tiabunna's photos with the keyword: Central Australia

This is the limit of the tourist trail in Kings Canyon. Beyond this point is restricted to the traditional owners, as there are several places with sacred significance. Just a little light flare over the top of the canyon rim in this image. Heading up the canyon.

Although Central Australia is generally arid, there are little areas of what could be called 'oasis'. Kings Canyon is one such area. It is part of a National Park and there are several possible walks - one being up Kings Creek (see PiP).

Although Central Australia is generally arid, there are little areas of what could be called 'oasis'. Kings Canyon is one such area. It is part of a National Park and there are several possible walks - one being up Kings Creek (see PiP).

The road from Alice Springs to the Uluru National Park passes by Mt Conner (Attila or Artilla in Arrentje). You can read more about it here. It's a big landscape out there, so maybe pop this up large to get the feeling. Meanwhile, it's time to again wish everyone a very Happy Fence Friday and a great weekend to follow.

These colourful birds are found in association with (dryland) spinifex bushes from central Australia to the northwest coast. As seen in the PiP, this one is in the process of doing a courtship ritual for another which looks suitably unimpressed. :-)

Yes, when driving in Central Australia, it is necessary to watch for wandering camels! Camels were introduced to inland Australia in the mid-late 1800s to provide transport with "camel trains" in remote areas. This continued until the advent of roads and trucks, when many were released - and we now have probably the largest free-roaming camel population in the world ! More detail here.

This panoramic view of Uluru and the distant Kata Tjuta was taken from a viewing platform sited to give a good sunrise view of them both - I'd have to admit somewhat after sunrise here! Best viewed large on black. Another week almost gone, so it's time to wish everyone a very Happy Fence Friday and I hope you all have a great weekend to follow.

Australia has several varieties of Butcher Birds, these are reasonably common across all but the southern part of Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania and the southern-most part of Western Australia. They often are found in family groups and have a beautiful fluting and piping call.

Continuing on my helicopter trip (see previous image of Uluru), we headed westward towards Kata Tjuta (see PiPs). I must admit I find this rocky complex more interesting than Uluru itself, and the main image was my favourite from the entire outing, as it includes both. If you enlarge this, beyond Uluru in the far distance, you will also see flat-topped Mt Connor. Should you find the geology of this area as fascinating as I do, you can read more about it here.

Whether you prefer to call it Uluru (the Pitjatjantjara name for 40,000 or so years) or Ayers Rock (the colonial name for just under 150 years), it's an impressive lump of sandstone. It rises almost 350 metres above sea level and, like an iceberg, it seems most of its bulk is below the surface of the surrounding terrain. When I took these images (see also PiPs) it was still popular to climb to the top on the ridge to the right of this image (also PiP 3) though the Aboriginal people disapproved - the climb has since been closed. I decided to skip the climb and instead to do my viewing from a helicopter, putting it in context. Best viewed large.

Roadside sign in Central Australia and another image of the Breakaways area in a note. When heading into unknown territory, full preparations are advisable: who knows where we'll be next week? This seems strangely relevant advice with regard to a particular website!