Blogs from Australia, Oceania - page 4864

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Kakadu National Park May 28th 1987

May 28, Thursday. Picked up Linda from the YWCA and then headed out to Kakadu. We found aboriginal art painted on rocks, this area has some fascinating scenery. There is a lot to see but won’t be able to see the two large waterfalls (4-wheel drive only). So at this point it looks like we will only be doing walks. Saw a crocodile for the first time in the wild and spent time in the main town of Jabiru, which is much like most of the towns in the north. Staying in a free campsite. May 29, Friday. Linda and I decided to go on another walk this morning; we followed a trail that wound through different landscapes, ranging from rocky outcrops to wetlands, all very impressive. Later we took a rough plane flight, which took ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Darwin May 27th 1987

Colin

May 27, Wednesday. Had a bit of a look around Darwin. Sent another batch of transparency’s back to Melbourne and wrote a letter to the children. I’m now travelling with an English girl that I met at Catherine. English girls seem to be everywhere in Darwin. Didn’t do any filming while I was in town. Went for a meal with Linda and headed back to the caravan park around 7:30. Spent the rest of the evening writing postcards and letters. ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Daly Waters May 24th 1987

Ant Hill

Colin

May 24, Sunday. I took a quick look around the town of Tenant Creek this morning. Found an old mineshaft just on the outskirts of town. I ventured into the entrance and walked along the dark passage until I saw daylight ahead. The roof of the mine had collapsed and a large hole in the roof allowed the morning sun to shine in. I was surprised to be greeted by a couple of young blokes that had camped there overnight. One of them was eager to show me some small bats that were roosting on the roof. Later that morning I took a track about 5 kilometres off the main highway where I found the Devils Pebbles, which is a feature similar to the Devils Marbles, smaller but just as impressive. I arrived in Daily Waters ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Devils Marbles May 20th 1987

Central Mount Stuart

Colin

May 20, Wednesday. Had breakfast with a fantastic backdrop of Glen Helen Gorge. Took my time leaving, which give me time to charge the video battery. Finally got myself together and headed another 20 kilometres west to Redbank Gorge. A fairly good dirt road until the turn off then it got rough. Another gorge with some interesting rock formations. It was mid-day by time I got back to Alice Springs. Only just making it before running out of petrol. I did run out of clean cloths and was down to my last pair of shorts. Every thing is now being washed. Petrol and temperature gauge working again. Unfortunately the 35mm camera is still not working. Weather overcast but not cold. May 21, Thursday. Started heading out of town then decided I needed a new 35mm camera. ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Alice Springs May 18th 1987

Colin

May 18, Monday. Left Ayres Rock around 8:00 this morning, heading east back to the Sturt Highway. Most interesting countryside, especially if you take the time to stop and walk into the bush. You miss out on so much if you just keep driving. In the dunes there were tracks of the wildlife that visited the area during the night. It must have been like Bourke Street going by the many imprints to be seen. 244 kilometres later, I reached the intersection and turned north towards Alice Springs. Stopped at Henley Meteorite Craters. Well worth the 16-kilometre sidetrack needed to reach them. Some of the small ranges you had to pass along the way are worth photographing. Fuel gauge still not working, won’t bother to fix it; I know how many kilometres I can do, which ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory May 17th 1987

Track to Olgas

Colin

May 17, Sunday: The corrugations driving out to Olgas were really bad! The fuel and the temperature gauge started playing up. I didn’t do any walking while at the Olgas but did take a scenic flight over them, which also included a circuit around Ayres Rock. It was fantastic! Finished my first three-hour videotape. Plan on making one last look at the sun going down on Ayres Rock before tuning in for the night. It was disappointing. It reminded me that not every sunset at the “Rock” is impressive. May 18, Monday: Left Ayres Rock around 8:00 this morning, heading east back to the Sturt Highway. Most interesting countryside, especially if you take the time to stop and walk into the bush. You miss out on so much if you just keep driving. In the dunes ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Kata Tjuta May 15th 1987

Ayres Rock

Colin

May 15, Friday: The trip to Desert Oaks Caravan Park was interesting. Especially when I stopped the car and went into the bush to do some photography. I’ve been passing the same type of landscape most of the day but only appreciated it when I stopped the car and took a walk over the red soil that is typical of Central Australia. The caravan park where I am tonight is a dump. I had to move the tent three times before I could get the pegs into solid ground. Finished up on top of a dirt mound. It’s like a junkyard all around me. Weather it getting better. The car is going great, now it has a new exhaust. May 16, Saturday: Drove 265 kilometres west to Ayers Rock today. Climbed the “Rock” it was fantastic ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Port Augusta May 12th 1987

Railway Track

Colin

May 12, Tuesday: After a night of rain I was glad that the car wasn’t on the dirt anymore. The trip past The Flinders Ranges was wet, overcast and noisy, due to the fact that I didn’t have an exhaust system, the back muffler was still sitting on the roof rack. The long pipe the mechanic has fitted at Tippabara was lying in the back of the car. At Port Augusta I pitched my tent in a caravan park and arrange to have the exhaust replaced the next day. Saw my video on a colour TV in a luxury 30-foot mobile home. The elderly couple that owned the bus gave me lots of advice about traveling. May 13, Wednesday: Spent a whole day waiting for my car to be repaired. The cost was $126 for the ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » Queensland May 9th 1987

Burke Monument

Colin

9 May, Saturday: This morning filmed around the settlement and went out to Burkes Monument, which is about 8 kilometres out of town on the banks of the Cooper Creek. I couldn’t help feel sad at the sight of this marker (his actual grave is in Melbourne). Burke’s exploits across this continent from south to north and back to this part of the country where he died was an epic journey, which helped open up the country for future development of the cattle industry. Because of the reported bad roads out to the Dig Tree I couldn’t reach his last depot. I spent more time with another mechanic repairing the exhaust. This time it cost me $90; at this rate my time away from Melbourne may have to be cut short because finances may become non-existent. ... read more

Australian Journey 1987

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales May 7th 1987

Track to Camerons Corner

Colin

8 May, Friday: This morning I left town early. Stopped at Fort Grey (campsite) where I met a couple of blokes driving an old Holden Ute. I was amazed it had travelled this far into the bush. Drove onto Cameron’s Corner, which is where the borders of South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland meet. It was quiet an achievement just to reach this area because the vast range of speeds I experienced can only describe the condition of track, which was between 20-70 kph. The corrugations shook hell out of the car and I lost the exhaust at least four times during the trip, the last time I just had to wire it up. I was under the car doing the repairs when I noticed a Dingo checking me out, he made me a little ... read more

Brief history of Australia

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name...more history

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