Outback #2 Birdsville

The image created of Birdsville is that of a small and lonely outpost isolated from the rest of Australia.  In reality we found that while it was indeed many hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town, the place was a pit stop bustling with off-road vehicles, most covered in red dust. There was a large park for caravans and campers, a modern bakery and of course the historic Birdsville Hotel.

Birdsville is remote but is bustling like a pitstop.

 

The historic Birdsville Hotel is an icon.

The Birdsville Hotel at night, "the watering hole" (note the off-road vehicles parked outside).

Birdsville's water comes from a bore, at near boiling temperatures.

Always a surprise to see the striking Sturt's Desert Pea. They grow wild in the deserts, their natural environment.

The famous sandhill, "The Big Red."

The rare Waddi Tree. A "forest" of these trees located about 10 km north of Birdsville.

Venue of the Birdsville Races held here each year. Hard to believe that thousands turn up each year in September for the event.

A video pan taken from a lookout north of Birdsville that provides a spectacular view of the surrounding.

A view of the Simpson Desert . 

Click here for more photos on Birdsville.