Crossing the Outback Way from Winton QLD to Laverton WA (2800km) has been an amazing experience. I’m not sure either of us want to repeat it anytime soon but we are glad we did it. And we are loving being back on tar after 5 days driving 1100 km on the western section mainly on dirt.
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Uluru (WK 3)
Uluru from Uluru – Kata Tjuta Caravan Park We arrived in Uluru on 13/04/2021 for 1 night on our way to WA. We have been here twice before visiting both the Rock and the Olgas and this time visited the Field of Lights.
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Kings Canyon (WK 3)
Kings Canyon I had missed out on walking Kings Canyon in October 2015 due to illness but this time I walked the 6km Rim Walk that starts with 100m climb upstairs known as heart attack hill (Trish and Pete will remember it well 😄). What an amazing experience.
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Ormiston Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges (WK 3)
Ormiston Gorge We travelled briefly through the West MacDonnell Ranges in October 2015 with our good friends Trish and Pete who were visiting from the UK. The countryside was so amazing we decided to put it on the Big Lap route. We have not been disappointed.
We arrived at Ormiston Gorge campground on 08/04/2021 for 3 nights to walk and swim in Ormiston and the surrounding area.
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Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat (WK 2)
We’ve made it (along with the flies) Fab news, the NT border to QLD has reopened. So on 03/04/2021 we left Winton heading further west on the Donohue Highway for a night in Boulia and then on 04/04/2021 our first night in NT at Tombermorey Station.
The road from Winton although tar was only single track with the prospect of 50m road trains coming towards you. Soon after Boulia it was time to deflate tyres as the road turned to gravel. The road was great all the way to the NT border where it turned into the Plenty Highway with plenty of lumps, bumps, cows, cattle grids and floodways to catch you out. About 100KM from our destination, Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat, the road returned to tar. Phew! We’re here for some downtime, a whole 3 nights 😊.
On 06/04 we went fossicking for garnets. Great fun and a great competition with the Farrows. I am not gloating, but the Tedders won; we found two 3mm garnets and the Farrows found one 3mm garnet. We all enjoyed the experience, but I am not sure any of us are cut out to be professional fossickers 😊. We followed the hard work with a swim and a yummy cream tea. In the evening we had homemade beef pies delivered to our campsite.
Today (07/04) we went on a 3.5km nature trail laid out by the retreat. Hot work which had to be followed by a final swim. Later tonight we are going to the camp oven kitchen meal.
Loved our time at Gemtree but tomorrow (08/04) we head towards to the MacDonnell Ranges for 3 nights.
Where’s the tarmac …. 
Forget Overtaking Lanes 
Some of the amazing scenery 
Us (and our dust) arriving at the giant termite mound from Jason’s drone 
Us from Jason’s drone 
Dust…. 
Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat 
The pool at Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat 
Fossicking at Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat 
On the trial at Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat 
Our current location 
The Farrow ‘s setup, Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat 
Campfire at Gemtree Outback Wilderness Retreat -
Winton (WK 2)
Sunset at Oondooroo Station, Winton We arrived at Oondooroo Station near Winton on 31/3 after 3 nights on the road (28/3 Duaringa Rest Stop, 29/3 Jericho Showgrounds and 30/3 Lloyd Jones Weir, Barcaldine). The Station is a green oasis in the outback near Winton with amazing sunsets, sunrises and clear starry skies.
Jason & Jo Farrow met us at Barcaldine with the news that Brisbane was in lockdown and had been declared a hot spot by both NT and WA (our next destinations). Great to see them, news not so great.
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Cania Gorge (WK 1)
Cania Dam On 25/03/2021 we arrived at Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat for 3 nights. Not very well known but a beautiful place for a few days. So peaceful with great facilities and access to both Cania Gorge NP and Kroombit Tops NP.
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And we are off (again)
Hideaway Hotel, Tiaro On 24/03/2021, a year after we arrived back at Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park, we headed north out of a very wet Brisbane. After a caravan service we drove to Tiaro for a nights stay outside the Hideaway Hotel.
Our site. On 25/03/2021 we will head further north before heading west to Cania Gorge for 3 nights.
Route from Tiaro (end of red line) to Cania Gorge (blue spot). -
Getting ready to leave (again)
Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park Its nearly a year since we arrived back in Brisbane. Paul went back to work, we sold our house, planned the next Big Lap and moved back into our caravan.
We are now ready to set off again on March 24th 2021. Please see ‘2021 Map’ for the plan which is another figure of eight. However, we miss out on WA south-west and the Nullabor Plain because of needing to get to the north in the dry season:
- Starting in QLD (March 2021) going west through Queensland, Northern territory and Western Australia through the “Outback Way” to Geraldton WA.
- Then north along the WA coast to the top of the Dampier peninsular.
- Across the top starting June which is the dry season and the rivers should have dropped to allow access (fingers crossed).
- From mid August 2021 we will be travelling south down the centre to South Australia.
- A Spring (Sept/October) run through Victoria high country before turning north to NSW and then home in November.
As before I will update the blog with our travels depending on connectivity. I hope you will enjoy our travels.
2021 Plan -
Back in Brisbane
Apologies for not updating the blog earlier, pretty shattered after the long drive back and of course the disappointment to be back in Brisbane so soon. However, we are had a good journey back and we are feeling lucky that Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park is open when so many parks are closed or closing. We are hoping we can stay until our house is available (early July).
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