Apr 23 Coober Pedy

We set off for the relatively long drive from Woomera to Coober Pedy - about 400km or about 5 hours of driving for us. More desolate landscapes for miles on either side of us for most of the trip. A couple of exciting breaks in the monotony was the surprise vista of a salt lake. Unlike the famous Lake Eyre, which is uncommonly full of water currently, these lakes (e.g. Lake Hart) were just dry salt plains. But a quick glance from certain angles and you could have convinced yourself that you were at the beach - even if only Grantville at low tide.

The "beach" at Lake Hart

The Ghan railway line next to the lake

We found a free-camp site 12km south of Coober Pedy at Hutchison's monument. (Will Hutchison was a 14 year old boy who first discovered opals at Coober Pedy.) Nearly missed it; in fact we drove past and had to u-turn on the highway to get back to it. But it was worth it. Behind the monument was an open area that extended well back from the road (and more importantly, the road noise). We arrived with only one other camper with which to share this lovely place. After dusk, 2 more camping parties pulled into the site. We were a bit disappointed - they seemed to park so close to us. Can't they spread out and give us space. In any case we slept very well and woke yet another day to splendid views from the caravan window. We also realised that our invading fellow campers from the previous evening weren't that close after all. The closest was about 50 metres away from us. We didn't realise how lucky we were to be in such a perfect camp site. But we would soon be jolted by the contrast of the close confines of the dreaded "caravan park".

Hutchison's Monument camp site

The beautiful dessert sunset