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Australia Updates - 2013(Round Oz), 2014(Qld) and 2015(Tas)

2017 (Natural Sciences Loop Road and Sth Australia)

2017 (Norfolk Island) 2017 (NSW Rusty Iron Rally)

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2017 (NSW Rusty Iron Rally)

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4	12/9/2017		14/9/2017	Armidale where we had just a couple of nights is a lovely and well preserved old city. The railway station is particularly well restored. After Armidale, we travelled toward home on the New England highway passing through Glen Innes on the way. Glen Innes is interesting and it has a Celtic tribute called the Australian Standing Stones. The stone placement is modelled on the Ring of Brodgar [Scotland's Orkney Islands] where we visited on our big trip [2012]
3	7/9/2017		14/9/2017	Saying goodbye to our hosts at the farm, Brian and Wilma, we started our journey to the Waterfall Way via Nambucca Heads with it's lovely ocean views. Waterfall Way is impressive even in dry periods but it would be amazing during periods of heavy rain - maybe next time
2	4/9/2017		14/9/2017	Touring and sightseeing from Macksville, through Yarrahapinni forest, the Pines on Way Way creek then Sawtell for lunch. After lunch a short drive to Bellingen then back to the farm at Macksville
1	1/9/2017		14/9/2017	On the way to Macksville to seethe annual Rusty Iron Rally, we spent one night in Grafton and admired their Clarence River and the "Bendy Bridge"

2017, Eight days travel to Norfolk Island

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3	15 to 22 August 2017		25/8/2017	Norfolk Island tourists - Great place for a short stay with weather comparable to Brisbane. Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, 1,412 kilometres directly east of mainland Australia's Evans Head, and about 900 kilometres from Lord Howe Island. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia. Together with two neighbouring islands, it forms one of Australia's external territories. It has 1,796 inhabitants living on a total area of about 35 sq km. Its capital is Kingston.
2			25/8/2017	Norfolk Island wildlife and Snorkeling - Slaughter Bay is located next to Emily Bay lagoon in World Heritage listed Kingston area and these two beaches are the most popular and recommended on the island. Reefed in, it is also perfect for snorkelling on the low tide, swimming and reef walks. Crystal clear waters both bays are a living aquarium and at its deepest only about 4metres deep and I didn't see any sharks.
1			25/8/2017	*Norfolk Island History* - There have been four distinct settlement phases of Norfolk Island. The first phase was Polynesian settlement, around 1200AD, most likely from the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand, but inexplicably abandoned around 1500AD. The second settlement was a British penal colony established in 1788, making Norfolk Island the first British island in the South Pacific. This colony was also abandoned in 1814 due to hardship, and the colony destroyed to discourage any subsequent occupation. The third settlement from 1825 was also a penal colony, but much more brutal than the previous, until British opinion turned on such punishment, and the colony was closed in 1855. Today the remains of this penal colony are a World Heritage listed cultural site. Now we have the current and fourth settlement from 1856, when Queen Victoria gifted the island to descendants of the Bounty mutineers wishing to leave Pitcairn Island due to overcrowding. The new arrivals originally lived in the abandoned second penal colony before dividing the island in to 12 acre lots. With them they brought a unique culture from Pitcairn Island, particularly their indigenous language; a blend of Old English and Tahitian. The island is now in the process of being transferred to a territory of Australia, making a movement towards a sort of fifth settlement phase with much resistance from the resident population.

2017 Natural Sciences Loop Road trip (Qld) then South Australia

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16 From KI to Home	6/6/2017		7/6/2017	*From Kangaroo Island back home* - From KI, we start our journey home with our first stopover at Victor Harbour, travelling then to the SA/Victoria border near the Murray River on the Mallee Hwy. On our way to Sydney, we had stopovers at Walpeup (Victoria), then Hay and Gundagai in NSW. We then had an eventful day/night travelling into Sydney to meet friends and lunch before making our way out of Sydney and north for our return to Brisbane. In two days we had two disasters - The first was the serious accident involving a small car rollover near where we were parked and next day we had tyre blow-out at high speed on the M/H
15 Kangaroo Island	28/5/2017		29/5/2017	*The rest of Kangaroo Island* - Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia 112 km (70 mi) southwest of Adelaide. Its closest point to the mainland is Snapper Point in Backstairs Passage which is 13.5 km (8.4 mi) from the Fleurieu Peninsula. The largest town, and the administrative centre, is Kingscote. The island has several nature reserves to protect the remnants of its natural vegetation and native animals, with the largest and best-known being Flinders Chase National Park at the western end.
14 Flinders Chase	25/5/2017		28/5/2017	On Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase National Park is a rugged wilderness area featuring amazing landmarks such as Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. There is also a diverse wildlife and interesting flora that can be experienced on a network of walking trails and boardwalks. The park is situated at the opposite end of the island about 130km from Penneshaw where we arrived on the vehicular ferry.
13 Barossa to Port Jervis	21/5/2017		27/5/2017	The Barossa Valley is a renowned wine-producing region northeast of Adelaide, in South Australia. The area encompasses towns such as Tanunda, Angaston and Nuriootpa, and an array of high-profile wineries offering tours and cellar-door tastings. Shiraz grapes are the local speciality. The stone cottages and Lutheran churches throughout the region are testament to a 19th-century wave of German settlers. After our visit to the Barossa, we then made our way down the Fleurieu Peninsula, staying at Brighton (Adelaide) then Cape Jervis before boarding the Kangaroo Island ferry.
12 Quorn, then Spencer Gulf	16/5/2017		17/5/2017	Quorn railway station is one of the locations for the Pichi Richi Railway historic steam train ride. 100 years ago, in 1917, the first train to cross the Australian continent passed through Quorn, on its way from Sydney to Perth, and it was called the Trans-Australian Railway; This is today, the wide gauge Indian-Pacific and it travels via Melbourne/Adelaide. Port Germein next, a small sea-side town about 219 kilometres north of Adelaide on the eastern side of South Australia's Spencer Gulf overlooking Germein Bay.
11 Wilpena and Flinders	12/5/2017		13/5/2017	Via Port Pirie to the Flinders Ranges National Park and Wilpena Pound. Located in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park it holds spiritual significance for the local Aboriginal people. Ikara is an Aboriginal word for 'meeting place'. Wilpena is also an Aboriginal word meaning 'cupped hand'. Early settlers called this large ampitheatre the Pound because it was just like an 'enclosure'.
10 Burra S.A.	8/5/2017		13/5/2017	Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The South Australian telephone collectors held their annual display in conjunction with the Burra Antique Fair
09 Peterborough and Jamestown	5/5/2017		8/5/2017	We crossed from NSW to South Australia near the whistle stop village of Mannahill but it was about 200km from the border at Oodli Wirra where we had our quarantine check. After arriving at the historic rail town of Peterborough we set up for two nights - and that was where we really felt the cold come in. Leaving Peterborough, we moved on to Burra stopping for only a short stroll around at Jamestown.
08 Wilcannia and Broken Hill	2/5/2017		5/5/2017	Still in NSW, after Cobar we traveled to Wilcannia. Many travelers bypass the town because there has long been a perception, fuelled by newspaper reports and images of groups of local Aborigines standing around outside the pubs in the main street, that the town is a hotbed of violence - we saw no sign of this and felt safe walking in town. We then stopped in Broken Hill the birthplace of "The Big Australian" (BHP) for 3 nights - a most interesting town centre and old mining sites.
08a Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos	28/4/2017		5/5/2017	Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos in Wilcannia. Because we took so many interesting pictures of their antics we've put it in a separate slide show in case readers aren't as interested as we are.
07 Bourke and Cobar, NSW	28/4/2017		28/4/2017	In NSW, our first stop is Bourke, a big outback town located on the banks of the Darling River. Famous for historical buildings and for being mentioned in Henry Lawson poetry. Next we travelled to Cobar. Cobar township includes small villages at Euabalong, Mount Hope and Nymagee and the Shire is predominantly rural area mainly used for agriculture (mostly sheep grazing), and for mining – copper, lead, gold, silver and zinc.
06 Burke&Wills Dig Tree	21/4/2017		24/4/2017	Continuing on the Natural Sciences Loop Road - from Eromanga, the Dig Tree, Noccundra, Thargominda to Cunnamulla. The Burke and Wills "Dig Tree" is situated on Nappa Merrie station and is roughly a 400km round trip from the Loop Road on the Innamincka (South Australia) road.
05 Eromanga Rodeo	16/4/2017		21/4/2017	The annual Eromanga Rodeo, Camp Draft, Horse and Motorbike Gymkhana held Easter weekend! 14-16 April. Things kick off Friday and run right through to Sunday with the heart stopping action of the rodeo taking place Saturday afternoon. Free campsites and amenities at the Rodeo Grounds.
04 Cunnamulla to Eromanga	14/4/2017		21/4/2017	After Cunnamulla we took a few days travelling through the Opal mining country of Eulo, Yowah and Quilpie to reach Eromanga for the Easter weekend rodeo. Next slide show we'll publish the details of Eromanga through Thargomindah
03 Charleville and Cunnamulla	10/4/2017		11/4/2017	After our few days in Charleville, we travelled the Mitchell Highway south to Cunnamulla. On the way we stopped at the site of the massive truck explosion at Angellala Creek crossing. The explosion destroyed both the road and rail bridges. Cunnamulla was an interesting stop for fauna, the Cunnamulla Fella Centre (Slim Dusty's song) and fishing for Carp on the Allan Tannock weir
02 To Charleville	4/4/2017		6/4/2017	Through Toowoomba and Dalby on the Warrego Highway. Our first night was a stop at the small and interesting town of Warra - plenty of flood water between Toowoomba and Warra. Next travelling through Chinchilla with just a short walk around town, we then made our way to Miles - a great historic village display and then we stayed at the showgrounds park (all facilities). Next day we continued on the Warrego Highway, stopping for the night at Muckadilla (yes, it really is a name). We then continued on, arriving in Charleville in the early afternoon
01 Cyclone delay	1/4/2017		6/4/2017	Delayed by Cyclone Debbie and some minor repair needed at home

Tasmania - 2015

Tas22	9/4/2015	26/4/2015	Mole Creek Caravan Park for 2 nights. Before booking in to the park we drove further on to see the Marakoopa Cave. After Mole Creek on the morning we're to sail, we stopped at Latrobe on our way to Devonport for an evening departure.
Tas21	6/4/2015	26/4/2015	Although Hobart is the State's capital, Launceston is the more interesting city (for us). Settled by Europeans in 1806, it is one of Australia's oldest cities and is home to many historic buildings. Launceston has also been home to several firsts such as the first use of anaesthetic in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tas20	2/4/2015	26/4/2015	*Heritage Highway;* After Campbelltown we continued on to Historic Ross on the Heritage Highway. From Ross, we made a side trip to the Central Highlands to experience the Great Lakes region then on to Longford and *Evandale* before our Easter stop in Launceston
Tas19	29/3/2015	26/4/2015	Through the *Tamar River Valley, we then bypass Launceston (until Easter) on our way to historic Perth* and Campbelltown on the Heritage Highway which extends from Launceston to Hobart
Tas18	28/3/2015	26/4/2015	*Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre* where we spent 3.5 hours - it was very good. This was an actual mine site, and the one where the rock fall, caused by a minor earthquake, killed 1 miner, and trapped 2 other miners 925 metres underground for 14 days in an area of about 1.5 square metres, Todd Russell and Brant Webb on Anzac Day 2006
Tas17	27/3/2015	28/3/2015	*Pyengana's* 'Pub in the Paddock', then Derby, situated about 94km northeast of Launceston. After Derby we spent a couple of nights at the lovely resort town of Bridport, then on to Georgetown and Low Head on Tasmania's north coast
Tas16	23/3/2015	28/3/2015	*Bicheno* then on to *Bay of Fires*. The 30km stretch of coastline was named by Tobias Furneaux in 1773, from seeing the many fires lit by the north-east coastal plains Aboriginal people. From here onward, we leave the east coast and head toward Tasmania's north-west.
Tas15	19/3/2015	28/3/2015	Boat cruise from Coles Bay to *Wineglass Bay* on the Freycinet Peninsula sailing from the west around to the eastern (ocean) side
Tas14	20/3/2015	28/3/2015	*Triabunna, Swansea, Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula* and our 'mountain walks' where we had stunning coastline views of Coles Bay, Wineglass Bay and the ocean cliffs.
Tas13	16/3/2015	18/3/2015	*Maria Island* has unique history that encompasses fossilized sea life, aboriginal heritage, and penal settlements. Thousands of years ago Aboriginal tribes crossed to the island in reed-canoes. By 1825 Maria had become a penal settlement for convicts who committed offences against the colony.
Tas12	14/3/2015	18/3/2015	*Port Arthur* penal station was established in 1830 as a timber-getting camp, using convict labour to produce sawn logs for government projects. From 1833 it was used as a punishment station for repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies.
Tas11	12/3/2015	18/3/2015	*Richmond, Dunalley and Eaglehawk Neck*. Richmond (pop 900) is a well preserved, historic town about 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region. Richmond's most famous landmark is the Richmond Bridge, built in 1823 to 1825, around the time of the town's first settlement. It is Australia's oldest bridge still in use.
Tas10	10/3/2015	18/3/2015	*Bruny Island* has much to offer the visitor with its' history of visits by Captain Cook, Furneaux, Bligh, D'Entrecasteaux and Flinders. The highlight for us was the Bruny Island cruise.
Tas09	6/3/2015	18/3/2015	*Hobart*, Tasmania's capital city; population approx 200,000
Tas08	3/3/2015	6/3/2015	*Derwent Bridge, Lake St Clair, the historic towns of Hamilton* and *New Norfolk*, then on to Hobart
Tas07	28/2/2015	6/3/2015	*Queenstown*. We took the journey on the rack and pinion (Abt) rail and also an interesting tour underground at the Mt Lyell mine. A few days stopover then on to Derwent Bridge (The Wall) and Lake St Clair
Tas06	26/2/2015	6/3/2015	*Strahan* (pop only 700) is a popular tourist stop for visitors for the Gordon River cruises or flights. We'd done that before so we spent our time just taking in the town.
Tas05	23/2/2015	6/3/2015	*Zeehan*, the Silver City and the West Coast Heritage Centre - West Coast Pioneers Museum
Tas04	22/2/2015	27/2/2015	After Wynyard where we viewed what is reputed to be the best early Ford motor car display in Australia, we drove to Cradle Mountain. Cradle Mountain is at the northern end of the 1.4 million hectare Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. We'll approach the southern end after Queenstown and Strahan (pronounced Strawn).
Tas03	16/2/2015	27/2/2015	After *Devonport, we travelled along the north-west coast through Burnie, Wynyard and Stanley (the Nut). Our final destination was Arthur River* in the Tarkine Wilderness area, where locals think there might still be surviving Tasmanian Tigers (contrary to scientific theory).
Tas02	10/2/2015	27/2/2015	We leave Shepparton and travel south through Nagambie (home of Black Caviar) on our way to Melbourne for the crossing to Devonport, Tasmania. Then a few days around *Devonport*, including the Sheffield murals and Railton topiaries.
Tas01	6/2/2015	10/2/2015	Our first week was taking it easy on the journey from Brisbane to the ferry point in Tasmania. On the way we spent some time at the *Warrumbungles (National Park), Dubbo Zoo, then Shepparton* before driving into Melbourne on our departure morning.

Eastern Queensland - 2014

Qld20			Our final slide show for this trip. We had planned to take a couple of weeks to finish this part of the journey (but had to cut it short) from Gladstone, to the town of 1770, then Maryborough and the Sunshine Coast to home
Qld19			After buying a new battery for the boat we were ready for a few days at Lake Maraboon (Fairbairn Dam, named after David Fairbairn, Minister for National Development). Maraboon is Aboriginal for "where the black ducks fly" and we were certainly treated to the sight of many water birds.
Qld18			After the discovery of gold in 1871 Charters Towers soon turned into a bustling metropolis, which in its heyday boasted being the second largest city in Queensland. Many of the magnificent buildings in the town, particularly the banks, were built in the 1880's when it was at it's economic peak.
Qld17	21/6/2014	23/6/2014	Undara, Greenvale. The area is situated within the McBride volcanic province and contains 164 volcanoes, vents and cones. The lava tubes at Undara are regarded amongst the largest and longest on the planet. After Undara we spent one afternoon and night at the (now) small town of Greenvale, noted for the Nickel mining that ended in the 1990s
Qld16	17/6/2014	23/6/2014	Cairns again. After our Cape York experience with heavy rain over the last few days, we heard that Cairns had rain for almost two weeks. In spite of that, there was not a lot of water over Barron Falls; great Kuranda Scenic Rail and Skyrail rides though. Leaving Cairns and starting our journey toward home, we had a stop off in the old sugar cane town of Gordonvale. Gordonvale is a charming small town that has seen little modernisation.
Qld15	12/6/2014	14/6/2014	Weipa to Etty Bay. On our return to Cairns from "The Tip" we took a few hundred kms side trip to Weipa to see the Bauxite facilities - not a lot to see there, but apparently a great crabbing spot if we'd had the boat with us. Following that and after passing through the Atherton Tablelands, we visited Etty Bay (Cassowary Coast) where we were lucky enough to see a couple of the threatened Cassowaries.
Qld14	7/6/2014	14/6/2014	Coen to Bamaga. Reaching the "Tip" of Cape York on the Peninsula Development Road (PDR) was a dusty trip but in most places the road had been graded and was in reasonable condition - unlike our return journey. On the "good" road, one driver was possibly travelling too fast aand rolled over near Musgrave Station, luckily only a few hundred metres from the airstrip where the RFDS could fly in.
Qld13	3/6/2014	14/6/2014	Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands are sparsely populated wilderness regions visited by many adventure travellers and particularly 4WD enthusiasts wanting to test their cars and their skill or daring. In many places there is the "adventure road" and the "chicken route". Our pictures are from the latter. This first part of the Cape York trip shows the section from Cairns to Cooktown along the "Bloomfield Track".
Qld12	31/5/2014	14/6/2014	Cairns City has plenty to see and do and is very popular with international tourists. It is regarded as the gateway to Tropical North Queensland and the remote Cape York Peninsula. This slide show is of our first few days here, visiting the outer Barrier Reef and preparing for our 4WD trip to the "Tip" of Cape York
Qld11	27/5/2014	31/5/2014	Atherton Tablelands - the Yungaburra Avenue of Honour, located on the southern shores of Lake Tinaroo Yungaburra Avenue of Honour, located on the southern shores of Lake Tinaroo was opened in June 2013 opened in June 2013. The Crater Lakes NP with Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham created by volcanic eruption. Then on to Mareeba, the Tablelands biggest town
Qld10	26/5/2014	31/5/2014	On the Atherton Tablelands is the Herberton Historic Village - "A Great Australian Story". The village is a collection of 50+ buildings filled with antique items from Australia's pioneering days.
Qld09	23/5/2014	31/5/2014	Atherton Tablelands (Innisfail to Lake Tinaroo, then Atherton)
Qld08	19/5/2014	31/5/2014	Tully then Paronella Park - in *Tully* we visited the (Big) Golden Gumboot with a big green frog climbing up the side. The boot symbolises the town with the highest rainfall. Then an overnight stay at *Paronella Park* - an impressive place with an equally impressive history. Jose Paronella arrived in nearby Innisfail in 1913, having sailed from Catalonia in northern Spain.
Qld07	18/5/2014	15/5/2014	Hinchinbrook Coast - Wallaman Falls west of *Ingham, the Victoria Sugar Mill near Ingham is the largest in Australia, and at 5.76 km in length, the Sugar Jetty at Lucinda* is the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. Then on to *Cardwell*, the town almost flattened by Cyclone Yasi in 2011
Qld06	12/5/2014	15/5/2014	Townsville museums and displays - the Barrier Reef Aquarium, Kissing Point an area long associated with the military and social history of Townsville, The Museum of Tropical Qld which was very good. One display was on the British ship the Pandora shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef up near Cape York in 1791.
Qld05	12/5/2014	15/5/2014	Townsville is Queensland's second largest city; home to the North Queensland Cowboys (NRL), and often regarded as the capital of North Qld. Castle Hill and Magnetic Island and the waterfront Strand with it's fig and palm trees are the most significant features of the city
Qld04	4/5/2014	15/5/2014	After Airlie Beach, we traveled north to Bowen where we spent a few days. The Whitsunday waterways (Pacific Ocean) near Bowen were most picturesque. Bowen is building a reputation as a "murals town" and also is very proud to have hosted filming of Baz Luhrman's "Australia".
Qld03	30/4/2014	4/5/2014	From Sarina we stopped at Calen just north of Mackay (Qld) to visit grandsons, Jacob (15) and Kyle (14), then on to the very touristy Airlie Beach/Shute Harbour
Qld02	23/4/2014	4/5/2014	Setting off from Brisbane for our trip to the Cape, we first visited Lake Somerset, then Kingaroy through Biloela and on to Mount Morgan
Qld01	7/4/2014	14/4/2014	Texas in the Southern Downs region (Qld) on the NSW border.

2013 Round Australia

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Aust80	30/10/2013		2/11/2013	*New South Wales* - The Riverina and Narrandera, then Dubbo, Walgett to Lightning Ridge
Aust79	29/10/2013		2/11/2013	The *Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens*, commonly known as the Melbourne Zoo, houses animals from Australia and around the world. Melbourne Zoo is Australia's oldest zoo and was modeled on London Zoo. The zoo was opened in 1862 at the inner city Royal Park site.
Aust78	26/10/2013		2/11/2013	*Stawell* is where the annual "Stawell Gift" professional sprint races are held at Easter every year. After Stawell we travelled through Ararat to Melbourne for the Australian Historic Telephone Society show for 2013.
Aust77	23/10/2013		2/11/2013	From the South Australia border to Halls Gap - After a short stop at Kaniva (Vic) we then made our way into the Grampian Mountains area and our few days stopover at Halls Gap. For folk that know Joy, you will also know that she loves anything to do with animals and doesn't like to miss wildlife parks and David Attenborough - well, Halls Gap was certainly "Joy Heaven".
Aust76	20/10/2013		24/10/2013	South-East from Adelaide to Victoria -
Aust75	19/10/2013		24/10/2013	The *National Motor Museum*, Birdwood (near Adelaide) S.A. You don't have to be an enthusiast to appreciate Australia's biggest motoring collection of more than 300 vintage, veteran, post war, classic and modern cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
Aust74	18/10/2013		24/10/2013	*Adelaide* is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Today, Adelaide is noted for its many festivals and sporting events, its food, wine and culture, its long beachfronts, and its large defence and manufacturing sectors. It has been ranked the most liveable city in Australia by the Property Council of Australia in 2011, 2012 and again in 2013
Aust73	17/10/2013		24/10/2013	*From Port Augusta to Port Adelaide -* Port Adelaide is about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It is the main port for the city of Adelaide. Port Adelaide was early-Adelaide's main supply and information link to the rest of the world.
Aust72	13/10/2013		14/10/2013	Stuart Highway back into South Australia. The final leg of our short (2 week) round trip from Port Augusta to Alice Springs was the drive south on the Stuart Highway.
Aust71	6-11/10		14/10/2013	*Alice Springs* Standley Chasm is west of Alice Springs, where the Finke River (tributary) in flood times has gouged a narrow gap through the sandstone. Simpsons Gap was also created by flood waters seeping into the cracks in the rock, and over time causing a collapse resulting in an enormous gap in the mountain range.
Aust70	6-11/10		14/10/2013	*Alice Springs -* The Old Ghan Museum chronicles the history of the start of the Old Ghan railway in 1929. The Oldtimers Museum is a small memorial to the early Alice people and events
Aust69	6-11/10		14/10/2013	*Alice Springs* is the true outback town in the middle of Australia. Previously called Stuart, the settlement of Alice Springs in the 1800s played a pivotal role in opening up inland Australia.
Aust68	5/10/2013		14/10/2013	Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon (Northern Territory). Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a monolith; a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock. Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) is a massive pile of 36 weathered rock domes, estimated to be around 500 million years old. Kings Canyon has 270 metre high walls that rise above Kings Creek - not unlike Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland.
Aust67	2/10/2013		4/10/2013	*Coober Pedy (South Australia)* has plenty to see and a lot to offer visitors. It is a most unusual outback town, in a lot of ways untidy because of ad-hoc developement around past mining leases. We both really enjoyed our visit and they say that if the "Opal bug" bites you, then you might never leave.
Aust66	29/9/2013		4/10/2013	*Ceduna and Port Augusta* are located on opposite sides of the Eyre Peninsula. Port Augusta has a very well preserved heritage. It is situated at the head of the Spencer Gulf and overlooked by the Flinders Ranges.
Aust65	25/9/2013		1/10/2013	*The Nullarbor* 1200km crossing used to fill people with awe - miles and miles of unsealed, lonely roads with horror stories of motorists broken down with no-one to help them. All that has changed though but crossing the Nullarbor can still be thought of as a bit of an adventure. With plenty of fellow travellers on the road though, it is no longer any cause for concern.
Aust64	21/9/2013		27/9/2013	*Norseman*, Western Australia. Norseman is the western "book-end" of the Nullarbor highway. It is a prosperous mining town with over 5 million ounces of gold having been extracted from the fields.
Aust63	19/9/2013		27/9/2013	*Kalgoorlie-Boulder* (population 32,000) - In 1893 Irish prospector Paddy Hannan found a few good gold nuggets at the foot of what is today called Mt Charlotte. He rode into Coolgardie with 100 ounces of gold to register his claim. Discovery of gold deposits located some 5 kms to the south, led to the discovery of the world famous 'Golden Mile', the richest square mile of gold bearing ore in the world. This triggered one of the biggest gold rushes in Australia's history.
Aust62	17/9/2013		27/9/2013	*Coolgardie* (Mother of the Goldfields) - No Town, to Boom Town, to Ghost Town. With a population of 15,000 in c1900 and now down to 1,000 and many of them have their jobs in the tourism industry. On September 17,1892 Arthur Bayley rode into Southern Cross and deposited with the Mining Warden 554 ounces of gold that he and his partner William Ford, had found at an area that was to become Coolgardie.
Aust61	15/9/2013		20/9/2013	*Wave Rock*, Hippo's Yawn and 'the Humps' are all parts of giant granite outcrops near Hyden, Western Australia. Their unique features and appearance has been brought about by the way the rocks have weathered, coloured and eroded over time.
Aust60	13/9/2013		20/9/2013	*Albany* was Australia's last operating whaling station and closed 35 years ago in November 1978, signalling the end of whaling by Australia. For us, after seeing these gentle giants at close quarters in Exmouth, it makes the brutality and how easy it was to kill these magnificent creatures that much sadder.
Aust59	9/9/2013		13/9/2013	*Walpole* and its farming region and timber milling grew out of the 1930s depression era. Unemployed men and their families were sent to the settlement to carve farms out of virgin bush. Now it is a scenic holiday area surrounded by the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.
Aust58	6/9/2013		13/9/2013	*Manjimup -* Although the timber felling is now restricted to new commercial growth areas, the timber industry is synonymous with Manjimup (pop 5,000). Manjimup is another town in the south with lush rolling hills and healthy animals grazing; reminding us of many parts of the UK.
Aust57	5/9/2013		9/9/2013	*Augusta/Cape Leeuin -* The small town of Augusta (1830) is around the farthest town in the south west of Australia. It could be a great place for a Sea/Tree change, but the tourists would be an annoyance. Dozens of ships ran aground near Cape Leeuwin, leading to the building of the Lighthouse in 1895.
Aust56	3/9/2013		9/9/2013	*Margaret River Region -* A relative newcomer to the wine industry, Margaret River is becoming well known for some of the best Australian wines. Along the coast of this region is the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, home to many underground caves; we vistited just one, the beautiful Lakes Cave. We are here at the tail end of their winter rain season - very rough in the surf, windy, cold and wet, but the countryside looks very lush and green - in many ways like being back in the UK.
Aust55	31/8/2013		9/9/2013	*Bunbury -* Leaving Fremantle to travel through Pinjarra and the lush farming area some very heavy rain and strong winds closed in before we reached Bunbury - the 3rd largest city in WA.
Aust54	29/8/2013		30/8/2013	*York & Fremantle -* York is Western Australia's most historic inland town; first settled in 1831, only 2 years after the establishment of the Swan River Colony. The historic City of Fremantle or 'Freo' - when passenger ships were the preferred mode of transport for world travellers, Fremantle was the western gateway to Australia and was the first port for millions of migrants arriving in Australia by ship.
Aust53	24/8/2013		30/8/2013	*Perth,* Western Australia's state capital city with a population approaching 2 million is located on the Swan river. Perth became known worldwide as the "City of Light" when city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronaut John Glenn passed overhead while orbiting the earth on Friendship 7 in 1962.
Aust52	18/8/2013		21/8/2013	*The Pinnacles*, then on to Perth
Aust51	17/8/2013		21/8/2013	*New Norcia -* (c1846), Western Australia; in Australia, it is "A town unlike any other". The town owes it's origin to Benectine monks who came to Western Australia to escape religious persecution in Spain in the early 1800's.
Aust50	14/8/2013		21/8/2013	Mullewa and Perenjori - Just inland from the coast in the South West of Western Australia is the lush "Wheatbelt" area. Most small towns in this area like Mullewa and Perenjori have large wheat storage and transfer facilities for wheat transport. Tourism is also important particularly during the spring "wildflower" season.
Aust49	12/8/2013		21/8/2013	*Geraldton* (pop 40,000) is an important service centre and port for regional mining, crayfish/lobster fishing, wheat, sheep and tourism. Geraldton also has an exceptional monument to the 645 Australian soldiers lost in sinking of the HMAS Sydney II during WWII.
Aust48	10/8/2013		18/8/2013	Western Australia, Mid-West Region - WA wildflowers have been on show for much of our journey, but they are getting more prolific as we get further south. We visited the Principality of Hutt River, Northampton and Oakabella.
Aust47	7/8/2013		11/8/2013	*At Shark Bay -* Denham has the distinction of being the most westerly town in Australia. Monkey Mia, where the dolphins come inshore and right on the beach. The stromatolites in Hamelin Pool.
Aust46	3/8/2013		11/8/2013	*Carnarvon -* (pop 9000) is the commercial centre for the rich Gascoyne district, at the mouth of the Gascoyne River. It seems a nice town and has some interesting history, including an early transport company owned by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Aust45	30/7/2013		2/8/2013	Humpback Whales in Exmouth Gulf. The Ningaloo Reef off Exmouth and further south to Coral Bay. Our unforgetable experience with the Humpback Whales just a few short kms from the Cape. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust44	29/7/2013		2/8/2013	*Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range national park, and Exmouth.* The reef is located off the north west coast of Western Australia, approximately 1200 km north of Perth. The reef is 260 km long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust43	13/7/2013		28/7/2013	*From Port Hedland to Dampier -* In anticipation of catching the full effect of the 'Staircase To The Moon', we spent our next week or so around the most interesting Karratha/Roebourne/Dampier region. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust42	20/7/2013		28/7/2013	*Port Hedland -* (pop 18,000) From Broome in the Kimberley Region to Port Hedland in the Pilbara region is approximately 600km of reasonably flat and mostly dry country. Port Hedland industry and harbour operate 24 hours per day and 365 days moving iron ore and salt to global markets, with China the major buyer of iron ore. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust41	13/7/2013		17/7/2013	*Broome -* (pop 16,000) was established to support the early pearling industry and consequently it has a most interesting 'frontier town' and multi-cultural history. Its beautiful waterfront and harbour face the deep blue of the Indian Ocean. As with Derby, Broome was gazetted in 1883. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust40	7/7/2013		10/7/2013	*Derby -* Derby (pop 5000) is located on King Sound, near the mouth of the Fitzroy River. The town was gazetted in 1883 and provided early port facilities for the shipping of cattle and pearl shell - until the invention of plastic, Derby supplied most of the World's pearl shell for the manufacture of buttons. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust39	5/7/2013		10/7/2013	*Talbot Bay and the Horizontal Waterfalls -* The Horizontal Falls is the name given to a natural phenomenon on the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia. The Falls are a fast-moving tidal flow through two narrow gaps in the McLarty Ranges. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust38	28/6/2013		10/7/2013	A few days travel from Kununurra to Derby - We made stopovers at Leycesters Rest - Ord River, Halls Creek, Ngumpan Cliff Lookout then Fitzroy Crossing. By the time we reach the first of our stopovers, we are in the south of the magnificent Kimberley region on our way to the north coast of WA at Derby. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust37	27/6/2013		5/7/2013	*Kununurra -* is an Aboriginal word meaning 'the meeting of big waters'. The town of Kununurra was established only in 1960 to support the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and it would not exist without the agricultural successes that have followed. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust36	25/6/2013		5/7/2013	*The Bungle Bungles -* is an impressive area of natural beauty in Purnulu National Park, south of Lake Argyle. From the air, the black and orange domes are an impressive sight, rising 200 metres above the plain and containing deep gorges. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust35	24/6/2013		28/6/2013	*Western Australia - Kimberley Region* *Lake Argyle -* is the largest body of fresh water in Australia and is classed as an inland sea covering more than 1,000 sq km. The lake provides water for the Ord Valley Irrigation Area and was made possible after the damming of the Ord River in 1971. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust34	22/6/2013		28/6/2013	Leaving the Northern Territory - After Timber Creek we travelled through the Keep River National Park and on to the Western Australia border. The massive Boab trees were a highlight of the countryside and the Gregory's Tree sacred site. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust33	20/6/2013		28/6/2013	Gregory National Park and the Victoria River - Between Katherine and the WA border, is the 13000sq km Gregory National Park. Beautiful country with brilliant earthy reds of the escarpment country near Victoria River, the longest in the Northern Territory. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust32	19/6/2013		28/6/2013	Katherine - While most visitors arrive here to see Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk), the town itself is quite large, with a big Aboriginal population. The town serves an area that stretches from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Western Australia border. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust31	18/6/2013		28/6/2013	Kakadu National Park - After our few days in the northern part of Kakadu, we travelled south to Cooinda. In a truly amazing place, we spent time on the waters of the South Alligator River, Jim Jim Creek and Yellow Water. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust30	15/6/2013		16/6/2013	*Kakadu National Park* - After Darwin, we travelled on the Arnhem Highway, crossing the Adelaide, Mary and Alligator rivers and into the Kakadu National Park. Highlights for us were the crocodiles at Adelaide river and the ancient cave paintings at Ubirr. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust29	13/6/2013		16/6/2013	Darwin - While we had been in Darwin, we had visited many of the recognised tourist spots, so our last few days was devoted to just taking in the city's environment. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust28	10/6/2013		10/6/2013	Darwin - Australia's most northern city and the capital of the Northern Territory; very tropical and quite hot even in June. Darwin has a unique Australian history with the devasting damages of the WWII Japanese bombings and the fury of Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust27	2/6/2013		7/6/2013	Litchfield National Park - is regarded by some as the best in the Northern Territory. Like the N.T. itself, it is BIG covering approx 1,500 square km. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust26	30/5/2013		7/6/2013	Adelaide River - where the Railway museum has an extensive display of Oppenheimer equipment from the Overland Telegraph Line. At the Adelaide River Inn is 'Charlie' - the water buffalo from the Crocodile Dundee movies. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust25	28/5/2013		7/6/2013	Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) - 'Nitmiluk' is Aboriginal meaning land of many cicadas. Here there is thirteen gorges in total, stretching for approximately 60km along the Katherine river. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust24	27/5/2013		7/6/2013	*Cutta Cutta Caves* - is a limestone formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Inside the cave we saw some stunning colours of the rock flows with glittering specks of calcium carbonate. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust23	24/5/2013		7/6/2013	Mataranka (NT, pop 250) - Elsey Cattle Station is located 21 kms south from Mataranka where the film "We of the Never Never" is set. Mataranka is also famous for its hot springs, and we were also fortunate to be here for their annual Never Never Festival and rodeo. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust22	23/5/2013		7/6/2013 ~~28/5/2013~~	*Daly Waters* (population about 50) and the Daly Waters Pub. Explorer John McDouall Stuart discovered Daly Waters in 1862, having forced his way through lancewood scrub and harsh terrain at the rate of just over 1 kilometre a day. 10 years later, the Overland Telegraph Line was built through Daly Waters. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust21	22/5/2013		7/6/2013 ~~24/5/2013~~	Tennant Creek Telegraph Station - one of 11 built every 250 kms along the 3,600 kms Overland Telegraph Line, completed in 1872 and stretching from Adelaide to Darwin. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust20	20/5/2013		7/6/2013 ~~24/5/2013~~	*The Devils Marbles -* or Karlu Karlu which literally translates as 'round boulders'. The area is a large group of gigantic rounded granite boulders, many of which are precariously balanced on top of one another. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust19	19/5/2013		7/6/2013 ~~24/5/2013~~	*Tennant Creek -* supporting a population of approx 3,000 people is located 505km north of Alice Springs. The town grew in the 1930's when gold was discovered by Charles Windley, a lineman working on the Overland Telegraph Line.. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust18	18/5/2013		7/6/2013 ~~24/5/2013~~	*Camooweal to Tennant Creek -* is just short of 500km with only one available fuel stop mid-way. The country looks sparse, but look closer and there is plenty of flora/fauna, many cattle and surprisingly we saw no kangaroos. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust17	14/5/2013		22/5/2013	*Mount Isa -* our last large town before we cross the border into the Northern Territory. Mt Isa has developed since the discovery of lead deposits here by John Campbell Miles in 1923. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust16	12/5/2013		~~17/5/2013~~ 22/5/2013	The Gulflander - Normanton to Croydon rail motor service. The service is operated by Queensland Rail for tourist trips but it has also provided the Normanton mail run once a week since the 1880's. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust15	10/5/2013		~~17/5/2013~~ 22/5/2013	*Normanton -* began as a small port town servicing the nearby Croydon Goldfields during the gold rush period of the late 1800's. It is now the administration centre for for the Gulf Savannah. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust14	6/5/2013		~~17/5/2013~~ 22/5/2013	*Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria -* is not an attractive town at all. It's only real attraction is exceptional fishing in season and the wildlife on the Norman River and the Gulf. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust13	5/5/2013		~~17/5/2013~~ 22/5/2013	*The Burke Development road -* is an approximate 400km stretch from Cloncurry to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is sealed and flat for almost the entire length with some single lane sections and narrow bridges. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust12	4/5/2013		9/5/2013	*Cloncurry -* in the heart of the great north west of Queensland and even before Mt Isa, it was the centre of some of the first successful copper mining in the west. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust11	3/5/2013		9/5/2013	Between Kynuna and Cloncurry - There is a lot grazing country and mining for copper, gold, silver etc around the Matilda Highway, north west Queensland. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust10	3/5/2013		9/5/2013	*Kynuna -* where the Blue Heeler pub was first established in the 1860's to serve the Cobb & Co coaches. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust09	2/5/2013		9/5/2013	Winton, (North-Western Queensland) - the North-West Qld town where the QANTAS airline was created. A.B. (Banjo) Paterson is also credited with creating his poem "Waltzing Matilda"near here. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust08	1/5/2013		9/5/2013	Near Winton, (North-Western Queensland) - on the Landsborough Highway we are in what is known as the Desert Channels Region, where we visited the Age of Dinosaurs display. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust07	29-30/4/2013		6/5/2013	*Longreach, (Western Queensland) -* Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd was founded at Winton in 1921 but was soon moved to Longreach where a hangar and purpose built landing field were constructed. The museum opened in 2002 and is built around the original 1922 hangar. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust06	28/4/2013		6/5/2013	Longreach, (Western Queensland) - our first look around Longreach was to the Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust05	27/4/2013		6/5/2013	*Barcaldine, (Western Queensland)*. Although we didn't stay overnight to see the lighted "Knowledge Tree", we did spend many hours wandering around a viewing the Australian Workers Heritage Centre. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust04	26/4/2013		6/5/2013	*Jericho (Central Queensland)*. Jericho is a typical small town in the West; this town on the Jordan River has all of the facilities that you might expect in larger towns, but on a very small scale. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust03	16/4/2013		6/5/2013	*The journey from home to Jericho (C.Q.)*. Starting out on our big journey; this slide show and diary entry is a bit too big - in future they will be smaller and more focussed on a place/area. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust02	March 2013		2/4/2013	*Lake Somerset*. We've been wondering whether we should take the extra effort (and cost) to tow our boat on our Round Oz trip. WE have only really ever towed it the few km's from home to Manly Harbour; so, with that in mind we're having a few days at Somerset Dam, taking the boat with us on the 300km round trip trying to catch a few "red claw" (crayfish) on Lake Somerset. Slide show and Diary updated.
Aust01	28/01/2013		2/4/2013	*Tamworth, NSW*. Our first use of the M/H in Australia - to the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. What a contrast of the extremes of Australias weather conditions in just one week. Slide show and Diary updated.