Sunday 24th April 2011 We visited the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden in Port Augusta - checked out the Matthew Flinders Lookout and went on a tour about edible plants in our native bush. This garden is dedicated to planting all native plants from all around Australia - even has an area which has only native plants and trees from the Kimberleys. This garden is only in its early years so would love to see it many years in the future. Monday 25th April 2011 (Anzac Day) We had a fantastic day today - the weather was just beautiful about 26 degrees - great drive from Port Augusta up to Willmington through the South Flinders ranges - the drive through the ranges was just beautiful hard to capture on the camera. The view over the gulf ... read more

Sunday 17th April 2011 Today we just went for a day drive to Whyalla - the weather was just perfect about 26 degrees and no wind - just a perfect Autumn day. Called into to see the Water Tower lookout in Port Augusta first - a great view of Spencer Gulf and Port Augusta then headed down to Whyalla. Had morning tea at the Whyalla Wetlands Lake where some men were sailing remote control yachts around the lake - very relaxing. Had lunch overlooking the lovely Whyalla Foreshore - the tide was out so it was a lovely walk out to the sand bar. Called into to Port Lowley to see the light house and could not believe how many free campers were camping on a lovely look out but it was just a gravel patch ... read more

Tuesday 12th April 2011 This was our first foray into 4WDriving on our own, 168klms from Coober Pedy to William Creek (and back again) - the gravel road was quite good considering that the road had been closed only a couple of weeks ago because of the rain (we were told that it had been graded since then). There was one detour which was quite sandy and some nasty turns but we handled it quite OK. We left the caravan back at Coober Pedy as it is not suitable for off roading and we are glad we did as it would have been very dusty and might not have faired well over the gravel. Travelled about 30klms down the Oodnadatta Track where we did our first water crossing with the old Ghan railway in the background ... read more

Monday 11th April Travelled from Port Augusta to road site overnight stay at Bon Bon (164klms from Cooper Pedy) - very basic and close to the road but did the job. We were up early the next morning and only a couple of hours drive into Coober Pedy - booked into the Opal Inn Caravan Park for 2 nights - nice little park but a little cramped for parking of the caravan but right in town and easy to walk around. $27 per night with Top Tourist discount. 20c for 4 minute shower but water very good and hot. This is an amazing place with over 85% of residents living in the under ground homes - the temperature underground between 20 - 25 degrees all year round (it can hit the 40 to 50 degress above ... read more

We settled into the Ceduna Airport CP - not the best maintained park but plenty of room with a lot of overnighters staying - the other better parks were booked out, but with our own toilet and shower it was OK and we had plenty of room to move (the other caravan parks were very full and crowded). John checked with the Toyota dealer and has booked the car in on Monday to have it checked out. We met a couple from Thornlie at a service station across the Nullabour and met them again at a rest stop and then they arrived at the same caravan park as us - Peter and Dianne - had a few drinks with them. Saturday we went for a drive to Smokey Bay and Streaky Bay (down the coast from ... read more