Here is our evaluate of our travelling adventures from the final 12 months. In 2020 we wrote our first weblog reviewing our 12 months of journey. The worldwide coronavirus pandemic continues to create many challenges to journey. In Australia, the worldwide borders had been largely closed, so no journeys to different international locations had been possible. Our house state of Western Australia stayed comparatively virus-free (fairly distinctive around the globe), partly attributable to very strict state border controls. So we had been left to proceed exploring our personal yard, and in addition had the possibility to go interstate.
We continued to make good use of the van we purchased final 12 months. In the top, we managed to hit the street just a few instances and keep at 31 completely different campsites in our caravan, a fairly spectacular effort we expect.
This evaluate is all about our travels for 2021, which is completely different from our 2021 Annual Christmas Letter, which summarises our 12 months with solely a quick abstract of our travels. We (will) have additionally written a 2021 Travel Blogging Year in Review, which is simply in regards to the specifics of running a blog and the efficiency of this web site.
Lists of Trips in 2021
In addition to the journeys listed, we had a metropolis staycation and the children had been off on scout camps to varied locations within the bush.
Despite the journey restrictions in place, now we have had some superb experiences. Here are our highlights of the journey 12 months.
Best Road Trip – Perth to Darwin (Solo!)
Rob drove solo up the west coast of Australia, Perth to Darwin, 7 days of driving and 4200km.
Best Bushwalk – Panorama Walk, East MacDonnell Ranges
The Panorama Walk was spectacular, just a little hidden gem within the East MacDonnell Ranges. The East Macdonnell Ranges doesn’t get the accolades it deserves, the panorama stroll at Trephina Gorge is without doubt one of the finest. It is a straightforward day journey on the market from Alice Springs, with different walks and rock artwork to see on the best way. Special mentions for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, the stroll to Maguk (Barramundi) Falls in Kakadu, and the climb to the height of Castle Rock within the Porongurups.
Best Tour – Coober Pedy Old Timers Mine, SA
You take a self-guided tour of the Old Timers Mine, permitting you to discover all of the nooks and crannies, and find out about how the mines used to function. Another tour price mentioning was the Mala Walk, a free guided tour by a ranger across the base of Uluru. See our top-10 excursions ever.
Best Sunset – Uluru, NT
A household portrait on the Uluru sundown viewing spot. There’s no filter on this photograph, that actually is how the rock appears to be like because the solar units. This was a part of our 2021 Tour of the Northern Territory and Central Australia. Also from this journey, we had virtually as superb sunsets at Mindil Brach in Darwin, at Yellow Waters in Kakadu, and whereas sitting on the Devils Marbles within the NT.
Best Free Campsite – Boondi Rock, WA
On our last evening of the large street journey this 12 months, we had a last-minute choice to cease on the Boondi Rock campground. It is a small free campground close to Boondi Rock outcrop, an ideal low-key end to our journey.
Best Food Experience
The finest chips and gravy it’s possible you’ll ever have might be discovered on the Madura Pass roadhouse. The final time we got here previous right here the restaurant was closed, so we timed our journey so we may drop in and have a few these mountain plates of chips. It says rather a lot about these chips to beat a crocodile and chips meal on the Darwin Stokes Hill Wharf meal, the camel burgers at Kings Canyon Station, and the home-cooked Jonny Cakes at Little Roper Stock Camp. Oh, and naturally the meals choice at Darwin markets is difficult to beat.
Best Family Fun – Lake Magic, Wave Rock, WA
It was a magic time at sundown on Lake Magic close to Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia. We needed to wade by means of sinking mud on the sting of the lake. The exhausting dried crusty salt was robust on the toes too, however it was all price it. We had loads of household enjoyable cruising the Corroboree Billabong within the NT too.
Unusual Things – Budgie Swarms at Henbury
The unusually excessive rainfall has helped the breeding of untamed budgies, with enormous flocks of birds flying round our campsite on the Henbury Meteor Craters, close to Alice Springs within the Northern Territory.
Weird Thing – Teddy Tree, Nullabor SA
The teddy tree is simply one of many many uncommon bushes it’s possible you’ll come throughout in your means throughout the Nullabor. What else did we discover uncommon or bizarre in 2021? The flocks of birds at Henbury meteor craters, the Stonehenge reproduction in Esperance, a farm truck teetering on a ledge, a horse coming to go to us within the Daly Waters Pub (truly all of Daley Waters was a bit bizarre).
Most Unique Experience – Coober Pedy Underground House, SA
We all had a lot enjoyable staying underground just like the locals in Coober Pedy, South Australia.
Best Art Experience – Aboriginal Art in Alice Springs
We had been so stoked to purchase this paintings from the artist in Alice Springs. It is now sitting delight of place above our mantlepiece at house. The Aboriginal artwork within the galleries was fairly spectacular, however largely out of our worth vary. We say some cave artwork round Kakadu too. Special point out to the surprisingly good sculptures alongside Chainsaw Sculpture Drive in Albany WA.
Best History Experience – Albany’s Brig Amity
We had been fortunate to reach on the Brig Amity in Albany simply in time to enter and discover inside. Other historic experiences of the journey 12 months are exploring the WW1 bunker East Point Darwin, and the few outdated telegraph stations alongside the Stuart Highway.
Best Museum – Alice Springs Megafauna Central
The Megafauna Central museum was a shock discover within the Alice Springs Mall. Other museums we had the pleasure of visiting in 2021 had been the Royal Flying Doctors Museum in Darwin and the School of the Air in Alice Springs.
Favourite Sporting Travel Moment
We employed a few canoes and paddled the second gorge at Katherine Gorge, a implausible household day trip. As an lively household, there are just a few different sporting moments from our travels, reminiscent of enjoying just a few holes on the Nullabor hyperlinks golf course, a sport of frisbee golf at Manjedal, and biking and strolling round Uluru.
Best Lookout – Nawurlandja lookout, Kakadu NT
Looking out over Kakadu from the Nawurlandja lookout close to Nourlangie Rock (Burrungkuy) – a worthy substitute for Ubirr which was closed. The rock artwork close by was superb too. Other nice lookouts had been the Castle Rock lookout close to Porungorup, Baruwei Lookout over Katherine Gorge, and the hill behind Banka Banka Station.
Best of Nature (Fauna) – Little Roper Stock Camp
Not solely are you able to camp at Little Roper Stock Camp in Mataranka NT, however you may as well play with their animals too. It is clearly the perfect place for households to remain in Mataranka. It was an in depth name between the animals at Mataranka and the newborn kangaroos at Alice Springs, leaping crocs at Adelaide River, kangaroos on Luck Bay seaside close to Esperance, the smelly bats in Katherine Gorge, and at last being chased by geese on the park in Merredin.
Best of Nature (Mineral) – Kings Canyon
Taking the Rim Walk at King’s Canyon in Central Australia you’ll be able to actually recognize the spectacular purple sandstone canyon.
Best of Nature (Water) – Bitter Springs
Bitter Springs is the higher alternative of the new springs close to Mataranka, Northern Territory. Grab onto a pool noodle and float down the river. Even higher, seize a snorkel and see the underwater world within the crystal clear waters. The Mataranka Hot Springs had been fairly good too – the perfect recommendation we got was to go there within the night for a swim at the hours of darkness.
Favourite Travel Photo – Broome Camel Tour
Tourists on camels alongside Broome’s Cable Beach, WA. It’s not exhausting to take a fantastic photograph of this scene.
We are impressed that a lot was completed this 12 months, together with many memorable experiences. We hope you will have had an equally good 12 months regardless of what is occurring round us. At these instances we have to adapt, look ahead to issues, and be pleased about what we do have. We are wanting ahead to larger freedoms and extra journey in 2022.
