Great Central Road photos

DAY1_TRACK_MAP

On the road to Uluru.

On the road to Uluru.

 

The colours constantly change on the rock. This purply-red is one of my favourites.

The colours constantly change on the rock. This purply-red is one of my favourites.

 

The two Trakkas at Uluru.

The two Trakkas at Uluru.

 

Yep, we're at Uluru.

Yep, we’re at Uluru.

 

Next left and we'll be on our way to the WA border.

Next left and we’ll be on our way to the WA border.

 

Interesting ...

Interesting …

 

 Great! The road to the border is open. Let's go!

Great! The road to the border is open. Let’s go!

 

Kata Tjuka. Aboriginal creation stories tell us they are all young men.

Kata Tjuta. Aboriginal creation stories tell us they are all young men.

 

On the road to Kata Tjuta.

On the road to Kata Tjuta.

 

A different view of Kata Tjuta.

A different view of Kata Tjuta.

 

We never tired of the contrasts between the beautiful deep red soil, the cloudless (mostly) blue skies and the lovely greens of the wattles and mulgas.

We never tired of the contrasts between the beautiful deep red soil, the cloudless (mostly) blue skies and the lovely greens of the wattles and mulgas.

 

Our first campsite on the Great Central Road. This is descriptively named 'Little bush camp'.

Our first campsite on the Great Central Road. This is descriptively named ‘Little bush camp’.

 

Wildflowers.

Wildflowers.

 

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

 

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

 

Day2_TRACK_MAP

The signage for points of interest is quite good along the Outback Way.

The signage for points of interest is quite good along the Outback Way.

 

Lasseter's Reef information board.

Lasseter’s Reef information board.

 

The cave has a lovely location. The cave is to the left and that's a river bed to the right and there's a little water in it now. I think it would probably be a constant source if you dug down.

The cave has a lovely location. The cave is to the left and that’s a river bed to the right and there’s a little water in it now. I think it would probably be a constant source if you dug down.

 

Lasseter's Cave. It's a pretty substantial cave.

Lasseter’s Cave. It’s a pretty substantial cave.

 

The turnoff to Docker River.

The turnoff to Docker River.

 

Gill Pinnacle - a recommended campsite, but a bit early for us to stop yet. Just a cuppa.

Gill Pinnacle – a recommended campsite, but a bit early for us to stop yet. Just a cuppa.

 

The hub cap tree - near the turnoff to Docker River.

The hub cap tree – near the turnoff to Docker River.

 

Thanks Western Australia. We're happy to be here.

Thanks Western Australia. We’re happy to be here.

 

We've arrived. Western Australia here we come.

We’ve arrived. Western Australia here we come.

 

At the border!

At the border!

 

Steve, on the Great Central Road - literally.

Steve, on the Great Central Road – literally.

 

That's easy. Everything is straight ahead!

That’s easy. Everything is straight ahead!

 

Krakka Trakka about to leave the Northern Territory.

Krakka Trakka about to leave the Northern Territory.

 

Wildflowers - yellow pompoms

Wildflowers – yellow pompoms

 

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Day3_TRACK_MAP

The Gnamma Rock Holes

The Gnamma Rock Holes

 

This gnamma rock hole must have been deeper to have warranted a protective frame around it.

This gnamma rock hole must have been deeper to have warranted a protective frame around it.

 

Interesting museum at the Giles Weather Station.

Interesting museum at the Giles Weather Station.

 

The remains of the Blue Streak Rocket, the first rocket launched from Woomera.

The remains of the Blue Streak Rocket, the first rocket launched from Woomera.

 

Len Beadell's grader. The Gunbarrel H'way leaves from Warburton.

Len Beadell’s grader. The Gunbarrel H’way leaves from Warburton.

 

Beautiful country.

Beautiful country.

 

Beautiful countryside.

Beautiful countryside.

 

Warakurna had a unique way of telling you how much further to go.

Warakurna had a unique way of telling you how much further to go.

 

At all the road houses along this trip the fuel bowsers were individually locked up in cages. This one is selling Opal - which is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities.

At all the road houses along this trip the fuel bowsers were individually locked up in cages. This one is selling Opal – which is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities.

 

Outback you can buy your bread, milk and a spare tyre at any roadhouse. Big demand for spare tyres.

Outback you can buy your bread, milk and a spare tyre at any roadhouse. Big demand for spare tyres.

 

Virga - the rain that is falling from a cloud but evaporates before it hits the ground. We saw a lot of it out here - must be because the atmosphere is so dry.

Virga – the rain that is falling from a cloud but evaporates before it hits the ground. We saw a lot of it out here – must be because the atmosphere is so dry.

 

The Great Central Road in the rain. It wasn't enough to give us any problems though.

The Great Central Road in the rain. It wasn’t enough to give us any problems though.

 

Surveying the countryside from our campsite for the night.

Surveying the countryside from our campsite for the night.

 

Every night we had a blazing fire in Ken's natty little fire pit.

Every night we had a blazing fire in Ken’s natty little fire pit.

 

Looking through the gap, over the escarpment at Rock Hole campsite.

Looking through the gap, over the escarpment at Rock Hole campsite.

DAY4_TRACK_MAP

A male camel on the road.

A male camel on the road.

 

He's turned - looks like he'll let us pass after all.

He’s turned – looks like he’ll let us pass after all.

 

OK - now that's just a bit rude, don't you think!

OK – now that’s just a bit rude, don’t you think!

 

He's on his way - just as well. I don't think any of us would have tackled him.

He’s on his way – just as well. I don’t think any of us would have tackled him.

 

A herd of feral camels.

A herd of feral camels.

 

Camels and a car wreck.

Camels and a car wreck.

 

Dozens and dozens of wrecked cars along the Great Central Road.

Dozens and dozens of wrecked cars along the Great Central Road.

 

Some car wrecks have been here a while.

Some car wrecks have been here a while.

 

The view is better from up here.

The view is better from up here.

 

A beautiful kurrajong tree provides a shady spot to stop.

A beautiful kurrajong tree provides a shady spot to stop.

 

Yes, it's another road shot - couldn't help myself. Such a wonderful drive.

Yes, it’s another road shot – couldn’t help myself. Such a wonderful drive.

 

Two dirty Trakkas ready to battle the bull dust again.

Two dirty Trakkas ready to battle the bull dust again.

 

Our spotless Trakkas are spotless no more.

Our spotless Trakkas are spotless no more.

 

At Tjukayirla Roadhouse.

At Tjukayirla Roadhouse.

 

Tjukayirla Roadhouse.

Tjukayirla Roadhouse.

 

Our campsite at Nullye Soak from the surrounding escarpment.

Our campsite at Nullye Soak from the surrounding escarpment.

 

The fire pit is set, piles of firewood ready and now it's time to relax - at Nullye Soak.

The fire pit is set, piles of firewood ready and now it’s time to relax – at Nullye Soak.

 

Dinner by firelight at Nullye Soak.

Dinner by firelight at Nullye Soak.

 

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

 

Blooming acacias.

Blooming acacias.

 

The acacias blooming against the rocky outcrops look so wonderful.

The acacias blooming against the rocky outcrops look so wonderful.

 

Hmmm. I think we may have had a visitor to our campsite overnight. I'm very pleased we didn't wake to know about it.

Hmmm. I think we may have had a visitor to our campsite overnight. I’m very pleased we didn’t wake to know about it.

DAY5_TRACK_MAP

White Cross.

White Cross.

 

These escarpments, or breakaways, are common in this country. This is at White Cross.

These escarpments, or breakaways, are common in this country. This is at White Cross.

 

Wendy exploring the caves at White Cross.

Wendy exploring the caves at White Cross.

 

Looking down from the escarpment at White Cross.

Looking down from the escarpment at White Cross.

 

Galah defending territory at White Cross.

Galah defending territory at White Cross.

 

Not the clearest picture - but they are cute birds.

Not the clearest picture – but they are cute birds.

 

Right, got it! That's the way to Cosmo. And with the colouring of the sign I don't think I could go too far wrong in assuming it's an aboriginal township.

Right, got it! That’s the way to Cosmo. And with the colouring of the sign I don’t think I could go too far wrong in assuming it’s an aboriginal township.

 

Lovely little road led us out of Cosmo Newberry.

Lovely little road led us out of Cosmo Newberry.

 

Priscilla, kicking up a storm on the Great Central Road.

Priscilla, kicking up a storm on the Great Central Road.

 

The cloud of dust that accompanies road trains is not fun. Pull over and stop - visibility too poor to keep driving.

The cloud of dust that accompanies road trains is not fun. Pull over and stop – visibility too poor to keep driving.

 

Giles Breakaway

Giles Breakaway

 

Giles Breakaway

Giles Breakaway

 

Giles Breakaway

Giles Breakaway

 

Sunrise on the beautiful red cliffs of Giles Breakaway.

Sunrise on the beautiful red cliffs of Giles Breakaway.

 

Camping on the edge of the escarpment at Giles Breakaway. Million dollar views out through the back doors.

Camping on the edge of the escarpment at Giles Breakaway. Million dollar views out through the back doors.

 

Such a good camping spot we just had to toast to it - Giles Breakaway.

Such a good camping spot we just had to toast to it – Giles Breakaway.

 

Pure bliss at Giles Breakaway.

Pure bliss at Giles Breakaway.

 

Campsite at Giles Breakaway

Campsite at Giles Breakaway

 

Interpretaive Board describing how the Giles Breakaway, and other breakaways, form.

Interpretaive Board describing how the Giles Breakaway, and other breakaways, form.

 

Giles Breakaway panorama.

Giles Breakaway panorama.

 

Early morning sunlight at Giles Breakaway

Early morning sunlight at Giles Breakaway

 

Yay - we've hit the bitumen. 1100km of dirt roads behind us.

Yay – we’ve hit the bitumen. 1100km of dirt roads behind us.

 

The end of the Great Central Road. Loved every minute of it.

The end of the Great Central Road. Loved every minute of it.

 

Ken and Wendy - just finished the Great Central Road. Still smiling!

Ken and Wendy – just finished the Great Central Road. Still smiling!

 

Two wonderful vehicles that have carried us through thick and thin without a complaint. Love our TRAKKAS.

Two wonderful vehicles that have carried us through thick and thin without a complaint. Love our TRAKKAS.