Day 12 - 15

Day 12 – Port Germein, Woomera, Bon Bon Rest Area

As soon as we drove out of the van park we went to the longest jetty for another go at photos. We then drove up to Port Augusta to do the emails, groceries and petrol, before heading up the Stewart Highway. We stopped off at Woomera to look at the very interesting Lions Club Aircraft and Missile Park, before heading further north, staying at Bon Bon Rest Area.

Day 13 – Coober Pedy to Tarcoonyinna Rest Area

We rolled into to Coober Pedy just before lunch first up was breath tested by the only 2 policemen in town. After seeing some of the locals I understood why. We checked out the Info Centre and cooked up 2 minute noodles on the gas bottle in the carpark, just like real travellers!

We visited the Catholic and Serbian Orthodox underground churches and went to the Big Winch for some photos. There a Hong Kong man invited us into his home to check out some of his opal jewellery. We then went to Tom’s working opal mine. We were guided by a miner lady who has followed in her dad’s footsteps of ‘gambling with the mines’. It was great tour, even though some of the machinery was broken.

We drove further north up the Stewart Highway, expecting to stay at a campsite off a dirt road just out of Marla, but it got too dark, not wanting to drive on a dirt road at night, and we couldn’t find it anyway so we headed further up for about another hour to the next stop.

We were the only people at the rest area. We went to bed very tired, but there was a constant scratching and rustling sound. It was so annoying after one hour I went to see what it was. There were rats in the bin (or something) and so I moved the car because I thought they were going under the car.

Day 14 – Alice Springs

We got to Alice Springs about lunch time. It was so hot. 21 degrees but actually much hotter in the sun. We went to Maccas to do the emails. Unfortunately it was impossible due to bad internet so we found our caravan park and set up. The caravan park is very crowded. Some very interesting vehicles here, including massive Winnebagoes, an old bus, 4WD caravans, truck trailer caravans and a bunch of motorcyclists. We had the 2.2 children family next to us, and some grey nomads on the other side. Oddly no one has been friendly here. We cooked up a bolognaise before heading into town to see the Didjeridoo Show Outback starring Andrew Langford. It was actually quite good with accompanying photos, electronic drumkit, percussion and an interactive part where we all joined in with sticks & shakers! Anthea played the djembe & I had a shaker. Now I know how my year 7 students feel! It was so much fun!!!

Day 15 – Alice Springs

Today we went for a walk around town wearing summer clothes. We climbed up the top of Billy Goat Hill to get a good view. Aboriginies camping at the Todd riverbed. Markets in the mall- a little bit of Paddington! We bought a very beautiful Aboriginal painting. It was about ½ the price of what you would buy in a shop. The artist was very shy and hardly spoke to us at all. After that we were approached by an Aboriginal who wanted to sell us a small painting for $15. Unfortunately we only had a $20 to which he replied “that will do!” We all had a good laugh and off he went.

Later in the day we went across to the Arulean Centre which is just across the road from our caravan park. They were celebrating the watercolour paintings of Albert Namantjira. They had a bbq, a desert reggae band, art exhibition and concert. The concert was very interesting. They had artists drawing a landscape right across the stage with chalk. There was a portrait painting being done, and excerpts of a new play produced by Belvoir St theatre took place. There was also the Ntaria Aboriginal women’s choir who gave us a brief lesson on some of their local language phrases. There was also a pottery demonstration by Hermannsburg Potters and Archie Roach performed a few songs. The theatre was packed. We also saw Simon from The Chef and the Cook!

After the show we walked back and chilled out before making a vegetable stirfry and packing almost everything up for an early start the next day.


Day 16 – Ormiston Gorge (West Macdonnell Ranges