“Oops” said Doc. A slight downplaying of our predicament. Stuck in the mud, a 10-15 minute drive from help one way or the farmhouse the other, in the dark, with rain pelting down outside. With …
We’re back on the farm. You might have noticed the absence of stories about the farm over the past couple of years. For reasons I won’t go into I didn’t go down there for a …
I’m very excited. I spoke with the amazing Gemma for her award winning travel podcast “Girls that Travel”. We talked solo women travellers, outback travel, and having a wild dingo in my campsite one night …
We all make mistakes, but some of them can be deadly. Now that restrictions are easing, and people are making plans to travel again, here are some simple tips to help you avoid what could …
Kangaroos, koalas, wombats, echidnas, platypus(es??? – platypodes?), emus, wallabies, and more kangaroos. Everyone loves Australian animals. What’s not to love – they’re cute, cuddly, and they sleep in the shade all day – or swim …
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There’s nothing like starting your Simpson Desert sojourn at Dalhousie Springs.
It really is worth getting up before sunrise to sit in the 38 degree pool and watch the sunrise through the mist. When everything is quiet, except for the sound of the birds greeting the day.
An almost full moon only adds to the magic. Especially when you’re sitting on a pool noodle, just taking it all in.
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/dalhousie-springs-at-sunrise/
When I travel I love to take photos and to write about my travels. This blog is as much for me as it is for other people to read – maybe more so. Writing helps me to give things some perspective, and, well, my life’s worth writing about … mostly. My life that is – not me personally. I’m pretty ordinary, but I do (mostly) have an extraordinary life. Of course, it’s interspersed with the boring bits where I have to earn money, but I’m working on that too. I might have a new business venture to announce soon.
So, if you want to take photos and write during your travels, what are the things you need to make sure you have with you?
- Camera – check
- Lenses – check
- Flash – check
- Tripod – check
- SD cards and card reader – check
- Camera battery – check
- Battery charger – Oops
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/the-oodnadatta-track-and-pink-roadhouse/
Twelve months after my first solo trip across the Simpson Desert I’ve completed my second. I’m still sorting out my notes, so stories will appear soon.
It’s also twelve months since I put in my audition for Low Range.
It’s way overtime for a mainstream 4WD show to have a female presenter on board – it makes good business sense. There are a lot of women out there travelling, and a lot more who would like to do so, all they need is a bit more confidence. Having a woman on a show like that would bring in more viewers, and more viewers equals more advertisers and sponsors.
At the risk of sounding like Sam Kekovich – You know it makes sense.
Check out my second audition below.
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/4wd-outback-travel-shows/

Things that dig holes – then camouflage them
I never used to go camping. Too cold, too many insects, too uncomfortable. Then Doc dragged me kicking and screaming into the outback in a swag, and I was hooked.
All my objections were overcome. Modern camping is comfortable, campfires help with the cold, or you can just go north where it’s never cold, and there are even good products that will keep mosquitos away.
And all those stars!
One thing that is still true though, is that there are many, many things in the Australian outback that will kill you!
If you think spiders and snakes are scary, wait until you come up against things you never see.
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/things-that-will-possibly-kill-you-in-the-australian-bush/
The colours of Kanku/The Breakaways and the Painted Desert are truly breathtaking.
Check out the photo gallery
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/kanku-the-breakaways-painted-desert/
Well, it’s happened again. I’ve had car trouble.
Driving from Coober Pedy to Arkaringa and the Painted Desert, one of the clips holding my back window in place broke. Of course it was the strongest one, the one that holds it all in place. Without that, the clip that holds down the other corner just pops out. So I drove through the dust with my back window flapping in the breeze. Letting in the dust that the car was kicking up behind.
I tried putting the front windows down to get an airflow through the car and push the dust out the back. It didn’t work. All I got was a dust storm swirling in front of my eyes. It was a bit cool anyway, so I was happy to put the windows back up and deal with it when I got to my next stop – 45k down the dirt road.
Nope.
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Permanent link to this article: https://kathswinbourne.com.au/more-car-trouble-in-the-outback/
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