Face the Outback Day 5
Day 5. Coober Pedy to Yulara via the Breakaways and crossing from South Australia to Northern Territory. The morning after the night before. Everyone’s a little hung over (except me because I use Berocca). Coober Pedy is quiet and we check out the left over props from Pitch Black, including the front of the space ship. The movies Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Pitch Black were filmed in and around here.
The Breakaways Reserve is home to the Muntuntjara and Antakirinja people. It is a popular tourist destination with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 tourist visitors each year. This unique region of ancient Australian outback, dates back over 70 million years ago, and features many flat-topped mesas, that at one stage in time would have been islands in a vast inland sea. “The Breakaways” gets its name because from a distance, the features look like they have “broken away” from the main range – the Stuart Ranges. One of the hottest places in Australia, with summer temperatures often reaching 45°C, and ground temperatures reaching as high as 65°C. Despite the heat, there is a diverse community of flora and fauna that can be found in this harsh arid environment.
The whole area is rich in Aboriginal and European history. It is still a very important place to the local Aboriginal people. Take the time to learn read some of the stories, such as that of “Ungkata” the bearded dragon, “Kalaya” the emu and “Papa” the two dogs.
The Breakaways is also a major movie filming location including Mad Max III – Beyond Thunderdome (Tina Turner and Mel Gibson), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Hugo Weaving, Terrance Stamp, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter), Ground Zero, and Pitch Black (Vin Diesel) being filmed in and around this scenic area.
We then get the first sightings of Uluru, that famous monolith and symbol of Australia. Seeing it is everything you’d want it to be. We settle into the base camp of Yulara and then watch the sun go down over Kata Tjuta (also known as The Olgas).
Adam then shows us the splendid sand and water foot bath on the girls.
Face The Outback is a our provided by Wayward Bus, running over 8 days from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Taking in the Flinders Ranges, the Oodnadatta Track, William Creek, Coober Pedy, Ulura and Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon. 19 of us head off with our guide and driver, Adam, for over a week of travel, education, fun and frivolity.
