“The Tailor” is a tour company in Adelaide that bills itself as a “designer of handcrafted journeys”.
This weekend, we are all set to experience the extraordinary natural phenomenon of seeing water from a deluge of rains in three states many months ago that is only now flowing into the usually dry salt pan of Lake Eyre.
Seldom do flooding rains reach Lake Eyre in the arid heart of the Australian continent, but it has now happened two years in a row, triggering a spectacular explosion of life in the region.
Our party of eight including my good friends, Andrew, Juanita, Pam and Ken, starts off in Adelaide on a Saturday morning and flies north to Angorichina Station homestead in the Flinders Ranges. We fly in a brand-new Pilatus turbo-prop aircraft with Garry Williams in command.
Our hosts, Di and Ian Fargher, make us welcome at the homestead and Ian accompanies us for the flight over Lake Eyre, and to remote Birdsville in the southwest corner of Queensland.
On Sunday evening we return to Adelaide and catch our flights back to Sydney. What a weekend! What an adventure!
Our party of eight including friends, Andrew, Juanita, Pam and Ken, starts off in Adelaide on Saturday morning and flies north to Angorichina Station homestead in the Flinders Ranges. We fly in a brand-new Pilatus turbo-prop aircraft with Gary Williams in command.
There is no flooding rain here – just peaceful, dry creek beds and rugged mountain ranges. Its a little difficult to describe some of the sights we see as “rugged”, when really, they are of delicate and breathtaking beauty. I went expecting reds and purples, but instead I”m given a kaleidoscope of blues and yellows.
| The central Flinders Ranges at sunset |
| . . . and of course, the oranges of the burnt outback are always there. |
| My travelling companions, Andrew, Juanita, Pam and Ken with host Ian in the hat. Also pilot Garry with other guests, Jan and Sue. |
| Its “all hands on deck” in this outback Australian family. Ian came over to the Shearers” quarters to put wood under the “donkey-burner” so we would have hot water for a shower (I decide to “go dirty” of course after last night”s experience in the cold), while Di stokes the log fire in the nearby shearers” mess and starts on breakfast. |
| This area of the Flinders Ranges is picture-perfect beautiful – eucalypts languishing in the stony, dry creek bed waiting for the occasional thunderstorm that brings rushing torrents of water and debris in its wake. |
| 2,000 feet above sea level |
| Our rooms in the shearers” quarters on the left, and the shearers” mess on the right – simplicity itself! |
| And it wouldn”t be Australia without a kangaroo, or two. (These kangaroos are of the “Euro” variety) |
| Again spectrums of blues and yellows. These are the true colours of Lake Eyre and the Warburton Groove that feeds the waters from catchment areas in three states, as seen from 2,000 feet |
| Glistening waters of silver and blue creeping towards the lowest point in the basin of Lake Eyre, 16 metres below sea level. |
| The “filigree” of waters in Goyder”s Lagoon in Lake Eyre is simply stunning now flying at an altitude of 18,000 feet. |
| . . . and the greening of the desert is amazing |
| And for how many years have I heard about the famous Birdsville Pub in southwest corner of Queensland? |
| The Sturt Desert Pea, the State Flower of South Australia was elusive, but we finally find it in Birdsville. |
| . . . just after “tucking-in” on a “whopper” of a hamburger at the Birdsville Hotel – beetroot, pineapple and all. |
The land formations of the Australian Outback seen on the flight back to Adelaide continue to change.
| There”s grasses and not much bush cover in the Sturt Stony Desert Sand ridges can be 40 feet high. |
| I wonder why one body of water is blue and the other brown. |
| Mining is a major contributor to Australia”s economic success. We fly over rigs in the middle of nowhere.
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| The “Dig Tree”, the tree at the depôt camp that Brahe marked the location of the buried supplies still stands on the banks of Bullah Bullah Waterhole on Coopers Creek in south-west Queensland – famous in 19th century Australian history for the expedition of Burke and Wills.
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| . . . and at the end of our 32-hour, 2,250 kms marathon outback adventure, Pam and the ladies can still laugh. |
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MORE PHOTOS IN PICASA WEB ALBUMS
DAY 1 – THE FLINDERS RANGES
DAY 2 – BIRDSVILLE IN REMOTE SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND
Enjoy the pictures of our couple of hours in Birdsville where we visited the Museum, had lunch at the iconic Birdsville Hotel, and took a walk around the town.
DAY 2 – FLYING OVER LAKE EYRE
Seldom do flooding rains reach Lake Eyre in the arid heart of the Australian continent, but it has now happened two years in a row, triggering a spectacular explosion of life in the region.
Click on the “Comments” link just below to leave your thoughts on the blog.
michael, your trip to central australia looks so fascinating and such good pics too. i reminds me of my early days of flying.. there is such stark beauty in that area don't u think? i love it!
take care.. garth.
Dear Michael, your travel adventures…cold, exciting and fun. Of course I'm ready to hit the OUTBACK. Keep them coming, I love your stories and you can really handle a camera. Stay in touch. Much love, Tere in Miami
Michael, How many stars does the Birdville Hotel have? The burger looks fabulous. Loved the nature shots and those aerial photos. Thanks for sharing. Love. Peggy
The Lord is Great! Stunning part of the world!
Ed
Michael, I opened the link enthusiastically as I knew it would take me back to our journey. Yours is the first travellers blog that I have seen and how marvellous were the , photographs, captions and settings. I shall look forward to any further journeys that you may post! Sue
What can i say?, your blogs always take me along for the ride and your pictures are quite breathtaking.
Thank you 🙂
Dear Michael, I've really enjoyed checking out your most interesting blog. It made me feel like going there myself. Keep sending the blogs… I love them. Cheers, Carole
well……. I am impressed, very impressed. That camera is superb in the hands of the expert of course. Michael dear, what a professional catalogue of your adventure; as I had flown over the Flinders it was great to see those shots, but that was as far as I got. I would have enjoyed your group by the look of things and except for the shearers quarters and the lack of proper plumbing it would have been just fine. I need a tiled bathroom! And the colour of the lake and colour generally is amazing. I've got to get to the Bridsville Pub and the races too.
MI
The video is superb, loved it. You really do have a gift for this sort of
thing. My favourite bit was the plane taking off with the red writing coming up from the bottom a la Star Wars. The photos are beautiful. Great job.
Thank you. R