PowellyFamily 2016 AUS TRIP - Week 1-2

 First stop Temora

Amazing first evening sunset - great start, but then..................

Raining as we arrived and Tony fell ill blaming it on the Macca's for lunch. He gave the facilities multiple inspections that night 😖.  Michelle and the boys visiting the Temora Aviation museum with Dad recovering in the van.  

Next stop Darlington Point then onto Buronga(NSW side of river opposite Mildura) .  

First campfire

The beautiful Murray River

North to Broken Hill. 

Highlights - a trip out to Silverton (including the Mad Max 2 museum).  Gluten free hot chips at 
the pub (yay!!!) and sunset visit to the Sculpture Park.    Lowlights - cranky old 
woman at the club who thought Cody was a devil child (He accidentally bumped into her - 
not looking where he was going as usual). 

Awaiting the BFG / Joel watched the movie the night before.

Locals heading to "The Local" at Silverton

 Our next stop the spectacular Flinders Ranges.  Pity about the freezing cold weather 
and low cloud but we got in a couple of walks and enjoyed another night by the 
campfire.

Just taking it all in

Don't sit too close bro!

Crossing through Parapilna Gorge - so picturesque

After passing through Parapilna Gorge in northern Flinders Ranges we arrive at Beltana 
Station, a large sheep and cattle station.  We are in the outback now.  Boys put to 
work straight away to help weigh and load the sheep for market.  We didn't have the 
heart to tell the boys where they were heading. Three course traditional outback meal 
in the woodshed - yum!!  Boys loved it here - they were free to wander around the farm 
and play with the animals, a super friendly cow,  alpacas, pigs and dogs.  Camel 
feeding and riding was a highlight as well as the country hospitality.

Exploring Beltana Station. Over 1800 sq km. Sheep, Cattle, Roos, Goats and Emus

as well as an old Old Copper Mine site

Friendly cow

Work those sheep

  From Beltana, we continued north to Maree and headed straight to the camel races.  

Absolute chaos in the donkey race

Winner's are grinner's

Despite the slight drizzle, we continued along the Oonandatta track with plans to 
stopover at Coward Springs and then William Creek.  After a quick stop for the required 
photo op of Lake Eyre even though you couldn't see it because of the bad weather, the 
track conditions started to go downhill quickly.  The thick red mud claimed our stone 
stomper and with concerns we would be stuck along the track with uncertain weather 
forecast, after checking out the muddy campground at Coward Springs and a lunch stop at 
William Creek, we hightailed it to dryer land at Coober Pedy.  Phew - long day!! 

Sculpture Park along The Oonandatta Track

Lake Eyre - it is there! and it has water in it.

Yuk!!

 First night at Coober Pedy, we stayed above ground in the van and went on a nighttime 
opal mine tour - pretty cool.  After many calls to find some underground accommodation 
we scored the last family room in Coober Pedy at the Comfort Inn.  An unexpected 
private tour of the dugouts behind the motel and the history of the mine/motel was very 
interesting.  Even the boys seem to enjoy it. 

The mud gave Joel and Cody a canvas to practice on.

And it gave mum and dad some work to do. 5 Days later and dad is still scrapping

chunks of mud from the car and van.

 I reckon it added an easy extra 200kg of weight.

Underground Room, novelty for everyone and free WiFi for Joel