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Outback Camping
When we were last in Perth, we spent 3 weeks camping in outback Northern Territory and Western Australia. Along the way, we came across a couple of die-hard cyclists who were cycling along the Gibb River Road. It is 660km and is one of the harshest dirt road in Western Australia. 4WDs are recommended.
The road is officially opened mid April or mid May until October. Travelling in the Kimberley in November is not reccommended due to the extremely high temperatures, bushfires and humidity at this time. Travel between Janurary till April/May (during the wet season) is also definately not recommended due to the heavy rains which make creek crossings impassable, and the road conditions are extremely slippery and dangerous. DO NOT drive on the Gibb River Road if main Roads have not officially opened the road and 'road closed' signs are up. You can get fined $1000 per axle and your insurance is void.
But, first, I'd like to show you some photos I took on our trip. Just doing my bit to promote Western Australia 
The tent we slept in for 3 weeks.
Uluru, better known as Ayers Rock
Had to take a photo of this sign.
Kings Canyon
Ormiston Gorge
Lake Lewis Salt Lake
Bungle Bungle, only accessible by 4WD. Michael reckons this is great MTB country!
Lakeside Resort, Kununurra
Ivanhoe Crossing. This is actually a bridge which was closed due to heavy rains a couple of days ago. Very popular for barramundi fishing. The current is quite strong and if you are not careful, you can get swept away where crocs are waiting downstream.
Lake Argyle. It's a dam that provides water for Kununurra.
Kununurra River
Aha, here we are, one of the two cyclists on the Gibb River Road. You have to be very well prepared before attempting to drive on this road, let alone ride a bike on it.
Like us, they were heading towards El Questro, one million acres of cattle country.
Their tent.
Mt Barnett Roahouse Pool Michael going fishing
Cable Beach -one of the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia. There is a certain section for nudists.
You can go camel riding
This couple have been on the road for 2 years. His vintage car has been converted into a 4WD.
Sunset at Eighty Mile Beach
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Dear Diana,
Very impressed with these fantastic photoes. Yes, Daniel and I talked about this
dream,and when Daniel proposed me of his idea I could not sleep over night with much
excitement. we need to make further investigation on this plan with step one, step two
and step three.
Like Doctor, I used to be a man of dream,and still I am. At age of 20, I made a solo ride
for 1400km in 14 days, and at the age of 60 plus , maybe 3000km as step one,
and as step two ,5000km. My dream will never be ending as far as I can go with my MTB.
Many thanks to give me an idea of how OZ riding looks like !!
Susumu
Fascinating photos. Did you drive on the 90 Miles straight road or the Nullabor area. I am reading the "The man who cycled the world" . He cycled from paris thru Turkey, iran, pakistan, india, -- fly ----Thailand cycled down, Malaysia passed by Butterworth, Mallaca , Singapore and then thru Australia from Perth to Brisbane. He mentioned about the 90 Miles straight road stretch. AS the name suggest it is just a 147 Km straight stretch of road in the outback and the hardship of cycling thru the Nullabor.
This camping trip was the northern part of Western Australia. We drove across the Nullabor in a hired campervan in Feb 2009 from Adelaide to Perth.
Daniel was talking this morning of thinking of cycling around Oz with Susumo. You game?
A life time dream Diana!
Before Susumu left for Brisbane we talked about this great adventure of cycling around Australia. But the idea of cycling 20,000 km is quite mind boggling! At 100km per day, it will take 200 days ! I think it will be too long a trip for Dr lah ! If Dr goes away for 3 months, his patients would have to fly to Australia to see him !!!
Doable, but requires time and money...
Daniel, dreams do come true. :)
you can invite doc, he will answer "ok ok"....
Wow, thanks Diana, Now I got to see the actual sign board that Mark Beaumont was talking abt. He described the stench of dead kangaroos and piss bottles littering the road courtesy from truckers who go along this stretch sometimes reading a book to kill boredom as they plummeted down this straight stretch.
Dream of doing the Perth to Brisbane if have a chance.
Unfortunately, road-kill is quite common in the outback as kangaroos usually come out at dawn or dusk when most truckkies are on the road. I can imagine what the stench would be like, much like when we cycle to Tlk Bahang
47km of straight road. I wonder if you can put your car in cruise control and go have 40 winks? LOL
Perth to Brisbane would be a challenge. I think I'll do around Perth, fly to Brisbane and do around Brisbane.