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Hey all,
I read mkh's report and it had memories of a similar trip I did with the missus and my best mate (in his Hilux) in October last year. So I thought I would share some pics and some stories beause, as mkh will know - its an amazing experience!
We loaded up and put the brand new Rooftop tend and 2.5x2m awning on top and headed out!
We left Melbourne the first weekend in Oct and planned on spending 3 weeks to go up the Oodnadatta track, to Mt Dare, Finke, Alice, Kings Canyon, Yulara, Coober Pedy, Pt Augusta, Adelaide, home.
It was smooth sailing all the way to William Creek. The ruins and campsite at Farina were a nice little gateway to the desert. The wood stuck 8-10ft in the trees showed us just how much water had gon through the place tho! It made collecting firewood tough as we had to climb!
We then took our time and cruised to Maree and Lake Eyer south. We camped just of the road south of Lake Eyer South (alot of Souths!) and the sky looked a little broody in the morning so we decided to move it along a little so after checking out the lake for a bit we headed to William Creek and tried their Parma out.
Then the rain started! So we just made it from William Creek to Oodnadatta after the last 100kms was mostly sideways and passing a bogged road train near the Peake ruins. We stayed the night in Oodnadatta and were excited to see the rains clearing. There were a few others that made it into town from Mt Dare and from William Creek so sharing stories of the rather gnarly conditions went into the night but when we got up the next morning, it was to news of road closures! The only road left open was to Coober Pedy so we made an early morning dash for it. A couple of full creeks and plenty of rain we hit Coober Pedy just before the road was closed. We were then confined to the blacktop but has some good weather at Yulara, Kings Creek Station and Alice before the rain set in again.
Just over the NT border, completely by chance, we found a great spot about a km off the track near a dam to setup camp. The Dam produced a few yabbies for supper too!
The big rock was something special, its something all Aussies should see at least once I reckon. Kings Creek Station (just outside Kings Canyon) was just amazing and full of history and of course, the Canyon was a real highlight.
We got to Alice during the Masters Games so the place was PACKED BUT IT HAD A GREAT ATMOSPHERE!
So we cut the trip a week short (the wife was going on about going to Dar
win!) and managed just over 6000kms in 2 weeks... good thing we own a Prado as it was pretty comfortable!
Loading up
The two rigs ready to go!
First bit of red dirt we spotted!
Great feeling seeing this out the front of the Prado!
Pulled over for some lunch under the awning
Farina Ruins
Start of the Oodnadatta Track
Broke a mount on my spotty
Out with the 100mile an hour tape!
Good as new! Well almost!
Quartz fields on the way to the old Peake Tele station. Looked like another planet!
Rinally the slip and slide into Australia's Hottest, dryest town finished the the Pink Roadhouse.
Camping off the road just over the SA/NT Border
Approaching th big rock
Enjoying the view from the Hilux
Posing in front of the big rock
This was the view from the Hilux on the way home - for 2 days straight!
Just loved this trip even thogh I felt robbed we had to cut it short but we are doing the Birdsvill to Alice trip in September so I will get to see Mt Dare and Dalhousie ect then, so its definatly something to look forward to!
Cheers!
I read mkh's report and it had memories of a similar trip I did with the missus and my best mate (in his Hilux) in October last year. So I thought I would share some pics and some stories beause, as mkh will know - its an amazing experience!
We loaded up and put the brand new Rooftop tend and 2.5x2m awning on top and headed out!
We left Melbourne the first weekend in Oct and planned on spending 3 weeks to go up the Oodnadatta track, to Mt Dare, Finke, Alice, Kings Canyon, Yulara, Coober Pedy, Pt Augusta, Adelaide, home.
It was smooth sailing all the way to William Creek. The ruins and campsite at Farina were a nice little gateway to the desert. The wood stuck 8-10ft in the trees showed us just how much water had gon through the place tho! It made collecting firewood tough as we had to climb!
We then took our time and cruised to Maree and Lake Eyer south. We camped just of the road south of Lake Eyer South (alot of Souths!) and the sky looked a little broody in the morning so we decided to move it along a little so after checking out the lake for a bit we headed to William Creek and tried their Parma out.
Then the rain started! So we just made it from William Creek to Oodnadatta after the last 100kms was mostly sideways and passing a bogged road train near the Peake ruins. We stayed the night in Oodnadatta and were excited to see the rains clearing. There were a few others that made it into town from Mt Dare and from William Creek so sharing stories of the rather gnarly conditions went into the night but when we got up the next morning, it was to news of road closures! The only road left open was to Coober Pedy so we made an early morning dash for it. A couple of full creeks and plenty of rain we hit Coober Pedy just before the road was closed. We were then confined to the blacktop but has some good weather at Yulara, Kings Creek Station and Alice before the rain set in again.
Just over the NT border, completely by chance, we found a great spot about a km off the track near a dam to setup camp. The Dam produced a few yabbies for supper too!
The big rock was something special, its something all Aussies should see at least once I reckon. Kings Creek Station (just outside Kings Canyon) was just amazing and full of history and of course, the Canyon was a real highlight.
We got to Alice during the Masters Games so the place was PACKED BUT IT HAD A GREAT ATMOSPHERE!
So we cut the trip a week short (the wife was going on about going to Dar
win!) and managed just over 6000kms in 2 weeks... good thing we own a Prado as it was pretty comfortable!
Loading up
The two rigs ready to go!
First bit of red dirt we spotted!
Great feeling seeing this out the front of the Prado!
Pulled over for some lunch under the awning
Farina Ruins
Start of the Oodnadatta Track
Broke a mount on my spotty
Out with the 100mile an hour tape!
Good as new! Well almost!
Quartz fields on the way to the old Peake Tele station. Looked like another planet!
Rinally the slip and slide into Australia's Hottest, dryest town finished the the Pink Roadhouse.
Camping off the road just over the SA/NT Border
Approaching th big rock
Enjoying the view from the Hilux
Posing in front of the big rock
This was the view from the Hilux on the way home - for 2 days straight!
Just loved this trip even thogh I felt robbed we had to cut it short but we are doing the Birdsvill to Alice trip in September so I will get to see Mt Dare and Dalhousie ect then, so its definatly something to look forward to!
Cheers!
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