Oh Yes! I so agrre Col n Den. we travelled the Stuart highway over the last 6 weeks, stopping at lots of big and little places along the way. We've had a ball so far! The desert is so green, almost lush in comparison to other times we've seen it, gorges held water, the birdlife seemed more prolific too.
Met a woman in Alice who had flown there then hired a campervan, she said "to avoid that long boring drive". I replied that there had not been one boring moment in the whole trip!
Cruising Granny said
08:52 PM Jun 12, 2011
I have to agree - the bush is looking lush. I came down the middle last November. I think some people see a long drive as a l-o-n-g boring drive, but we know that isn't so, don't we. Travel to me is not only about the destination, but the journey. A bit like life really.
Travel Bug said
08:56 PM Jun 12, 2011
Thanks for sharing your great photos colnden.....
The centre is on my "must see" list...but...as yet...not sure when....
Cheers. Pam.
jules47 said
09:10 PM Jun 12, 2011
Oh, yeah- great photos - makes me want to go NOW!!! Oh, well not that long I suppose.
glassies said
08:25 AM Jun 13, 2011
yeah same lots of people say to me why would i wanna drive all that way to see a big rock blah blah blah dont know what your missing out on as for boring get used to it its australia lots of nothing in between i love it ide live out there just to get away from the rush.
i wanna know where is the one taken of fourth along on the top row of the river and rocks around it ?
Firefly said
08:27 AM Jun 13, 2011
I'm with you Glassies, I love the outback. I have no desire to go near the Rock though, freaks me out, but the rest, stunningly breath taking isn't it.
Zoomtopz said
08:35 AM Jun 13, 2011
I liked it so much I stayed for 5yrs driving road-trains
Then when I met Herself , our first major hol was 6wks touring th Territory
I would say , after our Tassie trip for Kayaking c/ships in Jan , we may be
heading Territory way about Sept next year , depends how Sam is going
with yr 11 .
Richo
jonathan said
08:57 AM Jun 13, 2011
.. Only you will know if the trip is "worth" it .. (to you) .. What are you looking for ?
I just love it all .. the land .. the people .. the life !
Jon
_wombat_ said
09:05 AM Jun 13, 2011
Den & Col
Have to agree with all of you guys, and great shots from your trip guys
Now only one question from me glassies please tell me you had a saddle on that croc you are riding .
stan747 said
09:31 AM Jun 13, 2011
Here in Ayers rock at the moment, well worth it despite the cost of entry and the resort. 0.5 degrees this morning but starting to move north today. First to Kings Canyon and then Alice to see some more wonderfull things that nature has given us.
_wombat_ said
09:41 AM Jun 13, 2011
I prefer Kings Canyon to the rock, you MUST do the walk around the top of the canyon.
we did not stey at the resort, toooo expensive, stayed at the caravan park on the way in, can't remember the name of it, it is about a 15 min drive before the canyon.
you will enjoy
colnden said
12:00 PM Jun 13, 2011
Fourth photo along the top is Omiston Gorge , west of Alice.
If you look closely at the attatched photo of Serpentine Gorge, also west of Alice, you can see how the upheavels have wrapped the layers of earth into a roll. Both East and west of Alice has plenty to see and explore.
I always tell people to go see the centre...it's well worth it.
A little NB for glassies...no offence intended, but it's hard to tell where a sentence begins and ends with no punctuation.
Dougie said
12:58 PM Jun 13, 2011
Couldn't agee more. Wonderful part of our country & well worth the drive. Both east & west of Alice are worthwhile adventures.
Gerty Dancer said
04:35 PM Jun 13, 2011
We left the caravan in Alice and did the Mereenie loop, camped overnight at Ormiston Gorge in our little tent. Just about the best campground we've ever stayed in, we will long remember the dawn next morning, with the sun just touching the top of the cliff. Next day the scenery changes, theres Gosses Bluff, a crater from a prehitoric meteor, not in the least similar to the Macdonnells. Jewel of that whole trip was Palm Valley... interesting getting there too on very rough 4 WD track.
You've just gotta go!
jonathan said
04:54 PM Jun 13, 2011
I first saw Palm Valley as an 8 year old .. but went back there a few years ago again .. travelling in a Subaru Forester with a small trailer attached even though it wasn't really permitted ..
absolutely lovely but lacked water this time .. back again there next year hopefully ..
Jon
Beth54 said
05:22 PM Jun 13, 2011
Gerty Dancer wrote:
We left the caravan in Alice and did the Mereenie loop, camped overnight at Ormiston Gorge in our little tent. Just about the best campground we've ever stayed in, we will long remember the dawn next morning, with the sun just touching the top of the cliff. Next day the scenery changes, theres Gosses Bluff, a crater from a prehitoric meteor, not in the least similar to the Macdonnells. Jewel of that whole trip was Palm Valley... interesting getting there too on very rough 4 WD track.
You've just gotta go!
You just reminded me of the first time I went there. We had an old Land Rover, which we slept in, it was warmer than the tent, 3 kids and a little dog. I was so keen to see the sunrise, but it was so damned cold... -7, yes, minus 7...I just looked out through the window!
jimricho said
05:33 PM Jun 13, 2011
Anyone who finds the outback boring would be better off going to Disneyland and Las Vegas for their holidays.
Beth54 said
05:48 PM Jun 13, 2011
jimricho wrote:
Anyone who finds the outback boring would be better off going to Disneyland and Las Vegas for their holidays.
The first time I went across the Barkley, I was amazed! After several times, I decided I never want to do it again!
But it has to be done at least once to appreciate the vastness!
jimricho said
05:53 PM Jun 13, 2011
Afraid I have to concur with your thoughts on the Barkly, I've done it several times. (Vegas to LA is a bloody boring drive too!)
Firefly said
05:55 PM Jun 13, 2011
We've been across the Barkly heaps too but I do love it. We will stop for more breaks if we go this time around.
I love the outback, don't go near the East Coast much, too commercialised for me, but thats just my opinion of course.
Beth54 said
06:04 PM Jun 13, 2011
I love the outback too Firefly, but I've been there, done that. Time to see other places.
I'll probably never get to go overseas again, but personally, if I won the lotto or something, America would be last on my list Jim. And Asia would be 2nd to last. I've heard enough to know I don't want to go there.
No offence to anyone who likes them though.
Sorry, I'm going off topic here.
Firefly said
06:40 PM Jun 13, 2011
Yeah I think I am in awe of the beauty Beth, I keep repeating it all the time but we will take a different direction this time, if we find some sun mate.
jimricho said
06:45 PM Jun 13, 2011
Beth54 wrote:
I'll probably never get to go overseas again, but personally, if I won the lotto or something, America would be last on my list Jim. Sorry, I'm going off topic here.
Bit off topic too but USA is a very interesting country, just give LA and Vegas a miss. It has an amazing diversity and an interesting history. Avoid the tourist traps, meet the people, visit historic places, travel independently is the way to go.
Firefly said
06:47 PM Jun 13, 2011
Did you drive across there Jim?
jimricho said
08:21 PM Jun 13, 2011
Firefly wrote:
Did you drive across there Jim?
I've visited USA several times and have driven most times. It's a good independent way to get around especially to avoid the tourist traps and visit the more interesting places away from the major cities. Don't do a fully escorted tour, you won't get to see the real USA.
Drivers are better mannered than here and roads are better signposted. Freeway exits are numbered as are all major roads making navigating easier. We could learn quite a bit from the Yanks in this regard.
Esmeralda said
12:56 PM Jun 14, 2011
Firefly wrote:
I'm with you Glassies, I love the outback. I have no desire to go near the Rock though, freaks me out, but the rest, stunningly breath taking isn't it.
Firefly I went to the Rock pre-resort and you could camp near the bottom and the only other accommodation was a couple of small motels. It was fabulous, and I have no desire to go again to see the changes - I would rather remember the area as it was. Fabulous.
Esmeralda said
12:58 PM Jun 14, 2011
glassies wrote:
yeah same lots of people say to me why would i wanna drive all that way to see a big rock blah blah blah dont know what your missing out on as for boring get used to it its australia lots of nothing in between i love it ide live out there just to get away from the rush.
i wanna know where is the one taken of fourth along on the top row of the river and rocks around it ?
Glassies so glad you changed your avatar - the previous one was the spitting image of a close friend you died six months ago - I had to look twice when I first saw the picture.
pricey43 said
02:59 PM Jun 14, 2011
We have friends travelling from Ularu to Alice as we speak. She was moaning about the boring landscape and asking whether it was worth BOTHERING to go out to King's Canyon. When I said I loved watching the change in the vegetation and ground cover. She said' what changes?' When I said about the eagles, hawks, budgies, camels and emus, she said 'Haven't seen any.'They spent 1 day at the Rock and Olgas. Glad we're not travelling with them.
Thought that a few of our photos from last year may help you decide if it is worth the trip.
Into our tenth year on the road this trip would be up there with the best so far.
Den and Col
Met a woman in Alice who had flown there then hired a campervan, she said "to avoid that long boring drive". I replied that there had not been one boring moment in the whole trip!
I think some people see a long drive as a l-o-n-g boring drive, but we know that isn't so, don't we.
Travel to me is not only about the destination, but the journey.
A bit like life really.
Thanks for sharing your great photos colnden.....
The centre is on my "must see" list...but...as yet...not sure when....
Cheers. Pam.
get used to it its australia lots of nothing in between i love it ide live out there just to get away from the rush.
i wanna know where is the one taken of fourth along on the top row of the river and rocks around it ?
I'm with you Glassies, I love the outback. I have no desire to go near the Rock though, freaks me out, but the rest, stunningly breath taking isn't it.
I liked it so much I stayed for 5yrs driving road-trains
Then when I met Herself , our first major hol was 6wks touring th Territory
I would say , after our Tassie trip for Kayaking c/ships in Jan , we may be
heading Territory way about Sept next year , depends how Sam is going
with yr 11 .
Richo
.. Only you will know if the trip is "worth" it .. (to you) .. What are you looking for ?
I just love it all .. the land .. the people .. the life !
Jon
Have to agree with all of you guys, and great shots from your trip guys
Now only one question from me glassies please tell me you had a saddle on that croc you are riding
.
I prefer Kings Canyon to the rock, you MUST do the walk around the top of the canyon.
we did not stey at the resort, toooo expensive, stayed at the caravan park on the way in, can't remember the name of it, it is about a 15 min drive before the canyon.
you will enjoy
Fourth photo along the top is Omiston Gorge , west of Alice.
If you look closely at the attatched photo of Serpentine Gorge, also west of Alice, you can see how the upheavels have wrapped the layers of earth into a roll. Both East and west of Alice has plenty to see and explore.
Col n Den
Awesome! Thanks for the reminder colnden.
I always tell people to go see the centre...it's well worth it.
A little NB for glassies...no offence intended, but it's hard to tell where a sentence begins and ends with no punctuation.
Next day the scenery changes, theres Gosses Bluff, a crater from a prehitoric meteor, not in the least similar to the Macdonnells. Jewel of that whole trip was Palm Valley... interesting getting there too on very rough 4 WD track.
You've just gotta go!
I first saw Palm Valley as an 8 year old .. but went back there a few years ago again .. travelling in a Subaru Forester with a small trailer attached even though it wasn't really permitted ..
absolutely lovely but lacked water this time .. back again there next year hopefully ..
Jon
You just reminded me of the first time I went there. We had an old Land Rover, which we slept in, it was warmer than the tent, 3 kids and a little dog. I was so keen to see the sunrise, but it was so damned cold... -7, yes, minus 7...I just looked out through the window!
The first time I went across the Barkley, I was amazed! After several times, I decided I never want to do it again!
But it has to be done at least once to appreciate the vastness!
We've been across the Barkly heaps too but I do love it. We will stop for more breaks if we go this time around.
I love the outback, don't go near the East Coast much, too commercialised for me, but thats just my opinion of course.
I love the outback too Firefly, but I've been there, done that. Time to see other places.
I'll probably never get to go overseas again, but personally, if I won the lotto or something, America would be last on my list Jim. And Asia would be 2nd to last. I've heard enough to know I don't want to go there.
No offence to anyone who likes them though.
Sorry, I'm going off topic here.
Yeah I think I am in awe of the beauty Beth, I keep repeating it all the time but we will take a different direction this time, if we find some sun mate.
Bit off topic too but USA is a very interesting country, just give LA and Vegas a miss. It has an amazing diversity and an interesting history. Avoid the tourist traps, meet the people, visit historic places, travel independently is the way to go.
Did you drive across there Jim?
I've visited USA several times and have driven most times. It's a good independent way to get around especially to avoid the tourist traps and visit the more interesting places away from the major cities. Don't do a fully escorted tour, you won't get to see the real USA.
Drivers are better mannered than here and roads are better signposted. Freeway exits are numbered as are all major roads making navigating easier. We could learn quite a bit from the Yanks in this regard.
Firefly I went to the Rock pre-resort and you could camp near the bottom and the only other accommodation was a couple of small motels. It was fabulous, and I have no desire to go again to see the changes - I would rather remember the area as it was. Fabulous.
Glassies so glad you changed your avatar - the previous one was the spitting image of a close friend you died six months ago - I had to look twice when I first saw the picture.
We have friends travelling from Ularu to Alice as we speak. She was moaning about the boring landscape and asking whether it was worth BOTHERING to go out to King's Canyon. When I said I loved watching the change in the vegetation and ground cover. She said' what changes?' When I said about the eagles, hawks, budgies, camels and emus, she said 'Haven't seen any.'They spent 1 day at the Rock and Olgas. Glad we're not travelling with them.
