Adventuring in Eastern Outback Australia

Travelling in out of the way places can sometimes lead to danger.

            Jason and his dad Ian did quite of bit of exploring in out of the way places in  Eastern outback Australia.  Their experiences were many and varied but some involved a bit of danger.

            After their two weeks at Fowler’s gap tackling kangaroos, they set off to see as much of Eastern Australia as possible.  They hired a car in Broken Hill and headed south toward Adelaide.   They caught a few nights in several little towns along the way, but they also camped at two of the National Parks.

            At Hattah-Kulkyne NP in Victoria not far from the Murray River they camped in open bush and saw plenty of Emu.

Figure 1: Hattah-Kulkyne NP Open Bush

            They went on to Wyperfeld NP also in  Victoria with similar habitat.

Figure 2: Camping at Wyperfeld NP

            Jason said, “ I sure like getting up in the morning and seeing the kangaroos and Emus so close to our tent.”

Figure 3: Emu

            Ian replied, “I glad you chose Australia for your 16th birthday trip.”

From there they set off to Adelaide to catch a plane to the center of the outback at Alice Springs in the Northern Territories (location of a US military installation for tracking satellites). After a restful night at a local hotel, they rented a car and headed South to the fabled Ayers Rock (Uluru), a 5-hour drive.

Figure 4: Ayers Rock (Uluru)

            You can’t be a true Australian unless you have climbed to the top of Uluru.  They started first thing in the morning.  The 1.6-kilometer climb took them about 2 hours.  They were sweating torrents.  After resting for a while they headed back down.

            Ian panicked, “ Jason.  Come hold on to me.  This is so steep, and my cataracts are acting up.  I can’t see right, and I am getting dizzy.  I know I have a chain to hold on to, but I am still afraid I will fall.”

            Jason grabbed him with one arm and grabbed the chain with the other, “It’s OK Dad.  I’ve got you.  We just need to go slow.”

Figure 5: Climbing chains on Ayers Rock

            Down the daunting slope they progressed, very slowly.  They got safely to the bottom.  Their first encounter with danger.  They found out later that people did die on this slope, but mostly on the way up due to heart attacks.  But there were occasional falls on the way down.

            They went back to the camping area (there is no lodging here because it is an aboriginal sacred location).  They packed up their gear and headed back to Alice Springs for another night in a motel.

            In the morning, they took a short flight to Darwin on the Northern coast of the Northern territories.  They had time to look around locally before settling into a motel. 

            Jason, “ I want to see the saltwater crocodiles that are supposed to be here.”  So, they went looking.  It didn’t take long.  They kept their distance, so no danger here.  But they saw one of the locals walking a small dog without a leash.  The dog headed toward the croc yapping.  The owner had to rush to the rescue.  It was close.  They learned that pets often made diner for crocs around Darwin.

Figure 6: Saltwater Crocodile near Darwin

            The next morning, they headed to Kakadu NP, the other famous aboriginal sacred region where many aboriginals still live the traditional life.   It was only about an hour and a half drive. On the drive, they encountered an aboriginal hitch-hiking, so they stopped and picked him up.  He got in the back seat and was not very communicative. 

Jason introduced himself, Hi, I am Jason. What's your name?"

"Coolie.", he said.

Then Jason really opened up and asked him, “Do you like Witchetty Grubs?  I ate I whole bunch of them recently.  I thought they were pretty good.”

            He answered, “Yes, I eat them regularly.  But what I really like is Goanna.”

            Jason, “Goanna is monitor lizard.  It is really tasty.”

            The conversation ended as we approached the park.

            Jason researched the critter when we got home.

Figure 7: Goanna-Aboriginal Delicacy

Just before  we entered the park he asked to be dropped off.  We complied and entered the park.

Figure 8;: Kakadu entrance

            They spent a lovely day there with lovely sights like the waterfalls coming down off the Arnhem plateau.

Figure 9: Waterfall in Kakadu NP

They also saw aboriginal rock paintings dating back as much as 20 thousand years.

` Figure 10: Aboriginal Rock Art

            After an exhilarating day at the park, they headed back to Darwin for a good night’s rest before getting on another airplane in the morning. 

When they entered the motel lobby, the attendant asked, “ How was your day?”

Jason said, “We had a wonderful day at Kakadu.  We also were able to do a good deed and give an aboriginal hitch-hiker a ride to the park.”

The desk attendant blanched and said, “You should never pick up hitch-hikers out here you idiots.  That is just asking for trouble.  Car-jackings are a regular occurrence.  You are very lucky.”

Whether this was true or not, or just white man’s prejudice, they would never know.  But they were feeling relieved at escaping danger number the second time on the trip.

The next morning, they boarded a plane headed to Cairnes in Queensland.

When they landed, Jason said, “ I can’t wait to go the Great Barrier Reef.  That’s the one thing I really, really wanted to do on this trip, after tackling kangaroos of course.”

Ian responded, “ Well, you have to wait until tomorrow.  We will have to go book an excursion and then find a hotel and get something to eat.  Can you wait?”

Before they knew it, the next day had arrived, and they went to the Marlin Marina to get on the tour boat.

Figure 11: Great Barrier Reef tour boat.

            It took about an hour to get to the first snorkeling spot.  Jason was first in line to get fitted with snorkeling gear, listen to the safety briefing, and was into the water as soon as it was permitted.  Ian was not too far behind.  The sights were spectacular.

Figure 12: Underwater Sights-Great Barrier Reef

            They spent five hours out on the reef.  They had slathered on plenty of sunblock before they went, but all the time in the water seemed to weaken it.  Ian came down with a bit of a sunburn.  Jason was darker skinned so had no problem.  When thy got back to the dock they were exhausted.  Fortunately, no sharks were seen that day, so it was not danger number 3.

            The next morning, Ian announced, “ I want to go find a Cassowary today.  Their main home is in New Guinea, but they also occur in this northerly part of Queensland.”

            Jason asked, “ Where do we have to go to do that?”

            Ian answered, “ We need to drive south to Mission Beach.  It is about an hour and a half.  Then inland a little way to a sanctuary.”

            They headed to Mission Beach and when they  arrived there they went directly to a walking track at Lacey Creek day use area just off the highway.

Figure 13: Mission Beach walking trails-Lacey Creek

            There were roadside signs making you aware of their presence as they are an endangered species in Queensland.

Figure 14: Watch for Cassowaries Sign

            They parked the car and started on the trail.  Almost immediately they came upon some baby Cassowaries with the mother right behind them.

Figure 15: Cassowary with Chicks

            The mother started toward them  to protect her chicks . They immediately retreated to the car because they knew that an angry Cassowary can literally kill you.  Cassowaries  have a fearsome claw that can deliver a fatal kick.

Figure 16: Cassowary Claw

            Ian said, “ My heart is pounding.  That is the third bit of danger that we encountered.  I don’t think I can take anymore.”

            Nathan replied, “Dad. That wasn’t really close.  I didn’t know you were such a pussy.”

            Ian, “ Well. I have had enough.  I am glad this trip is essentially over.  We have a flight tomorrow back to Sydney.  From there we head Home.”

            Jason, “ Thanks for doing this for us.  It has been wonderful”

            They returned home safe and sound with many stories to tell.

            Because it is unlikely that you are very familiar with Australian geography, a makeshift map is provided with the major locations noted.

Figure 17: Makeshift Map ; Major locations