Margaret River - The Journey South

7:00 am  Another 'Up early and Off' day today.  

So Breakfast Pack in hand, we joined McLeod Tours and headed to Margaret River.

Our First stop was a welcome Coffee break, 87 km down the road at The Bay Cafe, Mandurah.  

With the Mandurah Estuary beckoning us and a Sunday Market in the adjacent Foreshore parkland, we could have happily stayed for a couple of hours,

 

But we had an appointment down the road at Australind Wood Gallery.

We listened to an informative talk on Western Australian Jarrah, and happily patted beautiful pieces of timber skilfully crafted into items that wouldn't fit in our luggage,

(and was respectfully requested not to take Photos of.) 

It was ok to take this photo to add to my collection of 'Interesting Signs'.

A lovely Lunch was followed by a 'short stroll' down the Longest Timber-Piled Jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Yes, we made it to the end and back again a mere 3.7 km round trip.

If we are ever here again,  I would like to  explore the Underwater Observatory - One of only 6 in the World.

Breaking the tip, we stopped in at Gabriel Chocolates.
There was a Talk on Chocolate with Tastings and treats to bring home.

Specialising in Small Batch, single Origin chocolate, they were Western Australia's first Bean to Bar Chocolate maker. 

An unscheduled stop and a real treat for the Horse lovers on the bus, to briefly meet and feed some carrots to our Tour Guide's Horses, who enthusiastically met us at the gate.

The last stop for today was at the Saint John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Chapel in Prevelly.

Built by Geoff Edwards, in Gratitude for help received during the Battle of Crete.

I cannot write its story in just one photo so I am including links at the end of this Post so you can read about it yourselves.

Our 280 km road trip from Perth to Margaret River  concluded with a Welcoming Rainbow and a promise of a beautiful day tomorrow.

Click the Links to read Geoff Edwards Story

Prevelly Chapel

Monuments Australia - Prevelly

Day 4. The Nullarbor

The Route from Adelaide to our first stop, if Trains travelled in a lovely sweeping curve would have been approx. 1000 km (653 mi) but they don't, and I "broke" Google Maps several times trying to follow the exact train line.

So overnight we travelled from Adelaide to Port Augusta then on between the Salt Lakes turning at Tarcoola and heading for the Nullarbor Plain.

First stop - the once thriving town of Cook.  

Current permanent population FOUR.*

As well as being a Diesel and Water stop for passing trains - Indian Pacific included, it is also an overnight stop for resting train crews.

For us it is a welcome opportunity to stretch our legs.  

Walking the full length of the train (twice) and of course taking a Photo of the Engine is definitely on the Must Have list.

Back on board it was time to pull out that book or craft you packed but didn't think you would need, while travelling the longest straight stretch of rail in the world and watching the endless nothing of the Nullarbor roll past.  

The sun sets in time for us to roll in to our next stop.  

At roughly 1,000,000 hectares (Approx. the size of Sydney) Rawlinna is the worlds largest Sheep Station and the venue for tonight's Off-train Outback Dinner.

It was a beautiful evening and the food - prepared on board the Train was extremely generous and perfect to share.

Dinner over and the Entertainment and Staff winding down after a very long day by dancing on the tables, 

we knew it was time wander back to our cabins, or look for a nightcap in the lounge.

*(Click Image to read Plaque)

Day 6 - Kings Canyon

When asked if she'd watched the Dawn, 

Our Tour Guide stated

"The Sun has been rising for Millennia - 

It does not need my Supervision"

But I say when it Jumps Up - bangs on your door 

and says "Hey Look at Me". 

You just have to pay it some attention!  

(At least I didn't have to walk anywhere for this shot!)

We needed an early start for today as we were going to The Kings Canyon Rim.

A 6 km loop - that takes about 3 - 4 hours that is ONCE you climb the 500 rock steps to the Rim.

Yes OK - we checked it out and NO ONE on the tour thought it a good idea!

I have left this photo at full size.

If you look closely you can see a Japanese Couple on the steps - She had no Hat and was dressed entirely in Wool! 

(By her body language I think she was having second thoughts.)

The forecast temperature was for Over 35℃ and it was already climbing.

And it was only 9:30 am

We chose the 1 . 5 km Riverbed Walk. 

Taking much longer than the estimated 45 minutes as our Guide kept stopping to tell us about the local Indigenous Bush Food. 

And taking Photos for Random Tourists.

The Path was easy for those of our Group who were not as Young or Fit as they used to be.

You felt a sense of pure tranquil Peace.

"Core of My Heart - My Country"

And then you look UP -

To "Her Pitiless Blue Skies"

and the Soaring Sandstone Canyon Walls

And you realise how small you are in the Great scheme of things.

Time to head back to Base for Lunch and .... "Pics or it Didn't Happen!"

Is that Stowaway Frog ...

in a Helicopter?

Yes - He wasn't going to miss out on this extra treat.

Our 30 minute Flight took us

Over the ever changing Landscape

There had been Rain recently and the amount of Green against the Red Soil was surprising.

And Over Kings Canyon, where we had walked its Valley this morning.

Our Pilot informed us that this is where the Iconic 1998 QANTAS ad final scene was filmed.

*See footnote If you would like to see the most expensive Australian Advert ever made.

With Feet firmly back on the ground I was able to check my photos and was totally 'blown away' by the quality and detail of the shots from my Iphone 13 pro

(This photo is cropped to 75% and condensed for Web Viewing.)

Our Last event for today was Canapes and Cocktails while we watched the Sunset and Moon Rise over the George Gill Range 

I had the wonderful experience watching the absolute Joy of discovery, when teaching some of our new friends that there was more to Phone  Photography than Landscapes and Selfies. 

Some of the Reflection Photos they got were awesome with one Friend capturing the Full Moon in the bottom of Her Glass!

The Day Finished with Bruce Monro's Light Towers.  

 

Made entirely from Light Filled Bottles and set to a mesmerising Soundscape, we wandered trough its Maze just enjoying the experience.  

I Preferred it to Uluru's Field of Lights, which I thought very messy and chaotic.  

* * * 

The following is a statement from Bruce Munro

“The intention of Light-Towers is not to be some spectacle of lights that flash in the desert. Rather it is simply about enhancing the feeling of wonder and the sense of place that somewhere like Kings Canyon naturally gives you. I hope Light-Towers will become a place where people can reconnect with nature, reconnect with themselves and escape the noise of the everyday in an incredible location.”

And Kings Canyon is Certainly Incredible!

*Link to a Documentary on the Making of The QANTAS advert

I Still Call Australia Home

Day 4 - Kata Tuja and Uluru

6:40 am The Chill was still in the air and  the Pre-Dawn Colour had already begun to fade but we pressed on to the Viewing Area to watch as the rising Sun painted Uluru in glorious Morning Colour.

The colour on the Rock was one thing but the way the Rising Sun illuminated everything else was spectacular.

Beautiful as it is we have to get going..

Kata Tuja, (The Olgas) translates as 'Many Heads' and comprises of 36 Domes rising from the surrounding plain.

Our first stop is Walpa Gorge on one side is the towering Mt Olga at 546 meters is considerably taller than Uluru.

Our short, rocky and very windy walk took us deep into the cut between 2 of the domes passing a small creek bed and ending  in thickets of Spearwood.

Heading back to Base - we stopped for Morning Tea at the Kata Tuja Dunes Viewing Area.

Many of these sites are Culturally Sacred to the local Anagu people and have restrictions on what you can photograph.

Our Base Tour of Uluru in the afternoon was punctuated with our Guides saying "No Photos from here on" and "Anything past this point is OK".  

Culturally sensitive sites are clearly marked and there is plenty of advice online as to how to get awesome shots and still  be respectful.

Which is why you often see Photos of Uluru with a well placed tree that is blocking some of the view!

And up close it is Stunning.

It truly is the Heart of Australia.

(I do not edit my Photographs so the colours are as taken.)

Our time at Uluru (Ayers Rock) is coming to an end but not before one last Night time event.

British Artist Bruce Munro's Field of Lights.

 

 

Along The Way ...

There are certain "Must See" Things and Places along the route of any Journey - 

So before we leave our Great Southern Adventure it is worth noting (even only for My records) that we saw, but didn't stop at ...

1. A Big Flagpole 

The Flagpole on Parliament House Canberra is certainly Big but not the Biggest in Australia.  

That honour is given to the 200 Foot High Bicentennial Flag in Darling Harbour Sydney.

2. The Big Banana.

No Visitor to Coffs Harbour could miss this Icon of Big Things.  

After all - It IS on the main road.

3. The Big Merino

Telling everyone that Goulburn is Wool Country.  

It houses a permanent display of 200 years of  Innovation in the Australian Wool Industry and a Gift Shop.

Indian Pacific - Nullarbor Plain

 17th May 2021

Our next leg takes us from Kalgoorlie to Adelaide across the Nullarbor Plain. 
A journey of some 1,800km.

We woke to see the Sunrise and have Breakfast at Rawlinna. 

At 2 .5 million Acres, It is the largest Sheep Station in Australia.

No off train excursion today, just an opportunity to get some early morning fresh air and stretch our legs.

Our 'resident' Entertainer sang Bush Ballads while commenting that he was being upstaged by a Horse!

They say he wanders in and stands in the same spot to greet the train each time it stops - 

No one seemed to know why.

Back on board we watch as the Great Nothing of the Nullarbor Plain rolled by.  

There really IS nothing out there (unless I am told, you look for it ...)

Another stunning Lunch was served. 

This time a rather delicious Camel Curry

After which we finally enjoyed our Chef's Treat from last night.  

Thinking it was a heavy Chocolate Cake we were delighted to find inside was .. 

A Lamington!

(Stowaway Frog certainly enjoyed being invited to Lunch)

Next Stop is the "Ghost Town" of Cook.  

A necessary stop for the Train to take on Water and give us some time to once again stretch our legs.

This time we were able to get to the front of the Train to take the all important Photo of the Engine

And - Because we were actually in the Middle of Nowhere. 

The sign told us so...

We walked all the way to the end of the Train and took a photo of that as well. 

Because - nobody does!

It is a very long train.

It was a great opportunity to also photograph a section of the Rail Tracks.  

At 487km it is the longest stretch of Straight Railway Track in the World.

More views of the Great Nothing as the train continued on 

We enjoyed the Company of other travellers in the Lounge - listening to their stories is a great way to pass the time.

More wonderful meals and a Nightcap before bed.  

Next Stop will be Breakfast in Adelaide.