Stories from our explorers

Australian Outback

Outback Adventures

 ‘Firsts’

The whole adventure was a first for me, as I have not travelled away from the highways in Australia, even though my husband and I had covered a lot of distance around our country, it was always from point A to point B and not the little places in between.

We lived in Wagga when we were first married from 1957 to 1966, and traversed the Hume Highway many a time going up to Sydney to catch up with relatives. Having two young children we did not venture far from the beaten track, and even though we had friends with properties in Wagga and surrounds, we did not visit their homesteads.

In 1984 we drove down to Melbourne, for an athletic championship, then along the Great Ocean Road, up to Broken Hill through Mildura. We then headed back to Sydney where we lived. That is the only time I had been outback NSW before this trip.

We also flew to Alice Springs and hired a motorhome, and went out to Uluru and Kings Canyon, before making the trip to Darwin, straight up the highway. We did go for a day’s outing to Kakadu but once again, kept to the beaten track, so did not see much wildlife. I would be very interested to go to these areas again, especially if I could go with you and your tours.

However, on with the ‘firsts’

1) The first time since I was a little girl, I crouched behind a bush to relieve myself.

2) I wore a fly net and did not feel self-conscious.

3) I learnt all about cotton growing and how windmills work.

4) Never would I have thought about a mud bath – but there I was, and drinking wine as well.

5) After having my daughter show me around the Snowy Hydro Scheme, I was very interested to find the 1^st Hydro thermal power station in Australia.

6) I have never slept in an ATCO hut before, nor on a property, nor in shearer’s quarters. I also had a tour of the shearing shed which was all new to me.

7) I have never seen so much red, sandy and stony countryside, scattered with Spinifex and other little bits of greenery with cattle and sheep grazing on it. I also learnt that cattle have such rough tongues they can scrape them along the ground and pick up stones and greenery, which separates in their stomaches!!!

8) Another first was to climb down a mine (and scramble back up again) and feel what it was like for the miners of yesterday.

9) A marvel at Broken Hill (amongst many others) was to go up to the living desert, and walk amongst the sculptures at sunset, and then partake with wine and nibbles and watch the sun go down.

10) I also learnt to throw a boomerang.

11) What does one say about White Cliffs and the underground motel, with its maze of passageways. AND, Jock’s place, I have never seen so much junk in one place in all my life. I looked for a duster, but couldn’t find one.!!

12) The weather balloon at Cobar was another first, followed by seeing the Open Cut Mine.

13) Even though I worked for Siding Spring Observatory in the accounts department in Epping in Sydney, I had never seen through the giant telescope, as the astronomers were always working whenever I visited Coonabarabran. To look through the telescope at Gilgandra was a real treat, and what an eye-opener to see Saturn so clearly with her rings. Superb!!

14) To cop it all off, I have been around many castles overseas, but have never been invited to stay in one overnight. It was wonderful to enjoy this well preserved relic, and to enjoy the hospitality of Colleen, the owner. I was very impressed with the beautiful linen on the beds, especially as she does all her own laundry.

All in all, I cannot speak too highly of the fortnight we spent together, and hope that I can join you again in the future. Rosemary and I are certainly good ambassadresses for your tours, and our golfers are green with envy.

Cheers and regards,

Jill
,
Australia