Uluru and Central Australia, September 2018 the club got it’s first taste for some outback touring, with Naomi as our trip leader, taking 4 vehicles to the red centre.
Day 1: Saturday 29th September
We left home a bit late (6.30am) (most Victorians would think of it as Grand Final Day), but finally met up with Jim at Marong & headed off on what we hoped was going to be an awesome adventure. Travelling for the day was simple enough – just a matter of driving and having plenty of breaks – we had to get 730km. We met up with Steve & Narelle at Morgan and travelled together to World’s End Gorge near Burra. Was a lovely free camp spot (with a drop dunny) & the first of many pleasant nights by a fire. Nearly got cleaned up by a dill with a caravan as we turned into Burra Gorge Road though!
Day 2: Sunday 30th September
We had a fair bit of ground to cover again today, so left camp around 8.30 and headed cross country via Jamestown, Orroroo (an excellent local market where we found an early lunch and some local olive oil), Hawker (stopped for grocery shopping & fuel) & Lyndhurst (Ochre pits to look at). We were intending to get past Marree and camp somewhere along the Oodnadatta Track. It took us a bit longer than expected – the camper trailer did a tyre and Steve had to do a quick change & then wait at Marree to get another one sorted. Not bad for the middle of nowhere on a Sunday evening. Picked up some awesome fresh bread at Marree – highly recommend stopping in for a loaf if you are passing through. We camped behind one of the many disused railway buildings for the night somewhere west of Marree – no fire though, no wood available for collection!
Day 3: Monday 1st October
Heading off around 8.30 again we headed up the Oodnadatta Track. This was another travelling day, driving the Track & stopping wherever we wanted to take a look along the way (including Lake Eyre). Parts of the track were pretty rough, but allowed for speeds up to 70km/hr most of the way. We passed through William Creek and Oodnadatta, then camped ‘off the road’ somewhere between Oodnadatta & Marla. We enjoyed a private & secluded spot, a great fire and a game of cards.
Day 4: Tuesday 2nd October
Off again, headed for Marla. On arrival, those of us on Telstra were met with many beeps & dings as our phones picked up service after so long without. Narelle (on Optus) had service all the way along the Oodnadatta! After refuelling, both bodies & vehicles, we continued up the Stuart Highway to the NT/SA border, where we stopped for a real break & some lunch. After the usual photos at the Border we hit 130km/hr (which got Jim very excited) for a whole 2kms before turning off onto the Mulga Park Rd (or the old Gunbarrel Highway). What a great sand road drive. Grins on all faces – especially Connor the “L” Plater. Travelled south and then west of Mount Connor and made our way to Ayer’s Rock Camp Ground to set up for a couple of nights (very excited by showers!). Here we met up with Liz & Ash & Nathan who had already been here for a couple of day (and who had done what turned out to be the rest of our trip (almost) in reverse).
Day 5: Wednesday 3rd October
Steve & Narelle were up early to see the sunrise over Uluru and then joined the rest of us in the car park at the base of the Rock. They headed off on the guided walk, then continued around the rest of the way, about 10.5km round trip! The teenagers were keen to do the Climb so we waited around, hoping the Rock would be opened to climbing. Unfortunately, as the day wore on it became clear the wind was too strong and the day was filled in in a few different ways… trip to the Olgas, camel ride, ice creams, a return to the camp ground and a swim for those with energy to spare (teenager’s!).
Day 6: Thursday 4th October
Steve & Narelle headed off for King’s Canyon, while Naomi, Connor & Leo, and Jim were staying another night at Ayer’s Rock. Liz & Ash & Nathan were heading home (to get Nathan back to school in time for the start of Term 4), but they were hoping to climb Ayer’s Rock with Connor & Leo first. Unfortunately, the wind was up again & they didn’t have the chance, so headed south-ward. Back to the camp for a relaxing day, but overheard some other people saying the Rock was open to climbing so we high-tailed it back out there. Connor & Leo headed up and made the cairn (highest point) while Naomi sat at the bottom and worried. We had the walky-talkys – and interestingly Naomi couldn’t hear them, but Jim (back at the camp site almost 25km away) could.
Day 7: Friday 5th October
Having achieved the major goal of the trip we were able to make the most of our time now – so we headed on. We met back up with Steve & Narelle at the west end of the Ernest Giles Rd and then tackled the Finke River Gorge from the south. This will go down as one of my favourite drives ever, sand, creek crossings, bush, wild horses, lizards and birds. What an absolutely beautiful part of Australia. Steve had the camper trailer, which got stuck in the sand at one point & Jim had to provide a bit of assistance, but otherwise we made it through with ease. Camped the night at Boggy Hole.
Day 8: Saturday 6th October
After enjoying the rest of the drive out towards Hermannsburg we headed for Palm Valley. Another iconic drive – much easier than last time I was here as it was mostly dry – enjoyed a walk, then had lunch before heading back out. Here we said goodbye to Steve & Narelle as they were heading south via the Stuart Hwy to Coober Pedy but we were heading a different way – tackling the Old Ghan Road! After re-stocking food & fuel in Alice Springs we headed south and found a quiet spot to camp off the road.
Day 9: Sunday 7th October
We headed along the Old Ghan Road, enjoying another sand track, then took the turn into Chamber’s Pillar. Along the way we had fantastic sand driving, then came across another vehicle with a trailer stuck in some bull-dust. Jim took care of the recovery, then we continued on to the Pillar. Connor (on his L’s) really enjoyed making it through the spot where the other, very experienced, driver was stuck. Lunch by Chamber’s Pillar then back out to the Old Ghan Road. Worst thing is that you have to go in and out on the same road – good thing we enjoy the sandy tracks. This was a huge day – as Naomi was driving she had an old sleeper pin fly up and damage a rear tyre – which meant a road-side repair – great learning opportunity for those of us who’ve never plugged a tyre before. After that we headed on to Finke, then to Lambert’s Centre of Australia. This was great fun along a windy, sandy, rutted track – and to spend time at the geographical centre of our beautiful land was well worth the side trip. Another quite camp spot – set well back from the road, and a great fire ended what was a wonderful day.
Day 10: Monday 8th October
We headed in to Mount Dare to get Naomi’s spare fixed and Jim filled up his fuel tanks – the most expensive fuel of the whole trip. On to Oodnadatta where we stopped for a drink at the Transcontinental Hotel & then we drove on, straight back down the Oodnadatta Track. We camped that night at Beresford Ruins – another railway siding – which is well worth a stop. For the first time we didn’t put up the tents, but as we had the place to ourselves we camped inside the ruins under a corrugated roof. Comfort indeed.
Day 11: Tuesday 9th October
We were all starting to feel a little weary now, and having ticked all our boxes we were keen to head for home. By lunch time we had hit the bitumen, and while we stopped for breaks quite often we made it all the way to Burra. We really lashed out – stayed in a motel and ate at their restaurant. Of course, the most important thing was that they had showers!
Day 12: Wednesday 10th October
Our last day, spent driving straight home. We once again took plenty of rest stops and made it home comfortably before 5pm – enough time to unpack and head to the car-wash for the first run through.
Many thanks to Jim, Steve, Narelle, Liz, Ash & Nathan for making this a fantastic, fun-filled, laughter-filled and adventure-filled holiday for my kids & I.
- Distance travelled by trip leader 5,440 km
Naomi, Connor & Leo
Participants
- Naomi, Connor & Leo (Toyota Prado)
- Jim (Toyota Prado)
- Steve & Narelle (Toyota Prado & camper trailer)
- Liz, Ash & Nathan (Ford Ranger)
Additional video clip – Steve and Narelle
This covers photos and short video clips from the overall trip, plus the side-trip that Steve and Narelle took, it also includes photos from the Little Desert Trip. Enjoy!
