Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Eyre Peninsula

It looked more like a convenient stop rather than somewhere we would enjoy so much. We stayed on a sheep property Coodlie Park given the more popular Eyre Peninsula destination such as Streaky Bay were booked solid with S.A. school holidays.


The property had its own beach front albeit with an 80m cliff scramble for access.

Coodlie Park beach [click to enlarge]

Beach access Coodlie Park style


Apparently an area of natural risks. Some of the local tourist attractions included swimming with the sea lions or swimming with the great whites. Not sure if it was from the same charter.

The desert seemed to reach the beach and just fall away - often with a spectacular cliff or cave. We enjoyed the dolphins and sea lion colonies from these vantages.
Southhead walk from Venus Bay [click to enlarge]



Sunday, April 17, 2011

Wilpena Pound

Thankyou all for your comments and emails. We love hearing from you.

Wilpena Pound [Click to enlarge)


Flinder's Range NP would have to be the most commercial NP we have visited. Eco-cottages, scenic flights (your choice fixed-wing, ultra-light, balloon), corporate challenge, mountain biking, 4WD tours and wine-and-cheese sunset tours. Despite the commercialisation Wilpena Pound would have to go close to being one of the natural wonders of the world. The only way to get a true perspective of the Pound is from the air. Thanks to corporatechallenge.com.au (getting the best from your human resources) for the use of the aerial photo.




Walks and 4WDing spectacular. Everywhere you look is a vista.





We needed to recover several Toyota Landcruisers from the above creek crossing.




The next photo shows the formation known as the Great Wall of China - built by emperor Nasi Goreng to keep the rabbits out of the Flinder's Range NP.


The Great Wall of China, Flinder's Range NP

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Songs from the Big Chair

We have been offline for a while so time to update with a couple of posts.

Broken Hill was an oasis at the end of some very long stretches of the Barrier Highway. The town rejoices in having streets named after noxious compounds (Bromide Street, Chloride Street) and having a slag heap the size of five town blocks and one block from the CBD. However, it is a mecca for artists - Pro Hart being the favorite son (see flowers below).


The giant park bench atop the slag heap of Broken Hill.




We went underground - despite my warning. One word Caroline **Beaconsfield**






Daydream silver mine 100m below ground - apart from an MRI the perfect place for someone with claustrophobia.




The obligatory photo of the Interceptor - Silverton 40km from Broken Hill. Filming of the Mad Max IV has been postponed due to the recent rains and subsequent "greening"  of surrounding countryside.

Friday, April 8, 2011

The Warrumbungles

Thank you to all for your comments especially our our personal meteorologist (Hi Marg), our international observers (The Parkers) our international man of mystery (Martin please identify yourself). And thank you for all the birthday wishes - a point of note dear Penny, at this stage it is early-to-mid-forties - nothing more.

A wonderful night of hospitality with Michael and Rosemary (and adopted cousins) at Gunnedah preceded our trip to the Warrumbungles.

A couple of beautiful days in the Warrumbungles NP - between Coonabarabran and Gilgandra. Great Australian names for towns. A  fantastic bush camp and a couple of great walks.







A steep, long walk and a challenging rock scramble to the summit of Split Rock (see below) and afterward some very tired walkers.





Monday, April 4, 2011

The Land of Giants

It is hard to imagine we have probably seen the highlight of our trip on day two. The giant chicken at Moonbi and the Big Golden Guitar (somewhat more giant than the aforementioned chicken).

Finally on the road

Finally after so much talk and planning we have left Brisbane. Night one in Tenterfield some 450km from Brisbane.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Manageable chaos

Three days to go and I think everything is organised?