Welcome to Coober Pedy

We have left the Red Centre, crossed the border into South Australia, and spent a couple of days in the middle of nowhere, in Coober Pedy

Well, up front I can say that even though there is public fossicking (noodling) the area of three street blocks in the middle of town, we  (I) didn’t find any opals. It is the remnants of the original mine, from 1915, it is called Jewellery Shop Street.

Coober Pedy is the most unusual, bordering on bizarre, town in Australia in our opinion. It is in the middle of the Woomera Missile Testing Area, a restricted access zone.

The landscape for 50km each direction is dotted with digging mounds as anyone can lease a small plot, over 1,500,000 holes

50% of population live underground, and can dig up their front and back yard, homes, motels, churches...all underground

Dust storms roll in like a scene from “The Mummy”, worse when coupled with a thunder storm first, car and van ended up covered in red mud

Talking about movies, several were made nearby at the Breakaways, Mad Max 3, Pitchblack Sci Fi and others

The Breakaways... beautiful colours

Scene of Barter Town from Mad Max 3

Two Dogs...plus Derek

We meet the Dog Proof fence again, it runs around the Breakaways

Underground working mine tour

Monument to the 14yr old Will Hutchison who found the first opal, whilst prospecting for gold with his dad. He never got anything from it, never pursued opal, and died aged 19, drowning in north Qld, whilst droving cattle.  He is known as the founder of Coober Pedy.

 

The many sides of Ayers Rock-Uluru

We have just finished 4 incredible days visiting Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olgas (Kata Tjuta). The town of Yulara is about 17km from the Rock and is outside the National Park. It has an international resort vibe, and buzzing at the moment. Temperatures were comfortable low 30’s by mid afternoon, so early mornings and sunset were the best walking, climbing and viewing times.

The exciting close up on day one

We had the must do sunset view

Final burst of sunlight

Night 4 was clear sky

We saw the Rock from the base...a 10 km bike ride

The climb

One of many rests on steep climb


Top of chain section

Across the top


View from the top

The Olgas in background


The top


Then back down, easier 

Done! Very respectfully, and appreciated this final opportunity to interact with Ayers Rock as it closes to climbers in 4 days for good.

Red Centre

Off to Ayres Rock, aka Uluru.  First glimpses from 30km away were exciting, but lots to see on the way.

One of the many “centres” of Australia, just depends on your calculating method. This one at Erlunda Roadhouse, Cnr Stuart and Lasseter Highways, weird bushes everywhere, our overnight camp, and red dunes became numerous and higher as we got closer

View from both sides of this sand dune in photo above ...
Mt Conner, on one side,  on private cattle station, need private tour to visit. Not to be mistaken for “THE” rock.


Big surprise looking north, can’t see this from the road, had no idea it was there

Kings Canyon

After another couple of days recharging in Wintersun Tourist Park in Alice, enjoying the pool and aircon, we set off for Kings Canyon for a couple of nights. We cross paths with many people, and have some great chats regarding life and our individual journeys, and they are often a great source of information and tips as many have just been where we are going.

We stayed at Kings Canyon Resort camp ground, (5km from the canyon) were on the 6km 3 hour rim hike by 6.45am, plenty of water in our camel bladders in our back packs - great invention, my water on tap...... armed with our hiking poles, fly nets and enough snacks to feed a small army.

Sun just coming up

Our lunch room for today,  see water hose on Derek’s shoulder

After first 20 minutes of rocky stairs onward and upward to reach the top, we hiked through crevices, over ledges, and the spectacular scenery and rock layers changed every few minutes.  Fly nets are a must have, not very glamorous though.

A few stair and bridge crossings to get over Kings Creek and the Garden of Eden




The rock  formations are called beehives, the colours just amazing


Kings Creek runs through the centre of the canyon, lush and green.  Thus was all once under water, and the rocks we walked over were rippled like a beach, also some shell fossils could be found. The rock was sandstone, white inside!

It amazes us how green, and in some places tropical, the centre of Australia is


Bad dingo......back at our campground

Ridge walk around resort, Kings Canyon in background