naturalwanders's Reviews

Dog Fence
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:52

On the way back to Marree from Muloorina Station, we crossed the Dog Fence. The Dog Fence runs for 4,850 kilometres across the states of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Without it, dingoes would no doubt decimate sheep. It is a well-maintained fence, and is the longest man-made barrier in the world.

William Creek
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:53

William Creek heralds itself as the smallest town in Australia.

ABC Bay on Lake Eyre
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:54

From William Creek, there is a road out to ABC Bay on Lake Eyre. It was strictly 4-wheel drive territory, and we declined to take the journey.

Anna Creek Station
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:55

Just past William Creek is the turnoff for Coober Pedy. We put Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on the cassette player, and turned left.

Coober Pedy
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:56

Just past William Creek is the turnoff for Coober Pedy. We cruised on, taking care on the road as it was very patchy in sections. When driving these tracks, one should take extra care at creek crossings and floodways as the surface can be quiet rough.

Coober Pedy to Port Augusta
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:59

From Coober Pedy, we headed south on the Stuart Highway, back to Pt. Augusta.

Why Whyalla?
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 04:01

After spending a day in Port Augusta cleaning out the dust from our campertruck, doing five loads of washing, and having the oil changed in our car; we headed down the road a piece to Whyalla. Why Whyalla, you may well ask?

Whyalla: Cuttlefish Capital of the World
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:57

Rough weather dictated that we try a shore dive. We set off with three other divers, and followed each other by car to an area called the crab pots. This is close to where the old lighthouse is, and the lighthouse keepers’ cabins are sometimes rented out by divers and scientists doing research on the cuttlefish.

Cuttlefish Boatdive
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 04:02

We met the dive boat down at the marina, and were soon on our way. Our first dive was on a massive stone breakwater just off from the steelyards.

Venus Bay
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:58

We left Whyalla and headed across the Eyre Peninsula for an area called Baird Bay. We stopped in Kimba for lunch, and had a quick visit over to the silos to see the Big Galah, one of those massive structures that are so kitsch you just have to stop and have a look at them. Finally, we arrived at Venus Bay, our destination for the day. We had driven across the top of the peninsula rather than along the coast via Port Lincoln.

Baird Bay
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 16:54

Baird Bay was along a string of unpaved roads that cut through emerald green fields. Some of the fields had sheep grazing; one herd had numerous lambs leaping and bounding about with playful energy.

Coward Springs
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 16:58

Our destination for the day was Coward Spring, a mound spring in the middle of the desert.

Sea Lion and Dolphin Swim
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-02 23:37

We spent several hours talking with Trish and Alan Payne, the owner-operators of Baird Bay Eco Ocean Experience. It was soon very clear that they loved the sea lions and dolphins with which they shared the bay, and their motivation in taking visitors out was to educate and enlighten others to the marvels of these marine mammals.

Streaky Bay
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-02 23:37

We left Sceale Bay for Streaky Bay, another lovely bay on the Eyre Peninsula.

Ceduna
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-08-25 23:28

We drove on to Ceduna. The location of this town is nice, but from a tourist’s point of view, the town itself is really a passing-through spot on the way to the Nullarbor.

The Nullarbor
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-08-25 23:27

The Nullarbor is considered one of the world’s great road journeys. I’m not sure I would call it great, but it certainly is long. It can be done quickly, or one can stop at places along the way.

The Edge of Australia
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-10-23 03:43

It was so strange to drive along a road and to know that the edge of Australia was a short distance away. Several side tracks led to look-outs and we stopped at each of these. The second look-out (going from east to west), is of the Bunda Cliffs.

Eucla
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-05 20:25

At the border, we gave up the last of our fresh fruit and veggies. We had given our honey away the day before, another item that is confiscated due to risk of fruit fly. No worries, it was only about 700km to the next store with fresh food. We stayed in Eucla that night, just 62km beyond the S.A. and W.A Border Village.

Mundrabilla Roadhouse
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-05 20:25

Mundrabilla Roadhouse is probably the cheapest place to buy petrol along the Nullarbor.

Madura
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-05 20:21

At Madura, the plateau is dotted with western myall trees, and it was very pretty.

Eyre Bird Observatory
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-06 07:20

A good place for an overnight stay if you are a bird watcher, is the Eyre Bird Observatory, run by the Australian Ornithologist Union.

Balladonia
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-06 07:19

I would suggest that if you reach Balladonia in the late afternoon, that you stop for the night there. It has a nice campground, and a hotel/motel.

South Australia has everything
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-06 07:19

From Norseman, we headed straight to Perth, another 720 km day of driving. Our South Australia and Nullarbor adventure had ended.

Lord Howe Island
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-06-12 02:34

Lord Howe Island is my idea of a heaven on earth. Why do I find it so heavenly? It is a sub-tropical gem set into the central Tasman Sea, 702 kilometers northeast of Sydney.

Perth - Western Australia
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 04:03

Perth has an extraordinary setting right along the Swan River. It is a wonderful little city, and I always enjoy visiting it.

Cradle Mountain
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 04:04

One can fly into Launceston or Devonport, hire a car, and drive to the Cradle Mountain end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St.Clair National Park.

Latrobe
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2007-09-20 23:01

The small town of Latrobe was not very far out of our way, and since it has proclaimed itself the Platypus Capital of Australia, we really couldn’t pass it up.

Shark Bay World Heritage Region, Western Australia
by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 01:41

Just past the Overlander Roadhouse is the turn-off for Shark Bay. Shark Bay is a World Heritage area, and the first place to stop is at Hamelin Pool to see the Stromatolites.