We were very excited to be heading to the outback. Red dirt, wildlife and road trains. From now on we will have to make lunch on drive days as there is generally nowhere to buy food between destinations.

The land is pretty rugged with lots of small bushes. There are some taller trees around water sources. Most of the rivers and streams are all dry. We see a few sheep, some cattle, lots and lots of goats and a few emus. The dirt is red, the roads stretched into the distance and surprisingly there were very few vehicles on the roads.

We stopped at one of the roadside stops for lunch around 12:30. We were joined by several 'grey nomads' who were setting up camp for the night. It did make us feel like we were leaving a little late on these drive days however we have tried but we don't seem be able to get away earlier than 9:50!

The Broken Hill mine dominates the town as we drive into Broken Hill. It is truly impressive.

We are staying in a little bush cottage just outside Silverton which is 25 km from Broken Hill. We're not exactly sure what an outback experience is but we're pretty sure staying in this cottage is close! The cottage is very cute, the main bedroom is underground, it has an outside toilet and bathroom and there is no phone or internet access and you have to buy any supplies you need in Broken Hill.

Silverton is one place Mark has really been looking forward to visiting. Silver was mined there in the 1880's but many of the residents shifted to Broken Hill when the mining boom started there. They took everything including their houses. It is now a ghost town. Several films and ads have been made there including Mad Max 2 and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. We did a walk around the ruins (some of which have been restored), several churches, school, gaol, residences, council chambers and have a beer at the local hotel (which of course, is not a ruin and still in operation!). We bought some carrots for William to feed the local resident donkeys that roam the streets there. Unfortunately, he decided he wasn't going anywhere near them so Mark ended up feeding them!

At night the stars were amazing. We all had a good look at them before going to bed and Mark advised me that they were even better when he visited the outside toilet in the middle of the night and that I should really go and see them. I advised him that I would take his word for it!

The next morning when we woke we were surrounded by fog. We headed to the flying doctors base. Due to the weather all planes were grounded. We loved the tour and learnt that it is so much more than just helping people who have been in accidents. What an amazing organisation. Both children however didn't seem to be as enthused about the tour as we were and started complaining about 2 minutes after it started!

That afternoon we decided we were in need of some time to chill with the kids which is exactly what we did!