Moonscape near Coober Pedy

At about 4.15 we set off in the Oasis Caravan Park tour bus to see the Breakaways (range/hills that have broken away from the range in the ancient past).  These are in different colours like coloured sands.  They are of soft sandstone.  We started the tour with a ride through the local mining area.  There were many heaps of discarded crushed up stone, with warnings that no one must walk through the area as there are also many shafts that are unprotected. We seemed to be driving close to them!  (The area around the town itself is now not available for mining and there is an area where anyone can 'noodle' for free in old mullock heaps).

The tour took us to several lookouts over these mountains, some looking like animals - a turtle, 2 dogs, a camel, and more.  We were told that this area is like the 'painted hills/desert' which is further north from here and really has to be flown over to be seen properly.

The Painted Plain

The landscape away from Coober Pedy is mostly flat, no trees, and not even many plants.  As we drove away from the Breakaways to Moon Plains we were in gibber country (just stones).  These areas have been used for filming some crazy Australian movies, including 'Mad Max', 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert.  We stopped for a muffin and tea/coffee at Moon Plains as the sun was setting and saw slices of gypsum or silica (like mica) lying all over the area and the soil was soft and crunchy.  There was also petrified wood, which probably was in the past from large trees.  Quite amazing.  It's a wonder we were allowed to walk around even in a small area.  The tour also took us to the dog (or dingo) fence which runs north of C P.  We watched the sunset too. 

On Moon Plains

There were 2 couples on the tour who are on a 1 week trip by plane around Australia.  They had left Morewell Vic this morning and had flown over Lake Eyre, and spending the night in CP.  Tomorrow they fly to Ayers Rock, and Alice Springs, then next day to Kununurra!  We also chatted to another couple who are on their way home to Adelaide having spent 3 or 4 months in Kununurrra.  They have been going there for 6 or more years as volunteers helping to run an aboriginal art shop in the town.  I remember seeing them in that shop when I bought a couple of pieces of aboriginal print fabric.  (I later found a good shop in Alice with lots of aboriginal designed fabric).