This is where we leave the Oodnadatta Track as we head to Dalhousie Springs.
The single men’s accommodation for the Fettlers who maintained the Ghan railway line.
The bedroom. Pedirka ruins.
Single men’s quarters at Pedirka railway siding. These were the fettlers who maintained the line.
This is the countryside that surrounds the single men’s accommodation at Pedirka. Can’t really see them having a wow time when they’re not at work.
The road to Dalhousie
Road conditions.
Road conditions – corrugations!
Gibbers and red dust.
Not too bad!
Those gibbers! It was always a worry that one of them would pierce a tyre.
Paused for a cuppa.
Entering Witjira National Park. This park is another that is jointly managed by National Parks and the local indigenous community.
Looking over the gibber plain to the mesa in the background. Witjira National Park.
Are these bird’s nests? On the roof of the picnic shelter. Dalhousie Springs.
Dalhousie Station ruins.
Dalhousie Homestead ruins. It sure was in the middle of nowhere.
It would have been a very attractive homestead many years ago. Note the stone floor. Dalhousie Homestead
The partially restored homestead. The greenery around it isn’t quite so lush when up close – it’s mostly just tufts of plants.
The chimney seems to be the last to deteriorate. Dalhousie Homestead.
Life was all too easily lost out here. The Royal Flying Doctor didn’t begin it’s great works until the 1920s, and then they only had one plane.
Another of the buildings at Dalhousie Station.
The view from Dalhousie Homestead.
Fencing that formed part of the stockyards. Dalhousie Station.
National Parks has put in a nice easy entrance to the wonderful Dalhousie Springs.
The beautifully refreshing Dalhousie Springs.
Dalhousie Springs.
Mt Dare, here we come!
An early morning dip before leaving this delightful spring. Dalhousie Springs.
Our campsite at 3 o’clock -(the name of the campsite, not the time!).
The latest millinery fashion.
Moonrise over 3 o’clock Creek.
An early morning visitor at 3 o’clock campsite. A healthy looking dingo.
The queue for filling the fresh water tanks. At 3 o’clock campsite.
Bloods bore windmill and pump. Stopped here for a cuppa and break after a rough drive.
Bloods Bore windmill.
The beautiful, if noisy, cockatoos.
The very interesting bark of the red mallee. It peels off in curlicues and is unique to this district.
They’re not short a rock or two out here.
When driving on corrugations you spend your time swapping from one side of the road to the other, always sure it’s less bumpy where you’re not. Lucky it’s rare to see any other traffic.
Yep made it! With dust!
The hotel at Mt Dare. Campsite is out the back. Fuel to the right – that’s it! Nothing else at Mt Dare.
Beside the Mt Dare pub is the spring. The pink galahs loved it.
Mt Dare old truck. There are many of these out here – old and new.
The t-junction leaving Mt Dare – on our way to Finke.
Who says we’re on the road to no where!!
This is the first time Steve and I have driven in the Northern Territory.
Hmmm. The Northern Territory. Looks like a long road in front of us, mate.
Cuppa break along the track.
Welcome to Apatula Finke
Yep, another Ghan water tower – this one is at Finke.
No idea what Ken is doing walking along this dusty red road.
Ken – taking a constitutional.
Smoko on the track. Ken
That’s our destination – oh that it were that simple!
Information sign.
Yay! We made it to the very centre of Australia.
We’re all here – in the middle of Australia.
Ken, flynet in place, supervising the pork belly roasting away in the camp oven. A suitable celebration for making it to the Centre of Australia.
Delicious dinner, right in the very middle of Australia.
The prudent traveller walks the paths before choosing which direction to take. The road to Lamberts Centre of Australia.
A pretty road – pretty deceptive! To Lamberts Centre of Australia.
Washaways on the track required a little skill – nothing like the sand though.
Some of the milder washouts.