This will be my second road trip to Adelaide. However, this time, we will be taking an inland route, with over 87 massive fires causing road closures and affecting several towns. The countryside is extremely dry, adding a somber tone to our journey. Despite the challenges, the zigzagging and weaving path will undoubtedly make this trip down south a remarkable and memorable one. If you're interested in reading about our first road trip in 2015, please click the button below.
Let's hit the road again for another trip to Adelaide, this time taking a different route through the great country we call Australia.
Each flag represents where camp was made.
The first leg from Brisbane to Yamba is already well known and what a fantastic area it is! If you haven't had a chance to explore the Far North Coast blog, I highly recommend it. So, we're all set for another day of travel, and it's going to be a long drive—over 10 hours covering nearly 1000 kilometers. In a nutshell, I ended up driving back to Brisbane and then back again, but when I reached Brisbane, a fire had closed the highway, forcing us to take an inland detour through Lismore and Casino, only to end up back at the same place where I initially started. It truly was a unique Sunday drive.
Today was a somber day as we embarked on a long journey, spanning thousands of kilometers, to navigate around extensive bushfires. Instead of heading south as intended, we had to drive north and reach the Queensland border just to bypass these fires in New South Wales. It's only when the skies cleared that we realized the true magnitude of these fires. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all the individuals working tirelessly to protect our precious natural beauty.
On a brighter note, we reached a charming little town called Ashford, where I discovered that the campsite adjacent to mine was occupied by some friends from Brisbane. It's truly amazing who you can encounter in the middle of nowhere.
In Moree, I decided to embrace the local tradition and indulge in the hot thermal pools for a soothing and relaxing experience. However, being an artist myself, I added a little twist to my visit. After enjoying a rejuvenating swim, I took the opportunity to grab my pencils and create pet pawtrait drawing. If you're curious about my pawtraits, I invite you to take a look at my portfolio.
We encountered some incredibly long, straight roads on our way to the next destination. Along the journey, we had some fun chasing emus and admiring the vast turkey nests (large dams). During our stop in the quaint town of Onumbone, I decided to experiment with drone trick photography while we relaxed in a football field. It was a unique opportunity for me to capture breathtaking shots of galaxies, marking my first attempt at astrophotography. Now, it's time to assess the results and see if my efforts paid off. Fingers crossed! LOL
After traversing mine shafts and exploring the depths of the underground world, we have arrived in White Cliffs—an opal mining village where the locals live in tunnels they've dug in search of this colorful mineral. It truly feels like we're in the heart of nowhere today. Along the way, we encountered a little emu friend by the side of the road, unfortunately with a broken leg. We are hopeful to find a nearby veterinarian as I have this whimsical idea of entering him in the Melbourne Cup next year, although I may need to figure out a clever horse disguise. It's a reminder of the challenges and sometimes tragic encounters one can face on the vast open roads of the Australian outback.
Today's journey involved a lengthy drive on a dirt road. Along the way, we encountered a diverse array of wildlife, including 300 goats, 100 kangaroos, 10 emus, numerous sheep, and even a lone fox. Eventually, we arrived at Mutawntji National Park, where our adventure took an unexpected turn. While attempting to hike to the gorge, we unintentionally veered off course and found ourselves 4 kilometers away from our intended path, despite it being only a 3-kilometer walk. Thankfully, we had the assistance of a drone to help us navigate our way back to the correct route. It proved to be a valuable tool in finding our bearings once again.
As we gathered after dinner, eagerly anticipating the sight of the first star, we were treated to an incredible celestial show. In addition to spotting three shooting stars, we also marveled at the passing of 15 satellites and witnessed the breathtaking Milky Way painting the sky during sunset. It was a remarkable way to spend a night in the heart of the outback, surrounded by nature's wonders.
Continuing our journey, we made a stop at a caravan park nestled along the Murray River in a charming town called Blanchetown. Despite being a mere 150 kilometers away from our final destination, we found ourselves facing an approaching storm. The primary concern wasn't the rain, but rather the dust stirred up by the powerful 90-kilometer winds accompanying the scorching 45-degree heatwave. In light of these conditions, we decided it was best to seek refuge at the caravan park, where we could comfortably watch movies and rest in the cool air-conditioning until the storm subsided.
Created to my mum for taking this photo, I was fast asleep
The following morning brought the return of the dust storm, although the winds had calmed down. The air was dense with thick layers of dust. While my parents ventured out for a morning walk, I was hoping to catch a few extra hours of sleep, knowing that I had several busy days ahead of me. Nevertheless, we gathered our belongings, loaded up the car, and set off towards Seaford.
Upon reaching Seaford, we were greeted by a remarkable sight. The atmosphere had completely transformed. Instead of the dusty haze, there were beautiful blue clouds overhead, and the temperature had dropped to a pleasant 13 degrees Celsius. It was truly amazing to witness the stark difference the proximity to the sea can make.