SA - we visit Roxby Downs south east of Coober Pedy to visit some friends who live and work here. It is the last purpose built town in Australia with a population of 4000. It is expected to grow by 6000 in the next 10 years. Roxby is the home to Olympic Dam mine owned by BHP and the producer of gold 3 tonnes, silver 31 tonnes in 2003, copper and most of the worlds uranium. The first shaft was sunk by a man named Whenan in 1956. Now the mine has 250 Km's of undergwound roads or tunnels, enough to go from Roxby to Pt. Augusta and they are still expanding. It may one day become open cut mining.
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SA - Andamooka another Opal mining town 40 Km's east of Roxby downs. It boasts some of the finest quality opals are found here. It is a long way behind Coober Pedy in size and developement but an interesting place to visit.
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More of the Breakaways, who can spot the "giant camel" laying down? So amazing what we can see in the created world around us.
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The Breakaways North East of Coober Pedy at sunset. It is completely natural and many movies have been made here including, Mad Max, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert and others. They have to be seen to fully appreaciate their beauty.
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SA - Coober Pedy the Opal capital of the world. This is an under ground church made from what was a Opal mine. In the dug outs or mines the temperature is a constant 23 degrees all year an amazing experience. We also dine in an underground resteraunt which was also just as amazing.
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Early morning and the more ambitious attempt to climb Uluru. Many have been injured or died trying. We walked around the entire base and viewed the special Aboriginal sites, a 10 Km walk which we achieved in two and a half hours in 30+ degree heat.
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NT - Everyone will of course recognise Uluru or more commonly known Ayres Rock. This picture was taken as the sun was setting.
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NT - Kata Tjuta or more commonly known as the Olgas. A remarkable place and a hard hike in 36c temp.
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The beautiful Garden of Eden which is part of the Kings Canyon hike.
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Us driving through the rapid rising floodwaters of the Todd river in Alice Springs prior to the road being closed.
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Ian on the 3 hour hike around the rim of Kings Canyon which is part of Watarrka national park 500 Km's SW of Alice Springs.
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NT - West MacDonnell national park Ida Standley Chasim, named after the first white lady to visit the area.
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NT - Mataranka thermal springs south of Katherine.
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The Devil's Marbles south of Darwin.
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