Homeward bound

17th September 2016

The rain has finally caught up with us.  We drove most of the day doing nearly 600km.  Finally pulled into the Riverside CP at Nyngan late afternoon.  They have had a lot of rain in the area and the river is flooded.  The lower camping area of the park is underwater.

Riverside CP Nyngan (lower camping area)

18th September 2016

Still raining so we hit the road early heading north again.  Wasn't sure we'd end up, no point stopping in the rain.  Mid afternoon we arrived into Narrabri and decided to call it a day staying at the Big Sky CP.  I'm still feeling pretty sick so we have made the decision to head towards home tomorrow.

19th September 2016

The sun came out this morning as we travelled north through Moree then east towards Glen Innes.  We stopped alongside a babbling brook for a morning cuppa and enjoyed the birdlife.

We spent our last night camped behind a 150yr old pub, the Deepwater Inn, about 40km north of Glen Innes.  We had a lovely night at the pub enjoying the company of our fellow travellers.  Even treated ourselves to their massive burgers for dinner.

20th September 2016

Our last day on the road.  It was a very misty morning as we said our farewells to the Deepwater Inn.

It was the last long drive home through Tenterfield, Stanthorpe and Warwick.  We stopped at Toogoolawah for lunch then on through Kilcoy, Beerwah and finally arrived home mid afternoon.  It's been a fantastic trip and we are already planning our next in a couple of months.  Until then......adios!

Broken Hill

15th-16th September 2016

Long drive today from Quorn to Broken Hill.  Not very well, getting a chest infection and can't stop coughing, feeling miserable. Bugger!  Got into Broken Hill mid afternoon and made camp at the local racecourse.  It's a good spot with our van backing onto the track.

We woke to a lovely morning with a mist over the racetrack and were entertained by the horses doing their training.  The purple flowers were amazing in the early morning light.

Off to the doctors today and to get some laundry done.  We took a drive out to the Living Desert Sculpture Park late afternoon.

Saw this fella on the way to the Sculpture Park

The last of the downhill run on the Stuart Highway

12th September 2016

We took off a bit later this morning to allow Debbie and Monty to catch up with us. So now we have ourselves a convoy of three vans.  Ferg stopped along the way to get a photo of a bearded dragon in the middle of the road.  All very well except there was a semi coming full bore towards him.  Couldn't believe it the lizard survived.

We decided to pull into a free camp right on the edge of Lake Hart.  Stunning views and we even managed a campfire but got washed out with rain after dinner.

The Troops minus Ferg getting eaten by mosquitoes

Circle the Wagons!

13th-14th September 2016

It was very cold overnight, definitely in the south now.  We all went our separate ways in Port Augusta to get resupplies, fuel etc., then met on the outskirts of town.  Off to Quorn then on to Warren Gorge for a couple of days.  We found a good spot for all the vans and enjoyed a lovely rainbow after an afternoon shower.

I came down with some sort of flu and was confined to the van for all our stay here.  The rest of the crew did the 5km circuit across the mountain.

This sign has been around a long time!

Our last campfire together

Ferg and I got an early start the next morning saying our final goodbyes to the Tassie Mob.
We had a long drive ahead of us to get to Broken Hill.

Leaving Warren Gorge

South Australia here we come...

9th September 2016

We got on the road early from Uluru travelling together with Bill and June.  We took our time, cruising along at 90km per hour and stopping every so often for a cuppa or to refuel. By early afternoon we were crossing the NT/SA border and started looking for a free camp. We pulled into Marryat Creek rest area and found a good spot on the dry creek bed for the night. We had a lovely evening sitting around the campfire.

 10-11 September 2016

Off to Coober Pedy this morning.  On the way we spotted a large grove of Sturt Desert Peas, they were stunning.

Coober Pedy is an interesting place, it looks a bit like a moonscape with white hills as far as you can see.  Most of the houses are underground.  We spent two days here looking at various underground motels, mines and churches.  

Main Street Coober Pedy

Bill hugging a "Coober Tree"

We did a tour in the Old Timers Mine and also checked out the Comfort Inn with all the rooms built underground.

Old Timers Mine and Comfort Inn

Comfort Inn Underground Hotel 

Comfort Inn breakfast room

Serbian Underground Church

Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Olgas)

5th-8th September 2016

Good sealed road all the way from Kings Canyon to Uluru.  We stopped at Mt Conner for a cuppa before arriving at the Ayers Rock Campground at 11am.

Mt Conner (often mistaken for Uluru)

 After settling in to our campground spot we took off for the "Rock".  We took a drive right around Uluru then waited for the sunset.

While we were out, Bill and June arrived into camp.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner around their pot-belly stove.

Next morning we were up early to catch the sunrise at Uluru.  Thought we'd have it to ourselves but there were several bus loads of Japanese tourists out at the viewing area.

Sunrise with the Olgas in the distance

Back for breakfast then off to the Olgas with Bill and June.  Wow, they are just as stunning as Uluru.

Valley of the Winds

Walpa Gorge

Friendly native

We had a lovely picnic lunch at the Olgas after our walks to Walpa Gorge and the Valley of the Winds.  In the evening we treated ourselves to a visit to the Field of Lights exhibition.  It was incredible, coloured solar lights on stems, covering an area equivalent to 7 football fields. The photos don't really do it justice.

Field of Light

Next day we did more touring of Uluru then out again the Olgas for a sunset "Happy Hour".

Cheer to good friends

On our last full day we joined Bill and June for a final walk and drive around Uluru. Just can't get enough of it!  

Resting on one of the many amazing chairs around Uluru

We have been very lucky with the weather and due to recent rains prior to us arriving the wildflowers have been the best the locals have seen in many years.  Here are just a few of the hundreds of flowers we've seen.