Thursday 2 May 2019

Central Australia (Coober Pedy, Alice Springs,McDonald Ranges, Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta)


Fri 12th  Mooroopna – Renmark
To Renmark for the night and camped at a “SA Parks” camp near Lyrup on the Murray $13 per night left van hooked up for quick departure next morning

Sat 13th Renmark to Port Agusta
Left Lyrup and headed to a free camp north of Port Agusta on the Stuart Hwy, stopped at Morgan, Burra, Port Pirie and Port Agusta along the way before we set up camp arriving around 4pm. The camp area is isolated from the road and not far from the main Alice Springs to Adelaide train line where many freight trains passed through nice little fire in the evening

Sunday 14th Port Agusta to Coober Pedy
Made our way to Coober Pedy stopping at Pimba, Womera and Glendambo for a beer at the Pub and a number of roadside stops including Lake Heart arrived at Ribas CP that afternoon set up camp for the next 2 nights, Went into town for some supplies and a quick look around back to Ribas for a mine tour at the CP and a few drinks at camp into the night.

Monday 15th Coober Pedy
Into town for the morning visiting local Opal shops finished by Coffee and cake at a local café. Beer at the local tavern prior to our 5 ½ tour with “Noble tours“ a mine tour (yes 2nd in 24hrs) local town sites, Underground Church, underground house, off road along the “Dog fence” , and some time for wine and cheeses @ Breakaways also stopped at the guides mine lease on the way back into town a great afternoon

Tuesday 16th  Coober Pedy to Alice Springs
Left Coober Pedy on the way to Alice took some great photos of the Sunrise (magical moment of the trip) and filled up with water in town metering 30l per $1. Around 50km north of CP HIT A Emu fortunately no damage to car, but the Emu no so lucky! Met up with friends for lunch at Eldurado roadhouse before making our way to Big4 West Mcdonald Ranges around 5kms before Alice. We had an ensuite Site for our 3 days once set up a quick drive into town to have a look and do some shopping back to camp for a few drinks and planning our days while here

Wednesday 17th Alice Springs
Day exploring around town, Anzac Hill, Todd Mall, Info center East McDonald Ranges stopping at Emily Gap, Jessie Gap, Trephina Gorge, then out to Ross River Resort! "Restort? Somewhat misleading. Back to town visited RFDS and a quick trip to Bunnings to get a hose connection for our water supply. Flies were out of control, never seen flies like this before and unfortunately continued for several days arrived back at the CP and could not unlock our ensuite only to find out that we were placed in the wrong location when we arrived, offered a refund and assisted us in moving down 3 camps. Some washing and dinner and drinks into the night 

Thursday 18th Alice Springs  
Drove into town to wee the GHAN then out via Larapint Drive stopping at Simpsons Gap, Elery Creek Big Hole, and Hermannsburg a Aboriginal settlement then back along Namatjira Drive again stopping at ………… to Alice Springs. Into town for some shopping for the next leg of the trip water and beer being the major requirement!

Friday 19th Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Made our way to Kings Canyon Station for 2 nights arrived mid afternoon set up camp great location with Powered Site with a few days of relaxing ahead

Saturday 20th Kings Canyon
Out to Kings Canyon itself for the rim walk did not take long to realise the climb was something neither of us were keen on so we did the Gorge walk and returned to camp for a lazy afternoon, dinner (Camel Burgers) from the restaurant

Sunday 21st Kings Canyon to Uluru
Certainly the moment you see the “rock” from the road way on your way in is unbelievable in scale, arrived at the Caravan Park and set up camp in what they call the overflow area which is basically 2 large areas at the back of the designated CP definitely a better location that what is in the CP itself other then distance to amenities a great area. Drove out to Uluru that afternoon, drove around the base as well as the “sunset viewing” area that evening

Monday 22nd Uluru
Off to the rock for a base walk of 10.8km lasting nearly 2.5hrs then decided to have a long lunch at Gecko's Café to recuperate within the Yulara complex back to the CP to do some washing before we headed back to the rock for Sunset, this time we decided to go back to the rock itself as opposed to the “Sunset viewing area” 

Tuesday 23rd Uluru
Out to the Olgas for a Gorge walk instead of the “valley of the winds” walk then a lazy afternoon and early night in preparation for an early start tomorrow   


Wednesday 24TH Uluru to Glendambo
Up @ 4:30am to watch “the “field of lights Sunrise” with Coffee (great event) then back to camp finish packing up then the drive out, decided to head as far South as possible arrived at Glendambo around 8pm of which the last 40km we were travelling around 60km per hour, bad decision driving in the dark with the amount of wildlife on the roads “valuable lesson” learned. Never to be repeated !! 

Thursday 25th  Glendambo to Mildura
Drove to a Murray river camp called xyz where we met up with Hutchie & Wendy after getting lost as we looked at the wrong location finally Hutchie came to rescue us and we had dinner and many drinks too late around the camp fire, another great evening off to bed around Midnight

Friday 26th  Mildura to Home
Home, unpacked and van cleaned over the course of the weekend






























































































































































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