The following post features student writing from our time preparing for and then venturing into the Outback. Enjoy!
This morning we woke up at six o’clock to the sound of our alarms as well as the squawking of birds that sound like sheep. It felt incredible to sleep well after spending the past 36 hours or so in airports and planes; it felt even more incredible to wake up confused as to where we are and then remember oh, right, we are in AUSTRALIA! After getting ready for the day and packing our bags with everything that is essential for the Outback ranging from extra layers of clothes to hydration tablets, we left our rooms and gathered in a nearby restaurant to eat breakfast with all of our new friends.
When we were finished, we brought our bags to the bus, where we were greeted by Duff-man, our guide. Duff-man is the coolest, most Australian Outbacky person ever. He has a cool hat that matches his shorts and shirt, and he knows all about the Outback (facts, history, etc.). After learning a bit about what was in store for the next couple of days, we left Alice Springs and took off for the Outback. Our first stop for the day was a place where we could walk around and look at lots of animals and plants that are native to Australia. Some highlights included a dark room filled with nocturnal animals, selfies with kangaroos, and a bird show (a woman showed off and taught us about some highly trained Australian birds as we sat in the audience, the birds soaring precariously close to our heads). After that, we got back on the bus.
After a couple hours of driving and watching the scenery become more and more wild, we arrived at a spot where we were to take a hike. The scenery on the hike was incredible—unlike anything I have ever seen before. We were able to make it all the way to a lookout where we could view the miles of mountains and valleys. At this point, Duff-man told us all about the history and stories behind the native ghost gum tree. The hike was topped off perfectly with a jump in a freezing cold pond. Next, we got back on the bus and drove on a super bumpy dirt road until we arrived at our campsite for the night (though that ride did include a stop to collect fire wood), where we were greeted by Ben preparing dinner (Ben is our guide/chef for the Outback. He is also super duper cool and Outbacky).
Our guide “Duff-Man” at a waterhole.
We had the chance to shower and get into some warm clothes for the night. After that, we all gathered under the shelter for dinner that included something that Ben said was kangaroo, but some of us are not 100% sure that this was the case. After dinner, we had our group meeting around the fire and got into our swags for a night under the stars.
– Campbell C.