A road less travelled .... Part 2 ..... Flinders Ranges to Marree

Today we are heading for Marree where the Oodnadatta track and the Birdsville Track meet. On the way out of the Flinders Ranges we drive through Bunaroo Gorge and Brachina Gorge.  These two gorges are fantastic examples of what nature can create if she is given enough time.

Over periods of time ranging to 600 million years ago this ancient mountain range has weathered away to leave us with some of the most magnificent scenery.The gorges and valleys are just beautiful and its hard to find the words to describe them. 

 

Fossils of sea creatures exist in the rock face as evidence of when this area was a sea bed.  We stopped at one of our regular spots and were incredibly lucky to be rewarded with a sighting of a yellow footed rock wallaby as he tried to hide from us on the rock face. 

Once out of the gorges we hit the bitumen and drove into Parachilna and stopped at the Prarie  Hotel for  a welcome drink. This quirky pub advertises road kill (kangaroo, wallaby and emu) on the menu!

Our next stop was Leigh Creek where we refuelled then travelled towards Lyndhurst where we planned to visit Talc Alf. Alf is an artist who specialises in carving talc stone. His works are unique and some are for sale. He is an amazing person with a wonderful philosophy on life and it would be easy to spend lots of time listening but we need to move on.

We stop at the Ochre Pits on the way and are amazed at the colours in the cliff face. The site is significant as the ochre was traded with Indigenous people from great distances for many different items. 

Next we stop at the ruins of a town called Farina. When you see the ruins its hard to believe this town was still around in 1950. Certainly makes you realise what time and the harsh outback conditions can do.

Its great to see it taking shape as a tourist attraction with great information boards and a good camp area with toilets and showers. 

From Farina Station we head to Marree and set up camp just in time to enjoy a stunning sunset and head to the hotel to enjoy a lovely meal and chat with some of the locals.

Stay tuned for more....

A road less travelled - Melbourne to Flinders Ranges

I'm sitting in the sunshine at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges. It's 11 a.m. and Shirley and I are in day 3 of another of our outback adventures.

Day 1 was spent travelling from Melbourne to Waikerie in South Australia. Victorian farmland in this area is lovely and green normally at this time of the year, but it was really sad to see so many fields with very little crop growing and hardly any dams anywhere near full.

Farmers really do need all the help we can give them as they are the lifeblood of the country.

By the way if you don't know already when crossing into SA you need to dispose of any fruit so disease isn't spread across borders. Your car will be checked at the checkpoint once in SA.

Waikerie is situated along the mighty Murray River and is a timely spot to stop for the night. it is home to Nippys who make some of the best orange juice, iced coffee and ginger beer around and we stocked up on each for our trip.

Day 2 and it was a cold start to the day as we hit the road again with our destination this afternoon Wilpena Pound Resort. We drive through orange and mandarin groves and vine country then the rolling hills of the SA countryside and of course it pays to stop at roadside stores to pick up fresh mandarins and dried apricots to have as "munchies".

We cross the Murray River via ferry at Cadell. This service runs day and night and is fun to experience and probably less expensive than trying to span the river with bridges at every town.

Next we pass through the town of Morgan and onto Burra and a number of other towns it seems time has forgotten. One of the most telling examples is Terowie where we turn off to head to Peterborough. This town has lots of beautiful old buildings that it seems people have just packed up and abandoned as the town drops off the map.

Driving through we only saw 2 people, a mother and child, who were only too happy to give us a cheerful wave. 

A short drive takes us to Peterborough a fantastic town with magnificent stone buildings. Their Town Hall is heritage listed and claimed to be the largest Town Hall in Counrty South Australia. This town has a history with the Southern Pacific Railway and is still on the train line from Adelaide to Broken Hill and Sydney.

Continuing on the road we come to the town of Orroroo and its amazing sculptures. We turned onto RM Williams way and headed to Hawker. On the way we passed through several one pub towns. The one that sticks out is always Craddock where the old stone pub always looks inviting. We keep saying we will stop there for refreshments but alas we never do and I think we are poorer for not allowing time for it.

Turning off at Hawker we head into the Flinders Ranges and onto Wilpena Pound where we will camp for 2 nights and relax around a welcoming camp fire.

More to follow.....

Join us on an outback tour 

West MacDonnell Ranges

After spending several days working in Alice Springs we found ourselves with a Sunday which was ours to do whatever we felt like.

We were lucky that the Community market was on in Todd Mall so the start of our day was easy to plan. Coffee at the Red Dog Cafe and a walk around the market before heading out to the West MacDonnell Ranges.  Its an easy drive from Alice west along Larapinta Drive then you turn right onto Namatjara Drive heading towards Glen Helen Gorge.

We have visited this area a lot so we decided to spend some time at some of our favourite spots in the West MacDonnell Ranges. 

Ellery Creek Big Hole was our first stop and the waterhole was as beautiful as ever The Gorge has been carved out from waters flowing into this tributary from the Finke River. The early morning sun shining through the Gorge was just stunning. 

A climb up the rise and I was able to take fantastic photos of the now vulnerable MacDonnell Ranges Cycad. 

This truly is a great spot and its a shame the weather wasn't warmer as a swim would have been beautiful. There were some really adventurous tourists who braved the water (Brits I believe so I suppose the water and air temperature were fine for swimming for them. Brrrrr!)

Further along the road we stopped at the ancient Ochre Pits where local Aboriginals have gathered the many coloured ochres for use in rock, body and bark paintings for thousands of years.  The ochres were so special they were traded with other groups from hundreds of kilometres away. 

Ochre Pits

Our next stop was Ormiston Gorge where we walked through the Gorge opening and relaxed on the rocks which form some of the most comfortable resting spots you can find. Whilst resting  there and staring up at the rocks a beautiful small rock wallaby appeared and for the next 30 minutes or so we watched in amazement as she made her way slowly down the rocky slope to the cool water.

As tourist groups approached the wallaby would stand rock still and none seemed to notice her. For some reason she wasn't disturbed by us as she seemed to know we wouldn't harm her as she gently made her way down. Eventually we decided we didn't want to take any chances of frightening her so we left, leaving her to enjoy her drink alone.

Can you spot the wallaby in the shadow?

It was lunchtime so we headed to Glen Helen Gorge and enjoyed lunch out the back of the resort gazing at the magnificent scenery.

After lunch we walked up the Gorge and relaxed whilst looking at all the birds on the water and chatting to a few other travellers who were sharing the experience. 

It was now time to head back to Alice as we had special plans for sunset. Just behind John Flynn's Grave Memorial is a track that heads through the scrub and up Mount Gillen and from here you have one of the best views of Red Centre sunsets that you could wish for. It is a good hard climb but it is really worth the effort and we definitely recommend it. 

Our day was over but the memories still linger and in this ancient and wonderful area we are certain of one thing, that we will return, because no matter how many times we visit we never cease to be enthralled by all the natural beauty that awaits us.

13 day Melbourne to Alice Springs tour

13 day Alice Springs to Melbourne tour

12 day fully accommodated outback tour Melbourne to Alice Springs

Sydney for free

Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales and home to the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Whilst Sydney is seen as an expensive destination by many there also lots of free places to visit or activities to enjoy.

Art Options

If you're interested in art there are a number of free options:

The Art Gallery of New South Wales has a collection of modern and contemporary art from Australia and around the world. Displayed in light filled space the Gallery also offers stunning views of the Harbour.  

Tours of the Gallery's permanent exhibits, exhibition talks, music, film and children's activities are all free. Entry fees (approx $10) apply for special exhibits such as the Archibald Prize exhibition.

With a cafe, restaurant and shop there's plenty to keep you busy and spend some money if you're inclined.

The Gallery is located on the eastern side of Sydney's CBD next to the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Domain.

Another option is the Museum of Contemporary Art where you'll see modern art in this recently redeveloped Museum.  Located at Circular Quay one of the most iconic location in Sydney, the Museum overlooks Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

The MCA has a continually changing display of exhibits ensuring there is always something interesting to see. Volunteer guides provide free tours to assist you discovering the art and the artists. 

Special exhibits are at a cost of approx $20 per person.


Historic options

If history interests you  visit Government House which is located alongside the Botanical Gardens with stunning views of the Harbour and the Sydney Opera House. 

Built in the Gothic Revival style, Government House has predominately been the official residence of the Governor of NSW since 1845. It includes an outstanding collection of 19th and 20th century furnishings and decorations.

Government House

Open to the general public since 1996 the House can only be accessed via guided tour Friday to Sunday.

The Rocks Discovery Museum  tells the story of The Rocks area of Sydney from pre-European days to present.  The Museum is in a 1850's sandstone warehouse where you can see and experience a range of images and archaeological artefacts, interactive touch screens and audio visual displays.

Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday except for Good Friday and Christmas day you will find the Museum in Kendall Lane, The Rocks. 

ANZAC Memorial located on the southern edge of Hyde Park is the main commemorative military monument in Sydney. The building was designed by C Bruce Dellit and the exterior adorned with figural reliefs and sculptures by Rayner Hoff. 

Open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  except for Good Friday and Christmas day.

ANZAC Memorial

The Mint provides an insight into Australia's first coining factory and also houses the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, a gift shop and cafe.

The Mint is located at 10 Macquarie Street Sydney and open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gardens and Walking options

No visit to Sydney is worthwhile without visiting Circular Quay home to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Indigenous music at Circular Quay 

Wandering around this area is free and you'll often find lots of buskers entertaining visitors.  There are also many cafes, restaurants and take away food options on both sides of Circular Quay.

You can also walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the North shore and see this area from a different perspective. Walking across Sydney Harbour Bridge


The Botanical Gardens are certainly worth a visit. Located on the edge of Sydney Harbour the Gardens span 30 hectares and house an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas.

Early morning on the edge of the Harbour and Botanical Gardens

I love to wander through this area whenever I visit Sydney and have time to explore. Many people also use the area to keep fit - walking or jogging and enjoying an amazing view along the way.

The Gardens include a range of feature gardens; herb gardens, rainforest walk, palm grove and  pioneer garden to name a few. 

A range of activities are also regularly on in the Gardens find out more 


Hyde Park Gardens is Australia's oldest park and host to many cultural events including the Sydney Festival, Australia Day, ANZAC Day and the Food and Wine Fair.

Much smaller than the Botanical Gardens the park is interesting as it features a central pedestrian walkway from Macquarie Street to the ANZAC Memorial.

Hyde Park Gardens

If you're interested in exploring further a field take a bus to Bondi or a ferry to Manly will allow you to experience some other interesting walks.

Bondi to Bronte walk

Manly and northern beaches walk


To assist in getting from one destination to another there is a free CBD bus shuttle that runs on a regular basis.

Walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an iconic site known all around the world and photographed by everyone who visits Sydney. The Bridge connects the city of Sydney with the North Shore and many people use it to travel to or from the city regularly. Trains, cars, buses and trucks are whizzing across it day and night but you can also enjoy more leisurely  ways to cross the Bridge.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Cahill Walkway

For those who enjoy cycling there is a cycle path which is becoming increasingly popular. My preferred method is walking along the Cahill Walkway which can be accessed via Macquarie Street (opposite the Botanical Gardens), Circular Quay or the Rocks.  

Cahill Walkway

Whilst we were walking we were passed by lots of runners who also use this as a regular way to get to or from work or just as a way to keep fit.

View as we neared the Rocks area

Part way across is an opportunity to get a view from a higher point by taking the 200 steps up to the The Pylon Lookout . There is a small entry fee to the lookout $6.50 for a child or $11 for an adult but the fee is worthwhile as there are a number of points along the climb where you will learn about the history and construction of the Bridge.

View halfway across 

Of course if you're more adventurous and can afford the Bridge Climb its well worthwhile the effort. The night climb allows you to enjoy the lights of Sydney under the night sky, the day climbs stunning views across the Harbour and the dawn climb the sun rising across the city and Harbour.

Arriving on the North Shore

For more information on access points to the Bridge see  Harbour Bridge Map

Milsons Point

Milsons Point is the first suburb across the Bridge and probably most famous for Luna Park but there are also a range of good restaurants and cafes to enjoy. We eat there regularly when we're in Sydney as its much better value for money than restaurants in the city.

Kirribilli 

Kirribilli is also on the North Shore and famous for Kirribilli House, the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister and  Admiralty House the residence of the Australian Governor General.

Also worth a visit are the Kirribilli Markets which are held on the 2nd Sunday of the month with more than 200 stalls selling new and recycled fashion, home and giftware, arts, crafts, plants and gourmet produce.  

Victoria's Indigenous Culture

Australia’s Indigenous Cultural History is recognized worldwide and Victoria contributes an amazing amount to that history.  Hidden along the Great Ocean Road and through Western Victoria and into the Grampians are a number of fantastic places to learn about this culture.

Narana Creations Geelong

At Narana you can purchase Indigenous Art, eat in the cafe or experience Yingally Wor Ark where you will learn how plants were used for food and medicines, see a didgeridoo demonstration, learn how to throw a boomerang (weather permitting) and taste Indigenous food   For more information Narana Creations

Cape Otway

The Cape Otway Lightstation have developed an Indigenous Tour where you will hear of the relationship the Gadubanud people shared with the sea and how they were able to catch an abundance of sea life and use it as a mainstay of their food. Also see the amazing roundhouse, based on the type of structure they built to shelter them from the elements in this sometimes harsh environment. Cape Otway Lightstation

Tower Hill

A significant site of the Gunditj Mara people Tower Hill is a nature reserve which includes a natural history centre staffed by Indigenous workers. You can experience the amazing crater created more than 30,00 years ago, enjoy magnificent scenery, see Australian birds and animals in their natural habitat and learn about local Indigenous culture. The centre also sells a range of art and craft created by local Indigenous artists. Worn Gundidj

Gunditj Mirring 

Near Heywood  join a tour with Budj Bim and you will be amazed as you visit sites that housed whole communities of people, a people we thought to be nomadic. See how they used local stone to build fish traps and aquaculture systems to ensure an ongoing food supply. Visit the Lake Condah Mission where local Aboriginals were sent to keep them from their traditional lands and hear about the harshness of their life.  Visit the site of Budj Bim (Mt Eccles) and learn of the creation time and how Budj Bim and the Gunditjmara people are related. 

Gariwerd (The Grampians)

Head into the Grampians and you can visit ancient Indigenous art sites and learn the meaning behind some of the art at the Brambuk Cultural Centre . You can also see a number of short films to learn about Bunjil the creation spirit of these people.  The centre also has a range of books, crafts and food produce. 

Visions of Victoria image

If you're interested in taking this journey and seeing the iconic sites of the Great Ocean Road and Grampians along the way join our 4 day Indigenous tour

Respecting Our Culture

Respecting our Culture was developed with extensive consultation with Indigenous communities and tourism industry stakeholders as a triple bottom line sustainability program to ensure travellers have an authentic experience that is respectful to Aboriginal culture.  

Longhorn YOUnique Tours is  excited to have achieved this standard in time for the launch of our new 4 Day Indigenous Tour of Central and Western Victoria 

Tower Hill

Tyrendarra