Heading Inland

After following the coast and swimming at numerous beautiful beaches, we decided to head inland for a change of scenery. We stopped off at the Nannup Music Festival in Nannup, the Stirling Ranges, Wave Rock and spent a night at Louis' Lookout.

Hanging around at the famous Nannup Music Festival. 

Clouds spilling over Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges. 

We had to stop here, just for Louis!

Our rooftop tent. 

Our camp kitchen. 

Outback art. 

Chris dwarfed by Wave Rock. 

South of Perth

By 26. February, we were ready to leave Perth and see some of WA. We hired a car with a rooftop tent and followed the coast south in the direction of Margaret River and Albany. We enjoyed swimming and camping at beautiful beaches with white sand and turquoise blue water. The karri forests, with trees up to 65m high, were another highlight. 

Chris!

First the sunset and then we slept on the beach. 

Cape Naturaliste. 

The lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin.

A 65m high bushfire lookout in the karri forest, which I climbed up to. 

A beautiful beach near Windy Harbour. 

Another beautiful beach: Greens Pool.

Great coastal scenery in Torndirrup National Park near Albany. 

The rugged coast near Hopetoun, our most easterly point. 

Out to the West

On 24. February, I flew to Perth to meet Chris, who'd flown over from Switzerland. We spent two days in Perth getting organised , then set off on a 3 week roadtrip to see Western Australia. First we headed south to Margaret River & Albany, then north as far as Exmouth. 

Perth

"Getting organised" involved drinking pints & making plans...

From Oodnadatta to Adelaide

After 3 days in Oodnadatta, I met another traveller in the Pink Roadhouse. He was driving a landcruiser south and like me, he had to change his plans because the Oodnadatta Track was closed. Together we drove back to Marla and followed the Stuart Highway south to Adelaide. 

I'll spend 5 nights in Adelaide visiting an old friend and then fly to Perth on 24.2.2014.

Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of Australia.

The southern Flinders Ranges near Port Augusta mark the end of the outback in South Australia. 

Camping at Hancock's Lookout with Sascha.

The view across the Spencer Gulf at sunset from Hancock's Lookout.

The view of Adelaide from Belair.

Mountain biking in Belair National Park.

A Koala.

From Kings Canyon to Oodnadatta

Luke, Susie and I continued on to Uluru and the Olgas. Finally in Marla, a small settlement on the Stuart Highway about 1000km north of Adelaide, our ways parted. I wanted to travel to Marree and the Flinders Ranges via the Oodndatta track, so we said goodbye. 

The owner of a local construction company generously offered me a ride to Oodnadatta but then it rained for the first time in over 1 year, the track to Marree was closed and I was stuck. I helped on the construction site in Oodnadatta for 3 days in return for food and lodging. It was a nice experience in the town that claims to be the hottest and driest in Australia. 

Uluru just before sunrise.

The Olgas (Kata Tutja).

View from Karingana lookout in the Olgas.

On the Valley of the Winds walk.

The old Ghan railway station at Oodnadatta. This is about as back of beyond as it gets in Australia. 

The name says it all. 

 

From Mt. Isa to Kings Canyon

I met Luke and Susie in Mt. Isa and together we travelled in a 4x4 through the centre of Australia. The first part of our journey took us to west to Tennant Creek then south to the Devil's Marbles, Alice Springs, the East and West McDonnell Ranges. We followed the Larapinta Highway to Kings Canyon.  

Windmill at sunset near Tennant Creek.

A road train on the way to Alice Springs.

The Devil's Marbles.

The abandoned goldmining settlement of Arltunga in the East McDonnell Ranges.

Camping in the Outback. Only downside: lots of flies and mozzies.

Mt. Sonder in the West McDonnell Ranges.

Ormiston Gorge, my favourite swimming hole on the trip.

Kings Canyon from above. 

In the Garden of Eden at the bottom of Kings Canyon. 

From Brisbane to Mt Isa

I've found a seat in a 4wd to take me to Alice Springs, Uluru and Adelaide, but I have to get to Mt Isa in the Queensland Outback to catch it. The only way to make it in time was by bus: 26 hours from Brisbane via Toowoomba and Longreach. 

Brisbane. 

Driving through the outback. 

The trusty Greyhound bus. By the time we reached Mt Isa, I was ine of only two remaining passengers. 

Surface flooding caused by recent rain.

Red earth, dry grass, scrubby bushes & anthills.