So turns out that Quorn is far from the meat substitute that we know and love... Once again I find myself in the arse end of nowhere, I seem to be making quite a habit of this!

Our departure from Alice Springs, southbound and across the border into South Australia brought with it some new travelling companions and a nutty tour guide, quite a cool bunch all in all though.

First stop on route to Uluru (or Ayres Rock for the less educated among us) was the camel farm!! Camels are just the cutest and I think I might attempt to bring me one of those bad boys home. Next we went to Kata Tjuta and trekked uphill in the scorching sunshine to lookout over the mountains.... stunning!! (if a little sweaty). Last stop of the day was Uluru sunset, a 'must-do' whilst in Oz. That night I was alarmed to discover that we were downgrading from tents (which was traumatic enough) to swags... Yep... under the stars, just me, my sleeping bag and a festering old canvas swag and a whole load of bugs (well that's how I imagined the scene). Turns out I wasn't far wrong except that there was no sign of any bugs, or at least if there was I was sparko and didn't notice. In fact it was quite an amazing experience, falling asleep whilst gazing out into the starry sky.

The following morning we were up and out in time to get to Uluru to see the sunrise. Here we walked around the base of Uluru whilst watching the sun appear... magical! Next we met Valerie the aboriginal who took us on tour of Uluru, teaching us about aboriginal culture. On route back to our camp for the night we were lucky enough to see wild camels (roaming free... not party camels) and some of us were brave enough, yes me, to swag it up again that night. I might as well get some practice in I figured as I am after all homeless when I come home!! We did have to share the experience with the mice that night though.

So next we head to Kings Canyon where we trek again, this time for four hours!! I saw where Priscilla Queen of the Desert was filmed and fell in love with the ghost gums (trees... weird I know). We later crossed the border from the Northern Territory into South Australia and slept in swags again that night with even more mice.

The following day took us to Coober Pedy where everyone lives underground, very much like the telly tubbies who live in the hill. Here they mine for opals so we took a tour through an opal mine and many splashed out on opal jewellery... not me though sorry Mum! We visited a kangeroo sanctuary where we met Francesca the roo and her friends before sleeping in proper beds with proper sheets although underground in a mine... well you can't have everything eh!

Noodling!! That's what we did before leaving Coober Pedy the following day... aka searching for opals. I even found some.. winner!! Unfortunately not enough to make my fortune though so looks like I'll still be job hunting back in Sydney...booooo to that! On route to Quorn we stopped at the salt lakes which were stunning and here we met wild emu's taking a stroll along the beach.

And here I am still in Quorn for a second night, again in proper beds with proper sheets... bliss. Today we went to Wilpena Pound National Park and then Camel riding. The camel ride was fun and the camels were so cute but it's pretty painful on the old undercarriage I tell you... I hope I can walk tomorrow.

Next stop Adelaide... Til next time.xxx