Coast near the Twelve Apostles where
the original
Ancient petrified forest on the coastal cliffs near Portland.
coastline has been eroded by the pounding
of the
sea over centuries to create spectular scenery.
Then we travelled though the wine growing regions of South Australia and loaded up our car with wines until there was just no room for more.
Looking across the Barossa Valley. You can see for miles
Lutheran Church, Tanunda
across the flat landscape, the result of the huge inland
sea
which covered most of the centre of Australia
thousands of years ago.
The Elder Range - over 600,000 years old
Across Wilpena Pound , looking north from the air.
Next, to Coober Pedy opal fields.....
At the Underground Motel
Coober Pedy opal mining fields - still on that ancient sea bed.
and on to Ayers Rock (Uluru)
The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)
Sunset over Ayers Rock (Uluru)
and Alice Springs where we toured parts of the beautiful West MacDonnell Ranges.
Palm Valley
- an oasis of ancient palms and cycads
Standley Chasm
in the middle of a stony wilderness.
Further north to Tennant Creek
Devil's Marbles, near Tennant Creek - a sacred
site.
east into Queensland and to Mt. Isa, south to Lightning Ridge (more opals),
Opal buyers at Lightning Ridge set up office
at a local motel
further south to Broken Hill where we enjoyed visits to the art galleries of Pro Hart and Jack Absalom and a tour down a mine.
Many older buildings in Broken Hill were built in
its mining boom era.
The mine at the rear is also an ever present reminder
of days gone past.
To Mildura and a visit to the Mungo national park where some years ago the discovery of 68,000 year old human remains stretched further knowledge of our past.
The waterless Lake Mungo
An old shearing shed on Lake Mungo.
from the 'Wall of China' sand dunes
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