Australian Outback
The Waddi Tree (Unique and very ancient)
The Waddi Tree (Acacia Peuce) is a rare and ancient species and is only found in small pockets in Australia near Alice Springs, Central Australia, and in far Western Queensland on the fringes of the Simpson Desert.
It can also be found in limited numbers in South Africa…
The tree is very slow growing, is extremely hard timber and will live to an age in excess of 1,000 years.
One can only imagine how old this one is…
The Australian Outback, full of interesting surprises, hey!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Broken Down in the Australian Outback (Miles from no-where)
Despite the sign-post this old truck won’t be going anywhere…
The Australian Outback, you’ve just got to love it!
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Road-Train (Outback Australia)
Strewth, now that’s a truck-and-a-half, used to transport cattle and photographed at Camooweal, far-western Queensland, Outback Australia…
What a great opportunity to reminisce on some of our outback trips whilst resting up and recovering from my foot surgery. 🙂
Outback Australia, ya just gotta love it, however it comes!
photo: Baz, The Landy
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A Hills Hoist (In the Australian Outback)
One of Australia’s most recognisable icons, a Hills Hoist !
It doesn’t get much more Aussie than that…every backyard has one, even in the outback!
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Man made objects (In the Australian Outback)
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Broken Down – In the Australian Outback
Broken Down – In the Australian Outback.
Trilby Station, by the banks of the Darling River…
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Brekkie’s On (Outback Australia Style…)
Standing around an open fire, having a few laughs, cooking up brekkie!
Strewth, you wouldn’t want to be “dead for quids”…who’s hungry?
photo: Baz, The Landy
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The “Old Homestead”
The “Old Homestead” – Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Talk about Dinky-Di Aussie (Uniquely Australian)
This is a scene you will not see anywhere else in the world…
Outback Australia, you’ve gotta love it, hey!
photo: Baz – The Landy (Trilby Station, Australia)
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Dig a hole and bury me (It doesn’t get any better than this!)
It is always with great anticipation heading down the driveway, waving good-bye to the urban surrounds we are so familiar with, but long to escape, steering “The Landy” towards the bush, the outback and today was no exception.
Janet had finished packing the food into “The Landy” the previous night and now there was nothing left to do but jump in and head-off.
Taking advantage of some additional time off over the easter break we decided to make a quick dash to the outback and a cattle station in western New South Wales, Trilby Station.
Joining us are our good friends Bob and Annette and “the boys”, David and Stephen.
We travel together often and as it would be a long drive ahead, 860 kilometres to be precise, we headed off in the pre-dawn hours, 2:30am on the dot, which is early even by my standards.
The drudgery of the freeway to the north-west, the escape route from suburbia, soon gave way to the foothills of the Blue Mountains and as we settled into the dawning moments of our sojourn we began to reflect on what it must have been like for the early explorers as they made their way westward, journeying on foot, horseback, and bullock dray.
These days the trek over the mountains is done mostly in the relative comfort of a modern vehicle, although Janet was heard to whisper, under hushed breathe, something about there being little difference between a bullock dray, and “The Landy”.
They say the journey is just as important as the destination, and we enjoyed the drive, passing many small communities we hadn’t seen for some time, arriving at Trilby Station, which is situated on one of Australia’s important river systems, the Darling River, in the early afternoon.
It didn’t take long to set up camp and the boys had the boat into the billabong and were off to explore.
Explore, isn’t that what life is all about, and fair dinkum, how good is the Australian Outback.
See you’se lot later…
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We’re heading Outback for a few days – (In The Landy)
Touring the harsh environment of the Australian Outback is best done in a robust vehicle designed for the job.
Mind you, in days long gone people travelled the Australian Outback in old Model T Fords…
Our vehicle is a Landrover Defender 130 Twin Cab manufactured in 1995, and completely rebuilt from scratch in 2006. Up until the time we purchased the vehicle it had been used as a farm vehicle in the wine growing region of the Hunter Valley just to the north of Sydney. We reconfigured it for long-range travel and it can cover a distance of around 1,800 kilometres without the need to refuel.
Strewth, that would be 1,100 miles…
We intentionally chose an older vehicle so we didn’t have to deal with a “computer failure” disabling the vehicle in the middle of no-where. A rare occurrence mind you, but it is a long walk from the middle of no-where in the Australian Outback!
It uses solar panels for power management and has a High-Frequency Radio for long-range communication that enables us to stay in contact even in the most remote parts of Australia.
And it can carry 100 litres of water in a specially designed stainless steel water tank.
Inside the canopy we carry an inflatable boat and outboard motor for touring the creeks and billabongs we come across in our travels, has a 60 litre fridge, and we carry a comprehensive range of spare parts, tools and tyre repair equipment.
After all, in the event of a break-down help can be hundred’s of kilometres away. We also carry a substantial medical kit.
And to enable it to cope with the harsh environment we travel in, it has specialist suspension.
The camper-trailer, a Track T-Van, is every bit as tough as the vehicle and was designed by a company that makes trailer equipment for the Australian army. It doesn’t come on all our trips, but crikey, we need to find a good reason not to take it, as it makes for a very comfortable night’s sleep.
Quite a change to a bivvy bag and sleeping bag on the side of an alpine mountain in the freezing cold!
Anyway, make sure you give us a wave if you see “The Landy” Out and About.
Landrovers, I love ‘em so much that I’ve got two (Janet rolls eyes 😉 )
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Rugged Beauty – In the Australian Bush
Far North-Queensland, my backyard when I was growing up…
And strewth, not another soul in sight…
ps: I never grew up 😉
photo: Janet O’Malley
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Copper Hill – Outback Australia
TomO has been travelling the outback with us since he was a little tacka.
And always smiling, never stop smiling, mate…!
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What, someone has described me as Bob Parr (from The Incredibles)
Recently, I was approached by Christina from a Scribeslife asking if she could write a story about me, The Landy!
Of course I was rather flattered and Christina has put this story together and it appears in her blog.
But strewth, being described as Bob Parr from the Incredibles?
Just wait till “Bluey and the boys” down at the local footy club get a hold of this.
I mean, they’ve only just forgotten about the time I tripped on my shoelaces going down the aisle with Janet (it’s a long story, but I can’t tie my shoelaces properly!) and that was about a quarter-of-a-century ago.
Anyway, I guess it will be my shout again.
And while we are grabbing a drink, here’s a toast to Christina, be sure to check her blog out!
Bob Parr, hey? Umm, might get used to that…
And remember, if all else fails, there’ll always be “Bluey and the boys” to bring you back to earth!
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Date Palms in the Australian Outback (Dalhousie Ruins)
It is not unusal to find date palms in the remote Australian Outback, particularly in the centre of Australia.
Often planted by Afghan Camel Traders.
The Australian Outback…If you can survive the flies, you’ll love it!
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Cooper Creek, Outback Australia (An oasis in a barren land)
The Cooper Creek winds its way through the Australian Outback after the rains from Northern Australia swell the creeks and river systems and move slowly down into the wonderful area they call the “Channel Country” providing a haven for water birds and bringing life to the surrounding country…
TomO, Janet and I travelled in our inflatable boat to this remote spot, sat back and enjoyed the solitude that the Australian Outback brings, and not another soul in sight…!
And lucky for us, Janet rustled up one of those great dampers of hers in the camp oven for us to devour, how good is that…
photo: Baz, The Landy
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A Golden Damper (Smothered in Golden Syrup)
It doesn’t matter where in the world you travel you will always find someone baking bread. And there is nothing better than eating freshly baked bread…
It could be a baguette in a back street bakery not too far from Avenue des Champs-Élysées, or a Grissini expertly baked in the shadows of the Colosseum, it could even be one of the many Indian flatbreads, a Naan maybe, baking in a tandoori oven, or even an Injera in Ethiopia.
In the Australian Outback where a never-ending blue sky meets the parched red soil it will be the drovers’ staple, a golden brown damper, kneaded and expertly worked before being baked in a camp oven, or maybe just directly over hot glowing coals…
A freshly cooked damper, still warm, is best eaten smothered in golden syrup, the residue running down your hands, waiting to be licked from your fingers…
Camp food… bonza mate!
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Strewth, now that’s a woolshed! (Cordillo Downs)
One of my passions is travelling the Australian Outback, the rich red soil kissing a vast blue sky in the far off distance, in the never-never…
Rest assured the never-never is a real place and the term was often used to describe the vast uninhabited inland region of Australian. But in reality, Australia’s first people, Australian Aboriginals, inhabited much of this vast land, the never-never…
The term never-never has appeared in many poems, writings, there is even a novel, “We of the Never-Never”, authored by Aenas Gunn. The book is really an autobiographical account of her time on Elsey Cattle Station in Australia’s Northern Territory.
I’ve visited Cordillo Downs many times over the years and it is truly big-sky country out there. Standing in its shadows I try and picture in my mind’s eye the people who worked here, how they arrived, where they went.
For you see, Cordillo Downs is in the middle of no-where and there is something very appealing about that.
And you’ll be hard pressed to find a tree in the “gibber country”.
Stores were transported from a town approximately 600 kilometres to the south by Afghan Camel Trains and workers frequently rode bicycles across an arid desert landscape to seek work in the shearing shed.
Hey TomO, there’s an adventure for us, riding our mountain bikes up the Strezlecki Track to Cordillo Downs…
Outback Australia, truly full of surprises and if you aren’t carried away by the magnificent landscape, you’ll be carried away by the flies, that’s for sure!
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Click go the shears’ boys…click,click,click (The Woolshed)
Taken as the sun was dawning on a new day in the outback, the woolshed is located within Currawinya National Park, near Hungerford, in far western Queensland.
Nearby is the beautiful Ourimperee Water-Hole…
Click go the shears’ boys, click, click, click….
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Talk about Cute (Characters you meet – Out and About)
Geez, how cute is this little bloke?
It is affectionately known as the Ta-Ta Lizard due to its peculiar habit of waving its front leg before running away, oddly enough almost in an upright position. The waving is possibly due to standing on hot surfaces, as they do reside in the northern and hotter parts of Australia.
Its actual name is the Gilbert’s Dragon, Amphibolurus Gilbert.
But that’s a bit like calling Baz – The Landy, Barry Thomas O’Malley, so let’s just stick with Ta-Ta Lizard…
And checkout the size of its tail and back feet!
We took this photograph whilst Out and About in one of our favourite outback places, Lawn Hill Gorge, a spectacular oasis in a barren land…
And okay, I get it, not everyone likes reptiles, and we’ve got plenty of them over here, many that are best avoided, but crikey, he is cute, don’t you think so?
photos by: Baz, Janet, and TomO
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Blooming Fantastic (Wildflowers in the Outback)
Recently I’ve been sharing some of the photographs we have taken whilst travelling this fantastic country of ours, Australia.
Whether it is a climber’s perspective of the mountains that I frequently get to view, or perhaps some of the dunes in that part of the country we call The Outback, Australia is a contrast of spectacular colour amongst what is often a harsh and barren land…
But there is a delicate beauty to be found, everywhere, you just need to look.
Janet will spend countless hours searching for, observing, and photographing our wonderful wildflowers, of which there are countless numbers, she never tires of it, saying just one more, another five minutes and I’ll be finished…
Yes, Janet, she does stand out like a beautiful wild flower, in full bloom!
Photos: Baz, Janet & TomO
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Colours of the Australian Outback (Desert Dunes)
Storm clouds over Welford National Park, near Jundah, far Western-Queensland…
The colours of the Australian Outback, spectacular!
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Mayne Hotel Ruins – Australian Outback (The Cellar)
With no fridges novel ways had to be found to keep the beer cold!
Outback Australia, it will give you a thirst!
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Sunrise over Currawinya National Park (Outback Australia)
Sunrise at Ourimperee Waterhole, Currawinya National Park, Outback Australia…
A beautiful part of the Australian Outback, not to be missed!
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The Australian Dingo (In the outback)
The Australian Dingo, at home in the Australian Outback…
We took this photograph in the Channel Country, far Western Queensland.
You’ve just got to love the landscape, the flora and fauna, that makes the Australian Outback what it is!
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Welford National Park – Colours of the Australian Outback
Welford National Park – Colours of the Australian Outback
The Australian Outback, you’ve got to love it!
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Barcoo River, Outback Australia
Late afternoon on the Barcoo River, Welford National Park, Queensland, Australia.
I’ve been looking back over some photographs taken on our four-wheel drive touring trips to the Australian Outback.
The Australian Outback, you’ve got to love it!
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Strewth – There goes a Walking Hat (In Australia’s Outback)
I was speaking with a good mate the other day and the discussion got around to the iconic Australian Hat, The Akubra, after TomO wandered past wearing his.
We had a bit of a chuckle because it brought back some funny moments we’ve had watching TomO wandering around under his Akubra in the Australian Outback.
The Akubra is a fur hat made in Australia for over 130 years.
To be worn with pride, worn like a favourite pair of jeans, until threadbare and falling off…
Anyway, TomO has had two Akubra’s in his 12 years, the first he received on his 2nd birthday, and more recently a couple of years back ahead of an outback trip we made.
Janet, my partner, also joined the discussion and we had a good laugh about the time he walked into the pub at Cameron’s Corner, which is out the back of whoop-whoop, and Adrian, the publican, simply quipped “strewth, there goes a walking hat.”
His hat was larger than him and took on a life all of its own…
As you’ll see, he’s a handsome little bloke.
In fact he’s already come to the notice of the daughter of one of our close friends and the feeling appears mutual. I saw a bit of a twinkle in his eye the other day when they were having a chat. This weekend a group of them are heading to the movies.
We speak fairly openly in our household so I asked him whether he liked her.
He said, “sort of…yes”
“And do you think she reckons you’re alright?” I asked…
“How couldn’t she like a good looking bloke like me Dad” he said, with a wink.
“Hell, Janet where did that come from” I whispered…
“No point whispering Baz” Janet mused, “You know perfectly well where it came from”…
Crikey, it seems only yesterday he was disappearing under his Akubra…
Anyway, I could rabbit on here about it for another few paragraphs, but why don’t I just let the pictures do the talking…
TomO – The Walking Hat, a pictorial…!
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Bushman’s Cuisine – A culinary experience (Under the Stars)
As Monday rolls around it is time to reflect on another great weekend in the mountains with family and friends.
On Saturday morning we boarded The Landy and headed to Turon Gates, a rural property not too far from a great Australian wine growing region, Mudgee, to the west of Sydney.
It is a comfortable three-hour drive in the The Landy, which is no speed machine, especially when towing our T-Van, a specialist camper trailer designed for extreme travel. This weekend it would not be put to its full potential, and with plenty of mountaineering and overseas travel over the next 12 months, it is unlikely to see the red bull-dust of the Australian Outback anytime soon.
We did pass some of my favourite climbing areas on the drive, but this weekend was about relaxing, eating, and eating, and relaxing, with Janet, TomO and family friends.
Crikey, did we eat or what?
And don’t you just love camp food prepared in a camp oven and dining under the stars beside a crackling camp fire…
Now I must say, Janet and I both love experiencing different foods from around the world, and enjoy a night dining out. But it is hard to beat cooking up and dining on some camp grub!
And no camping trip would be complete without Janet knocking out one of her (world famous) dampers. Lavished with Golden Syrup, or Cocky’s Joy, as it is commonly referred to, it is simply the Bees Knees. From the time it is pulled from the camp oven, to the time when the last piece is devoured, you won’t hear a whisper from anyone, just the sounds of the Australian Bush punctuated by the groans of delight as the Golden Syrup trickles down your hand…
Joining us for the weekend were our good friends The Todd’s; Bob and Annette, and David and Stephen. They’re like family to us and we’ve been travelling this great country of ours with them for as long as we can remember. A work colleague of Bob’s also came along to experience the Australian Bush…
The Todd Boys, The Boys, as we affectionately know them, are like brothers’ to our son TomO, and talk about being as thick as thieves.
Apart from growing taller, The Boys and TomO haven’t changed much. Although, the conversation seems to have moved from toy cars and teddy bears to girls these days…
Bob and I go back a long way…I even got to spin a few tales about him in my role as “Best Man” on their wedding day.
Together, we’ve cut a path along the Kokoda Track in the wild jungles of Papua New Guinea and paddled the Papuan Coast extensively on our kayaks.
Strewth, we’ve even spent a great New Year’s Eve on the small island nation of Nauru, at the Nauru Phosphate Club, helping to de-stock the Nation’s supply of Foster’s Lager, but heck that is a yarn for another day, if I ever get around to remembering it.
I’m sure Bob was a pyromaniac in another life-time, but rest assured he can set the best camp-fires ever and then cook up a storm in his camp oven. The Todd’s feasted on roast lamb and vegetables, while we settled for a good old rump steak on the barbie.
Now I must do a couple of call-outs here.
I have been fortunate enough to have found a fantastic blog called Picture Real Food, by Marisa, which has some wonderful recipes. This weekend I tried out her Bull’s Blood Mushrooms, and all I can say is if you are into mushrooms give this a go…and if you’re not into them still give it a go, because you’ll end up a convert!
The other call-out is to a mad-as-a-cut snake New Yorker who goes by the name of Icescreammama. Recently she had some really nice things to say about some Aussie bloke so I drank a toast to her on his behalf and the recent success she has had in a writing competition.
Geez, I actually had a couple of beers, a bit unusual for me ahead of my preparation for next year’s full-on mountaineering calendar.
Blow-me-down, I thought people like Icescreammama only existed on those American sit-coms you see on the Telly, when it is working. But there she is, larger than life. Mind you, I’m betting she is one of those New Yorkers’ that drinks cor-fee instead of coffee.
And did I get around to mentioning one of my favourite parts of any camping trip.
Brekkie!
And this is after we get our fill of vegemite on toast, after all it wouldn’t be Australian to leave it at home!
There is something that is good for the soul about a lazy start to the day, getting a fire going, and then throwing a couple of jaffle irons onto the coals with your favourite filling stuffed between two slices of bread!
Janet made up some savoury mince, and her jaffles were the ant’s pants; seriously to die for.
And no outing would be complete without someone falling into the water. Usually it is TomO, because he was a fish in a previous life, but this weekend it was my turn as I filled up the water bucket – it must have been those two beers I had the night before that gave me a wobbly boot.
Geez, you just gotta love getting “Out and About” – bring on life!
And hey!… Don’t forget to Like The Landy on Facebook to catch up on more photos and happenings while he’s “Out and About”…
Besides with only 29 likes he’s starting to think he’s more “off” than an “Outback Dunny” in the mid-day sun!
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