Queen of the Desert
May 23rd 2008 09:16
I love the Northern Territory. You can drive all day and see unchanging scenery. Red dirt, rocks, straight roads and perfect blue sky. All day everyday, but i didn't get tired of it, i became totally immersed in it and it became my normality, i loved it!
Kings Creek Canyon is immense. We had made plans for get up early and hike to the top. The first section is aptly named "heart attack hill", and by the time we reached the top more than a few of us looked as if it might have that effect. The view from the up there, for me, sums up the NT. You can see for miles and miles, literally there is nothing to be seen apart from what was naturally put there. And once i was able to drag myself up from the ground where i had collapsed in a heap after the climb, i was able to appreciate the view before hiking along the canyon to the highest point and down to the centre, The Garden of Eden. Eden was a welcome relief, with trees providing abundant shade and a stream running through.
In my opinion, The Kings Canyon is a far more impressive Australian landmark than Uluru. I had never heard it before i came away and i know it is the same for a lot of travellers, which is a shame because it is an absolute must.
Back at the station we took some quad bikes out on some outback tracks. This is not something for which i hold much talent. The bikes had 4 or 5 gears (wasn't listening) and you had to tap your foot to change the gears. I don't think i actually got out of second gear, everytime i wanted to i tapped too many times and went back down to first with a lurch which usually sent me towards some sort of bush or rock. Needless to say that my self and my like minded Dutch friend were ambling along at the back of the pack. My the time i returned to my swag i was covered head to toe in red dust, sadly the most convincing tan i would experience on my trip. Another banterful night around the camp fire followed with a box of red wine and much laughter.
My Northern Territory adventure was due to conclude after one more day back in Alice. We had a quick look around the Royal Flying Doctors museum, but like the child i am spent most of my time pretending to fly a plane on a model dashboard and windscreen( are they called that on planes?) with my Dutch quad buddy. Had one more night out NT style at Bo Jangles.
Next stop Cairns.....
Kings Creek Canyon is immense. We had made plans for get up early and hike to the top. The first section is aptly named "heart attack hill", and by the time we reached the top more than a few of us looked as if it might have that effect. The view from the up there, for me, sums up the NT. You can see for miles and miles, literally there is nothing to be seen apart from what was naturally put there. And once i was able to drag myself up from the ground where i had collapsed in a heap after the climb, i was able to appreciate the view before hiking along the canyon to the highest point and down to the centre, The Garden of Eden. Eden was a welcome relief, with trees providing abundant shade and a stream running through.
Back at the station we took some quad bikes out on some outback tracks. This is not something for which i hold much talent. The bikes had 4 or 5 gears (wasn't listening) and you had to tap your foot to change the gears. I don't think i actually got out of second gear, everytime i wanted to i tapped too many times and went back down to first with a lurch which usually sent me towards some sort of bush or rock. Needless to say that my self and my like minded Dutch friend were ambling along at the back of the pack. My the time i returned to my swag i was covered head to toe in red dust, sadly the most convincing tan i would experience on my trip. Another banterful night around the camp fire followed with a box of red wine and much laughter.
Next stop Cairns.....
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