The Red Centre Days 4 to 6

DAY FOUR – Coober Pedy to Yulara (734kilometres)

Distances are long out here and the roads so straight it gets REALLY boring.

7am – We left the kooky little town of Coober Pedy (It reminded me of Lightning Ridges big brother) and not far out on the Stuart Highway we saw our first road train!

Both of us probably got a little too excited about it…

rc11There wasn’t really that much to take photos of along the highway until we reached the border!

And there was a hoard load of tourists on a bus there so I had to wait around 15 -20 minutes just to get a photo without a person in it.

NT1Welcome to the NT!

And of course with the Northern Territory came this…

NT2My partner Jade was ridiculously excited to drive faster…

We stopped at Erldunda to grab some lunch (I think I had a Pluto pup, yeah I know totally healthy) then headed downt he Lasseter Highway on to Yulara.

lasshwy NT3There it is!

After checking in to our accommodation The Ayers Rock Campground, our cabin was small and did not have an ensuite so it was a long walk to the toilets (You’d think for the price they would atleast include a toilet in the cabin!)
We headed off to take a proper look at The Rock.

NT4Yup… we had to do this everytime we wanted to go into the park….

Uluru is MASSIVE in person, the photos make it look tiny! After driving around it completely awestruck we stopped to take some photos.

NT5 NT6The climb was closed everyday we went but out of respect to the traditional owners and the fact we’re both pretty unfit we chose not to climb.

After taking too many photos we went to one of the sunset viewing areas and I once again took way too many photos.
I loved the feeling of the red sand on my bare feet #trueaussie running around barefoot in the desert lol!
NT7 NT8 NT9We were treated to an ok sunset, I was a little disappointed in it to be honest.

rc13Yeah ok its pretty I was just expecting more!

We then headed back to our little cabin and chilled for a while before heading off to dinner which was a barbeque affair where you could try a heap of different Aussie animals.
Naturally I got a bit of everything because I wanted to try everything.
Kangaroo, Emu, Crocile, Barra unfortunately there was no Buffalo left.
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DAY FIVE – Kata Tjuta

I was the crazy one that wanted to see the sunrise so we were up at 5am and on our way heading into the park (The park closes everynight after sunset and opens around 5am.
Kata Tjuta is about 50 ks away my Uluru so it was a bit of a drive out there.
It was also COLD and bloody windy, stupid me didn’t bring an ideal jumper so I had to steal Jades and he stayed in the ute and slept whilst I brave the freezing cold with a couple from Melbourne.
It was extremely peaceful and very beautiful.

rc14Worth it don’t cha think?

After the sunrise I dropped Jade off who wasn’t feeling very well then headed back out to Kata Tjuta by myself to do some of the easier walks (I’m so unfit its ridiculous)

KJ1

These were little water stations which I thought was a fabulous idea!KJ2 KJ3

Yeah I didn’t feel up to going beyond here even though I wanted to desperately.

I then went and did Walpa Gorge, this was a fantastic walk. Theres just something I love about the big high walls either side of me!

KJ5 KJ6

I then went back had some lunch and picked Jade up who had slept all morning so we could spend some time at Uluru again then head back out to Kata Tjuta for the sunset.
Here he is trying to be a photographer…

KJ7

1743698_10152698648781013_8384091332415384288_n 10438136_10152698652021013_4458946054374799926_n KJ8

DAY SIX – Uluru

Up early once again, this time for a Sunrise camel ride.

day61 day62 day64 day65Camels are much easier to ride than elephants!

We also got to feed a baby camel, she was so cute I wanted to take her home with me.
day66After the camel ride we headed on to do some walks around Uluru and try to avoid the bus loads of tourists.
day67 day68 day69 day610 day611The climb opened that afternoon but we did not attempt it.
Later that day around sunset the most amazing thing happen.
There was a STORM! I had been hoping to see rain on the rock whilst we were there, unfortunately it did not rain but to witness a storm rolling over Uluru was one experience I will not forget!
day612 rc18

The Red Centre 2014 – The first 3 Days.

Back in September my partner and I took our yearly holiday, this year was to The Red Centre!

On DAY ONE we travelled from Boggabri (MY hometown) to Broken Hill a whopping 988 kilometre trip leaving at 5am we arrived at Broken Hill around 4 ish.
Checked into the FABULOUS Palace Hotel and went out to explore the place a little as we were moving on the next day…

rc4

These trees were everywhere on the road to Broken Hill, we just had to stop and take photos (I Thought it was so funny and a good way to break up the long boring drive!)

Also there is a ridiculous amount of GOATS on the side of the road, they seem to be car smart and we didn’t see too many dead ones on the side of the road.rc6

                                                                          THIS is why I booked the Palace Hotel!

The rooms were also reasionably priced, I do love a bit of pub accommodation!

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The Sculpture park is also worth a look its about 10 k’s out of town.

DAY TWO – BROKEN HILL – MAREE (Via The Flinders Ranges – 953kms)

Day Two we awoke bright and early (6.30am) and headed off to the South Australian Border…

rcsaborderIts quite flat and boring, we spotted alot of Kangaroos, Emus you know he kind of stuff that the foreigners get excited about!
Well I get excited about THESE kind of things!
rc7A random Hills Hoist in the middle of no-where.
Naturally we stopped and checked it out, we didn’t have any old clothes to leave though.
After that the scenery got quite pretty around the Peterborough area, well greener and more hilly, I was excited about the old homestead ruins!
Time was pushing though and I never got the chance to photograph any.

We hit the Flinders Ranges about lunchtime, so we stopped and had our ham and cheese rolls out of the ARB fridge then decided to go for a drive through the ranges we checked out the Bunyeroo/Brachina Gorge areas (STUNNING)
I absolutely adored the Flinders Ranges even though I had no service!
rc8Stunning, stunning place!
After the Flinders Ranges we continued onto Maree and into the vast expanse of the desert were diesel got dearer and dearer.

The best part about this drive?

THE RUINS!

We stopped at nearly everyone so I could take photos.

rc1We nearly hit an Emu outside of Maree and finally just as the shadows were getting longer we arrived at The Maree Hotel.

marreehotel marreehotel2

DAY THREE – MAREE – COOBER PEDY VIA THE OODNADATTA TRACK (372km)

A shorter day today (Kilometres wise), Day Three was the Oodnadatta Track!
ot1 ot2It was very lonely on this road and the first time we saw another vehicle was about halfway through!

OT6Yes I hate the UHF aerial being on my side of the car obstructing my photos!
The Oodnadatta track was in GREAT condition when we drove it, I could have drivin my little Mazda 2 on it easily and it had some great attractions on the way.
Lake Eyre

lake eyreHot Springs

OT3 OT7Old cars that made great photo ops.

rc10And of course ruins from when they were building the Telegraph line.

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We stopped at the famous William Creek Hotel

Where diesel was $2.25 a litre!
OT4 OT5

In Coober Pedy we stayed in an underground hotel and had dinner in an underground restaurant!

cphotel cprest