Venturing Into Australia’s Great Outback

Having explored some of Western Australia’s scenic coastlines, fertile wine regions and lush forests, we decided to head into the heart of the country. For me, a trip to Australia wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and one of the best ways to do this is by organized tour. We opted for a camping style experience with a small group of adventure seekers.

 Outback Campsite

The tour set out from Alice Springs, a small and very remote community in the heart of Australia’s vast outback. That night we headed to our first campsite and soon found ourselves captivated by a magical starlit sky. Sleeping was done without a tent and all of us made it through the night unscathed by the resident spiders, scorpions and other creepy crawlers that reside in these parts.

Long Exposure Star Capture

The following day we set out early and soon discovered that all our mornings would to start well before sunrise. Due to the incredible heat, we registered 46 degrees at one point, you really have to make the most of the early mornings. The day’s hike took us into the heart of Kings Canyon and after a jaunt up the hillside, we were greeted by the warm glow of a rising sun.

Kings Canyon Sunrise

The limestone formations, deep red soil and blue skies made for some incredible vistas. Halfway through the hike we discovered a pristine watering hole where we enjoyed a refreshing swim.

Kings Canon

Although the landscape can seem barren at times, there is an incredible abundance of plant and animal life. Before the road trip, we had made a quick detour into a local reptile museum to get acquainted by the many types of snakes, lizards and spiders that can be found in the countryside. The image below shows a Bearded Lizard, one of many species that has adapted itself to the harsh environment of the outback.

Bearded Dragon

After a few days, the group started coming together and we soon discovered our combined passion for sunrises and sunsets. In fact, I can’t recall any other time that I’ve seen so many consecutive sunrises.

Jumping At Ayers Rock

The morning started early and we headed into a famous area called The Olgas. Only a few kilometres from Ayers Rock, these limestone formations are stunning  to see from afar, but even more impressive to witness up close.

The Olgas Rock Formations

After a quick morning photo session at a distant lookout, we soon headed to the base of the Olgas to complete a stunning nature hike. The path winded its way through the valley’s of the giant rock formations and provided some fantastic vantage points to take in the vast desert landscape.

The Olgas Up Close

Our timing to see Ayers Rock was quite unique. In fact we came at a time where record rains in early January made the landscape around the rock look unseasonably lush. Plants were thriving and many species of birds that had long been absent, made a dramatic return to pick the fruit laden trees.

Resident Bird

Naturally one of the main highlights of the Outback is to see the Rock. Luckily we had several mornings and evenings to capture this rare experience. The photo below taken from a distant lookout was one of my favourites from the trip. It is hard to describe the beauty of the vast landscape, but seeing the sun rise over the horizon was truly a breathtaking experience.

Ayers Rock at Sunrise

Later we had the opportunity to get up close to Ayers Rock and complete a walk around the perimeter, which at 8km is not so insignificant. The lush forest around Uluru was unexpected and really made the walk interesting.

Ayers Rock Walk

Our journey continued on from Ayers Rock and it was quite something to see the vast open landscape. Since most of the communities are so isolated, they have to be serviced by large trucks, that by way of their length, are more akin to freight trains.

Truck Trains

After a long ten hour drive through the barren desert, we made our overnight pit stop in Coober Pedy. This small town is known as the Opal mining capital of the world. The landscape is bleak and the town is rather stark, but the underground homes have a certain charm. It is intriguing that right from the early days, residents continue carving their homes into the solid rock walls. Our hostel was built right into an old Opal mine and none of us complained about having a cool place to rest our eyes.

Coober Pedy Hostel Accomodations

The next morning we took in a tour of a working Opal Mine and I was just about convinced to stay for an extra week to find some Opal for myself!

Mining for Opal

The journey from Alice Springs completed after another long drive to the charming city of Adelaide. In total we had traveled over 1,500km through some of the hottest and most inhospitable landscapes on the continent. But we found that the great outback is beautiful, interesting and exotic. I would highly recommend a visit to the centre of Australia - it truly is like no place on Earth.

Journey Through Western Australia

Having escaped the rains of Melbourne, our journey took us to the far West Coast of Australia. We flew into the bustling city of Perth, one of the most isolated capital cities of the world. There are many similarities here to the thriving oil economy of Western Canada. Australia’s resource boom has transformed this city into a thriving and bustling metropolis. The city also boasts an excellent transportation system and the downtown core has some great pedestrian streets.

Downtown Perth 

We opted to stay in one of Perth’s coastal suburbs to take in some of the great weather the area is known for.  The sleepy suburban township of Scarborough made a great pit stop and we enjoyed watching the locals partake in the popular sports of Windsurfing and Kitesurfing.

Windsurfers in Scarborough

After spending two nights in Perth, we decided to rent a car and take to the road. Our planned journey would take us south through the port city of Fremantle all the way down into the famed Margret River wine country. On the way we enjoyed a night in the city of Rockingham where we enjoyed an excursion to Penguin Island. This is one of the only spots in the country where you can see the miniature Blue Penguins in the wild.

 
Blue Penguins on Penguin Island 

Our journey continued with a trek down to Margaret River, a picturesque town situated in the heart of Western Australia’s wine country. The area is known as a premium wine production area and boasts over 100 wineries.  We decided the best way to experience this part of the country was to partake in one of the local winery tours. The area rolling hills, arid climate and picturesque forests make for a charming and intriguing landscape. The wines were quite nice too! You can find all manner of estates, from the humble mom and pop operations to the exquisite corporate owned wineries.

 

Margaret River Wine Tasting

Our journey continued on to the South-westerly most point in Australia, Cape Leeuwin, on the outskirts of Augusta. The Leeuwin Lighthouse occupies a strategic position on the very edge of the peninsula and makes for a great place to see the merging of the Indian and Southern Oceans.

Leeuwin Lighthouse

The view from the Peninsula is terrific and we quickly seized the opportunity to take in one of the famed sunsets.

Cape Leeuwin Sunset

The next day we spent exploring the area around Augusta. One of the main highlights was the immaculately preserved Jewel Cave which took us 60 meters underground. The limestone formations within the cave were impressive and it was amazing how the tour snaked through the caves deep underground.   

Jewel Cave Near Augusta

Our adventure continued with a quick trek East to Pemberton, home of some of Australia’s largest trees. The giant Tingle Trees reach over 60 meters in height and we quickly jumped at the opportunity to climb to the top of the Gloucester Tree.

 

Gloucester Climbing Tree

Our drive then took us Eastward towards Walpole, in the heart of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The varied scenery of rolling hills, lush forests and undulating farmland kept us interested all the way to the sleepy town. Walpole is like many remote Western Australian towns, featuring a small main street, a few shops and a couple of places to stay. On this trip we are staying mostly at backpacker accommodations as they provide the best value and a great place to meet fellow travelers.

Scenic Forest Drive

The following day we made our way to the popular Treetop Canopy Walk in the Valley of the Giants, just outside of Walpole. That morning we met a fellow traveler who joined us to see the giant trees. The Canopy Walk is well engineered and meshes seamlessly with the forest canopy. Reaching some 40 meters into the sky, the views give you a great Birdseye perspective of the forest below.

Treetop Walk in the Valley of the Giants

The day continued as we headed further East towards Albany. On the way we encountered some amazing roads that winded through lush farmlands, arid wine producing regions and scenic coastal areas. 

Exploring the Countryside

One of the most amazing places we encountered was the strangely named Conspicuous Cliff. The bay was one of the most pristine coastal landscapes we’ve encountered thus far and it was mesmerizing to watch the waves of the Southern Ocean roll in on the white sand beaches.

Conspicuous Cliff Near Walpole

This post briefly recapped some of the highlights of our Western Australia tour from the bustling city of Perth through to the Southerly port city of Albany. We are planning to spend a few more days taking in the beautiful landscapes of Western Australia before we head to the famed town of Alice Springs, in the middle of Australia’s great outback. Stay tuned for more stories from the road. 

Exploring Urban Melbourne

As part of a series of blogs, I will be tackling unique topics of interest from places around the world. Our global tour is more than a vacation, it is a discovery of different cultures, places and ideas. The intent is to explore different aspects of foreign cultures and places. Starting off, I have decided to delve into the urban landscape of Melbourne and find out what makes it work as well as it does.

Melbourne was the first stop on our global tour. We stayed with friends near the city center and thus had plenty of time to walk the urban core. Immediately I was impressed with the feel of the city. There's a definite European character about the way the urban core was planned. Trams, wide sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, underground power, distinct architecture, al-fresco dining are some of the unique characteristics that define the city. Seen below is one of many creative alley uses - in Melbourne these are known as laneways and you will find a wide array of specialty shops, restaurants and lounges there. 

The creative use of space also extends to the areas between the buildings. Dotting the urban landscape is a wide range of restaurant patios that make use of old heritage buildings. The adaptation of these buildings creates a unique atmosphere and they are terrific for animating the streetscape. Seen below is a charming little restaurant with a terrific patio. 

In addition to the old heritage buildings, unique use of laneways and great patio spaces, Melbourne boasts some serious street shopping. The collection of shops is more than many of us are accustomed to in North America, especially in a built-up urban environment. Seemingly every street in the core featured a wide range of shops, services and restaurants. Most of these retailers are independent, which makes the shopping experience more unique and enjoyable. 

Architecture is another highlight in the Melbourne experience. There is a terrific blend of modern and traditional design styles. Seemingly every cafe and restaurant has its own unique flair. The design aesthetics are top notch and the individuality makes you want to sample the many different establishments. Seen below is the National Gallery of Victoria. 

Like many landmark international cities, Melbourne is realizing the lost potential of the waterfront. The city's Yarra River is a great example of a vibrant and active waterfront. Pedestrian promenades, waterfront dining and integration of land-uses (office, residential & retail) creates a terrific atmosphere along the river's edge. Seen below is the Yarra River and City Skyline. 

The appeal of Melbourne is rounded out by an excellent transportation system consisting of trains, trams and buses. The integration of these transit uses, particularly the inner city trams, adds a great element to the city. While many cities have forgone this traditional method of transportation, it is quite effective at linking the main street corridors within the city. Seen below are some of the more traditional trams operating within the inner core. 

To conclude, Melbourne is an active and vibrant city. It boasts a unique character defined by the artistic nature of it's residents. It is the art and cultural capital of Australia, which gives it a unique flavor. Overwhelmingly, however, it is the vibrant streets, accessible public transit and solid urban planning that have crafted a highly livable city.

It was highly enjoyable to experience some of the many unique cafe's, restaurants and shops that dot the city's many streets. Special thanks to Dave and Georgia that put us up so graciously in their pad. In the coming weeks, I plan to continue my blog / photo series. Our next port of call is the booming city of Perth, on Australia's West Coast. Stay tuned!