The De-Tourists — A Saunders Family Adventure

Slowing down, growing up and finding our feet in the dust...

Gallery

Snapshots from the journey

Photos will fill up as the adventure unfolds.

Sunset on a dirt track through the bush Josephville, QLD
The girls sitting in the boot of the LandCruiser Josephville, QLD
Rustic Hipcamp signpost with directions to Creek, Dead Tree Alley and Grey Gum Hill Josephville, QLD
Dylan framed in the caravan doorway Josephville, QLD
The girls walking hand-in-hand down a track at golden hour Josephville, QLD
Thumbs up in front of the caravan Josephville, QLD
Dylan with a miniature pony at sunset Josephville, QLD
Cuddling a chicken on the farm Josephville, QLD
Horse riding at the Hipcamp Josephville, QLD
Horse ride with chickens scattering Josephville, QLD
Cows wandering through the campsite Josephville, QLD
Family selfie on a golden hour walk Josephville, QLD
Campfire at dusk by the caravan Josephville, QLD
Video: departure day — waving goodbye and hitting the road Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Family selfie in front of TITANIUM HARDCORE on departure day Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Peeking over the map of Australia in the back seat of Reg Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Dylan with his first dim sim at the Toowoomba Truckstop Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Dylan driving Reg through the open plains Brisbane to Miles, QLD
The big watermelon in Chinchilla Brisbane to Miles, QLD
The girls outside TITANIUM HARDCORE at the free camp in Miles Brisbane to Miles, QLD
The girls following geese through the trees Brisbane to Miles, QLD
The girls by the green creek at Miles Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Leah by the caravan at golden hour Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Erin and Leah cooking dinner at sunset Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Bedtime stories in the van — There's a Wocket in my Pocket Brisbane to Miles, QLD
Video: Cockadoodledodo Miles to Charleville, QLD
Leah having breakfast in the van Miles to Charleville, QLD
Dulacca Wind Farm from the road Miles to Charleville, QLD
Hazel snacking in the back seat Miles to Charleville, QLD
Welcome to Outback Queensland sign Miles to Charleville, QLD
Scrap metal cattle sculpture at Roma saleyards Miles to Charleville, QLD
Roma saleyards — the empty yards Miles to Charleville, QLD
Family selfie at the Roma Saleyards sign Miles to Charleville, QLD
Reg and TITANIUM HARDCORE parked at Morven Community Hall Miles to Charleville, QLD
Hazel on the old tractor at Morven Miles to Charleville, QLD
The kerosene tin hut at Morven Miles to Charleville, QLD
Little sheep toy on the dashboard, long straight road ahead Miles to Charleville, QLD
Welcome to Charleville sign — red dirt appearing Miles to Charleville, QLD
TITANIUM HARDCORE at sunset in Charleville Miles to Charleville, QLD
Hazel and Leah in front of the Charleville Bilby Experience banner Charleville, QLD
Two bilbies in their enclosure at the Bilby Experience Charleville, QLD
The girls watching the bilbies — Hazel holding Bob the Bilby toy Charleville, QLD
Dylan and James doing dodgy DIY auto-electrics under Reg's bonnet Charleville, QLD
Erin and the girls scooting down Charleville main street Charleville, QLD
Hotel Corones — classic outback Queensland pub Charleville, QLD
Family posing with the big kangaroo statue on Charleville main street Charleville, QLD
Hazel and Leah exploring the backyard garden Charleville, QLD
Dylan and the kids sitting in the backyard with guinea pigs Charleville, QLD
Hazel and Leah each holding a chicken on the deck Charleville, QLD
The girls grinning by the chicken coop Charleville, QLD
Group selfie saying goodbye in front of TITANIUM HARDCORE in Charleville Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Saying goodbye to friends — Dylan holding Leah, kids with plushies Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Tambo Teddy on the dashboard with a long straight outback road ahead Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Erin and Leah selfie outside Fanny Mae's Cafe in Tambo Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Caution Teddies Crossing road sign in Tambo Charleville to Longreach, QLD
The Lodge on Hawthorn in Blackall — beautiful old Masonic Temple building Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Inside The Lodge on Hawthorn — grand staircase and chandelier Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Erin and Leah at The Black Stump memorial in Blackall Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Tree of Knowledge closed for maintenance in Barcaldine Charleville to Longreach, QLD
The Tree of Knowledge memorial — looking up at the timber canopy Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Leah on the Telstra payphone in Barcaldine Charleville to Longreach, QLD
James and the girls at sunset by the Thomson River at Muddy Duck Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Leah framed by river gums at golden hour in Longreach Charleville to Longreach, QLD
James and Leah by the river at sunset Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Hazel and Leah playing in the mud by the Thomson River at sunset Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Cooking dinner on the BBQ by TITANIUM HARDCORE Charleville to Longreach, QLD
Stockman's Hall of Fame live show — sheep dog herding sheep in the arena Longreach, QLD
Dylan holding Leah patting a horse at the Stockman's Hall of Fame Longreach, QLD
Family selfie with headsets at the Stockman's Hall of Fame — And the bush hath friends... Longreach, QLD
Video: whip cracking at the Stockman's Hall of Fame live show Longreach, QLD
The girls bike riding at the Muddy Duck Caravan Park Longreach, QLD
Family bike ride on the road under big outback skies Longreach, QLD
Dylan and Hazel kayaking on the Thomson River Longreach, QLD
Dylan and Leah in a pink kayak on the river Longreach, QLD
Family dinner at sunset by TITANIUM HARDCORE Longreach, QLD
The girls in front of the Qantas 747 at the Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, QLD
Little wool sheep on the dashboard with endless outback highway ahead Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Video: the fuel stress moment on the road to Winton Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Erin and the girls selfie inside the Tattersalls Pub in Winton Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Family selfie at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs lookout over the outback plains Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
The fossil storage room at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Dylan posing with excavated dinosaur bones at the museum Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Volunteers extracting fossils in the preparation lab Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
The dinosaur stampede trackway at the museum Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Family photo with the life-size dinosaur sculptures Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Family selfie with dinosaur sculptures in the background Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
The museum tram heading out across the red dirt Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Family selfie on the museum tram ride Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Lil Ripper — the museum shuttle tram Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
The girls striking poses with a raptor dinosaur sculpture Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Pickle air freshener and wool sheep on the dashboard Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Erin driving Reg with rocky outback mesa in the windscreen Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Family selfie at sunset over the plains at Dinosaur Creek Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
The girls holding hands watching the sunset at Dinosaur Creek Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Leah and Hazel glowing in the sunset light at Dinosaur Creek Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Dylan with the girls at sunset — big smiles at Dinosaur Creek Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Video: sunset at Dinosaur Creek free camp Longreach to Dinosaur Creek, QLD
Dylan with a pie from the Cloncurry Bakery Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
Chinaman Park dam at Cloncurry with rocky ridge and blue sky Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
Scenic highway toward Mount Isa through rocky ridges Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
Hazel and Leah laughing in the back seat with headphones Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
The girls eating burgers watching live music at the caravan park Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
Hazel and Leah tucking into bloody big burgers at sunset Dinosaur Creek to Mount Isa, QLD
Hazel and Leah cosy in bed in the caravan Mount Isa, QLD
Dylan making coffee at the outdoor kitchen on TITANIUM HARDCORE Mount Isa, QLD
Leah sitting on her bike after a tumble at the caravan park Mount Isa, QLD
Driving through Mount Isa — mine stack and industrial skyline Mount Isa, QLD
The missing water tank cap — taped up at Camooweal Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Water tank cap taped over with duct tape Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Reg and TITANIUM HARDCORE at the Welcome to the Northern Territory sign on red dirt Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Family selfie at the NT border sign Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Video: crossing into the Northern Territory Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
130 speed limit sign on a straight NT highway Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Reg and TITANIUM HARDCORE set up under a tree at Barkly Homestead with solar panels out Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Wire emu sculpture at the Barkly Homestead Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Dylan and Hazel at the Barkly Homestead pub Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
The girls looking at the giant goanna sculpture at sunset Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Giant goanna sculpture silhouetted against the sunset sky Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Hazel laughing at sunset by the goanna sculpture Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Video: road train at Barkly Homestead Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Road train parked at sunset at Barkly Homestead Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Erin and the girls in front of Reg and TITANIUM HARDCORE at Barkly Homestead Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Erin making dinner at sunset — Good Vibes t-shirt Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead, QLD/NT
Leah bike riding at sunrise by TITANIUM HARDCORE at Barkly Homestead Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Erin and the girls at the Shell Threeways Roadhouse map Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Dylan and Leah at the Tennant Creek sign Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Leah covered in Nutella in the back seat Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Red dirt highway under stormy skies south of Tennant Creek Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Devil's Marbles — giant granite boulders from the road Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Leah sitting inside a split boulder at the Devil's Marbles Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Leah running through the Devil's Marbles Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Erin and the girls walking past the giant boulders at the Devil's Marbles Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Family selfie on top of the Devil's Marbles with the landscape stretching out behind Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Dylan and the girls in the dry creek bed at Barrow Creek Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
The girls by the campfire with TITANIUM HARDCORE and a red sunset behind Barkly Homestead to Barrow Creek, NT
Reg parked on the red dirt under the gum trees Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
Leah rugged up in a beanie at breakfast at the Barrow Creek free camp Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
The girls piggyback in front of the old Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
The Barrow Creek Telegraph Station building Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
Dylan and the girls exploring the stone outbuilding at the Telegraph Station Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
Dylan and Leah walking across the wet road at Ti Tree in the rain Barrow Creek to Alice Springs, NT
Emus and emu chicks at Stuarts Well Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
The girls with the camel statue at Stuarts Well Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
Hazel face-to-face with an emu through the fence Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
The girls with the camel melons on the red dirt Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
Dashboard sheep and pickle air freshener on the red dirt road Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
Dylan and Leah airing up the tyres on the red dirt Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
The girls running on the red dirt at Kings Creek Station Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, NT
Climbing the stone steps of heartbreak hill at Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Family photo at the top of Kings Canyon with the red rim behind Kings Canyon, NT
The girls sitting on the red rock at Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Dylan among the rock formations of the Lost City at Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Panorama of Kings Canyon with Leah at the edge Kings Canyon, NT
Family selfie at Cotterill's Lookout over Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Dylan sitting on the edge of Kings Canyon looking out over the gorge Kings Canyon, NT
Kings Canyon landscape — sheer cliff faces and green valley below Kings Canyon, NT
Erin sitting on the canyon edge with the cliff face behind Kings Canyon, NT
Leah looking out over Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Erin patching up Leah's scraped knee on the rocks Kings Canyon, NT
Leah standing by the rock pool in the Garden of Eden at Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Dylan sitting on the rim edge with backpack, canyon stretching out below Kings Canyon, NT
Dylan and Leah walking along the rim track at Kings Canyon Kings Canyon, NT
Erin and Leah walking the track with the valley stretching out ahead Kings Canyon, NT
Leah bike riding on the red dirt at Kings Creek Station Kings Creek Station, NT
Erin cooking dinner at sunset by TITANIUM HARDCORE at Kings Creek Kings Creek Station, NT
Erin and the girls looking at the Australia map on the van fridge Kings Creek Station, NT
Close-up of the Australia map with the route drawn on Kings Creek Station, NT
Dylan with the camel burger at Kings Creek Station cafe Kings Creek Station to Uluru, NT
Erin and the girls having breakfast at Kings Creek cafe Kings Creek Station to Uluru, NT
The girls hugging with Mount Connor (Fooluru) in the background Kings Creek Station to Uluru, NT
Family photo with Uluru behind on a cloudy evening Uluru, NT
Leah eating a snack on the roof rack with Uluru behind Uluru, NT
Dylan and Leah on the roof rack at the Uluru sunset viewing Uluru, NT
Erin and Hazel with Uluru glowing behind at sunset Uluru, NT
Family photo at the base of Uluru Uluru, NT
The girls running down the red path toward Uluru Uluru, NT
Dylan and Erin selfie on the Kuniya Walk path with Uluru behind Uluru, NT
Erin and Hazel selfie at the base of Uluru Uluru, NT
Erin and the girls walking toward the cliff face at Uluru Uluru, NT
The cliff face and Mutitjulu Waterhole on the Kuniya Walk Uluru, NT
Leah with her arms up in front of Uluru Uluru, NT
Uluru wide landscape under blue sky Uluru, NT
Family selfie with Uluru from a distance in the sunshine Uluru, NT
Dashboard sheep with Uluru in the background Uluru, NT
The girls eating chips under the awning at camp Uluru, NT
The girls on iPads with headphones in the van — screen time delivered Uluru, NT
Leah on the UHF radio in the car on a foggy morning Kata Tjuta, NT
Erin and the girls laughing in the car on the way to Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, NT
Dylan and the girls arriving at Kata Tjuta with fog swirling around the domes Kata Tjuta, NT
The foggy path toward the domes at Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, NT
Hazel arms up with fog pouring through the domes at Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, NT
The girls standing with fog-wrapped dome and a rainbow behind Kata Tjuta, NT
The girls with a dome emerging from the fog at Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, NT
Fog pouring through Walpa Gorge — tiny figures for scale Kata Tjuta, NT
Leah standing on a rock at Kata Tjuta with the landscape behind Kata Tjuta, NT
Hazel arms up in front of the honeycomb rock face at Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, NT
Hazel on the boardwalk into Walpa Gorge, domes towering either side Kata Tjuta, NT
Dylan and the girls at the entrance to Walpa Gorge Kata Tjuta, NT
Erin walking through Walpa Gorge between the towering red walls Kata Tjuta, NT
Leah at the waterhole in Walpa Gorge with reflections in the water Kata Tjuta, NT
Kata Tjuta wide landscape — the many heads under blue sky Kata Tjuta, NT
Family selfie with Kata Tjuta in the sunshine Kata Tjuta, NT
Uluru from the road through the windscreen Uluru, NT
Leah walking the sandy path at the base of Uluru Uluru, NT
The girls biking along the base of Uluru Uluru, NT
Hazel with cocktail and canapes at the Wintjiri Wiru deck with Uluru behind Uluru, NT
Dylan and the girls looking out at Uluru from the Wintjiri Wiru deck Uluru, NT
Uluru from the Wintjiri Wiru deck with rolled blankets in the golden light Uluru, NT
Family seated on the Wintjiri Wiru deck with Uluru at sunset Uluru, NT
Family selfie with pink sunset sky and Uluru glowing behind Uluru, NT
Dylan and Erin sunset selfie at Wintjiri Wiru Uluru, NT
The girls grinning with pink sunset sky and Uluru behind at Wintjiri Wiru Uluru, NT
Stuck behind an enormous oversize mining truck on the road to Alice Springs Uluru to Alice Springs, NT
The car at Pedders Suspension and Brakes in Alice Springs for its service Alice Springs, NT
Leah grinning with pink hair holding a snake at the Newlandia Festival Alice Springs, NT
The girls with food at the Newlandia Festival with the MacDonnell Ranges behind Alice Springs, NT
The girls on the teacup ride at the Newlandia Festival Alice Springs, NT
The girls drawing and colouring at the camp table in the morning sun Alice Springs, NT
Panorama of Alice Springs from ANZAC Hill with the MacDonnell Ranges behind Alice Springs, NT
Dylan and the girls looking out over Alice Springs from the lookout at ANZAC Hill Alice Springs, NT
Erin cooking butter chicken at camp with a pink sunset sky behind Alice Springs, NT
The girls eating butter chicken and naan at the camp table under a pink sunset Alice Springs, NT
The Tropic of Capricorn monument beside the Stuart Highway, a wire globe on a sticker-covered pedestal Tropic of Capricorn, NT
The Desert Mermaid and her lover, two painted lizard sculptures at Aileron Roadhouse Aileron, NT
Hazel under the highway signs at Aileron, 134km back to Alice Springs and 370km on to Tennant Creek Aileron, NT
The Anmatjere Man statue holding a spear on the hill above the Aileron Roadhouse Aileron, NT
Camp set up at Churchill's Head free camp with the caravan, camp table and fire going as the sun sets Churchill's Head, NT
Dylan, Leah and Hazel in the long golden grass on the hill at sunset Churchill's Head, NT
Sunset over the bushland at Churchill's Head with silvery grass and red rocky outcrops Churchill's Head, NT
Dylan and the girls looking out over the valley from the top of the hill at dusk Churchill's Head, NT
The girls eating breakfast at the camp table by the fire as the sun rises over the ridge at Churchill's Head Churchill's Head, NT
Hazel carrying branches of firewood across the red dirt at the free camp Churchill's Head, NT
Dylan with his coffee and Hazel grinning by the morning campfire Churchill's Head, NT
A road train loaded with classic cars and hay bales parked at Renner Springs Renner Springs, NT
Leah and Hazel playing cards at a beer garden table in front of the number-plate wall Daly Waters, NT
Dylan celebrating with a beer under the enormous pink bougainvillea at the front of the Daly Waters Pub Daly Waters, NT
Inside the pub — hundreds of t-shirts hanging from the ceiling above the sticker-covered bar and golden croc head Daly Waters, NT
The wall of bras above the bar with the Welcome to the Daly Waters Historic Pub sign Daly Waters, NT
Tim's Junkyard entrance with a camouflage helicopter and KFC sign perched on the roof Daly Waters, NT
Australia's Most Remote Traffic Lights, plastered in travellers' stickers Daly Waters, NT
Tim cruising past the crowd on his mobility scooter with its WIDE LOAD sticker Daly Waters, NT
Hazel giving Erin a cuddle at the table in the beer garden Daly Waters, NT
Hazel tucking into the barra under the fairy lights on Beef and Barra night Daly Waters, NT
The Daly Waters windmill of hand-painted distance signs framed by pink bougainvillea Daly Waters, NT
Family selfie under the bougainvillea at the Daly Waters Pub sign before setting off Daly Waters, NT
Baaanaby the dashboard sheep watching the road with 169km to go on the sat nav Daly Waters to Mataranka, NT
Hazel with her pool noodle on the boardwalk through the palm forest at Mataranka Mataranka, NT
Erin and the girls in the thermal pool, Leah giving a double thumbs up Mataranka, NT
Erin mid-pool at the Mataranka Thermal Pool with towering palms all around Mataranka, NT
Leah beaming in her rainbow goggles in the warm water Mataranka, NT
Hazel by the stone wall of the thermal pool with goggles at the ready Mataranka, NT
Family selfie in the thermal pool with the sun bursting through the palms Mataranka, NT
Dylan and Leah in her hooded towel walking the boardwalk back from the pool Mataranka, NT
Leah feeding the water buffalo through the fence at Little Roper Stock Camp Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
The girls climbing the hay bales under the rope-swing tree at golden hour Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
The freshly baked loaf on the rack with its Pre-Ordered Bread for Erin label Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Campers gathered around the long tables under the big tree for billy tea and johnny cakes Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Hazel feeding a cow through the fence at morning animal feeding Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Leah smiling down at the turtle she's holding in the reptile house Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Hazel grinning as she holds a big blue-tongue lizard Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Hazel and Leah each holding a blue-tongue lizard while Dylan looks on Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Leah with an albino python draped around her shoulders Little Roper Stock Camp, NT
Panorama of Bitter Springs — crystal clear blue water winding through palms and paperbarks Bitter Springs, NT
The impossibly clear turquoise water of Bitter Springs beneath the palm forest Bitter Springs, NT
Hazel floating in the clear blue water with her noodle Bitter Springs, NT
Hazel and Leah floating along Bitter Springs with their noodles Bitter Springs, NT
Hide and seek in the hay — one kid completely buried with just a hat poking out Little Roper Stock Camp, NT