lake Eyre is actually the biggest lake Australia. It looked massive and we only saw a little corner of it. We saw the south corner of it and that looked like the biggest lake i had seen already, but when Dad said that that was only a small part of it I couldn't believe it! It looked like it was full of water but what could actually see was a whole lot of salt. Yup I was getting all excited because it looked really pretty full of water but no, it was all salt. 

After them we didn't stop again until we reached Coward Springs. We will be spending 2 nights here and we're in a really good spot. Out of the wind and close into the path that leads up to the hot springs. We saw some camels as we were driving into that park and it turns out that they do a camel ride here. I want to go on one but Dad said that we can do it at another place and Mum and Dad said that they wouldn't do it. So it looks like it's just me rideing a camel this holiday. 

Tomorrow we will just be relaxing and going to the hot springs and stuff. It will be good to have a day to rest and not be in a car. 

 

Today's blog is by Chloe

Day 2 onwards to a Leigh Creek

Another early start for another full day of driving, today we covered about 550km through some of the most amazing country side, forever changing.

We came across an incredibly large load on the back of a large truck, we watch Outback Truckers & have seen the logistics behind moving these large cargo loads but to see them in person was quite amazing. We sat behind him & waited for his pilot to give us the all clear for passing.

Today we have passed lots of old ruins. It makes us think about what happened to the people who use to live out here & why they have moved on. I find them fascinating and quite eerie but amazing to look at against the harsh outback landscape.



After driving for some 5 hours through various towns we finally hit the Flinders Ranges......Wow. What an amazing view, they go on forever and are forever changing constantly. Unfortunately the sun decided to go in just as we found the perfect spot for taking photos but it was still an impressive sight

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Animals today were also plentiful, besides the cows & sheep grazing on the side of the road with no fences! We were also privileged enough to see not one but two Wedge Tailed Eagles as one took flight. Matt & Chloe were a little slow and didn't see it but Tayla & Linda in the car behind saw it also so they can vouch for what I saw. Then Chloe saw Emu's, there is still something incredible about seeing them in the wild.

We have finally arrived in Leigh Creek, it's a beautiful 22 degrees but I have a feeling it's going to be another freezing night. Our last stop before we hit the Oodnadatta Track & possibly no internet. We are so excited to start this next leg & tick it off our bucket list.

Today's blog has been written by Di :)

Interesting fact of the day: Did you know the Flinders ranges were formed approximately 540 million years ago and some of the oldest fossil evidence of animal life has been found in the Flinders Ranges.

Day 1 Renmark

Well after a couple of crazy days packing we were finally ready to take off at 4am this morning, yes you read correctly 4 am! We did have about 700km to get under our belts today but it still made for a sleepy drive. So we waived our eldest child a fond farewell and off we went.

First stop was breakfast at Calder Park McDonalds, all good holidays start with a Maccas brekkie.

We stopped for a quick stretch of the legs in Charlton and found a giant metal fish, some might remember the giant fishes lining the Yarra River during the Commonwealth Games back in 2006.....I always wondered where the fish went and now we know.

Then we drove for about 4 hours before stopping again at Ouyen for some morning tea. After eating some very yummy ANZAC biscuits we made our way back on the road again for some more of our journey.

At about 12:30 we stopped at Cullulleraine for some lunch with some people we met up with who are going on the trip as well Steve & Nadia. We had lunch which were just some bread rolls and then we drove the rest of today's drive to Renmark.

When we crossed the boarder it was about 1:20 Melbourne time and then when we crossed all the clocks suddenly changed to 12:50. A few minutes after we crossed the boarder we got stopped at a quarantine to make sure that we don't have any fruit with us. The man just looked in our fridge and then we were off again.

We got to the Renmark Big 4 Caravan Park not long after that where we met up with Lynda & Tayla. We set up and our site isn't far from the edge of the Murray River. It looks beautiful! It was a warm afternoon so we settled in for a couple of drinks to get to know everyone.

Night fall brought us another family, Craig & Co.  travelling up for us to meet & a couple more drinks were had, well something had to warm us up


Tomorrow we will be driving from Renmark to Leigh Creek. We will put another update then.

Apologies for no photos, having some issues getting the photos off the iPad onto the blog.

Today's blog is brought to you by.....Chloe & Di

Interesting Fact for the Day: • Renmark takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning “Red Mud”.

So what's it all about then?

We are going on this trip with a group of fellow members of MySwag.org, the offroad campertrailer forum. Myswag is a fantastic online community of like minded people from all over Australia (and the rest of the world), bought together by their love of the outdoors; camping, 4WDing and of course, camper trailers.

Member trips and get togethers are often being organised, and around 12 months ago the idea of a trip to Central Australia was put up. For various reasons this particular trip didn't go ahead, but one member thought they would salvage what was a popular idea, and the result is this trip!

We will be joined by 12 other MySwag members and their families, coming from all over Australia, and meeting in Alice Springs. We will then spend 2 weeks touring the area, seeing such iconic Central Australian locations as Uluru, Kata-Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley, Chambers Pillar and many more.

We will be taking a week to get to Alice Springs, heading north from Melbourne via Renmark and Leigh Creek, then spend 4 days on the Oodnadatta Track, camping at Coward Springs and Algebuckina. Being so close to Lake Eyre, we've planned a day trip into Halligan Bay to visit the famous lake!
It will then be a night at Marla, and then the last leg up the Stuart Hwy to meet up with the group in Alice Springs.

After 2 weeks of touring the area, we will start heading home via Coober Pedy for 2 nights, where we are staying in an underground motel! Then on to Port Augusta for a night, Broken Hill (1 or 2 nights), then Gol Gol where we will spend our last night away with Di's cousin and his family. And then home, after 4 weeks and over 7000km's, and still only seeing just a small part of this magnificent country!

Interesting fact for the day: 70% of the Australian mainland is classified as semi-arid, arid or desert, making it the driest inhabited continent on Earth. There are 10 deserts in Australia, with only 3% of the population living in them.

There's a first time for everything!

G'day all!
Thanks for taking the time to have a look at our little blog.
We set up this blog to allow family, friends and anyone else who is vaguely interested, to follow us on our upcoming trip to the Red Centre!
So, in the next four weeks there will be a lot of firsts for us; first time in the Northern Territory, first trip to the Australian outback and seeing all the sites it has to offer, and our first blog.........wish us luck!!

Interesting fact for the day: a new blog is created somewhere in the world every half a second. There are estimated to be nearly 200 million active blogs on the internet.....and this is just one of them!