Erldunda

Coober Pedy was left behind at around 9am and we headed north along the straight, very flat, boring Stuart Highway toward Erldunda, 490km along and only 230km from Uluru.

It's how far?

We followed an older caravan for some time before noticing that a hub cap flew off from the direction of that van and raced into the desert beside the highway. We stopped and Craig and Darcy found it after searching for a short while. However Dianne wasn't convinced that it was where the cap had landed.

Morning tea wasn't a bakery (seem to have lost those for the time being) but the Cadney Roadhouse where two gentlemen ran the cleanest roadhouse we've visited so far. It had accommodation out the back including an inground pool and new toilets - something lots of other establishments could take a note of. When we arrived the van we were sure we had been following was already there. Craig noticed that a hub cap was indeed missing and returned it to the owner...or so he thought. The owner of the vehicle checked his car but the cap Craig had given him didn't fit his car!!! After all our effort it was thrown away.

NT/SA border

A quick stop for lunch another 100km's down the road and we were all set to cross the Northern Territory border and keep heading for Erldunda, a large roadhouse with backpacker accommodation, caravan park, inground pool, small tavern and very expensive shop. Erldunda is located 200km's south of Alice Springs and 230km's east of Yulara (Uluru). It is the intersection for those wanting to head for 'the rock'.

There is very little food for animals out here - we saw only a small number of cattle, an even smaller number of station gates but absolutely no houses. It really is bleak part of the country to live but I guess some do enjoy the lifestyle - it's not for us though.

NT/SA border

Along the way we saw so many dead kangaroos and at least a dozen wedge tailed eagles joining the crows in tearing apart the roo meat. We even saw a dead cow lying on the side of the ride on its back. In this part of the country the only fence are those between the properties/stations and none along the roadside. At each station division there is always a stock grid across the road to prevent animals crossing into next door but nothing to prevent them wandering across the road in front of traffic. There are however signs at each grid warning drivers of possible wandering stock on the highway.

We crossed the border at around 3pm, took our photos and kept driving, terrified that we would come across another fruit/vegetable collection point but it didn't appear, thank goodness. We'd only shopped yesterday as we had heard about the horrific prices people pay here and at Yulara. What we did see was a 130km/h speed sign. Not that it worries us travelling at just under 90km/h but in all areas of the Northern Territory this speed is allowed unless otherwise indicated.

Darcy stands guard at the border

Erldunda Roadhouse came into view at around 4.30pm and of course whilst Craig was in paying for our accommodation, Fraser was out of the car, ripping his t'shirt off as he ran, and jumped straight into the pool.

The owner of the caravan with the missing hub cap came over for a chat. He and his wife are going to do a day trip out to Uluru from Erldunda so will be leaving their van at the Roadhouse.

There are signs here saying that travelers can bring dogs into the park but are to be kept permanently on a leash so that they don't antagonise the kangaroos which wander onto the property to graze.

We have actually got this arriving/setting up process under control quite nicely now and managed to sit down for a beer under our canopy just stairing in envy at the sprinklers swishing around the grass - it's bore water so absolutely legal.

NT speed sign

Fraser follows his camping buddy

Roo at Erldunda

Sitting quietly!!!!!!