Welcome to The Lindsay Family Big Trips Australia Blog! We aim to provide useful information about camping and caravanning around Australia. From planning and preparation, building itineraries, getting equipped, education on the road, where to stay and what to do. We also hope you enjoy following us on our family travels, and aim to keep this blog fun, informative, interesting and inspiring!

Sunday 29 May 2011

Surprise in Alice Springs, and the Beautiful Rainbow Valley

After Ben's accident we decided to reverse our Red Centre itinerary and head to Alice Springs first.  We had planned around 5 nights there anyway, so this would give his leg time to heal  before doing Uluru, Kings Canyon and the West Macdonell ranges. We had a long 8 hour drive into Alice Springs. When we rolled up to our site at the The Macdonnell Ranges caravan park (which was huge with around 400 sites) we were surprised to find our good friends "the Keig Clan" Tex, Julie, Maddy, Brooke and Tilly, in the site next to ours! How funny....we met these guys on our last big trip 7 years ago in Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsular.  We new they were travelling again and had planned to meet up, but due to itinerary changes neither of us were meant to be in Alice Springs at that time.


We had a quiet time in Alice just recuperating, stocking up, getting the new back window and a service.  The caravan park was great. We were kept busy with all their activities. The trivia night was fun! Ben and Hannah went in a Didgeridoo playing competition and Ben won, so we have our 2nd free CD of the trip, and the kids really enjoyed the star gazing night too. The Alice Springs Desert Park was well worth the visit, and I found a really nice art gallery cafe in the Todd Mall for some me (only) time! We said goodbye to our friends in Alice and will see them again at Uluru!


To break up the drive from Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) we decided to stay a night in Rainbow Valley. The turn off is about 74kms from Alice going south, and another 22kms East on a 'corrigated' dirt road. Anyway it was worth it. The bush camp was basic with a drop loo, we were one of 3 camped there and the view from the campsite was fantastic.  I will let the photos tell the story.

                       Colours at sunset!                                                  Nice view from our campsite               
Ben at school doing his reading                                   
View from the top...like the fly net fashion Hannah          Ben caught a Bearded Netted Dragon

Bye for now, we are currently in Uluru and leaving tomorrow for Kings Canyon.  So you wont hear from us for around a week!
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8 comments:

  1. PeterC (ex TMR)30 May 2011 at 07:47

    Scott,

    I'm really enjoying reading about your adventures in real time. Good on you for keeping a blog.

    A couple of questions, my kids (9 & 11) want to know if Ben and Hannah are able to watch DVDs during the drive or if they're just enjoying watching the scenery (I suspect the latter is far better than a cartoon anyway).

    Also, how are you uploading to the internet from the middle of the desert? Do you have a satellite connection? Is it slow?

    Cheers,
    Peter

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  2. Anonymous30 May 2011 at 08:20

    Peter,

    The kids are watching some movies and also watching the scenery go by...note they are also doing school work on the road

    The connection we are using is telstra nextG which is available in a lot of places....but not everywhere.

    Lastly I can't take much credit for the blog...my wife is the one that really enjoys writing about our adventures

    Scott

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  3. Anonymous30 May 2011 at 12:08

    Hi Scott, Lisa, Hannah and Ben, I love reading you're blog and it's really making me miss Australia, but it is inspiring me to make sure I do more touring with my family when I do get home. I hope your leg heals ok Ben. I'm feeling better than I have in a long time so the treatments here in Florida must be doing some good. Ellen's coming out to see me and we're heading to New York for a few days. So I'm looking forward to that. Anyway safe travels and have fun.
    Cheers
    Brad Gibson

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  4. Anonymous30 May 2011 at 16:29

    hi guys ... we are really enjoying reading about your big adventure .. Lisa the pictures and words are fantastic! Glad to hear Ben is recuperating well ... must have been a bit of a scare! All well here ... look forward to hearing all about Kings Canyon ... love to all Kath xxxx

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  5. Anonymous30 May 2011 at 17:57

    Weather is cold and rainy (dismal!) in Sydney. Work is a drag. Your blog really cheers me up. Now we have had a taste of the outback, we so wish we were with you. But the blog is the next best thing. Take care guys and I look forward to hearing about Uluru. Love Linda

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  6. Anonymous1 June 2011 at 19:14

    Yeah! we are now receiving your comments again. Thx for trying our new method to solve the problem its obviously working!

    Yazi...Yes Yes we have been receiving all your great comments and loving them.

    Brad...So glad to hear your feeling better and the treatment is positive. Say Hi to Ellen and have a fantastic time in NY

    Linda...Stop complaining about the weather its forcast for -2 here tonight. (but must admit perfect during the day) Anyway always glad to cheer you up. Will try to keep it up!

    Kath...I cant believe Hannah walked up the sand dune outside our campsite and showed Ashlee Uluru on her ipod touch..Technology!! Was thinking of you state of O. We listened on radio but got fed up at 12 nil and went to bed.
    Lisa xxx

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  7. Anonymous1 June 2011 at 19:41

    Rainbow valley looks spectacular, love your fly mesh hat Hannah, knew it wouldn’t be long Ben before you found a lizard.
    Love Nan.

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  8. Anonymous17 June 2011 at 11:50

    Looks fun Lindsay family. Watch out Australia the Lindsays are coming


    From Jack 4L

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