Tag: Erldunda Roadhouse

The Do’s and Don’ts of Riding Camels in Uluru

Posted on by SAuserER

If you’re planning to visit the resplendent Uluru Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta, riding a camel can be a part of an interesting travel experience. While you don’t need to be trained in camel riding prior to your first camel tour, you still need to abide by these guidelines to ensure your safety:

  1. Do follow what your guide says

Listen and do what your guide tells you before, during and after the camel tour. Even if you’ve had your share of riding other animals (e.g. horses), this doesn’t automatically mean you can handle a camel easily, since riding, let alone mounting, a camel is a different experience in itself.

Don’t ignore your guide’s instructions. For instance, don’t ever get on your camel unless your guide has tied it to something and has been secured for safe riding. For the fearful, it’s a relief to know that it’s not that complicated to ride a camel — you just need to swing your leg over the back and place yourself in the middle of the camel’s back, and lean back in your saddle as the camel starts to raise itself from its back legs.

  1. Do wear protective clothing

Wearing long pants and socks can protect you when exposed to the sun. This also prevents contact itchiness that might occur when you’re riding the camel, since its motion and the weather can affect your clothing.

It could be very hot in the Northern Territory during the summer, but don’t wear anything that’s too short or revealing. Leave being wild to the creatures of the wilderness – there’s no point in wearing anything that’s too provocative in the outback. By putting on appropriate clothes, you can also reduce the risk of sustaining injury and allergies.

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  1. Do take pictures only when your gadgets are secured

Who can’t resist taking photos of bizarre things you don’t always get to do every day? Camel-riders know that it’s a precious opportunity for photos, but don’t let excitement get the better of you before your smartphone or camera drops to the ground. Keep your device in protective gear, and don’t move around too much while you’re mounted, as this might alarm or annoy the camel.

When the tour is on break or you’re unmounted, make sure that don’t stand in front of your camel, since they can sneeze or blow a big bubble of foam from their mouths.

  1. Do bring a light painkiller

Riding any animal can be uncomfortable for an extended period of time. The size of the camel’s body and your position on its top can take a toll on you when you go for tours that last for more than an hour. Take light painkillers, such as Tylenol or Aspirin, to deal with discomfort when the ride takes too long.

Don’t litter when taking your meds or consuming food and drinks during the tour. No, being sneaky about throwing your trash doesn’t erase the fact that you’re not doing mother nature a favor. Keep that trash in your pocket or bag to yourself. It will be obvious if you decide to throw down something, since you’re riding on top of a tall camel. They might also attempt to eat or examine your trash, so put it first in your bag until you’ve found a proper trash disposal area.

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Riding a camel doesn’t exactly spell a fast journey, but it’s through these slow phases that you can take a break from everything and witness the rocky yet ravishing gems of Erldunda and the rest of the Northern Territory.

There’s more to the Northern Territory than just camel riding and sightseeing — contact us at the Erldunda Roadhouse to find out how to make your Australian journey educational and entertaining!

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The Top 10 Dangerous Snakes of Central Australia

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It’s a pretty well-known fact that Australia is no stranger to frenetic and ferocious creatures such as snakes. In fact, 140 species of land snakes can be found in the country, possessing venom that can quickly knock one out.

Snakes could be lurking in Erldunda, but don’t expect to get bitten to death so easily, since snake bite casualties are pretty rare according to herpetologist and venom export Bryan Fry, adding that “snake bites are very, very rare [in Australia] and often the fault of the person being bitten.” Familiarising yourself is one step forward to safety, so here’s an in-depth at the slithering snakes of Central Australia:

1) Black Whip Snake

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Venomous Black Whip Snakes are pretty docile creatures who will not attack unless they’re provoked. Their colours range from black to dark brown combined with paler head and reddish tail and their whole body can be 1.5 metres long.

2) Western Brown

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These are the snakes you should stay away from once you catch sight of them. Highly venomous and prone to attacking detected threats, Western Brown snakes can differ in colour, but they all come with a black Y shape on neck.

3) Brown Tree Snake

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While not as aggressive as Western Brown Snakes, these slightly venomous snakes can also attack when cornered. They are active during the night and live in trees, so if you’re camping outside, don’t forget to watch out for these snakes in the area.

4) Death Adder

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Another highly venomous snake is the short and stubby Death Adder, which grows to 1.2 metres. They have very pronounced broad head with raised ridges just above their eyes.

5) Olive Python

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Although they are not venomous, Olive Pythons can look very intimidating, since they can grow up to 6.5 metres long! These terrestrial snakes can be found living in under rocks or logs, so keep an eye out for these pythons when you’re on a bushwalk.

6) Water Python

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These pythons are known for their rainbow-like scales with colours ranging from dark olive to black, possessing bright yellow underbelly. Non-venomous, water pythons are semi-aquatic and they can be found mostly in wetland areas such as streams or creeks.

7) Woma

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These muscular and gigantic snakes can be found in desert areas of Central Australia. They are non-venomous and nocturnal snakes that can grow up to 2 metres in length.

8) Children’s Python

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Don’t get fooled by the name — these non-venomous snakes are known to bite anyone that crosses their way. They can be identified with their brown to reddish brown streaks that are combined with darker blotches along their back and sides.

9) King Brown

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The King Brown snakes are enormous snakes that can expand up to 2.5 metres. Also called as Mugla snakes, they possess deadly venom, and can be easily spotted due to their pale brown to reddish-coloured scales.

10) Slaty Grey

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Probably the most aggressive snake in our list, Slaty Grey snakes are non-venomous reptiles that can release foul smell as part of their defense mechanism. They possess deep brown to a dark grey or charcoal scale colour, which makes it a bit difficult to spot them at night, where they stay hidden under deep cracks in the soil or debris.

When you encounter any of these snakes, keep calm and carefully avoid them, since panicking might alert them the wrong way. For snake problems, you can call Parks and Wildlife Commission in Alice Springs at 0407 983 276. While waiting for help, don’t even attempt to harm or throw objects at these snakes because they might retaliate, and make sure to maintain your distance as you continue your journey to the centre.

Stuart Highway: The Smooth Road to the Rough Outback

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The Stuart Highway — also known as ‘Explorer’s Way’ — is a wide highway surrounded by arid lands in Central Australia all the way to the tropical Top End. Located between Port Augusta and Darwin, the famous highway was named after John McDouall Stuart, the first explorer to discover a route through Australia’s inland in the 1800s.

At present, the track doesn’t follow Stuart’s original route anymore in the southern section, but that won’t make you miss any of the highway’s gems.

Enter the Road to the Multifaceted Beauty of Australia

The Stuart Highway is your gateway to the red centre and famous tourists spots in the Outback. It intersects towns like Alice Springs, Katherine, Coober Pedy and Woomera, as well as the cities of Adelaide and Darwin (found at the start and end of the road).

The modern Stuart Highway begins in Port Augusta, which is 305 km north of Adelaide. Venturing to this highway exposes you not only to different cultures, but also varying weather conditions — the estimated distance of the Adelaide-Darwin trip is around 3016 km, which is a long drive through the different climate zones of Australia.

What to Expect on Your Stuart Highway Adventure

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If you’re planning a road trip, you’ll be happy to know that the Stuart Highway has a lot to offer wherever you look. You’ll notice the changing landscape and scenery the farther you go. As  you approach the Tropic of Capricorn (which is a landmark in itself for being one of the five major circles of latitude that divides the Earth), tufts of grass begin to replace the saltbushes and other desert plants, and wedge-tailed eagles begin to appear on the area.

Outback travellers also rave about the highway’s smooth track and open limits, making it safer and easier to travel. Some even skip flights to the towns linked to the road just so they can have the Stuart Highway experience!

There are different tourist routes that you can take to get from Adelaide to Darwin — you can take the Port Wakefield Road, Clare Valley or Flinders Ranges. Upon reaching the end of the fascinating Stuart Highway, you’ll find yourself at the Northern Territory Border, which is pretty close to Alice Springs. At this point, you may want to take a rest before crossing the border.

Finding a Place to Stay Along Stuart Highway

Since driving through the Stuart Highway is a rewarding yet incredibly long journey, you should recharge first to avoid the travel fatigue. Give yourself time to unwind before deciding on your next itineraries by visiting Erldunda, conveniently situated on the corner of Stuart Highway and Lasseter Highway. Enjoy a relaxing evening where you can eat and sleep in our comfortable and secure roadhouse.

Make life long travelling memories and take a trip along the Stuart Highway. Contact us at the Erldunda Roadhouse to know all the tourist attractions you shouldn’t miss.

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