DAY 42 & 43 AYERS ROCK (ULURU) Uluru and fireworks fun. Uluru also known as Ayers Rock, is an almost five hour drive from Alice Springs along the Stuart and Lasseter highways. A distance of 450kms. Good, sealed roads all the way. Lasseter Highway itself is a scenic drive of 244 km. The highway is named after Lewis Lasseter. Lewis claimed to have found and then lost the fabled Lasseter Reef of gold in the 1930's. He is buried in Alice Springs. Mount Conner off Lasseter Highway is often mistaken for Uluru. A sealed road encircles Uluru. The Ulura base walk is about ten km in total. Often seen are Desert Oak and the wild Australian Budgerigar which are commonplace in central Australia. A small brightly colored common parakeet. Commonly kept in household cages. Yulara Township Tourist facilities are at Yulara township. 26 km from Uluru. A sealed road continues 25 km to Kata Tjuta (Olgas). These are large domed rock formations . The highest over 500 metres above the surrounding plains. There is a tourist ban on climbing Uluru. However, hiking is allowed on the Olgas. On a previous visit to central Australia I and three others in a light plane flew over Lake Amadeus. A vast usually dry salt lake. 50 km north of Uluru. (Ayers Rock) as it was then called. The glare of white salt all around to the horizon. Lake Amadeus is approximately 100 km by 13 km wide. Ayers Rock Resort Local Fireworks Ban? I booked into the huge campground and erected my tent. I purchased fireworks in Alice Springs the day before. I thought it good to revisit Guy Fawkes Day of my youth. Fireworks and bonfires now long banned in Victoria. Have some harmless fun. Territory Day is the only legal day of the year the general public is allowed to buy and use fireworks. In all other states fireworks are banned with heavy fines for possession. Now I am in a national park l was advised in the Visitor's Centre not to use them. Bushfire risk. My car boot full. What to do? Meanwhile fireworks were being set off by the local workers around the edge of the park. Fireworks Lighting the Sky After much indecision of what to do with the hundreds of dollars' worth of fireworks in my car boot. I drove out on dusk and came across the local Lions Club shed. Local Lion members were lighting fireworks in the empty carpark standing around a 44-gallon drum. Well alight with burning wood. Fireworks Fun Travel Down Under The Lion members invited me to join in. I opened my sedan boot. Holly Hell. Seeing the number of fireworks. Plenty to share. Nearby were a couple of overseas tourists. Lighting fireworks. They asked me if I would part with a few. Sure, I lead them by torchlight to my car boot. Shone the light over the firework boxes. I was handed $100. Less than what I paid for in the shop. All good. All needed to be used before tomorrow. One large firework rocketed sideways and impacted the Lions Shed sidewall in a shower of sparks and noise. A metre above my car's roof. Fortunate there was no damage to my only means of transportation here in the outback. Overall, a great Territory Day/night. Traveldriven AYERS ROCK (ULURU) GOOGLE MAPS AYERS ROCK ( ULURU) WIKIPEDIA YULARA 'THE ROCK' FIVE DAY FORECAST TRAVEL DOWN UNDER & DRIVE 2WD ULURU TO KATA TJUTA LEGAL FIREWORKS ON NORTHERN TERRITORY DAY FIREWORKS TENT SITE ULURU STRAIGHT AHEAD SEALED ROAD CLIMBING AYERS ROCK BEFORE THE BAN AYERS ROCK & DESERT OAKS DESERT VIEW WALKING TRACK AROUND THE ROCK SHADY LEAN-TO PERMANENT CLIMB CLOSURE IN PLACE CHAIN GUIDE WILL IN FUTURE BE REMOVED CRACK IN THE ROCK WEATHERED ROCK 'CLIMBING THE ROCK' PENDING CLOSURE RANGER TALK PREV WA/NT/SA NEXT PREV AUSTRALIA ICONS NEXT PREV N\TERRITORY NEXT HOMEPAGE

NEW GEAR KNOB & SPARE TYRE MUSTANG GT DRIVING The Ford Mustang, the S550, is the sixth generation of the model and was introduced in 2015. Made in both left- and right-hand drive from the Ford factory. The fiftieth anniversary of the Ford Mustang. The first mustang was revealed in 1965 on April 17, 1964. Some early owner changes after taking delivery of a new 2017 model were; new spare full-size tyre to fit flush in the tyre well. Ford do not provide a spare tyre for the mustang. New white gear knob to match the white car. Tinted windows to help reduce glare and to help keep the interior cooler on hot days. Traveldriven NEW MUSTANG GT SIX SPEED MANUAL NEW WHITE ROUSH SHIFT KNOB 6 SPEED BLACK PATTERN CORRECT SIX SPEED PATTERN AND REVERSE SELECTOR TO MATCH WHITE CAR DRIVING MUSTANG GT WHITE ROUSH GEAR KNOB FORD DO NOT INCLUDE A SPARE TYRE OR WHEELBRACE AFTERMARKET FULL SIZE SPARE TYRE 80KM MAX SPEED RATED TO FIT FRONT & BACK FULL SIZE SPARE SITS FLUSH INTO WHEEL WELL PREV MUSTANG GT NEXT HOMEPAGE

a fresh creamy mango sorbet -just like icecream? - Traveldriven Bowen Road Trip Australia The town is halfway between Townsville and Mackay. A tropical town in the Whitsunday area of North Queensland. Away from the foreshore the town looked hot and dry. Almost drought like. It was the dry season. Population of over ten thousand people. Stayed a night in the Whitsunday Sands Resort. Excellent scenic beach frontage. The resort is on the foreshore. Palm trees and coconut trees. A few coconuts were found dropped on the ground. By the look of the outside, the coconuts all were unfit to eat. Apparently if the shell appears to be mouldy or there are dark spots on the coconut shell it is unsafe to eat. Big Mango Attraction Bowen is the home of the Big Mango. A ten-metre-high structure. Raw mangos have a sour taste. However, as they ripen, they taste sweet and fruity. A creamy mango sorbet (no dairy ingredients) is usually available onsite. A sherbet or an ice-cream is also available. Airlie Beach is one hundred and fifty km north of Mackay and eighty km south of Bowen. There is ferry access to nearby Hamilton Island and Daydream Island. All a part of The Great Barrier Reef. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP BOWEN GOOGLE MAPS WHITSUNDAY SANDS RESORT GOOGLE MAPS IN REALTIME ROAD TRIP AUSTRALIA DRIVE MACKAY TO BOWEN AND TOWNSVILLE Whitsunday Sands Resort beach view BOWEN BEWARE DROPPING COCONUTS DROPPED ON THE GROUND Whitsunday Sands Resort Whitsunday Sands Resort view Giant Mango PARTY, OR A QUIET DRINK IN THE BEER GARDEN? PREV ROADTRIP TOWNSVILLE NEXT PREV QUEENSLAND NEXT HOMEPAGE

The Jaguar Experience Supersprint Passenger ride alongside a pro-driver as they put the iconic F-TYPE through its paces in the exhilarating Jaguar Supersprint. Albert Park F1 Grand Prix event Melbourne. Great to experience a drive with a pro race driver in a high performance Jaguar road car. Several laps were driven of the small Jaguar exhibition circuit. The water section corner was fun. A free experience provided by Jaguar Australia. The only requirement was a willingness to wait in a short queue and trust the driver's high speed drifting and braking. Mustang Car and Chase Scene's Old and New Bullitt is a 1968 American film. Famous for its eleven minute chase scene. Staring Steve McQueen driving a 1968 Mustang GT Fastback through the streets of San Francisco. The movie chase scenes shared between McQueen and stunt driver Bud Ekins. Chasing a Dodge Charger R/T. The mustang was sold at Mecum Auctions for a record price of 3.4 million dollars ($3.7 million including auction fees) on January 10, 2020. Traveldriven HOW TO DRIVE JAGUAR EXPERIENCE BULLITT THE CHASE BULLITT CHASE 2013 MUSTANG BULLITT 2019 BLACK EYE CAR CHASE JOHN WICK 2 MUSTANG DRIVE MUSTANG CHASE MOVIE CHASE SCENES EARLY MUSTANG'S MOVIE CHASE SCENES MUSTANG'S MUSTANG 2017 DRAG RACE MUSTANG REVIEW ON TRACK MUSTANG CRASHES DRIVER ERROR MUSTANG FEMALE STUNT DRIVER DRIVING INSTRUCTION UNDERSTEER & OVERSTEER PREV MUSTANG GT NEXT HOMEPAGE

Tranzalpine Train The Tranzalpine Train is a passenger train operated by The Great Journeys of New Zealand in the South Island of New Zealand. The train travels coast to coast over the Southern Alps. Regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys. Dramatic changes in scenery occur with elevation through the countryside which it passes. The journey is 223 kilometres (139 mi) one-way. The train taking almost five hours on each one-way trip allowing sightseeing in Greymouth before returning to Christchurch. There are 16 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase Viaduct elevated as much as 75 metres (246 ft). Once above the snow line I spent time in the open view carriage exposed on both sides to the cold weather. I wore a dry-as-a-bone jacket, leather hat, jeans and heavy weatherproof boots. A few people came and went and stayed only briefly because of the cold. Upon returning to the heated carriage the ice formed on my hat and jacket began to melt, dropping on the floor. A fellow passenger commented I was brave to stay so long out there. I said not really. I know some of the best experiences are not the most comfortable. The train stopped briefly at Arthur's Pass Station. For us the highest point over the Alps. Passengers were allowed to disembark for a short while. The station and surrounds covered by the overnight and morning snowfall. Even the train tracks were hard to see covered in snow. We made snow balls and enjoyed friendly snow ball fights before reboarding our train. Train staff said the day before there was no ground covered snow. Our train trip was fortunate to have so much snowfall being outside of the winter months. Christchurch Touring the earthquake Red Zone on the Red Bus. Upon boarding, the bus driver then preceded to brief all passenger's that strong aftershocks are common. The recorded onboard mandatory safety announcement said if a strong shock occurs on the tour, please stay onboard or stand alongside the bus as directed for your own safety. The Red Zone is off limits to the public and is very dangerous. Pre-signed waiver paperwork explained tours done at your own risk. Limited tours were done to show Christchurch CBD will be rebuilt and recover. The earthquake of 2011 claimed 185 lives. Traveldriven TRANZALPINE SHORT STOP AT ARTHUR'S PASS. THROWING SNOWBALLS BEFORE REBOARDING TRAIN Click to enter Arthur's Pass google maps Arthur's Pass township was reached by the railway in 1914. The TranzAlpine passes through Arthur's Pass and the Otira Tunnel as part of its 223 kilometres (139 mi) journey from Christchurch to Greymouth. Considered one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery and views. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TranzAlpine Aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake Red Zone Bus Tour. Into the off limits area ENTRY TO THE RED ZONE PUBLIC ACCESS FORBIDDEN CHRISTCHURCH CBD EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE CBD GHOST TOWN OFF LIMITS CHURCH MINUS SPIRE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

South Western Highway Connects Perth via Fremantle and Bunbury with Walpole along a mostly coastal route. A length of 400 km. Bunbury to Busselton (Bussel Highway) has link roads to join Walpole and then follows the South Coast Highway to Albany. FREMANTLE Is a major Australian port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the Perth metropolitan area. Get a mighty meal of Marron. Marron Is a freshwater crayfish. Only found in southern Western Australia. Marron can grow to twelve inches in size. Often found in farm dams and waterways. Marron may be purchased cooked at numerous sea food eateries in Perth and southern Western Australia. BUSSELTON Is about two hundred and twenty kilometres south-west of Perth. The Busselton Jetty is said to be the longest wooden structure in the world. 1,841 metres (6,040 ft). To save the long walk and as a novelty the jetty has a tourist train ride and an underwater observatory. It’s possible to dine eight metres below the sea at Busselton Jetty. Enjoy Western Australian produce. Walking the jetty or taking the train right out to the underwater observatory is a great experience. The Underwater Observatory is a natural aquarium where marine species are viewed in their natural habitat. Spiral flights of stairs lead to the Observatory. A lift is also available. Informative guide talks. ALBANY of Western Australia Is a port city located at the bottom of Western Australia, 418 kilometres southeast of Perth at the end of the South Western Highway. Albany is the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia. The Gap and Natural Bridge . The Gap walkway, a grated see through platform 40 metres above the ocean and extending 10 metres out from the cliff face, offers great views over the cliffs, the incoming waves hitting below and the approaching ocean swell. A small park fee is payable. Albany is home to the National ANZAC Centre with views to King George Sound where 41,000 men and women left Australia aboard ships for the first World War. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP FREMANTLE GOOGLE MAPS BUSSELTON GOOGLE MAPS ALBANY GOOGLE MAPS Bon Scott statue in Fremantle Driving past Fremantle Prison Busselton Jetty train stop The Gap platform 40 metres above the ocean Albany Marron Lunch Platter regional WA King George Sound Lookout Albany National ANZAC Centre, Albany National ANZAC Centre wire & iron soldier and horse Light horseman Wire Display PREV WESTERN AUSTRALIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

Halls Gap is a town in Victoria. It is located within the Grampians National Park. Halls Gap is in Fyans Valley and located on predominantly flat land between the Wonderland and Mount William ranges. Resident population is over four hundred. Tourist season brings in many times the resident number on weekends. A Halls Gap show and Shine is held once per year on the football oval off of Grampians Road during Spring. Trophies are given out to the owners of the best judged vehicles. Onsite BBQ food stall. Good atmosphere within the surrounding hills and mountains of Halls Gap. A hot rod show is also usually organised over the summer months. Traveldriven SHOW & SHINE OCTOBER 2023 HALLS GAP OVAL WINNERS TROPHIES 2005 LAMBORGHINI VERY LOW ROOF HEIGHT WORKHORSE TRUCK SHOW & SHINE 2020 HALLS GAP HOT RODS 2020 SHOW & SHINE 2019 Work truck by Gas Axe Holden HQ supercharged v8 Ford Tickford XR8 Early model mustang red & white stripes Holden Sandman & matching Esky in back 1967 Mini Bright Orange Local Win News TV PREV SHOW & SHINE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Meredith Is a town in Victoria located on the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Geelong. Meredith has a population of under one thousand. The Old Skool Street Cars Geelong has presented the Meredith Car Show for locals and visitors alike. Usually hosted in November at the cricket and football oval. Gold coin donation upon entry. Meredith has also been host to the Meredith Music Festival since 1991. Traveldriven MEREDITH CAR SHOW & SHINE Old signs and merchandise for sale. Nice lemon and black Ford GT right of background on display Beautiful early model white mustang. Silver mags. Left hand drive Open wheeled car. No doors. Elevated fuel tank behind the driver. Large steering wheel. Full size spare tyre and wheel. Rabbit tail (not real) attached to spare wheel Very nice presentable two door coupe. Double headlights Low profile bonnet vent. Great bright cherry red colour Very nice mural on tailgate of stationwagon. Dragon theme Nice clean lines in a gloss white. Two rear radio antenna Left hand drive. Rear down pipes. Custom number plate PREV SHOW & SHINE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Geelong Revival Geelong is a city on Corio Bay Victoria. Geelong is about eighty kilometres south-west of Melbourne. Population is approaching three hundred thousand people. The revival is usually held in November over two days. At North Shore on the Bay. The event has a quarter mile sprint attracting hundreds of vehicles and various show & shine areas. Up to one thousand vehicles may be displayed. Holden HQ Muscle Car A worked Holden HQ stole the show in the quarter mile event. By far the loudest idling car waiting for a turn at the lights. The spectator hill crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of a hot run down the quarter mile. The driver smoked up the rear tyres off the line with a roar of the engine. Tyre smoke bellowed over the watching crowd. All enjoyed the show. One of the strangest vehicle entrants was a lounge couch attached to an engine surrounded by bodywork in the form of a table. A glued on iced coffee bottle and a glued fruit bowl with imitation fruit. Toted as the world's fasted couch, 163 km per hour. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP GEELONG GOOGLE MAPS RIVER FRONT SHOW & SHINE QUARTER MILE SPRINTS HOLDEN HQ BURNOUT WATERFRONT WALKABOUT GEELONG REVIVAL WALK MAD MAX MAYHEM CAR DRIFTING GEELONG CITY STREETS PREV SHOW & SHINE NEXT PREV VICTORIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

Daylesford Is a mineral water spa town and tourist destination on the fringe of the Great Dividing Range. The surrounding countryside is forested and green. Restaurants and art galleries abound. The town has a large alternative lifestyle culture. Daylesford is about one hundred and ten kilometres north-west of Melbourne. Population of under three thousand people. The Daylesford Motorfest (Show & Shine) is usually held in February. The 2024 event cancelled for financial reasons. Returning in 2025? The Motorfest is held on the local Australian Rules Football oval. Live music performed by a four-piece band. Many stalls and cars on display. Traveldriven. ENTER CLICK/TAP DAYLESFORD GOOGLE MAPS DAYLESFORD MOTORFEST Old immaculate Ford tourer. Nice black and green tone. Full length running board. Mag wheels Hot red coloured hot rod. Owners enjoying a picnic undercover. Hot pink painted car alongside. Queensland number plated Mustang GT in the Victorian Motorfest WRC World Rally Championship? Aftermarket supercharged mustang GT Bonnet is held open and kept raised up by a short length of plywood as seen on the left side of the image. Large spotless chrome grilleand bumper. Detailed artwork above headlights and grille. Nice bonnet emblem Nice two-tone colour. Chrome side exhaust. Exhaust is not connected to the engine to comply with regulations. Real exhaust hidden underneath rear of car. Even the dead don't miss out. Funeral Directors hearse. Early model and low mileage. In black of course The Motorfest was a good day out and a picnic day for quite a few people. Old style chairs. Wind up record player. Very nice Oldsmobile. For sale details below. Nice Oldsmobile for sale $20,000. Over one hundred years old. Drives like new? Four out the back quad exhaust. Essendon Australian Rules Football Club number plate and decals. VW tray truck. Paintwork seen better days. Dual front opening windscreen. Lowered Not that practical for driving down the highway. Blue feathered eagle coming into land on the Falcon GT bonnet. Nice bonnet scoop. Driving lights PREV SHOW & SHINE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Magnetic Island of the Great Barrier Reef The island is eight kilometres (5.0 mi) offshore from the city of Townsville, Queensland. Quite mountainous in places. Regarded by many local people as a suburb of Townsville, with greater than two thousand permanent residents many commuting daily to Townsville by ferry. Magnetic Island by passenger & car ferry from Townsville takes approximately 25 minutes. Magnetic Island is locally known as ‘Maggie’. Jet Ski Tour Around Magnetic Island A day trip to this stunning island offers a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in its natural beauty and rich history. You can embark on a thrilling three-hour jet ski tour around the island, with pleasant stops where you might be lucky enough to spot turtles and other fascinating marine life. For history enthusiasts, exploring the Magnetic Battery World War 2 ruins, also known as 'The Forts,' is a rewarding activity. This free-to-explore area provides a glimpse into the island's past and adds a unique dimension to your visit. Additionally, nature lovers can indulge in a leisurely four-kilometre easy walking track that winds through the island's hilly terrain, adorned with large granite boulders, majestic pines, and pristine sandy beaches. The island boasts a variety of accommodation options to suit every preference, ensuring a comfortable stay for all visitors. It's worth noting that over half of the island is designated as a national park, making it a haven for biodiversity and a part of the southern Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. This status not only preserves the island's natural wonders but also offers visitors a chance to connect with and appreciate the unique flora and fauna that call this island home. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP MAGNETIC ISLAND GOOGLE MAPS THE FORTS ON MAGNETIC ISLAND FORT CLIMB MARINA MAGNETIC ISLAND JETSKI HIRE SHOP A REST BREAK GUIDED TOUR RIDE AROUND THE ISLAND PREV BARRIER REEF NEXT PREV QUEENSLAND NEXT HOMEPAGE

Whitehaven Beach Whitehaven Beach is a renowned seven-kilometre stretch of pristine white sand located on Whitsunday Island in Queensland, Australia. This iconic beach is a picturesque paradise that attracts visitors from around the world. Accessible by boat, seaplane, and helicopter from Airlie Beach, as well as tourist boats from Hamilton Island, Whitehaven Beach offers a unique and unforgettable experience for all who venture there. The dazzling white sand of Whitehaven Beach is composed of pure silica, giving it a stunningly bright and powdery appearance that is unlike any other beach in the world. The crystal-clear turquoise waters that lap against the shore create a mesmerizing contrast against the brilliant white sand, making it a photographer's dream and a haven for beach lovers. One of the most striking features of Whitehaven Beach is its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system. The beach offers a perfect vantage point to admire the natural beauty of the reef, with its vibrant marine life and colorful coral formations. Snorkelling and diving opportunities abound, allowing visitors to explore the underwater wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you choose to relax on the soft sand, swim in the azure waters, or take in the breathtaking views from above, Whitehaven Beach is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a slice of paradise in the heart of the Australian tropics. GETTING TO WHITEHAVEN BEACH GREAT BARRIER REEF A thirty minute ride by commercial high speed catamaran from Hamilton Island . Half or full day tours available. Spend an hour or two relaxing on the beach under the supplied popup shades or swim. Watch a seaplane land. Relax on the brilliant white silica sand. Sand is very squeaky underfoot. Pre booked overnight national park campsites are available. Very basic amenities. One of two most famous Australian beaches. Both Whitehaven Beach and Bondi Beach. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP WHITEHAVEN BEACH GOOGLE MAPS WHITEHAVEN BEACH WHITEHAVEN BEACH SHADE WHITEHAVEN BEACH PREV AUSTRALIA ICONS NEXT PREV BARRIER REEF NEXT PREV QUEENSLAND NEXT HOMEPAGE POST