A few times during our original visit in 1995-1996 and again during our 1999 visit we ventured into the outback of Australia.

Watch out for the giant road trains. Basically a transport pulling a second transport trailer.

When I passed overthe mountains, I stopped at this little place for a slice of pie with extra cockatoo... mmmm... cockatoo.

Later on that day, while passing through Oberon, NSW I see so many wild galahs (known in North America as the Rose-breasted cockatoo) I am completely shocked. Click on the photo below for a VIDEO I shot.

After you head over the mountains and start heading into the outback you will encounter the town of Bourke, known as "Gateway to the Outback." Bourke is so far out in the middle of nowhere that the expression "the middle of nowhere" is not used in Australia. If someone is in the middle of nowhere you are described as being in "The Back of Bourke."

The local tourism board has a number of self-directed tours that you can do, ranging from a few hours, to a few weeks. The town has a great attitude about being in "The Back of Bourke." Many of the local people would say it, and there was numerous tourist memorabilia that also said it.

Of course, the closer you get to Broken Hill and into the outback, the more kangaroos you see.

Most of them are dead on the road. Usually about 1 dead roo every kilometre - no exaggeration.

At many places the earth was bright red.

What I was surprised was the variety of terrain I encontered on my travels. It ranged from red sand to yellow sand, red earth to yellow earth, yellow grass to green grass, tall trees to short, lots of trees to few. And all combinations of the above!

Of course, when you are on the other side of the planet, even the moon is upside down!

Make sure you pay attention when you drive in the outback. Sometimes the distance between towns is hundreds of kilometres, absolutely straight, horizon to horizon. The picture doesnt do justice to just how far down the road both ways you can see.

I pulled into Tipla, NSW - very expensive fuel prices. I'm used to paying 55¢/litre in Canada, about 60¢ in Sydney.

Note the roof of the Tipla Hotel. It says "Tipla Hotel. UHF 35" When I asked the owner of the hotel what that meant he told me that instead of using the phone around there, they use UHF radios. The Tilpa Hotel is channel 35. Anyone that wants to talk to them tunes into 35. He is the only one in the area that is assigned channel 35.

Again, the earth was very red in places.

Not very comforting too see this sign 200km out of Wilcannia. Only one road, and if its closed, too bad buddy.

Just outside of Tipla, a few emus were on the side of the road.

When driving through the outback a lot of the time you are driving through roadds which run through farmers fields where cows, horses, sheep are wandering around. To keep your sheep separate from your neighbours sheep you put up a fence. But what do you do about the road. They put up a grid on the road.

You will see the sign of the grid coming up.. Slow down because they can be a little rough.

Neat dont you think? The horses, cows, sheep, etc. cannot cross the grid. Therefore each persons stock stays in their own fields (or paddocks as they are known in Australia)

You are pretty far from ANYWHERE in the outback.

Just outside of Wilcannia, I stopped in the hot sun and had some water. Here is the Daihatsu Terios in the red earth.

Hit the town of Wilcannia, saw the Major Mitchell Hotel and its cute sign.

Near Broken Hill you have to toss out all of your fresh fruit - We are now entering the East side of the green shaded area on the map. Deep into NSW.

Watch out for wild horses (brumbies) on the road. I wouldnt want to run into one of them.

I finally pull into Broken Hill, just after sunset. The sky looks like an oil painting.

The next morning I get up to videotape the sunrise at Broken Hill and drop my camera causing $500 damage. Talk about a rude awakening.

Photographers tip #1 from Dave - Don't put your camera on the roof of a car to videotape sunrise if it is windy out.

I hope you like the last 2 shots - they only cost me $500 to get.