Travel and Tourism
We can’t Let our Old Bushmen die (A tale from the Bush)
The gathered crowd were anxious to witness a remarkable feat by a man and his whip and with little effort it coiled down the road accompanied by the sound of a thunderous clap.
Mind you, this was no ordinary whip, and no ordinary man who gripped its handle firmly. This is a whip measuring 66 feet in length, and weighing in at 17-kilograms.
Richard had done this a thousand times before and it made my attempt to crack a whip a fraction of its size rather feeble indeed.
The small township of Murringo, situated in the Central-West of New South Wales, was abuzz, and it was almost a carnival atmosphere as people travelled from both nearby, and further afield, to celebrate the opening of the 150 year old Hancock’s Store with owners Richard and Leah Taubman.
The sign above the small, but quaint, building proudly announced “Taubman & Webb, Trading Post – A Tribute Centre to Richard Taubman and the Late Syd Bayliss”.
The Webb part of Taubman and Webb, referring to Craig Webb, a best mate and earlier partner of Richard in a leather making business.
But the store, lovingly restored by Leah and a close family friend, Paul, over a period of two-years and supported wholeheartedly by the local community, is more than just a Trading Store, equally, it is a fine tribute to a true man of the Australian Bush, Syd Bayliss.
Syd’s story is one of a boy who served his country in the First World War after enlisting in the army at the young age of fifteen. It is a story of his passion for the timeless craft of leather plaiting, and one of a man travelling our wonderful country in search of work, of the hardships he endured, and the laughs he shared with those fortunate to meet him.
Syd was no ordinary man…
Mind you, Syd was born into a time in Australia’s past when it was hard to find any ordinary man or woman.
At 13-years of age a young Richard Taubman became entranced by Syd’s story and willingly sought him out, encouraged by his parents to learn the craft that this man of the bush had perfected so beautifully.
Despite the large age difference, Syd took Richard under his wing, becoming a mentor, and more importantly, a lifelong friend; a friendship that spanned the decades until his death in 1983.
Richard has dedicated a large part of his life to ensuring we don’t forget Syd and the men and women like him who forged a path, a tortuous one at times, for future generations of young Australians.
He has written a self-published book about Syd titled “One of The last” and ensured the story of his life is preserved for all in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach, in Queensland.
On learning the old Hancock’s Store was for sale, Leah jumped at the opportunity to acquire it and Sunday’s grand opening was the culmination of her vision of restoring it to its former glory. It now stands proudly as a living tribute to the store that Syd owned in the town of Tumut, a tannery and saddlery store named The Valley of the Whites Trading Post, a tribute that Richard has long dreamed of doing.
And rest assured Leah has renovated Hancock’s Store true to its original form.
But it wasn’t all hard work, as Heather, the owner of the Ploughman’s Inn situated next door and now used by her as a private residence attested in a wonderful speech that she gave on behalf of the local community. She fondly recalled how the sound of country and western music serenaded her as tea and scones were served for morning tea on the verandah of the store as the restoration progressed.
Country and western music was a feature of the day with Syd’s brother-in-law, David, penning and singing a song as his own tribute to Richard.
And a highlight was witnessing Joy McKean, the wife of the late and great Slim Dusty, doing the official honour of cutting a ribbon to officially open Hancock’s Store after giving a wonderful account of her and Slim’s first meeting with Richard, and of her own childhood days of growing up, in the Australian bush.
Joy spoke about how both she and Slim where enthralled all those years ago by the passion that this young man and roustabout, Richard, held for the Australian way of life, our culture, our heritage. Something Slim and Joy wrote and sang about together to generations of Australians prior to Slim’s passing in 2003.
All Australian’s owe a great debt of gratitude to Leah for having the vision, the patience and the perseverance to bring Hancock’s Store back to its former glory. Too often we see buildings like Hancock’s Store slipping into decay in our rural towns, in our own communities, and I swear that as I walked through the store I could hear the echo of voices long gone whispering their thanks to Leah…
And I am certain that when Slim penned the song “We’ve done us proud” that he had men just like Richard, a big bloke, with a big heart, and a hat and whip just as big to match, at the forefront of his mind.
Thanks to Richard the inspiring and moving story of Syd Bayliss lives on and so does his craft through his skillful hands…
On the drive home to Sydney, back to the big smoke, I quietly reflected that for as long as we have people like Richard and Leah, visionaries with a love of the Australian Bush and of the people who have made Australia what it is today, there is little risk that our “Old Bushmen will ever die”.
Photos: 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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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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“When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” (Toorale Homestead)
Being an avid reader of colloquial poetry I welcomed the opportunity to once again be out in the countryside that inspired the great Australian Poet, Henry Lawson…
For those not familiar, Henry Lawson was a poet, a writer of fiction, and many will argue, Australia’s greatest writer.
Earlier this year we packed ourselves into “The Landy” and headed to Grenfell, his birthplace in the Central West of New South Wales, to attend the Henry Lawson festival, as well as just getting Out and About – of course!
On our most recent trip to the outback we visited Toorale Station which was a vast sheep and cattle property before its purchase by the Federal Government in 2008 and development into a National Park in 2010.
The purchase of the property did have political overtones, and was done, in part, to release water that was used for cotton growing back to the river systems.
At the time it drew a mixed response, but that is a debate for others…
Toorale had at its centre, a magnificent homestead, with a glass ceiling ball-room, sprawling verandahs, wonderful gardens and hand-painted wall paper.
Standing at the gate, my mind’s eye could picture a by-gone area, of women in long-white dresses sipping tea from delicate porcelain china, shaded by the afternoon sun by one of the many trees in the manicured garden, while men toiled on the land..
Janet, with a sly grin, casually mentioned how things had changed whilst casting an eye towards TomO and I…
Set at the confluence of the Warrego and Darling Rivers it remains a place of cultural significance to Australia’s first people, specifically the traditional owners, the Kurnu-Baakandji / Paakantji People.
Ross Morris, a member of the Kurnu-Baakandji / Paakantji family, showed us around and was enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead for the park, especially the cultural centre, which is teaching their traditional language, heritage and beliefs to younger members of their community.
In fact, it is now a language module offered at the local school in the nearby town of Bourke…
Ross spoke fondly of the time his father and grandfather spent on Toorale, and of the original owner, Samuel McCaughey, later Sir Samuel.
And it was Ross’s proclamation that it is no longer Black and White, a nice pun I thought, when he explained that we all have a bond to Toorale, whether through traditional ownership, or the heritage created by earlier settlers to the region.
His attitude brought a smile to my parched lips, as I love learning about aboriginal culture and history, something TomO shares in common with me…
Ross’s viewpoint was also echoed by other first Australians’ we spent time with on this trip, on our visit to Mutawintji and Peery Lake.
Samuel McCaughey was by all accounts a big-hearted bachelor and built Toorale for his much admired niece, Louisa, but tragically corporate ownership of the property in more recent times saw it decay and it is currently very dilapidated and in need of substantial repairs.
Janet and I asked each other how could such a treasure be left to ruin in the elements, Ross shook his head…
But what of Henry Lawson I hear you ask?
Henry spent the later part of 1892 working as a roustabout on the property and it has even been suggested that he penned one of his poems “When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” whilst working in the shearing shed on Toorale…
Perhaps he did, but I cannot say that was the case with any certainty, but nor does it matter, as the “Toorale Shearing Shed” is typical of shearing sheds all over this great country of ours…
TomO, Janet and I were presented with a great treat whilst admiring the shearing shed.
A lady who was travelling with us on this particular day, Janice, stood in front of the shed and recited, with great aplomb…
“When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” – By Henry Lawson
‘THE LADIES are coming,’ the super says
To the shearers sweltering there,
And ‘the ladies’ means in the shearing shed:
‘Don’t cut ’em too bad. Don’t swear.’
The ghost of a pause in the shed’s rough heart,
And lower is bowed each head;
And nothing is heard, save a whispered word,
And the roar of the shearing-shed.
The tall, shy rouser has lost his wits,
And his limbs are all astray;
He leaves a fleece on the shearing-board,
And his broom in the shearer’s way.
There’s a curse in store for that jackaroo
As down by the wall he slants—
And the ringer bends with his legs askew
And wishes he’d ‘patched them pants.’
They are girls from the city. (Our hearts rebel
As we squint at their dainty feet.)
And they gush and say in a girly way
That ‘the dear little lambs’ are ‘sweet.’
And Bill, the ringer, who’d scorn the use
Of a childish word like ‘damn,’
Would give a pound that his tongue were loose
As he tackles a lively lamb.
Swift thoughts of homes in the coastal towns—
Or rivers and waving grass—
And a weight on our hearts that we cannot define
That comes as the ladies pass.
But the rouser ventures a nervous dig
In the ribs of the next to him;
And Barcoo says to his pen-mate: ‘Twig
‘The style of the last un, Jim.’
Jim Moonlight gives her a careless glance—
Then he catches his breath with pain—
His strong hand shakes and the sunlights dance
As he bends to his work again.
But he’s well disguised in a bristling beard,
Bronzed skin, and his shearer’s dress;
And whatever Jim Moonlight hoped or feared
Were hard for his mates to guess.
Jim Moonlight, wiping his broad, white brow,
Explains, with a doleful smile:
‘A stitch in the side,’ and ‘he’s all right now’—
But he leans on the beam awhile,
And gazes out in the blazing noon
On the clearing, brown and bare—
She has come and gone, like a breath of June,
In December’s heat and glare.
The bushmen are big rough boys at the best,
With hearts of a larger growth;
But they hide those hearts with a brutal jest,
And the pain with a reckless oath.
Though the Bills and Jims of the bush-bard sing
Of their life loves, lost or dead,
The love of a girl is a sacred thing
Not voiced in a shearing-shed.
(© Henry Lawson)
If you are travelling in this part of the world, be sure to give Ross a call, he can be found at the National Parks Office in Bourke…
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops!
Photos: 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Winter by the beach (In Australia)
How is this for a glorious winter’s day by the beach.
Strewth, you might just be left wondering is it really winter?
Janet, TomO, and I packed “The Landy” with some picnic goodies and headed down to the Royal National Park, just to the south of Sydney.
And we stopped by the spectacular Coalcliff Beach for a cup of tea, expertly brewed by the Queen of the tea pot, Janet.
What a great place for a cuppa, hey?
Photo: 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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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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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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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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Va cava tiko (How’s it going)
I have always found there is something very romantic about the South Pacific. Palm trees swaying gently in a balmy late afternoon sea breeze. The sun gracefully sliding towards the western horizon in a warm glow of burnt orange as the sea caresses the golden grains of sand on a faraway beach…
As a boy growing up I was an avid reader of the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson, so it should come as little surprise that places like Yasawa Island were the playgrounds of my mind…
After a relatively short flight of fours hours from Australia, and another thirty minute flight in a small aircraft we arrived at the beautiful Yasawa Island Group in Fiji.
The welcome was warm and friendly.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner accompanied with a few wines, a restful sleep, before heading off for a snorkel this morning.
We weren’t disappointed!
Our week ahead promises to be one of fun and laughter, perhaps romance, with Janet, my partner, and TomO, our 12 year-old son. TomO has taken an active interest in girls over the past few months, and with a couple here around his age it will be interesting to watch…
After all, this was the setting for the movie Blue Lagoon…
Va cava tiko: How’s it going!! (Pronounced vah-cah-vah-tee-koh)
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