Aussie Outback Tours

This new species of Tanami termite mound took our attention.

Apparently the Tanami termites cannot dress themselves in matching clothes.

Top Springs proved to be a welcome stop-over for the members of our Olympic Aquatic team who took the opportunity to train.

Yanni took us in his bus to see the sights of Coober Pedy. Even the churches are underground to get respite from the fierce heat.

Several businesses, including ours, assisted in the presentation of a Get-Together for people who like outdoor living. Over 200 people camped, motorhomed and caravanned in Dimboola Vic for a few days.

Reverse psychology at work?

The Halls Creek butcher couldn't find any of his premium fatty tough meat when we were there!
Yep, he sells soft-serve ice creams, samdwiches, eggs, underwear, Tshirts........you name it!

Al & Heather made sure that they were close to important facilities when we bush-camped.

The great Victoria River at sunset - what a sight.

It looks so serene. Unfortunately it harbors crocs by the truckload!

The bit of wire that connected Australia to the rest of the world. At Tennant Creek the Overland Telegraph Station has been preserved for people to see what it was like in those days when the wire was the solitary link to places outside Australia.

We waited, but the welcoming committee didn't arrive. Probably had a calendar clash.

There have been times when we met the mobile Quarantine Station here. Just when we expected him, he was on holidays.

During the 2nd World War a lot of military bases were built in Northern Territory. One of the fabled ones was used by a number of notable pilots in the days when England to Australia air challenges were in vogue. The hangar at Daly Waters.

The Dashwood Crossing, near VRD, had barely a trickle running across it. Hard to believe that it's metres deep at times.

In the historic village of Terowie (SA) there's an outdoor gallery - if you might call it that. The display changes.

This sweet couple have heads which were once gas cylinders.

 A convoy of caravans on the Tanami Road. It used to be called the Tanami Track. Most times it seems like the name has changed but the road condition hasn't!

Coober Pedy is a very cosmopolitan town.  After dinner some musicians from the Greek community turned up, and our travellers tried things they've never tried before. We are beginning to work up to 'Zorba' here.

At one time thought to be the start of a thriving community on the Old Ghan rail line, not much of Farina exists now. The camping ground and a couple of premises is a long way from the 'Centre of Grain' expectation the planners dreamed of.

Wolfe Creek meteorite crater is one of the world's largest. This photo was taken from inside the crater. It's hard to imagine how a small meteorite could make such an immense hole.

Here comes the Ghan!

The new Ghan sweeps into Alice Springs through Heavitree Gap. A trip on the Ghan rates alongside the most sought-after in the world.

Wanna hop in the hot pool?  Out in the middle of nowhere?

Yes! Artesian hot pools are great to find after a few days of dust. This one is at Mungerannie Roadhouse, on the Birdsville Track.

Slightly dishevelled after a strong breeze, this wilted flower is composed of a windmill tower and fan plus extras. On Strzelecki Track.

"I'm trying to see if the sun is over the yard-arm; if so then we can have lunch."

Looks like another lazy day on the road....breakfast finished just in time to have lunch.

A few spots of rain on the Birdsville Track and it turns into a greasy strip. This semi wasn't bogged, it simply couldn't make it up the 'hill'!

You reckon kids make a racket before going to bed? The sky was crowded with birdlife near sunset. These cockatiels like being alongside the Murray at Moama.

Once a great drawcard because of its size remotely located north of Innamincka, Cordillo Downs started as a sheep station.

Coming into Yongala at dusk with the sun behind, South Australia. Yongala has shruken like so many other rural centres. It's worth a visit. Some say it reminds them of a film set - many buildings, not many people.

Gazing across Lake Eyre South. Occasionally when we visit there is water in Lake Eyre, but usually it is a flat salt pan.

Who does the puncture repairs?

Old Halls Creek came into existence because of gold.  When the highway was re-aligned the town became deserted. A few reminders of the township exist, like this place where a water tank stood alongside a house.

There are no traffic problems at Andamooka. We reckon it could because they have invested in a decent-size bus which can hold many people. Why don't they get buses like this for Melbourne and Sydney?

There are some unusual plants to be found in the Outback. Here's one.

It's the Moomba oil/gas processing plant off the New Strzelecki Track.

Beltana, in the Flinders Ranges, was a copper town. It's worth a vist. Here the old Telegraph Station waits for someone to bring it back to life - a rather forlorn hope.

What are these? Salt & pepper shakers, that's what. So many other different kinds of collectables can be  found opposite the old wharf area at Morgan in SA.

Rabbit Flat claims to be one the most remote roadhouses in the world, certainly the most remote in Australia. So they don't need a large diner to cope with the occasional travellers who come by.

In the days when the Old Ghan train ran from Port Augusta to Alice Springs the steam trains needed lots of water. It came from underground. Here is a well head and in the background a storage tank for the train water supplies.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s Australia was a leader in rocket systems. Woomera was the administrative town for the firing and test ranges nearby. Woomera's rocket heritage remains on display near the town centre.