Conde Nast Traveller Magazine Story

It's late March 2007.
I meet up with Tom Huth - writer from Conde Nast USA and Len and Dianne - photographers from New York. The aim is to travel north from Broken Hill into the Simpson Desert to Birdsville , then around Lake Eyre to Coober Pedy and finish in Alice Springs.
The story we are doing will focus on outback pubs, characters and landscapes.
Landrover Australia provided us with a near new Discovery to do the trip.
5,000 klms later -- not even a flat tyre - faultless performance!
We did not count on rain in the desert - this made the trip all the more memorable!!

Conde Nast Traveller magazine will publish the story in the near future.

Inaugural Ghan to the Never Never Journey

March 2007 saw 17 intrepid travellers board the Historic Ghan railroad for a journey to Darwin - then on into the Never Never country of the Northern Territory.

We retraced the epic journey of Jeannie Gunn who travelled from Melbourne to Darwin - then south bound to Elsey Station by train, horse and buggy and sometimes on foot, over a century ago. Her story is well recorded in her classic tome - 'We of the Never Never.'

We met the Aboriginal land owners of Elsey Station, swam in clear springs , witnessed the Wet Season at it's best - and stayed in classic bush accommodation.

Due to the overwhelming response - the trip will be run again in 2008.

See some photos of the journey below...

Ghan to the Never Never

Wangi Falls - Litchfield National Park - February 2007

Hi travellers,

Have been on the road a bit lately!

Last few months we have been in the Top End of Australia on a few assignments - also a trip to the southern states. Of note - I did a five day four wheel drive safari across the Top into Kakadu, Katherine and Litchfield with a couple from USA.

Accompanying us to write a story
about the awesome Wet Season was award winning Travel Writer - Dan Scott.

You can read Dan's account by clicking on
http://travelaustralia.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=229911

Edith Falls - Nitmiluk National Park

Great time to be here - so few people!!

Dan and a black headed python

Nourlangie Rock

Sunset - Victoria

In February I did a tour through Victoria - my home state.

My great great grandfather settled in Bendigo from England and my Mum was born in Ballarat --so it was great to get back to my roots.

I even swam in a stream that I last swam in as a little tacker nearly 40 years ago!

Bushfires had ravaged some of the areas we travelled through - and we hope for recovery and more rain in drought areas.

Bushfires - Victoria - King Valley

Here's looking at you kid - oops sheep!

Poodle on tour - Daylesford

Sovereign Hill - Victoria

Sovereign Hill - Victoria

Dinosaur footprints - Broome

Had an exciting trip in a Hovercraft this year to view these dinasaur footprints embedded in the rock.
Location : Broome WA. 

Hovercraft - Broome

 

Filming Bill Harney

Late June 2006 we went out again to Victoria River country to camp out with old Bill Harney of the Wardaman people. We continued our film work documenting Bills stories and rock art sites so these can be passed on to future generations. 

Campfire Corroboree

We were priveged to have two Elders of the Managarrayi people come to sing around our campfire - Yunburruk and Gunjuk - two sisters who told of us about seeing white people for the first time - 'Grook Grook' they called him - Ghost. 

Out bush in the Never Never

 

Going bush for a few days

 

Never Never kids

Out in Never Never country with the kids. 

 

Orion Expedition Cruise May 2006

In May I accepted a contract to work on the Expedition Team of the Orion for two cruises in the remote Kimberley region of Northern Australia. We used inflatable Zodiacs to get to shore and explore rock art sites, isolated beaches, caves and amazing river systems. In the evening our team entertained the guests with lectures on wildlife, geology and Aboriginal culture. I will be doing another cruise in September - email if you want to find out more. It was simply SPECTACULAR and a very comfortable base to do it from.

Ship to shore excursion

 

Hiking to the top of King George Falls

I am the one behind the camera carrying the defib in my backpack! 

King George River -- at the Top!

Yes, thats a bush hibiscus in my hair! The hike to the top of the falls is well worth the effort. 

..........and from the bottom

 

Croc sunbaking in the Hunter River - Kimberley W.A

This lovely saltwater croc allowed us to get up close while we were exploring the Hunter River in Zodiacs from the Orion. 

Orion visits Kuri Bay and look what we find!

 

Paspaley Pearls - Kuri Bay

 

Strange birds in the Kimberley

 

Orion Expedition Team - May/ June 2006

I spent three weeks with these fine fellows running ship to shore excursions on Zodiacs with some remarkable guests.
We saw crocs, sharks, lots of birds, rock art and numerous wonderful things.
We bounced across the ocean, went up remote rivers, shared a red at night - and became mates. 

Loyalty to the Orion Expedition Team

END OF ORION STORY and PHOTOS