UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE

After crossing the Nullarbor Plain we hung a left at Port Augusta to make a 3000km diversion to see one of the iconic symbols of Australia...Uluru. The plan was to drive up to see "the rock" then head back down the Stuart Highway towards Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney.

The first stop of any significant size to break up our journey to Uluru was a town called Woomera. After referring to our trusty Lonely Planet guide we decided perhaps it was best to just drive on a little further. Woomera is "a rather drab looking government town with its roots in early British weapons testing and space rocket programmes" If that wasn't enough to inspire you to visit, perhaps the nuclear waste dump and detention centre for refugees might tempt you?

We finally decided to stay a few nights in Coober Pedy, one of the few places in the world where opals are mined. The surreal landscape created by the spoil heaps of abandoned mines are the advance welcome party to the town. It is a hostile, dry dusty place with scant rainfall and extremes of temperature.

Staying in the "cave hotel" was a fun experience. The accommodation created out of abandoned opal mines in the ground provide comfort and insulation from temperatures ranging from 50 degrees centigrade to below 0.

The tour at "Tom's Opal Mine" was probably the one of the best tours we have had all year. Dave, the crusty opal miner was excellent at engaging both old and young alike with information on mining and the area in general.

After a few days rest from driving, we continued our journey arriving at the resort town of Yularu in time to catch our first glimpse of Uluru at sundown. The atmosphere and sheer beauty of the landscape and was breathtaking, and even the persistent buzzing of flies endemic in the outback couldn't spoil the experience. Several days enjoying the dry warm climate, cycling around Uluru, driving out to the Olgas and swimming in the resort pool focuses the mind and we made the decision to continue travelling north then head cross country to the coast and Cairns.