camping
A Seedpod (In the Australian Bush)
There are some wonderful things to see when Out and About in the Australian Bush.
There are landscapes that stretch from horizon to horizon under a never-ending blue sky, some unique animals, and some things you need to go searching for, or you just happen to come across.
A couple of weeks ago I was bush-walking up in Yengo National Park and the lovely contrast in this little seedpod caught my eye…
How good is it!
Crikey, you wouldn’t be dead for quids, hey?
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Living Works Of Art (In the Australian Bush)
Perhaps this will come as little surprise, but today we were Out and About in the Australian Bush…
TomO was having a sleep over at a friends place, although the term sleepover is used merely to highlight that he wasn’t at home with us, because if I know those boys there would have been little sleep happening.
Hell, come to think of it, the poor bloke was probably cleaning up the aftermath of the dinner party we enjoyed with the parents of TomO’s mate last night…
Now nothing ever seems to happen in our house before a cup of tea has been taken, which shouldn’t be that surprising as Janet’s father, Archie, was a tea importer, so after our mandatory cup of tea this morning we boarded The Landy, camera gear at the ready, and headed about 50-kilometres to the north of Sydney into Yengo National Park.
This park is a favourite of ours and we have spent many hours atop Devil’s Mountain watching the sun set on the the park’s western horizon, or Burragurra as it is known by Australia’s first inhabitants.
The mountain has many aboriginal rock engravings etched into its surface, including the spirit footprints of Wa-boo-ee, the creator of heaven and earth. In aboriginal legend he stepped from here to Mount Yengo in one stride and then ascended back into the sky.
All this, just to the north of Australia’s most populous city, strewth, how did we Aussies’s get so lucky?
And you know how I tend to rave on about the Australian Bush and Outback, well just take another look at the beautiful example of a Fringed Lily. They are so minute and in flower presently.
And as harsh as the Australian Bush can be it is such a fragile environment producing what can only be described as Living Works of Art…just like the Fringed Lily!
Crikey, all together now, say it!
(Big Bad) Baz, we wouldn’t wouldn’t be dead for quid’s!
Photos: (Big Bad) Baz, The Landy
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Just Dreaming (In the Australian Outback)
A few weeks back I was wandering around in the Outback enjoying the big sky country when I snapped this shot along the old Cobb & Co Coach Route between Broken Hill and White Cliffs.
Taken nearby to the old Rockholes Hotel, a refreshment point for travellers along the dusty route in days long gone but little more than rubble these days, I just laid back in the red dust and closed my eyes.
In an instant I was transported to another time, lost forever!
Strewth, you just wouldn’t be caught dead for quids, hey!
Photo: Baz ,The Landy
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In search of Gold and Ghouls (In the Australian Bush)
We spent the past weekend touring through the Hill End region nearby to Sydney in our new Outback Touring vehicle, a Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab.
Dare I call it “The Landy”.
And it proved to be popular with the locals who mobbed it as we neared the historic gold mining town.
This was a Gold and Ghouls weekend, for it was in the early 1850s that the discovery of gold at Ophir, not too far from Hill End in the State’s Central West, that created Australia’s first gold rush.
It was almost over as quickly as it began and very few found the fortune that they came in search of, and of course those that prospered most were the people who ran the stores, supplying equipment and provisions to the miners, and the many hotels that quenched the thirst of those who were looking for the “big strike”.
Hill End is a historic town administered by the New South Wales National Parks. There is a pub, a store, and plenty of old buildings that give a glimpse into how life might have been in those heady gold fever days. For the more energetic, there is a walk to Bald Hill where there was a lot of mining activity.
And the Royal Hotel is a great place to have a beer, or two, and a meal in the bistro.
Leaving Sydney we travelled the Great Western Highway via Bathurst and the small township of Sofala.
We camped at Glendora campground, which is located about 1.5 kilometres from the pub and is well equipped to take caravans and camper trailers, with powered and unpowered sites available and self-registration. In fact this is a good spot for larger groups with full facilities including electric barbecues and hot showers.
There is also a campground in the centre of town, which was about half full…
Leaving Hill End on Sunday we travelled back to Bathurst via Dixon’s Long Point Road, a four-wheel drive track that winds its way down to a rocky creek crossing on the Macquarie River.
“The Landy” had its first workout and performed admirably, although it was hardly taxing for the big V8-engine housed under a bonnet as big as a football field.
The views are spectacular and you can camp by the river and wile away the day under a deep blue sky…
The drive down to the river takes about one hour, depending on whether you stop along the way to visit the Cornish Roasting Pits, which we didn’t do on this particular occasion.
Travelling on you eventually come to Ophir Reserve which is located in a gorge where the Summer Hill and Lewis Creeks converge, and it was from here that the gold in the gold medals presented at 2000 Sydney Olympics was mined.
A great spot for a picnic, and it didn’t take long before TomO found a rope swing.
Leaving Ophir it is less than an hour drive to Bathurst and another couple of hours back to Sydney.
And what about the Ghouls I hear you ask?
The National Park Rangers do a Ghost Tour that takes in a number of properties in Hill End and can be organised with about a week’s notice. It was uncertain whether “The Landy” would be finished in time for this trip so we thought we’d keep the ghost tour up our sleeve, giving us a reason to return again soon…
For anyone visiting the central west of New South Wales, Hill End and a tour of the region is well worth the experience. And there is some good four-wheel driving to be done, if you are inclined. Otherwise the Dixon Long Point Road is easily traversable and will reward you with some stunning vistas of the Australian Bush…
Photos: Baz, The Landy, and Janet Planet…
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Watching, always watching (In the Australian Bush)
You’ve got to love the sound of the Australian Bush, but crikey, put a few of these blokes together and the sound is deafening…
Yeah, we’ve got a few creepy crawlies, but these little blokes are nothing to worry about…
Hey, what are you doing on my hat!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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White Cliffs – Outback Australia (Where’s Baz)
I’ve had a little bit of hiatus from the keyboard over the past couple of weeks and perhaps you’ve may have been thinking where’s Baz, has he gone underground or something…
Well talking about going underground, I took this photo late in the afternoon at White Cliffs, Outback Australia on one of our recent trips…
And just below the surface is the Underground Motel where we stayed in rooms fashioned out of an old mine. White Cliffs is an opal mining town, whose day time temperatures in summer can be above a ‘hundred on the old Fahrenheit scale for weeks on end and below zero at night in the depths of winter.
Seemingly, there is little happening on the climbing front just at the moment, even though I have recovered sufficiently from the operations earlier in the year, I’ve just lost a bit of zest for it.
Isn’t life funny sometimes, hey!
I wanted to be on those high mountains so badly earlier this year, in fact I was scheduled to be in Nepal climbing this month, and now I’m struggling to get motivated enough to get back out there – so fingers crossed for me!
And crikey, in the meantime, it is Janet’s scones cooked in a camp oven in the Outback and TomO’s antics whilst on tour– and there’s nothing wrong with that!
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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Rounding up the sheep (Is easy)
Try rounding up a teenager to do the dishes, and homework, and, heaven forbid, tidy up the bedroom…
Anyone with a teenager in the house will get the picture! 😉
But hey, we wouldn’t change that for the world, but where are those shears, his hair is getting a little bit long!
Click go the shears boys, click, click, click….
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Mutawintji Gorge (Outback Australia)
Mutawintji Gorge is spectacular for its towering rusty red rock cliffs and overhangs, its magnificent rock pool, cool and soothing on a hot outback day…
We took the time to wile away the hours at the base of the cliffs, and later climbing them…an oasis in the desert, a timeless place, inhabited by an ancient people.
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Strewth – Just for a good old fashioned laugh (At Landrover’s)
Being the owner of three Landrover Defenders has meant that I have trebly been the brunt of many Landrover jokes!
And crikey, for sure, I’ve got a good sense of humour, but I swore that I would never tell “Landy” jokes after I bought a new Toyota Landrcruiser…but,
Driving in my Landcruiser
Driving in my Landcruiser
A truck that won’t rust
Looking in the rearview
“The Landy’s” in my dust
*
Put in the “diff-locks”
And start headin’ up some hills
There’s no need to worry
No more hefty “Landy” bills
*
Take a good look underneath
You’ll see no oil drips
She’s dry as a whistle
Like parched desert lips
*
And when it’s time to turnaround
To point our way back home
There’s one thing that’s rest assured
There’ll be no breakdown moan!
😉
ps: I sold “The Landy” and it has gone to a new home!
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The Bush Christening (On the outer Barcoo)
Rivers, creeks, and billabongs, they have a way of drawing you in, somewhat like a divining rod in search of water.
Australia has a wonderful maze of inland river systems, which, at times dry up leaving waterholes, or billabongs, as we know them…
They feature heavily in stories and poems, songs and prose, of the Australian Outback.
Recently we camped beside a billabong, nearby to the Darling River, one of Australia’s largest, which slowly meanders its way towards a confluence with the mighty Murray River at Wentworth.
Steamboats plied their trade along the river as far north as Bourke, carrying supplies to the towns that dotted the Darling, transporting wool bales back to the cities on the return trip. Of course, drought, of which there were many, could see the boats stranded for long periods of time.
This land attracted many writers, inspired by the wide open spaces of the Australian Outback, and included Henry Lawson, whom I wrote about recently, and Banjo Paterson.
They are two of my favourite Australian writers.
Simply, their writings are timeless, despite both passing long-ago, you can sit by a billabong or a river and hear the echo of the men, and women, they wrote about, the friendly banter, the sorrow, the laughs, the tears, the highs and the lows.
Both men travelled extensively in some of my favourite parts of the Australian Outback.
One such place is the Barcoo River, nearby to the town of Jundah and the Welford National Park in far western-Queensland. A small town of not too many people, where the pub, owned and operated by Monica, is the go to place to hear news, a social epicentre for the area.
Lawson and Paterson, parched from travelling the dusty land, would have quenched their thirst at establishments just like the Jundah Pub!
Banjo Paterson was especially inspired by the Barcoo and surrounding area.
We travelled to this area to visit the site of Maggee’s Shanty and Richard Magoffin’s Grave which were not too far from Jundah and the Welford National Park. Those familiar with the writing’s of Banjo Paterson will recognise this is the place immortalised in his poem A Bush Christening.
The grave of Richard Magoffin, who perished in 1885, is nearby.
Magoffin came to Australia from County Down in Ireland in 1853, digging for gold in Victoria and fighting at Eureka. Later he settled with a brother at Chiltern, Victoria, before moving to Bourke, where they sank dams and ran a carting business before tough times sent them further north, to Queensland.
There was very little to see of Maggee’s Shanty, although a plaque indicated its site, but Magoffin’s Grave was very well kept.
And under darkened skies, with the threat of rain present, we huddled together at the site of Maggee’s Shanty, and read…
The Bush Christening – By AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson
On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
And men of religion are scanty,
On a road never cross’d ‘cept by folk that are lost,
One Michael Magee had a shanty.
Now this Mike was the dad of a ten-year-old lad,
Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;
He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest
For the youngster had never been christened,
And his wife used to cry, “If the darlin’ should die
Saint Peter would not recognise him.”
But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,
Who agreed straightaway to baptise him.
Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’,
And he muttered in fright while his features turned white,
“What the divil and all is this christenin’?”
He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,
It must mean something very like branding.
So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
While the tears in his eyelids they glistened-
“‘Tis outrageous,” says he, “to brand youngsters like me,
I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!”
Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
And his father with language uncivil,
Never heeding the “praste” cried aloud in his haste,
“Come out and be christened, you divil!”
But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
And his parents in vain might reprove him,
Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)
“I’ve a notion,” says he, “that’ll move him.”
“Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
Poke him aisy-don’t hurt him or maim him,
‘Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand,
As he rushes out this end I’ll name him.
“Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name-
Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?”
Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout-
“Take your chance, anyhow, wid ‘Maginnis’!”
As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,
The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head
That was labelled “Maginnis’s Whisky!”
And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And the one thing he hates more than sin is
To be asked by the folk who have heard of the joke,
How he came to be christened “Maginnis”!
The Bulletin, 16 December 1893.
As a footnote, the heavens opened up as we walked back to the vehicle bringing much needed rain to the area, but turning the roads into a slippery brown sludge.
The Landy, with Tvan in tow, arrived in Quilpie a few hours later covered in mud!
Such is life, but what a great day with my two favourite people…
Photos by: Baz, The Landy
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From the Outback
The author of a blog titled ‘tiny lessons blog’ contacted me recently and asked could she use one of my photographs for a poem she would like to write.
Of course, I told her, and she has done the photograph great justice in the way she has digitally altered the way it presents, and with the poem that the photograph inspired her to write.
The photograph was taken a number of years ago in the Simpson Desert, Outback Australia. It is the fourth largest desert in Australia and it is the world’s largest sand dune desert.
Travelling from East to West, I spent around five-days in the desert crossing about 700 sand dunes and covered around the same distance in kilometres, so a sand dune almost every kilometre.Accompanying me on the trip was my father Brian, my mother Fay, and son TomO, who was around three-years old at the time.
It was a wonderful trip on many levels, my parents loved being taken to a place they had never travelled before, especially with their grandson. They had a passion for travel, but would never had contemplated a trip like this, and lived vicariously through the travels that I undertook with Janet…
For TomO, I weaned him off his bottle on this trip, and he threw away his night-time nappy…
And me, well it was great to be out with a wonderful family, although we did miss Janet, who was spending time with her sisters in the Margaret River Region of West Australia…Please be sure to visit tiny lessons blog, where the author describes herself as a, happy beach bum, former director, active world traveller, so-so wife, mother, grandmother, and good friend. And adding, that she is not a photographer, but a pretty creative illustrator.
Thanks tiny, and to all, be sure to visit “down under” one of these days, we’d love to see you!
I got a post card
from the Outback
sent by me in the future.
It simply said:
I had solitude for breakfast
and bird’s song for dinner
my soul is embedded
in the vastness of nature
a magical, golden place
where the trails are marked
“This way to heaven.”
Thanks Baz, the Landy, for permission to work on one of your wonderful photos from the outback. Folks, check them out at https://thelandy.com/ .
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Dawn breaks over Australia’s Outback (In a brilliance of colour)
Dawn and the hour or so before the sun pierces the eastern horizon is a favourite time of day for me.
And when travelling in the Australian Outback I am often rewarded with a view like this one, captured at Welford National Park…
Crikey, tickle me pink, how good is this sunrise over in the Outback.
Photo by: Baz, The Landy (how can I tell? Janet and TomO aren’t early risers!)
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Sand Dune Country (In the Australian Outback)
I love the colours in this photo they take me to the Outback, no matter where I am…
What do you reckon?
Photo by: Baz, The Landy
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“The Hill” (In search of the real gems)
Australia has many outback towns that are full of charm, old buildings, magnificent pubs or watering-holes, and of course, just as many characters to fill them.
There are also some hidden gems to be found, if you scratch the surface deep enough and spend the time to fossick around, talk to the locals who might be just willing to point you in the right direction.
And you can bet there is always some healthy and good natured banter at the coming together of the city and country folk, especially if it is over a cold beer.
Broken Hill, a frontier town on the far western border of New South Wales, is one place that will need little introduction to most Australian’s. A town built on the back of silver and the hard toil of the men who worked the mines, and the women who supported them. It is the original home of the Big Australian, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, or BHP as it later became known, and the nearby area of Silverton was the site of the Mad Max Movies starring Mel Gibson…
It also has a great pub, The Silverton Hotel!
It was with great anticipation that we drove The Landy into town a couple of weeks ago as it was the staging post for our travels into Mutawintji National Park.
And speaking of characters, we were able to catch up with a local resident of The Hill, a man who oozed knowledge of the area and a passion for sharing it, over a cold beer of course!
Dave Beharre was aware of a love I have of Broken Hill and the Corner Country region. Contacting me ahead of our visit, Dave offered information on places that we might find of interest, knowledge collected from the many years spent as a tour guide operating out of Broken Hill.
TomO, an avid reader, was thrilled to be presented with some books on the area from Dave…
Such is the way of the people of Australia’s outback, a tough, no-nonsense people, embodied with a pioneering spirit and a heart of gold…
And talking about scratching the surface and finding a gem, we visited the Living Desert Reserve just outside of town and situated on a hill that provides majestic views over the harsh, but wonderfully beautiful countryside.
Country of the Wilyakkali People who traditionally occupied the lands around Broken Hill.
The Reserve is set on 2,400 hectares of land and has a number of walking trails that you can traverse. At its centre-piece, perched atop a hill, is a number of sculptures carved from sandstone rock, around 52 tonnes of it brought in from the MacCulloch Ranges, a range situated about 250 kilometres to the east of Broken Hill.
The sculptures were completed in 1993 by artists from around the world in collaboration with Australia’s first inhabitants, the aborigines.
The story of the bringing together of all these different people and cultures, sculpting by day and at night, dancing and singing by the glow of a warm fire under a sparkling outback sky, and in tongues native to their own lands, is one that portrays a spirit of human co-operation.
The sculptures include Nhatji – the Rainbow Serpent, Thomasina – the Water bird, the Bride, Motherhood, Moon Goddess, Tiwi Totems, and the Jaguar – Bajo El Sol Jaguar.
The latter, a creation of an Aztec Sculptor from Mexico.
Broken Hill is more than an Outback Town, it is a living beauty, touched by sunrises whose rays reach out to breathe life into the land, and of sunsets that redden the parched, dusty ground with a brilliance that is hard to define, but awe-inspiring as the sun slips below a far-off western horizon…
Above all else, “The Hill” is a town full of endearing people – they are the real gems that you will find there!
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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Fly Nets and Veils (Or the Aussie Salute)
Seemingly, our land down under is cursed with the world’s largest population of flies. They tickle your nostrils, gather on your back, shelter in your ears and heaven forbid, get swallowed with every breathe you take, well almost…
And here is the thing, where do they go at the end of each day, you know, the sun goes down and they disappear faster than Wally when it is his shout down at the local footy club.
It is like in an instant, the sun slips below the horizon and it is pure bliss, well at least for five minutes, which is usually the time it takes to go and find a light to put on. Strewth, flick the switch and some weird and wonderful bugs appear out of no-where…
It had me thinking on this trip, yes I did have a couple of beers, so the mind was fluid, but I mean, did the bugs clock-on when the flies clocked-off?
Or was it a case of the same horse, just different eyebrows, and in fact it was just the flies dressed up. Lets’ face it, they had the time, cause if I said it took me five minutes to get out a light, it was probably ten minutes by the time I finished my beer, had another, and then flicked the light, so they had time!
Janet has just asked me where I’m heading with this, which is just as well because I’m not really sure…
But anyway, you can either put up with the little blighters, wave your hand around your face from time to time, pretend you didn’t really swallow one or two, or you can grab a fly net and whack it over your head.
TomO and I have generally opted for the viewpoint that they are a source of protein, and casually ignore the fact they have probably spent the last hour or so sunning themselves on a cow patty, or you can go the Janet option and grab a veil.
I snapped this photo of Janet, with fly veil at the ready, whilst Out and About last week, and I’ve been fascinated by the look on her face – what was she thinking…?
So I invite you to put a caption on the photo…over to you!
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Design a logo Competition (And the winner is)
We are not long back from the Australian Outback and planning is underway for a couple of trips next year, already!
We were travelling in “The Landy” our original Outback travelling machine, although we did take delivery of the new vehicle just before leaving for the big sky and red soil country…
Prior to leaving I was inviting you to send a design for a mural that will go on the side of the canopy of the new vehicle and I was also asking you to suggest some names for the new vehicle.
I’m pleased to say that after a few beers and wines around the camp-fire we have a winner. In fact, the winner was a clear stand-out, and was produced by Sassy who has a wonderful blog called Sasieology…
In her bio, Sassy writes that she has made a promise to visit at least one new place and try at least one new activity every year…
I’m yet to see Australia turn up on her blog, but perhaps she’ll visit wearing her new Akubra hat one day!
Strewth, not sure how we’ll find her a good feed out in the “beef” country we frequently visit though as she is a self-confessed plant-based vegetarian.
And hey, don’t you go misreading me here, nothing wrong with that…if you’re a rabbit
But, do baked beans count? We love baked bean jaffles on our travels…
Whilst we have modified the original design that Sassy sketched, she fully captured the essence of what we were looking for, perfectly!
A mural that depicts a vehicle that will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge in full view of the Sydney Opera House and the magnificent Sydney Harbour most days, but equally, be at home in the red ochre deserts of the Australian Outback.
That is the work this vehicle will be put to, much the same as “The Original Landy”.
Just a sec, Janet is asking have I sold “The Landy” in order to pay for the new one…
“Yes, working on it sweetie” 😉
Anyway, let’s not get bogged down in a small domestic issue here, so Sassy, we’ll be sending you…
- An original Akubra Outback Club Hat,
- A jar of our prized Australian vegemite,
- Two packets of Tim Tams (you’ll love these!), and
- A bottle of our famous Bundy Rum.
And that brings us to the determination of a winner for a name.
Despite receiving many suggestions, we could not agree on one, preferring to leave the new vehicle simply as “The Landy”.
We placed the name of all who participated into an Akubra Hat, yes mine, and pulled out a winner, Nancy, who has a blog titled My Year of Sweat.
I’m betting she’ll love those Tim Tams and with all the exercise she’s be doing, knocking off a couple of packets of our delicious Tim Tams won’t be a problem. And I’m betting the rum will go down well.
So please make direct contact so I can arrange to send you the following goodies…
- A jar of our prized Australian vegemite,
- Two packets of Tim Tams (you’ll love these!), and
- A bottle of our famous Bundy Rum
And don’t tell Janet, but after a couple of beers around the fire I thought what is another Akubra Outback Club Hat between bank balances…
After all the cost of this vehicle makes the United States National Debt look healthy…
So not only will I be sending you some of our favourite Aussie tucker, we’ll get you to size up for a hat as well…
Hey, keep an eye out for those big sky country photos, we took heaps!
And by the way, thanks to everyone for having a go, because for sure, that is the Aussie Way…
Cheers, Baz – The Landy
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Watching, always watching (In the Australian Outback)
The Australian Emu is prolific in the outback regions we have been travelling through, following a couple of good seasons of rain.
This one was captured on camera in Mutawintji National Park.
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Dawn breaks at the Billabong (Outback Australia)
Crikey, how would you love to this wake up to this view each day?
Outback Australia, you just got to love it, hey!
We are currently travelling in the Outback, exploring a lot of aboriginal rock art, engravings, and paintings…
And in between, enjoying a yarn, and a couple of ale’s around the camp-fire…
Strewth, roll me over and tickle me pink, I don’t reckon it gets any better than this…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Outback Australia (Mutawintji National Park)
Have you ever wondered what it is like to stay in an underground motel, a room dug into a side of a hill?
Tonight our accommodation is the Underground Motel at White Cliffs in far-western New South Wales.
TomO and I have been frequent visitors over the years, stopping off on our way to and from the Outback, but seemingly, Janet has never been on those trips, so tonight is a first for her.
And what a welcome sight the reception was, standing tall on Smith’s Hill, about the only hill in sight for a hundred or so miles, well not quite, but the landscape is very flat and barren.
We have spent the past three days in Mutawinji National Park undertaking a number of walks through the magnificent gorges set in the rugged and fiery red Byngnano Range. And the wildlife was beautiful…
Mutawintji is the tribal area of the Makyankapa and Pandjikali people.
Aboriginal people have lived and hunted in this area for thousands of years and during our stay in the park we spent time with an aboriginal elder who took us to view some rock art and engravings of great significance to his people.
Mark shared the love of his land, his people, his culture with great passion and enthusiasm and we look forward to meeting up with him once again in the future, to share the experience of this great land together…
Strewth, you wouldn’t be dead for quid’s, hey!
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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Outback Australia (On tour in Mutawinji National Park)
We left Sydney a couple of days ago in “The Landy” heading west for a tour of Mutawinji National Park and Outback New South Wales.
Our trip to Mutawinji National Park in far western New South Wales, and Trilby Station, situated on the Darling River, will give us some great exposure to Australian Outback Landscapes.
Mutwawinji NP is about 130-kilometres to the north of Broken Hill and situated in the Bynguano Range.
Apart from the natural beauty of the park, with its many gorges, rock-pools, and red gum lined creek beds, it is of great significance to aboriginal people who have been visiting the area for thousands of years to avail themselves of the food and water. The area has also been used for ceremonial reasons and still is to this day.
Throughout the park there are many examples of rock engravings, stencils and paintings. This is one of the park’s great attractions and we will endeavour to see as much as we can, which is usually done with the guidance of the Park Rangers.
After a few nights in the park we will head east towards White Cliffs, a town renowned for its opals and the many “characters” that come to mine the prized stones and we will stay in an underground motel, just for the experience!
After freshening up following a few days in the bush, we will leave for Trilby Station, a working sheep and cattle property on the banks of the famous inland river, the Darling River. A favourite of ours, we will camp by the Billabong and engross ourselves in very little, just taking in the atmosphere of the outback.
We’ll have a few days of relaxation before leaving Trilby and travelling via the small locality of Louth, making our way towards Narromine for our final night of the trip.
Of course, all trips come to an end, and as we make our way back to Sydney on our final day, passing through the towns of Orange and Bathurst, I’m sure there will be plenty of stories and experiences to recount from our couple of weeks “Out and About in The Landy”.
And be sure to keep an eye out for some pictures of our tours over the coming week, hopefully we can capture the beauty of our magnificent outback on camera…
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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The “New Landy” (With a red bow?)
How cool is the “New Landy”
We picked it up today and it will be fully customised to our requirements for outback travel over the next six weeks.
But strewth, you can’t put a red bow on the bonnet of a V8 Super Truck – surely not.
Seemingly it is a tradition for the car dealership where we purchased it…
Oh well, just don’t tell Bluey and the Boys, I’ll never live it done at the footy club…
For the petrol heads amongst us – it is a Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab 4.5 litre V8 (Diesel mind you…)
And by the way, we head off in a few days for the Outback. Although, we are going in the original “Landy” our Landrover 130 Twin Cab Defender…
Hey Janet, give me back the keys to my Super Truck, Janet, Janet…Janet…
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The Australian Outback (Big Sky Country)
This is big sky country…and how good is it!
Janet, TomO and I will be heading out in “The Landy” in about a week’s time to visit Mutawinji National Park, which has a lot of aboriginal history, rock engravings and paintings.
And I look forward to sharing some more of the Australian Outback with you…
In fact, this will be the last trip “The Landy” will make for a while as the new vehicle, “The Landy – Mark 2” arrives later this week and will be customised for Outback Travel over the next couple of months.
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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The Australian Dingo (In the outback)
The Australian Dingo, at home in the Australian Outback…
Aren’t they such a beautiful animal!
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!
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Western Plains (Outback Australia)
Strewth, you wouldn’t be dead for quids…
I could get lost out here for ever!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Simpson Desert – Outback Australia (Which Way?)
Five days, seven-hundred kilometres and almost a thousand sand dunes to go…(and loving it)
photo: Baz – The Landy
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Click go the shear’s boys (click, click, click)
Currawinya Woolshead, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz- The Landy
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Win a Classic Aussie Akubra Hat (You’ll be the envy of all!)
I haven’t heard too much back on the Logo design, which is good, I know you will all be hard at work on it…
Strewth, you haven’t forgotten about it already, seriously…
Here, read about how you can win a classic, Aussie, Akubra Outback Hat by designing a logo!
I tell you what, here is something that might help some of those with an artistic flair.
Our new touring vehicle will travel over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge each day.
The Sydney Opera House in full view and the spectacular Sydney Harbour as a backdrop…
A week later it could be crossing a thousand red sand dunes in the Simpson Desert, Outback Australia…
So maybe something that reflects this might be a reasonable idea…
And when I say Logo, hey, it could be blown up mural style and placed on the gull-wing doors of the canopy…that is what I have in mind!
Okay, get cracking, and yes, you can go and make yourself a cocktail first!
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Stone House, Coward Springs (Outback Australia)
Along the dusty Oodnadatta Track, Coward Springs, an oasis in a harsh, barren land…
photo: Baz – The Landy
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Double-Trouble in the Australian Outback (Strewth)
Is this the male equivalent of finding yourself in the same dress at that special event?
Captured in the middle of no-where, between a thousand sand dunes in the Australian Outback…
photo: Baz – The Landy
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Customer Advocacy (And the company has listened)
Yesterday I wrote about a customer service experience I had recently with Track Trailers, the manufacturer of the Track T-Van Camper Trailer.
Lloyd Waldron, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Track Trailer, and I have had a lengthy telephone discussion on the company’s products, and importantly what the Track team are doing to improve its customer service.
The company fully understands the position I took in regards to its customer service in this instance, and as indicated previously I understand it cannot warranty its product inputs forever.
Whilst it would have been more beneficial to have had this discussion much earlier, and in private, I think the key take-away from my perspective is the company acknowledges short-comings it can have at times in its customer service area, but is constantly working to improve this.
They are to be congratulated for looking to improve; the care factor is there.
I am pleased the company has taken the time to respond in a professional way and this gives me every confidence to continue extolling the great virtues of the company’s product offering.
It is a great product and that is why we tour the great Australian Outback in a T-Van.
Cheers, Baz – The Landy
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Reflections (In the Australian Outback)
Gumhole Waterhole, Diamantina National Park, Outback Australia
Nothing better than sitting by a billabong, looking at reflections…just reflecting, as the world passes by!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Man-made objects (In the Outback)
The “Yellow Bus”
A popular landmark situated between Bollard’s Lagoon Station and Merty Merty, sand-dune country on the edge of the Strzelecki Desert, Outback Australia…
It was used as a stockmans’ camp.
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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A room with a view (In the Outback)
“A room with a view”
“The Landy” at Ourimperee Waterhole, Currawinya National Park, Australian Outback…
And not another soul within coo’ee, well apart from TomO, that is.
Can you spot where he is? Click on the photo to enlarge!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Colours of the Australian Outback (Sunset)
Sunset at Cullayamurra Waterhole, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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The Ruins (Timeless)
“The Ruins” parched by an outback sun…
Diamantina National Park, Outback Australia.
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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A Weapon of Mass Destruction (The Fantastic Plastic Card)
Regular visitors to my much rambling blog will know that apart from trying to climb mountains, and run around the bush with a back-pack, that we frequently get “Out and About” in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
A Landrover Defender that co-incidentally goes by the name of “The Landy”. A vehicle that you’ve got to love, even if it is too slow to keep worms in a tin.
Janet is suggesting you go and grab yourself a cocktail to sip on, after all it is approaching the cocktail hour, and she knows too well I can be Harry-have-a-chat, you know, the sort of bloke that can talk under wet cement with a mouthful of marbles.
Um, I see you made yourself two, good, it is nice to have company.
Strewth, you’re going to drink them both?
Anyway, where were we?
Oh, yes, and don’t we love “The Landy” as it gets Janet, TomO, and me “Out and About” in the Australian Outback, soaking up the big blue sky country.
Recently, around the camp fire with “Bluey and the Boys”, the conversation got around to the money we spend on our toys.
A self-confessed newbie to off-road travelling and touring posed the question…
“What should I buy and how should I equip my vehicle”…
Crikey, these types of questions are welcomed around the camp-fire as it means at least another couple of beers while answers are given and debated, and besides there is no such thing as a silly question.
Janet is hovering a bit and has just suggested silly questions are highly probable if it involves, four-wheel drive vehicles, beer and boy’s around a camp-fire.
But this question got me thinking that perhaps it is asked the wrong way around.
I thought, how much better our bank balance would be money one could save if the question was turned around to read…
“What equipment shouldn’t I buy?”
An often held view is that today’s modern four-wheel drive vehicle needs to be optioned up and fitted with all kinds of after-market gadgetry.
In reality, late model examples of the most the popular brands, including Toyota Land Cruisers, Nissan Patrols, and heaven forbid, Landrovers , yes I have two Defenders, are quite adequate straight out of the box, right off the showroom floor.
The vehicle after-market parts industry would have us believe that a five-inch lift, winch, diff-locks, a bull bar big enough to push over a small building, and an over-haul of the suspension system is required…
And that is just to get you down the front-driveway to the gate of your house!
But strewth, the reality is quite different, and a slightly different approach could have you banking cash to spend whilst on a trip, or something to put away for the next.
Whoops, Janet is still looking over my shoulder…
Yes I’m hearing you sweetie… or that new dress!
Mind you, after that big event you went in whilst in London recently, you remember shop till you drop, will mean “The Landy” won’t be getting any new gadgets for at least another week a long, long time.
Crikey, when it comes to vehicle modifications I reckon you’d be best to just go out and enjoy the country and “suck it and see” on any short-falls you might find.
So I tossed this little list of “things you can do without” into the discussion around the fire…
Bull bars, nice to have, but adds a lot of weight to the front-end almost guaranteeing you’ll need a suspension upgrade.
And yes, I know your uncle lives out at whoop, whoop and he hits a “kangaroo-a-week” and no doubting he needs one.
But I have never hit one in years of travelling the outback.
A Winch… no Bluey, I said winch, so watch your tongue and go and grab yourself another beer…
Well if you get a bull bar, a winch is a great accessory to adorn it.
But really, unless you actually “intend” to go into areas where it is almost guaranteed to be required, than save your money.
Many want to add it for insurance, just in case, and it usually dies from under-use.
A suspension upgrade – crikey, this can be a tricky one, if you have wasted spent money on the first two then you’ll probably need to chuck some money at this as well. Besides, your Toyota Prado will look great in traffic driving across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, head and shoulders above everything else.
But if you can drive with caution and approach obstacles carefully, and not like you’re in the Paris to Dakar rally, you might get away with the stock standard system that was fitted to the vehicle when you drove it out of the show room.
Communication radios – okay, if you like colourful language and you’re as lonely as a country dunny, it might be a useful addition to an already cluttered dashboard.
Otherwise, if your wife blushes at the thought of a four-letter word, or you have got three kids strapped in the back, then save your money, you can do without it.
If you keep a look out the front windscreen you’ll probably avoid most vehicles coming the other way, after all seeing is believing, or so they say!
Although, come to think of it, if you have got three kids in the back, it might make a change from the “are we there yet” whine.
Power and Engine upgrades – strewth, isn’t that the beauty of modern motor vehicle engines that use computer technology.
You can just plug a few leads in and spend lots of your hard earned cash tweaking something the vehicle manufacturer and its engineers’ spent tens of millions of dollars on ensuring was the best combination when they made it.
Sure, if you want to tow a caravan half-the-size of a Hollywood Mansion behind you, or you have a need to cover the breadth of Australia in record time, then I can see you might need it…
But hey, don’t get me wrong, there are people out there doing chip-upgrades and they need a retirement fund, so live in the knowledge you’ll be making it a more comfortable retirement for them.
A Fridge – hell, this is heading into dangerous territory, after all how do you keep Janet’s wine TomO’s milk refrigerated without it?
Back in a ‘sec, Janet has just suggested that it would be best if I went to the fridge and get her a top up from that lovely bottle of Hunter Valley Chardonnay she has almost knocked off bought the other day.
Dual Battery System – well, if you need a fridge to keep things refrigerated then you’ll need a second battery to run it, and perhaps a couple of beers to get you over the bill when it comes in from the auto-electrician.
Roof Rack – have you ever lifted one of those things, they’re usually pretty heavy if you want a good one and another reason you’ll probably need a chip-upgrade and better suspension.
But if you can leave a few items at home, like three-quarters of the things that Janet tries to stuff in “The Landy” you think you’ll need, then you may be able to say no thanks to your local four-wheel drive warehouse, I’ll not be needing one.
Spot Lights – the bigger the better, after all if you’re going to spend money on those shiny things that go up front, you might as well get a pair that would spot a Spinifex Hoping Mouse at three miles.
But many of the people I see with them on the front of the vehicle are tucked up in bed at one-minute-past-sunset, which sort of makes them a bit redundant…
Um, the spotlights that is.
But hey, what better way to let someone into your wallet again.
Anyway, I hope you’re still around and not rolling around on the floor somewhere as I can see you finished off those two cocktails…
See, reading a long rambling post does have its merits.
So what makes me an expert anyway?
Yes, I heard you whispering!
A four-wheel drive named “The Landy” that is full of gadgets, and an empty bank account to go with it…
Hey, and good luck out there, wherever there is!
Come on, you can relate to this can’t you?
After all you don’t need a four-wheel drive to whip out that “Fantastic Plastic” and do some damage with that “Weapon of Mass Destruction”…
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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Pop on over (I’ll Chill the beer)
For the benefit of those not in the know Australia has six states and two territories that make up our Great Southern Land.
For sure we could have a lot more like the United States of America, but hell we’re flat out counting to ten, let alone trying to name 50-States.
Hey, where are you going, don’t worry this isn’t some kind of history lesson.
Alright, grab a beer or a wine if you like, but hurry back, and don’t go wasting your time googling how many States America has, it isn’t that important.
So picking back up, having an unbiased view, of course, there is one State that shines above all, Queensland, the Sunshine State.
Yep, we’ve got the barrier reef full of colourful fish…
You remember Nemo don’t you?
Of course you do, a couple of fish that talk, a few turtles swimming down the East Australia Current, and who could forget Dory, and that great quote of hers?
“Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do?”
Anyway…
Rainforests that roll from the mountains to the reef…
You’re looking for pictures aren’t you?
Well, I’m teasing you, you’ll have to come on over and snap a few for yourself.
Here, I’ll toss you a bone…
Anyway, we’ve got the warmest people that you could ever meet and whose each and every sentence ends with, hey.
I’m still talking about Queensland, just to be sure…
And hey, don’t get me wrong, the rest of Australia is pretty darn good mind you, just not as good.
Crikey, you know what I’m trying to say…the place is bloody perfect!
Weather to die for!
I mean, 364-days of sunshine a year…doesn’t get much better than that, hey!
Okay okay, yes you’ve called me on this one so maybe not quite 364-days.
But let’s face it, if you’re a pommie, you know, English, those blokes that flogged us at Rugby about a week or so ago banished us from England on convict ships all those years ago, anything more than 5-days of sunshine a year would be a bonus.
If only they knew at the time, strewth, we’d be overrun with those Lion supporters running around in red shirts looking for a “warm beer”.
Yes, Queensland, we’re they’ll call you mate, and mean it…and where the beer is ice-cold.
Now, it might come as little surprise that both Janet and I were both born in Queensland, and to be more precise I grew up in the North. North Queensland that is, and Janet has roots deeply set in the same region.
And TomO, well he is an honorary member…
Crikey, how did that happen…I mean, he’s a Cockroach.
Oh yeah, sorry, meant to say, Queenslanders’ are often referred to as “Cane toads” and New South Welshmen as “Cockroaches”.
So by now you’re probably wondering, what is the point of all this, hey?
Has Baz lost his marbles?
Bumped his head?
Is he a sandwich short of a picnic?
Um, Janet and TomO are nodding yes to all three!
So I’ll just try and make my point…hey.
Strewth, there is none really!
So how about this, pop on over to this great place, you know, our sunburnt country and I’ll buy you a beer at one of our favourite watering holes.
Yeah, up at the Einasleigh Hotel up in the Gulf Savannah, hey.
Gulp Country.
How’s that for a pub…!
Give us a bell so we can get the beers on ice and just ask for Baz, hey!
Photos: Baz, The Landy
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Reflections (In the Australian Outback)
Taken early morning at Gum Hole Water Hole, Diamantina National Park, far Western Queensland.
Crikey, how good is our gorgeous Outback!
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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On Tour in the Australian Alps (Are we there yet?)
Victorian High Country, Australia.
photo: Baz, The Landy
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Just Nosing Around (An Echinda)
We came across this little bloke today, an Echidna, whilst Out and About touring country New South Wales…
I tell you what, let’s just call him spike!
Crikey, nature, you’ve got to love it hey…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Out and About in The Landy (Ariah Park Pub)
With a long weekend in the offering and great weather, Janet, TomO, and I jumped into “The Landy” and headed into country New South Wales, the Riverina Area…
And we came across a quaint little town called Ariah Park, with a motto of Wowser, Bowsers, and Peppercorn Trees.
The main street is lined with old petrol bowsers and peppercorn trees, but we can’t vouch for wowsers as we didn’t see another soul!
And strewth, what a great old pub!
Out and About in “The Landy” hey – crikey you wouldn’t be dead for quids…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Crikey – Talking about Neighbour’s (Don’t mess with this bloke)
Ever had a next door neighbour that you wish would just go away? You’ll know the ones I’m talking about, loud, unruly, parties until all hours, beer bottles chiming to the sounds of cheers!
Mind you, it almost sounds fun when it put is that way, but it does wear thin after a while.
And then there are the silent ones, no noise, no parties, pretty much keep to themselves, but shikes, they sure can give you the creeps.
Strewth, we’ve had our fair share of them over the years, but we are lucky to have great neighbours all around us these days!
But I’ll share a yarn about one neighbour that we had a while back, in the outback.
We were out touring in Far North-Queensland, FNQ (pronounced ef-fen-Q), up in the Gulf Savannah Country where Janet has her roots. Mott’s are still grazing sheep and cattle in that region to this day, and for me this region was my backyard as I grew up in Townsville…
Over the past few years we have made the 7,000 kilometre round-trip to one of our most favourite spots in the Australian bush, Lawn Hill Gorge.
Now let me tell you, this is one heck of a beautiful spot that we first visited back in the 1990s. It was literally a flying visit in an aircraft we owned, a Piper Arrow, call sign Foxtrot-Tango-Hotel.
This was before the little tacka, TomO, came along, and we flew it extensively over the Australian outback before selling it some years back.
These days we enjoy the drive north through the outback in The Landy just as much as we did flying over it.
The Aussie Outback, it’s a great place to just stand still and take it all in, a place where the barren land and ochre red soil meets the deep blue of the never-ending sky…
Anyway…
When we were last up there we had no problem securing a great spot beside the creek, which surprised us as there were a few others around at Adel’s Grove, a small tourist resort that caters for travellers just nearby to the main gorge.
It turns out our neighbour was a magnificent Olive Python measuring about 5 metres in length.
A beautiful specimen and apparently they are only known to eat small children…
Just kiddin’…
It had taken up residence just on the bank where we had set up camp. Despite their size they are not an aggressive snake and they are not venomous. And we have our fair share of those venomous ones.
Crikey, we’ve got a bagful of the world’s most deadly snakes, and none of those “rattling” things that they have elsewhere, just hard-core mean and downright dangerous ones!
Okay, fair’s fair, the North American rattle snake does make it into the top ten…
Most passing by our camp were totally oblivious to it being there, many who saw it thought they were about to be eaten alive, others were curious at a seemingly chance encounter with something so wonderful.
Late in the day, as the sun drifted low into the western horizon and shadows started to cast long, it would move on, returning first thing the next morning to take up its position once again.
Yep, neighbours, they come in all shapes and sizes, some you love to bits, others you’d be happy to see the back of, but for sure, we’d be happy to have this bloke as our neighbour anytime – best “guard dog” we’ve ever had…
Ps. For those who might be wondering, Janet was the photographer and loved it. Um, I must’ve been busy with something… 😉
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The Outback, Fly Veils, and other Veils (Happy Anniversary!)
Visit the Australian Outback in the warmer months, especially after rain and most likely a billion flies will join you.
And yes, I meant a couple of billion.
It is a funny occurrence, they turn up at the crack of dawn, literally, and as the sun shimmies below the western horizon in the late afternoon they disappear, seemingly from the face of the earth.
I’ve often pondered where do they go…
Personally, I try to ignore them, which is hard when they crawl all over your face, up your nostrils, and heaven forbid, don’t breathe through your mouth, lest you want some additional protein for breakfast.
Strewth, I hope I haven’t painted a picture that turns you away from visiting, after all we do like to share the experience of the never ending outback!
A never ending sky kissing the parched red earth in the far off distance…
But don’t worry, we have a solution, a veil, a fly veil that you can put over your head, and bingo, they’re out of your face!
Crikey, speaking of veils and kissing, 29 years ago today Janet was wearing a beautiful veil and lovely dress as we walked down the aisle together. Talk about a radiant bride who has blossomed into the kindest and most beautiful person you could ever be lucky enough to meet… 😉
She was literally the girl next door, how’s that hey!
Happy anniversary sweetie!
photos: Baz, The Landy
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An Oasis (In the Australian Outback)
When traversing the harsh and barren landscape of the Australian Outback, Australia’s indigenous aboriginals used mound springs for their water supply.
This one was photographed near Coward Springs, along the Oodnadatta Track…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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Final Destination (Broken down in the Outback)
The “Old Bus” was driven from the city into the Outback by two fencing contractors who used it for their accommodation on Trilby Station, an outback property in Western New South Wales, Australia.
And it came well ventilated; the roof was demolished when they misjudged the height of an overhead bridge on the trip to the Outback!
The Outback, full of surprises, hey!
photo: Baz, The Landy
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The Billabong (Outback Australia)
The Billabong, Trilby Station on the Darling River, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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The fire is set (As the sun disappears)
Around the camp-fire, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz, The Landy
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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)
Xplore 