Tags
Australia, Outback, photography, photos, South Australia, travel
Le grand moment est finalement arrivé : c’est le grand départ pour l’Outback! Quand nous avons planifié notre séjour en Australie, visiter cette région mythique était un incontournable.
L’Outback occupe tout le centre de l’Australie. Bien qu’il soit possible de le visiter de façon indépendante avec une simple voiture, il faut s’en tenir aux routes principales; si on veut pénétrer au cœur du Outback il faut être bien outillé car les situations urgentes peuvent devenir catastrophiques. Nous avons donc choisi de visiter cette région avec un tour guidé de 3000 km sur 10 jours qui partait d’Adelaide pour se rendre à Alice Springs en effectuant plusieurs détours. Le tour offrait une expérience de camping dans la brousse sans accès à l’électricité, à l’eau courante, et encore moins à Internet. Il était aussi bien indiqué que les passagers devaient s’impliquer et participer aux corvées.
En cette première journée, le guide est venu nous chercher à l’auberge vers 6h30 et nous avons rencontré les 11 autres passagers. C’est à ce moment, que nous avons réalisé que nous serions de loin les plus vieux du groupe, les autres ayant de 18 à 34 ans. Nous avons pris la route vers le nord pour nous diriger vers les Flinders Ranges, à 450 km d’Adelaide. Cette première journée s’est faite sur des routes asphaltées. Nous avons fait quelques arrêts avant d’atteindre notre premier campement: Wirrabara (pour admirer le travail d’artistes sur des silos), Melrose, Kanyaka Historic Homestead et Hawker. Évidemment, en voyage organisé, il est parfois un peu frustrant de voir de beaux paysages défiler par la fenêtre et ne pas pouvoir s’arrêter plus souvent. Il faut donc prendre des photos rapidement lors des arrêts planifiés.
The big moment has finally arrived: it’s the departure for the Outback! When we planned our trip to Australia, visiting this mythical region was a must.
The Outback occupies the entire centre of Australia. Although it is possible to visit it independently with a normal car, it is necessary to stick to the main roads; if you want to get to the heart of the Outback you have to be well equipped because emergency situations can become catastrophic. So we chose to visit this region with a 10-day guided tour from Adelaide to Alice Springs; an almost 3,000 kilometres journey. The tour offered a bush camping experience without access to electricity, running water, let alone the Internet. It was also indicated that the participants had to get involved and take part in the various chores.
On this first day, the guide picked us up at the hostel around 6.30 am and we met the 11 other passengers. It was then that we realized that we would be by far the oldest of the group, the others being 18 to 34 years old. We headed north to the Flinders Ranges, 450 km from Adelaide. This first day was done on paved roads. We made a few stops before reaching our first camp: Wirrabara (to admire the work of artists on silos), Melrose, Kanyaka Historic Homestead and Hawker. Obviously, on an organized trip, it is sometimes a little frustrating to see beautiful landscapes go by the window and not be able to stop more often. It is therefore necessary to take pictures very quickly during planned stops.
WirrabaraWirrabara Wirrabara Melrose Melrose Melrose Kanyaka Historic Homestead Kanyaka Historic Homestead Kanyaka Historic Homestead Flinders Ranges Way (near Hawker) Flinders Ranges Way (near Hawker) Flinders Ranges Way (near Hawker) Flinders Ranges Way (near Hawker)
En bonus: Quelques photos du groupe et des activités de la première journée. / A few pictures of the group and the activities of the first day.Clare: Arrêt à la dernière ville d’importance pour acheter tout ce dont on aura besoin pour se nourrir durant notre séjour. Notre guide (à l’avant en chemise bleue) a rempli 3 chariots et nous nous préparions à l’aider à ranger le tout dans des glacières et des boîtes hermétiques. La photo montre aussi les 11 autres participants au tour… nous étions évidemment les plus vieux! Durant cet arrêt, les passagers pouvaient aussi faire leurs dernièrs achats. / Stop at the last city of importance to buy all that we will need to eat during our tour. Our guide (in the blue shirt upfront) filled 3 carts and we were preparing to help him store it in cool boxes and airtight boxes. The picture also shows the 11 other participants … we were obviously the oldest! During this stop, passengers could also make their last purchases.Flinders Ranges Way (near Hawker): Dernier arrêt de la journée le long de la route pour ramasser du bois. Cette étape deviendra une routine journalière car il nous fallait beaucoup de bois pour faire un bon feu pour que le guide puisse cuisiner le repas du soir et du matin. / Last stop of the day along the road to collect wood. This step will become a daily routine because we needed a lot of wood to make a good fire for the guide to cook the evening and morning meal.
[Auteur/Author: Suzanne & Pierre]
By Marie said:
J’adore cette série là. J’avais lu un livre qui se déroulait dans la région de Alice springs et cela m’avait donné envie d’y aller, ce que je n’ai jamais fait bien sûr. J’aimerais voir le bush australien qui me passionnerait sans doute beaucoup par ses paysages étant une grande fan de déserts. Merci
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Merci Marie. Effectivement, visiter le Outback est un incontournable. Il y a plusieurs façon de le faire et nous avons décidé de le faire sans le confort de certains tours. Passer 5 jours sans se lever était une expérience en soit… J’espère que le reste de la série saura vous plaire… Ceci est le premiere billet d’une série de 10.
Joanne Sisco said:
Suzanne – is this the first time I’m seeing a photo of you on your blog?! I’m assuming that’s you on the far left in the group photo since you said you and Pierre were the oldest in the group. Hi!! Nice to finally ‘see’ you 🙂
We too did a similar journey into the Outback many years ago. Your story brings back memories 🙂 … the red soil and beautiful golden light!
If some of these photos were taken on the move from the vehicle, I’m REALLY impressed!!
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Joanne. It is true that we don’t publish photos of us very often but we did publish a post to start our series on Australia with a number of pictures of the both of us either alone or together…
Doing a tour in the Outback is a must when visiting Australia and glad to be able to bring back nice memories of your own tour.
No, none of these pictures were taken from the moving vehicle but very quickly during very brief stops.
Little Miss Traveller said:
Wonderful post, I’ve visited Australia several times but not taken this route so I’m following it with great interest, thank you.
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks for your note. We love wide open space and desert so for us the Outback was a must. This is the first post of of series of 10 so you will get to see many aspect of the Outback.
Little Miss Traveller said:
I will enjoy reading the whole series thank you
Glen Fisher said:
Sounds like quite the adventure!
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Glen. It was indeed…spending 5 days without washing was quite an experience! We did love our experience and would do it again.
the #1 Itinerary said:
Great post 🙂
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks for your note. Glad you enjoyed this series.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter said:
Stunning! You may have been the oldest, but i’m sure you and Pierre could more than hold your own for stamina etc.
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Anabel. We were able to follow all of the activities maybe not as fast as the youngsters but mostly because we were more interested in observing the surrounding. The kids were mostly oblivious and slept most of the time in the jeep while we were driving. We wanted to see everything so we had our eyes glued to the windows.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter said:
That would be me too! Not wanting to miss anything.
Monique said:
Des photos qui me ramène 11 ans en arrière! Que de beaux souvenirs!
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Merci Monique. Contente que ces photos te rappellent de bons souvenirs.
Jane Lurie said:
Fantastic adventure, Suzanne. you held your own with the kids. 🙂 Our trip to the Outback was most memorable.
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Jane. It was indeed memorable and as I said to Anabel we didn’t fair too badly with the kids. Glad you enjoyed this series.
MELewis said:
Suzanne, you are putting me to shame! Not sure I’d have the courage to put up with the hardships like the two of you seem to have done. Bravo and looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Mel. It wasn’t bad. Sleeping under the stars was quite fun and we got used to being dirty. The shower after 5 days without was very good!
Hope you had a good time in the Mauritius.
Eliza Waters said:
A real adventure – looking forward to it!
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Eliza. It was indeed a great adventure. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the series…
Yoshimiparis Photographie said:
merveilleuse série, une lumière époustouflante
un voyage que nous faisons avec vous et avec plaisir
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Merci pour votre note. Nous avons adoré notre séjour dans le Outback et nous sommes bien contents de pouvoir faire vivre cette expérience de façon virtuelle aux lecteurs de notre blogue. Bien contente que cette série ait su vous plaire…
Jacqui said:
Looks like a town right out of an old western movie. The murals reminded me of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Jacqui. It certainly was and the reference to the movie is quite appropriate. We did think of the movie a few times during the tour and we had watched it before leaving…
Image Earth Travel said:
Love the art on the Silos and wish they painted the ones near Brisbane. Instead, this piece of heritage was bulldozed in readiness for developers.
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks for your note. We saw many painted silos in the Outback but also in West Australia (Albany, for example). I think it is a great initiative. The guide said that it was to make the place look nicer.
rosemaylily2014 said:
An amazing adventure Suzanne! We’ve never ventured into the Outback and I’m not sure I’d do too well without my home comforts. I admire your adventurous spirit and you were obviously rewarded with some wonderful experiences! 🙂
Suzanne et Pierre said:
Thanks Rosemary. It was indeed a wonderful adventure and we adapted better than we exepted to the lack of comfort. Glad you enjoyed the virtual tour…
rosemaylily2014 said:
I certainly did as I’m not sure I’d ever be brave enough to attempt it myself! Still never say never …….