| STUART
HIGHWAY - STAY FOR LESS "A$" |
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THE
STUART HIGHWAY (QLD & NT) is one of the Worlds Great
Roadways, linking South Australia with the Northern Territory, Adelaide
to Darwin. Almost 3000kms long it opens up the vast Outback through
the awesome “Red Centre”. The route was originally explored
by John McDouall Stuart, an Estate Agent (b 1815, Fife) who departed
from Adelaide in 1860 chasing a £2000 reward for the first
S/North crossing. The first attempt failed, the second trip was
also unsuccessful, although he did get closer to the “Top
End”. Then, in 1862, Stuart finally reached the North Coast
but returned a wrecked man & died in London, 3 years later,
in 1865. His achievement, however, provided the inspiration for
the construction of the overland Telegraph Line by Charles Todd,
which was completed in 1872. When the line was linked to a submarine
cable from Indonesia & India which extended to England, Australia
was able to quickly communicate with the rest of the World &
progress & prosperity resulted. The modern, now sealed, Stuart
Highway is still the main land link between South & North Australia
through the Centre, although now supplemented by the famous “Ghan
Railway”
ACCOMMODATION
GB
SELECTED STOPS FROM ADELAIDE
COOBER
PEDY - SEE
GB “STAY FOR LESS”
NO
1 – ERLDUNDA “DESERT OAKS” MOTEL
on Stuart Hwy. 199km S of Alice Springs (on main junction leading
to Uluru or Ayers Rock) tele (08) 8956 0984 Email.
$30 pn in basic double cabin, using open-air campsite showers/
wash room & wc’s. Road House has restaurant, café
(good sitting area to see tourists passing) & traditional
bar & games room (selling Aboriginal artefacts) It’s
a fascinating insight into self sufficiency bore hole for water,
generators (3) & tank gas for energy, litter is burned &
sewage treated in 3 ponds some distance away from the settlement.
ULURU
(AYERS ROCK) - SEE GB “STAY FOR LESS”
ALICE SPRINGS - SEE GB “STAY
FOR LESS”
FOOD
–
for the journey on GB’s Greyhound Bus was purchased in Adelaide
& used it the Hostels, on the bus or at the various Roadhouses
on quiet seat in the open air. The essential Roadhouse stops for
quick cup of tea & look around was a highlight on the long route
as each had their own individual character, pictures & themes
etc. Each station also had a compound for recuperating kangaroos
& emu's, which had been involved in roadway accidents - the
lucky ones.
TRAVELLING
ROUTE -
(kilometres South to North)
Port Augusta (350) Woomera(169) Glendambo (115) Coober Pedy (251)
Cadney Park RH (152) Marla (83) Kulgera (156) Erldunda RH (74)
Diversion -Mount Ebinezer (56) Curtain Spring (200) Yulara Resort
(47) Uluru (Ayers Rock -19) (322)
Erldunda to Alice Springs 199 Total 1549 km
Ti
Tree Road House (145) Wauchope (203)Tennant Creek (114)Threeways
(25) -Total 2036 km
At this point GB turned East onto the Barkly Highway to Townsville
on Queensland Coast
(Memo,
3Ways to Daly Waters (351) to Katherine (266) to Darwin (319) -Total
S/Hwy 2972)
“FREE”
SIGHTS TO SEE
1.
2000 km of near straight road – Therapy
once your mind is tuned into the majestic expanse.
2. Roadway signs – Occasional
roadside highlights – Kangaroos - Alice Springs 199km
3. Roadhouses – On maps
they get the status of towns but in reality are only petrol stations
& a pub
4. Road Trains – Moving
monoliths, Cab & 3 Long Trailers causing a minor earthquake
as they pass
5. Flora & Fauna – Scrub
then bush, scrub then bush but all different, then eagles &
camels (wow!)
6. Rivers & Creeks –
Usually near to Roadhouses but dry, dry, dry, then R. Finke with
pools (wow!)
7. Bush & Scrubland – Endless
artistic sculptures where every tree & twig makes a different
form
8. Red Sand – In the Centre
the roadside verges glow bright red in the relentless rays of the
sun
9. Other Road Users –
Rare site on this endless road - a slow caravan & two extreme
cyclists passed
10. Endless Sky – Occasional
clouds pepper the blue sky which you study & make out strange
images
*
John - Greyhound Drivers – Colin, Pat & Big Red –
Paul
©
2009 Goldenbackpacker.com
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