... wants to go to Australia with me? That was what was on my site for at least two years... I came to the false conclusion that I don't have any friends, but in February 2001, just after sacking my boss, and finding a new job at PaC, I decided that now was the time - friends or no friends - I had to go.
My plans: start in Sydney, travel to Adelaide, join a 4WD tour to Alice Springs there, fly to Perth, drive to the Southern Forests south of Perth, drive back and fly back. This mission was to be accomplished within 4 weeks: between February 17th and March 14th. So off I went, on a cold and windy afternoon in February. I took the plane to Sydney.
(click on the pictures to enlarge)
Sydney and NSW Central Coast
I started in Sydney, not only to see the city, but also to visit some of my relatives I have there. Most of them live at the NSW Central Coast, just north of Gosford. My cousin Bert offered me a bed, his bike to see the area, and lots of hospitality.
The Central Coast
John, Bert's brother, gave me a lift to Sydney, where he dropped me off at the Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. From there I took the Rivercat Ferry into the city center. I saw Sydney's skyline growing coming nearer over the water. And oh yes, I climbed the Harbour Bridge, which offered great sights.
Homebush Bay
Sydney skyline shots
Another place in Sydney I had to go to was of course Kings Cross, because of all the junks, transvestites, hookers, and whatever was there. Perfectly normal place, just like Amsterdam. Kinky Cross...
Kinky Cross? Not really...
To Adelaide
From Sydney, I had to go to Adelaide. Because of the start of a price war by Virgin Blue in Australia, domestic flights, also by Qantas, are very cheap. But because Virgin Blue does not cover every flight connection in the country, those low prices are only valid on some flights. That is why flying to Adelaide was quite cheap. Disadvantage (?): I had to fly via Brisbane. So also Queensland got some Wal coverage!
Brisbane (x3) and Adelaide ('s own Opera House imitation)
Heading Bush
In Adelaide this company picked me up for a 4WD expedition ("This is not a camping
tour, it's an expedition") to Alice Springs. 10 guys (Lachy (Aus, guide), Stefke (B),
Erik (NL), Evan (ZA), Emrys (Can), Bill (GB), Graeme (GB), James (GB), Don (GB), Wal
(me)), and 1 lady (Magali (F)) in one Landcruiser, with the luggage stuffed in a small
trailer, on our way for this amazing tour to Alice. We had to go through a lot of
challenging heavy situations, Lachy promised us. Like 40 degrees, hot drinking water,
desert, heat, heat, heat and exhaustion. We were told to thoroughly monitor the colour of
our piss, to see if we drank too much. We were to sleep in swags (canvas bags in which you
put your sleeping bags), to be visited by ants, flies, mozzies. But...we would see many
starry nights, get used to another boring sunset in no time, and we would take lots of
pics. Was that true?
Nope: we had an amazing tour, we saw lots, we enjoyed many place, we have slept
in our swags. But! We! Had! Rain! In! The! Frigging! Desert! Not just a shower, but six
days of rain, drizzle, fog, whatever. The heat and exhaustion did not come, though rain
and 26-30 degrees is perfect! You can swim, you can do anything, no problem. Only our last
camping spot, near the now flooded Finke River in the West MacDonnell's near Alice Springs
was washed away, so we ended up a day early in Alice. But Fun it was!
Alligator Gorge, Warren Gorge, Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges NP
Dry desert: Wilpena Pound, Lake Eyre South, and near William Creek
Animals and how to arm agains them, various places.
Vehicles: Brachina Gorge, Lyndhurst Coal Mine, Lake Eyre, Road Train
Strange metal object in the desert: a film set, Talc-Alf's washing machine, William Creek
and Coober Pedy.
.
Road signs don't exist in the desert. Someone from Oodnadatta still makes them.
Bath after two days without a shower. Clockwise from the top: Bill, Evan, Wal, Stefke,
Emrys, Magali, Erik, and in the middle Graeme (l) and James (r).
Holes in the ground: Coober Pedy, and hills on the ground: Painted Desert.
Water fun in Oodnadatta.
Mud in the desert.
Uluru (Ayers Rock) is wet.
Kata Tjuta (The Olga's) is wet.
Number one top location Kings Canyon.
More water fun: Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge and the Finke River.
Alice, at last. Not the quiet desert town we expected, but green and lively.
Perth and the South West
After a refreshing and relaxing stay in Alice Springs I went off to Perth.
The last days I spent in the Southern Forests, famous of
their Karri trees, which are towering to amazing heigths (50 meters and higher). Some of
them have been built into firewatch towers, and the public can climb them. That is a
nervewrecking climb, there is protection above and beside, but not to the direction that
really matters: down. Not all the sweat that was underneath my arms was because
of the physical effort...
The last day we spent at the Indian Ocean beach just south of Perth, and the last night we
camped at Gees' place, where we had an aussie rules barbecue.
Giant trees, and their wood.
Driving in the Southwest: Nannup.
Indian Ocean at Busselton.
(some photos: courtesy livinlifelachy)
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