The Outback

---

---

360 view of lookout to Uluru and Kata Tjuta at sunset

Christmas lights

Hi everyone,

So we have survived Australia's outback and are now well and safe and working, yes working! We are now staying with Luke's Aunty, Uncle and two cousins in Perth until we leave for New Zealand in February. So yes we both have jobs. After 5 months without one we thought it was about time we got one and also, we need the money. We both work down by the sea in a bar/restaurant. Luke is behind the bar and Kate is one of the waitresses. Luke can even do cocktails but don't have to throw any bottles around or anything daft like that and kate is even managing not to spill or drop anything and you all know how clumsy Kate is! So yeah, so far so good.

Back in Adelaide we spent four days sightseeing and as you know, one of these was the Barossa Valley wine tour. The other days we visited the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide's Museum, another Botanical Gardens (kate's idea again!!!) and the local beach resort of Glenelg. Adelaide is a relatively small city compared to that of Melbourne and Sydney and therefore a lot less hectic. It also has a free city bus service so we decided to take full advantage and catch the bus around instead of walking! (Its not our fault we're lazy!) After four days here, we had seen pretty much everything and so it was time for our desert patrol tour taking us up to Alice Springs over the course of seven days and six nights, and what an experience it was!

Between Adelaide and Alice Springs we saw so many amazing places and lots of beautiful scenery. Our group was a small group of 11 people including us. We all got on really well and had a great time. Kate was chief navigator sitting in the front seat of the bus with Rich our driver but it was a good job he knew where we were going as we all know what kates sense of direction is like!!! The first day we stopped off in Quorn (the place where the first Great North railway track opened in 1878) and also the last place of civilisation; Hawker. We spent the afternoon inside Wilpena Pound, a natural basin 80sq km in diameter and with 500m sheer high walls. We saw the endangered yellow footed rock wallaby while on a walk throught the bush land of the basin. The first night we stayed at a little campsite in the middle of the Flinders Ranges. We even went on a midnight safari but didn't see a single thing even though we could hear loads. The only good thing was that we saw millions and millions of stars (we didn't know there were this many). The next day we visited an open cut coal mine at Leigh Creek, Mutonia sculpture park (in the middle of nowhere made by people at a outback week long rave!!!), Lake Torres and Lake Eyre and then Coward Springs. This was a small natural spring about 2sqm and in the desert (very weird) but it was nice and warm and helped to cool us down. At night we had our first experience of sleeping in swags. These are like waterproof sleeping bags with a hood on but you have to sleep under the stars (no tent!!) and with all the local wildlife!! They are ok but you just have to forget about the visitors that find their way into the swags during the night (yes i am talking about bugs!!!). We stayed at William Creek, the smallest town in Australia consisting of 5 people and 4 dogs and they all live in this one pub which is also a garage and a convenience store! The nearest town from here is about 2 hours away. I think these trips are the only time they make any money and see anyone!!! The third day of the trip took us to the opal capital of the world: Coober Pedy (which means white man in hole in aboriginal). Not only are 90% of the worlds opals found here but the people who live here live underground (well into a mountainside) because in summer the day time temperature gets to 50+ degrees but underground stays a constant 22 degrees, which was strange. We had a look around some of the mines and then had a go ourself but all we could find was potch (the worthless opals worth absolutely NOTHING!!!). There has been lots of films shot around Coober Pedy due the the very inhospitable environment. Films such as Pitch Black, Mad Max, Red planet, Stark and Pricillia Queen of the Desert. At night we visited the Breakaways Reserve also called the Castle; huge white red and yellow sand mountains and watched the sunset. Then off to the underground pub see if the beer tasted any different underground, but surprisingly it didn't!!! We had a long day of driving on day 4, making our way up to Uluru or Ayers Rock as most know it in England. We stayed at Uluru for 2 nights and saw the sunset and sunrise twice which were both amazing (apart from the fact we had to get up at 4am!!) . As the sun moves up and down, you can actually see the change of colour on the rock and also within the sky. We walked around the base of Uluru which took around 2 hours but gave us great views and you can see the channels where the water runs when it has been raining (yes it rains in central Australia!). Whilst based at Uluru, we also walked around the Kata Tjuta (the Olga's). Translated this means many heads in aborginal. Kata Tjuta are a striking collection of rounded monoliths, with the tallest at 546m in height. We walked through the valley of the winds and yes we can safely say the walk name is appropriate. This was another long walk but once back at camp we cooled off in the pool at the camp. We never thought that we would be in a swimming pool in the outback! The final night we camped at Kings Canyon (Watarrka) and took a walk the following morning. not just any walk a 16km walk!! We got there at 5.30 in the morning so we could climb to see the sunrise and walk in the cool morning! While still half asleep Kate walked to the toilet in the car park before the walk and she was the first in. When the next girl came into the toilet she screamed and told Kate not to come out!! Guess what Kate did? Yes she came out to find she had walked over a pathon that was now blocking her way out of the toilet!!! Exit left over the toilet wall!!! All the boys thought the scream was quite amusing!! Kings Canyon has sheer high faces and has awesome views of its surroundings but to get to the top of the canyon you have to climb heart attack hill, a 100m walk up an extremely steep path. We both made it to the top but only after we had had 5 heart attacks, were airlifted to the nearest hospital, had a heart bypass and then returned to the top of the hill by being dropped off by air ambulance!!! It was very strenuous but well worthwhile. Within the canyon was the Garden of Eden; a hidden canyon with a tropical natural pool with beautiful lush scenery and palm tree's. The pool had been dry for nearly 2 years but the week before we got there, it had rained so it looked very beautiful. We both fancied a swim but we saw too many black things in the water wiggling around. The day after we left Kings Canyon and set off for Alice Springs.

Now we had reached Alice Springs, we had two nights here before flying out to Perth. This was more than enough time, with not that much to see and temperatures reaching 40 degrees, we just decided to stay around the pool. We did have a quick look around the town centre and visit Australia's Flying Doctor Museum. The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides 24 hour medical help right across Australia for those based in rural and remote areas and has now even started to provide a dental care service and when you think that the nearest town/village for some people could be a couple of hours away, it is definately a worthwhile organisation. So we flew onto Perth and apart from job hunting, have seen a few sights so far and spent days down at the beach and around the pool. Over here, Christmas is well celebrated and many a house decorate their outside top to bottom in lights and silhouettes and music show etc, trying to win an award for the most decorated house. We had a go at this but didn't go mad like others. We have been to lots of christmassy things to get us into the spirt like the perth christmas pageant and carols by candlelight!

So our christmas day will be spent opening presents (yes santa knows where we are!!) then down to the beach for champagne and a swim and then back for a buffet lunch of meat and seafood and then more swimming in the pool to cool down. The weather man here tells us that it is going to be 38 degrees christmas day!!!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL
and a great new year
and we will catch up with everyone in 2008!
love to you all
Kate and Luke xxx

---

Photos

Glenelg - Adelaide
Adelaide's seaside town

Adelaide
The city of cathedrals

The end of the farming land
Before entering the outback!!!

The start of the outback tour
On an actual road (only for a while), with simpson clouds

Sculpture of aboriginals
At the Flinders Ranges

At Wilpena Pound
At the Flinders Ranges

Coward Springs
It was very warm!

Outback cricket
At William Creek

Comments

[John Hallam]

Happy Christmas
Hi you two, thought it was about time I checked out what you'd been doing. I'm so used to Pam keeping me updated, it's good to see the pictures to go with the stories. Are there any pics of the bar your working at, or any other of where your staying? Have the dentists returned yet? Love the videos, especially the christmas one, hope you were wrapped up warm (yes Pam told me about dressing suitably for the parade), I can see how frosty it is over there! Hope you've had a great day at the beach, how odd on does that sound on Christmas day. Take care P.S Molly is looking good after a perm at the hairdressers, Marvin is greedier than ever (he stole a sprout today! stupid cat) and Dylan is now the Rocky Balboa of Hammerton road.

[jaqui]

hiya u2 and a happy new year
fab photos and mega interesting write-up. loads of love to you both. missing you tons like sticky buns our katie xxxxxxxxxxxxjaqui.