Day 11. Up early to the ARB shop to get a loose driving light fixed, no charge. Found a brand new Bunnings warehouse so we went to have a look. Shiny polished floors, very friendly team members, so we were very impressed. Next the Alice camping shop for another look, again we were very impressed. Downtown for a stroll and coffee, then a short drive along the beautiful red West McDonnell Ranges. Walked around the Desert Park admiring the native desert flora and fa...

Day 10. Sunday breakfast in the desert of bacon and eggs over the open fire, and then 150km along the Old Ghan Track to Alice Springs. The magnificent McDonnell Ranges growing on the horizon as we approached Alice. Checked into a cosy cabin for 2 nights at the G'day Mate Park just outside the Gap. Showers, shave and downtown to the Sunday city market for kransky on the run and coffees. Great atmosphere with a biff up between some indigenous women and police bust...

Day 9. Early breakfast and then onto the dreaded track of 65 km to Mt Dare Homestead. So rocky and muddy it felt like the car would fall apart. The new Cooper light truck tyres and heavy duty suspension on the Prado performed admirably. Great pies at Mt Dare and then crossed into the Northern Territory before reaching the indigenous settlement of Finke, then crossing the dry sandy river bed of the Finke, Australia's mightiest inland river. The old rail bridge w...

Day 8. Met our friends at the Oodnadatta Pink Hotel as they detoured overnight to Coober Pedy. What a sight is the Pink Hotel! Great pies and coffee for lunch, not much else here but the many 4WD vehicles all kitted up for Simpson Desert crossing. Up the track several hundred kilometres we turned east onto the dreaded Pedirka Track (72km) which was very rough across the stony Pedirka Desert and sandy in the dry water courses. Crossed some areas of extreme mud af...

Day 7. Early onto the Oodnadatta Track which was in pretty good condition despite recent rains. Stopped at quaint old rail siding of Curdimurka, the lowest elevation at 3 metres below sea level, of any past settlement in Australia. Onto William Creek for lunch at the classic old outback pub miles from anywhere. Our final destination today was a camp on the sometimes mighty Neales River at Algebuckina Waterhole. Here still stands the 400 metre old iron railway bri...