Red dirt, long roads, and an adventure to remember
They’re home! After 15 days, thousands of kilometres, three buses, and a great deal of red dirt, our Uluru Adventure crew arrived back at Bundoora Scout Hall today.
Scouts, Venturers, and leaders began with muster day on 27 June, then left before sunrise the next morning. The convoy crossed Victoria to Broken Hill, travelled north through Coober Pedy, and reached Curtin Springs and Alice Springs before making the long run home through Gawler.
Broken Hill and Coober Pedy
The first major stop took the group above and below ground in Broken Hill. The Scouts toured a mine, learned about the city’s mining history, and visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum.
Coober Pedy brought underground rooms, colourful sandstone, opal displays, and the chance to try prospecting. The crew also met some of the outback’s less predictable features along the road: freight trains, road trains, salt lakes, rain, fog, and long stretches of open country.
Uluru, Kata Tjuṯa, and Curtin Springs
At the red centre, the three expedition groups rotated through a packed program. They watched the sun rise from camelback, visited Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa, and spent time learning why these places deserve care and respect. Station tours and patrol duties at Curtin Springs gave the Scouts another view of life in Central Australia.
Kings Canyon and Alice Springs
The crew hiked among the red rock walls and creek beds of Kings Canyon. Some Scouts took a helicopter flight and saw the country from above, including one young person taking their first helicopter ride.
In Alice Springs and the West MacDonnell Ranges, the groups explored Ormiston Gorge, waterholes, walking tracks, and the Alice Springs nature park. Sunset over the ranges made a fine end to one day. Night spotlighting brought a close encounter with a short-beaked echidna.
The Road Home
The return trip took the convoy south to Coober Pedy, on to 1st Gawler Scout Hall, and across the final stretch to Bundoora. Cold mornings, early starts, camp pack-downs, shared meals, and hours on the bus formed as much of the expedition as the headline activities. The youth members looked after their patrols, helped around camp, tried new things, and made friends across the participating Scout groups.
Watch the trip highlights below:
Thank you to the leaders, helpers, families, supporters, host Scout groups, and expeditioners who made the journey possible. Welcome home, Uluru crew. We hope the red dirt comes out in the wash.
About the Author
Hamish "Termite"
Scout Leader
