Into The Never-Never

Outback Way:

 Laverton, WA to Uluru, NT

March 4 to March 8, 2016

Just in case you are still wondering, we did make it across the Great Central Road, otherwise known as Outback Way. It was a fabulous trip. The West Australian section of the road (900kms) was in excellent condition and we were often able to travel 80-100 km/h. The Northern Territory side (300km) was a bit more testing. Garry says the corrugations were the worst he's ever experienced, but there was no bull dust so something for which to be grateful. 

The most stunning part of the trip was the red centre's green mantle. The Great Victoria and Gibson deserts received good rain several weeks before we ventured forth and the land was a picture - lush green grasses set against rich red sand. It softened the rugged landscape and was mesmerising. We hadn't anticipate the cacophony of colours; the crossing now rates as one of the highlights of our trip.

Early start. Outback Way stretches before us. 

Ready, steady, here we go.

This sign didn't inspire confidence!

 But a small diversion before we continue our journey through the Outback. Garry decided to take over as tour guide after we left Kalgoorlie and suggested we drive 50kms off the highway to Lake Ballard to see 51 installations by noted sculptor Antony Gormley. "Great idea," I said. "Let's do it." We arrived in 38 degree heat to a sign that explained the metal figurines are spread over 10km of the salt pan, it a 5-7 hour trek to see them all and we needed at least 10 litres of water for the journey. You've got to be kidding! We picked our way through the salt-encrusted slurry for a few 100 metres, took a few photos and retreated to the car. Garry just got sacked as tour guide!

The sculptures are quite fantastic but why make them so inaccessible? 

Can you see them spreading out as little black dots to the horizon?

We abandoned the figurines to their miserable fate on the salt lake.

Back to our Outback adventure. Far more successful. 

The lush desert. Sometimes the landscape resembled rolling pastures.

Oops. Another one bites the dust. Many abandoned car-casses along the way.

Classic Australian Outback. Just fantastic.

Incredibly, we travelled 750km that first day. Not bad going on a gravel track. We saw about 10 cars all day, most of them mining vehicles. There was just one other tourist on the road in a camper trailer. About 4pm we pulled into a lovely bush camp surrounded by rocky outcrops. We were all on our lonesome. It was like heaven.

Heavenly aura?

Sun sinking in the west.

Camp fire ... to keep the dingoes at bay. We heard them but didn't see them.

Raring to go at dawn.

Back on the road again.  Love this desert road pic.

Hello again Northern Territory. 

Reducing tyre pressure.

The corrugations were so bad they'd shake the fillings out of your teeth, according to Gazman.

We spent much of the final 300km criss-crossing the track and travelling high on the sandy verges.

It was amazing to see Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) rising out of the scrub and red dirt. 

Jumping for joy: A very happy man at the end of the dirt track. No punctures and only minor damage to both vehicles.

Our first glimpse of Uluru. We were stunned by its awesome size and beauty. 

Sunset at Yulara. Unfortunately, no sunset shots of Uluru. Too many clouds while we were there.

Garry's beer cans took a battering on the Outback Way. It didn't stop him drinking them though! 

Well deserved coldies for the driver.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are just gorgeous. They dominate the landscape and their colours are constantly changing. I endeavoured to capture some of their extraordinary beauty. 

We explored Kata Tjuta first.

Approaching Kata Tjuta from the Yulara side.  

Beginning the trek into the Valley of the Winds.

Ancient flowing rock formations.
Kata Tjuta's 36 domes are composed of conglomerate rock formed 500 million years ago.

Where's Wally? Look closely. 

Here he is, clinging to the rock face.

View of Valley of the Winds.

Approaching Walpa Gorge in Kata Tjuta. 

The view through Walpa Gorge.

Return journey and Garry getting a little tired of the photos. 

"Enough already Jennifer."

We decided to circumnavigate Uluru by bike the following day. The track was pretty soggy from recent rain so we walked most of it anyway. Fabulous to get up close to this gorgeous rock.

Love this photo of Uluru showing its worn craggy exterior.  

The only way up The Rock. Tourists are discouraged from climbing it but Garry wanted to give it a go.
His ambitions were thwarted by an overnight thunderstorm which made the surface very slippery. The climb was closed. 

Pock holes scar the surface of the 500-million-year-old sandstone monolith.

Looking back at the eastern side of The Rock.

Love the contrasting colours.

More pushing bikes than riding but it gave us ample time to absorb Uluru's majesty.

Gapping jaws. Extraordinary.

Uluru has its own Wave Rock.

The beautiful Mutitjulu Waterhole with a trickle of water still flowing into it.

Where's Wally? Garry dwarfed by this Uluru canyon. It puts things in perspective.

Between The Rock and a hard place .. to leave.

But I will leave it there. More on our desert escapades in a few days. 

Hoo Roo.