Australia by Red Nomad OZ
The Bunkers, Wilkawillina Gorge

Walk Wild Wilkawillina!

A six hour drive north of Adelaide takes you deep into South Australia’s Outback zone AND into the Flinders Ranges National Park. It’s considered remote. By most people’s standards, anyway. Factor in its staggering scenery, wonderful wildlife, numerous hiking trails and awesome natural beauty, and you’ve got one of the best eco-tourism adventure destinations in the country! That makes it[…]

Read more
Lake Tutchewop Track

Two Twitchers, Two Nights and Two Thousand Clicks!

If I hadn’t been twitching I would never have gone to Tittybong. And if that’s conjured up a disturbing mental image, keep reading! It’s not quite as perturbing as it sounds!! Or maybe it is … Most Northern Hemisphereans probably won’t understand.  Why would two otherwise sane, normal Australians (that’s a self-assessment, not an oxy-moron) would spend three days driving[…]

Read more
Lone Gum at Stubbs Waterhole

Arkaroola Wilderness Adventureland!

For a place explored, surveyed and ravaged by pastoralism, mining and smelting; overrun by sheep, camels, donkeys, rabbits and dingoes; and more recently under threat from an avaricious government looking to sell off uranium mining rights, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is looking mighty fine! That’s due to the extraordinary Sprigg family* – visionaries, eco-tourism pioneers and explorers – who bought this[…]

Read more
The Secret Lake in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia

TOP Aussie Birding Spot #1 – Somewhere in the Adelaide Hills …

I slowly climbed the hill through the knee high dry grass, each step raising a cloud of dust. Every stick looked like a snake. But that was better than the other way around. The heavy breathing behind me increased. The horse that owned the paddock was getting tetchy. I wondered what he’d do when he found out the camera bag[…]

Read more
View across the Bunbinyunna, Elder and Red Ranges from Bridle Gap, Wilpena Pound, South Australia

Walk the Bridle Gap Wilpena Pound Trail, Flinders Ranges

The last few kilometres were heavy going as I trudged back to camp. The bright daylight faded into twilight as the sun sank below the eroded peaks surrounding the amazing Wilpena Pound valley, centrepiece of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges National Park. The evening coolness rose as we entered the campground. While taking an 18.8 kilometre (11.7 mile) hike might not[…]

Read more

Postcard from … Marree South Australia

Hi there! Tiny town Marree South Australia is the first major sign of civilisation in over 500 km (~310 miles) for travellers heading south down the iconic Oodnadatta or Birdsville tracks – both LOOOOONG stretches of dirt, rocks, gravel and bulldust. But we approached it over several days from the other direction – a straight run from Adelaide of nearly[…]

Read more
Pondalowie Bay from West Cape Lighthouse

The Jewel in the Toe – Innes National Park, South Australia

Visit Innes National Park on a fine day and if you don’t end up with a photo that looks close to the one above, you’re just not trying! But joining the ‘Entrance to Innes National Park’ photo club isn’t the only reason to visit this smallish 9400+ hectare National Park.  It’s around 300 km from Adelaide on the toe of[…]

Read more
90 Mile Straight, Nullarbor, Ten Budget Travel Tips

Aussie ABC: N is for Nullarbor

I was 4 – nearly 5! – the first time I crossed the Nullarbor. Christmas day, and we were on the Indian Pacific* heading for Adelaide. We’d spent Christmas eve in a pub somewhere in rough as guts Western Australian gold-mining town Kalgoorlie, but I don’t remember that.  Maybe I had blanked it out … Many years later, I made[…]

Read more
Corrugated Iron, Eurelia Railway Station Goods Shed, South Australia

Corrugated Iron and Eurelia Railway Station

My liking for neatness, order and logic most likely explains my affinity for corrugated iron. Although the unkind might attribute it to control freak tendencies! Whatever it is, corrugated iron’s neat rows and precise undulations, and patterns of light and shade hold an artistic appeal.  This appeal actually increases as the decay inevitable in Australia’s harsh climate starts breaking the[…]

Read more